The Filmakers thread to bitch and problem solve
The purpose of this thread is to let filmmakers vent. No matter how much you prepare, things go wrong when you’re shooting a movie. Most of the time this is due to human folly caused by the people working on your film, other times it can be faulty equipment or something breaks down. When you’re making these films, these setbacks can be a mere annoyance or something completely devastating. This thread is a place for filmmakers to talk about the problems they have had on their film. Feel free to bitch about all the problems you’ve encountered. The only thing I ask is that you also talk about how you were able to solve these problems so that first time filmmakers reading this thread can learn from what we’ve gone through. I’ll go first:
Casting sucks! The reason casting sucks is because you never know if the person you’re casting will show up when you need them. I worked on one production years ago where we shot for a month and then decided to take a two month break to fix some problems. The lead actor went back to his state during this time. As we came closer to the time we would resume shooting, the lead actor decided that he wasn’t going to finish the movie. Of course this sent the whole production into a tailspin. The best thing to do is cast people who are local. Another thing to do if you’re planning to start your first feature is to shoot a couple of short films first. That way you can get use to setting up shots but more importantly, you can cast the actors who were the most reliable while you were shooting these shorts for your feature. When you do find an actor or actress who is reliable, cherish them. Another thing to look out for is when you cast someone and then you get a call from this person on the day they are supposed to shoot. During this call they bring up “The Car Accident”. “The Car Accident” is the excuse these people use to get out of showing up. Very rarely is it that person who got into the “car accident”. It’s usually a friend or relative that got into the “car accident”. 99% of the time, there is no “car accident”. But this is the perfect excuse for these people to use because if you question the “car accident” then they can blame you of being insensitive. If you get the “car accident” call, then you need to recast that person ASAP because they are not reliable. Another thing to remember when you’re casting is to cast people who are older. Younger people are more likely to blow you off if a party pops up. When it comes right down to it, your movie means the most to YOU. That means that people can easily fuck you over because they don’t have the emotional investment that you do in the project.
That’s all I have for now. I’ll be adding more and I hope other filmmakers will add to this thread too. Edited by: GaySerialKiller at: 3/16/06 5:27 pm
Re: The Filmakers thread to bitch and problem solve
You hit the nail on the head with that post! I swear Bone Sickness must have at least 6 "car accidents"! One of them left 8 of us hanging around with nothing to do since the nude girl who was the center of the shoot never showed up. And since she lived 4 hours away and was driving here, it was hard to question her. Once we finally got in touch with her days later while calling on a cell phone so she wouldn't recongize our #, she gave the whole sob story about her accident.
Well, my wife was pissed off since this girl begged for months to be in the movie, then blew us off. So she went on Smart pages and actually tracked down this girls hospital and then personal doctor! And she hadn't been to either in over 6 months. My wife then informed the girl that we knew this and asked...why didn't you just tell the truth???
Oh yeah another one was I think some people's grandmothers died about 3 times during the making of the movie as well.
Re: The Filmakers thread to bitch and problem solve
"Casting sucks! The reason casting sucks is because you never know if the person you’re casting will show up when you need them"
ACTRESS APOCALYPSE!
Webmaster & Slave of GOREZONE. Your #1 source for bloody daily horror news. www.gorezone.net
Re: The Filmakers thread to bitch and problem solve
On the last project I hired this girl for a paid role. We set up a date, a location, and a time. The day we are supposed to shoot I get the call that her friend got into a "car accident" and she couldn't shoot. She says she still wants to do it. I say ok. We agree to shoot 2 days later. Then I get a call the next day that she can't shoot that day either because she has to go to her friends "graduation" and wants to do it another day. Now don't you think she would have remembered that she had her friends "graduation" when we talked the day before? I tell her there is no way we can shoot another day because I'm leaving the state the day after. She then asks if we can shoot later that day and I tell her I'll get back to her. I decide "fuck her" and I go and find someone else to shoot that day. I found someone who showed up when they were supposed to and did a great job. After this girl leaves we are packing up when all of a sudden we get a knock on the hotel door. It's the girl with all the excuses. I tell her to leave. She said that she thought we had made a deal and I told her that I never got back to her so she shouldn't have shown up. She blew it. We already got the scene and I wasn't going to come up with a new scene and shoot it with her and miss the season finale of "24". She had her chance but she messed up. If someone is full of excuses, it's best to just get rid of them.
Re: The Filmakers thread to bitch and problem solve
I remember I had a lead girl LaTanya to be exact. She had the lead role and after one day of shooting decide to quit. What the FUCK!!!!! So I shot all of her shots in one day. Changed the script so everything can fit into her scenes. She probaly throught I was some big shot but when she found out it was a loooooooooooooow budget student film she quit. I had soooooo many people telling me I'm coming. I be there in half hour, fifteen minutes, I'm on my way. God I had so much bullshit with getting people to be in my movie and I live in New York FUCKING City.
Re: The Filmakers thread to bitch and problem solve
I never had a problem casting at all. Just had our 1st casting call last weekend and it went better than I could have hoped. I got a call back tommorow for the lead and he's been researching and practicing all week. That shows he's dedicated which goes a long way.
If an actor isn't gonna show up on time or always has excuses then they aren't serious about it anyway.
Make sure you give the people who read an email or phone number. IF they call you I've found that it's a very good sign you won't have these problems.
I actually enjoy casting now that I have a producer. I don't have to do shit and everyone treats me like I'm the top dog and hot girls all flirt and shit hoping you'll give 'em a part.
It's the SCHEDULING that SUCKS ass. I HATE IT. Trying to a bunch of people that are working for food to all show up on the same day and time is imposible.
Re: The Filmakers thread to bitch and problem solve
You're a lucky man Josh. I always ahve problem with casting. Hopefully in April or May I won't have that problem.
Re: The Filmakers thread to bitch and problem solve
I am fortunate enough to go to a school with like 500 acting majors. Casting is a breeze. None of them have jobs. Just trust funds, haha. But when I'm at home I generally try and cast my friends who can act.
casting
It took me so long to get just a few people together to shoot Too Much Gristle..I wanted to do it in the summer of 2003 . i finally did it in October 2004..all 28 minutes of it. It wasnt anyone being dicks just trying to schedule various people working full time jobs. This forced me to shoot shorter, more compact ideas..some of which only had me on camera. It was kinda "cheating" but it got something done. Anything done. Something I could make a copy of, label and put it on my shelf and look at it sitting next to Halloween, JC's Vampires and Chinese Super Ninjas. It sounds retarded but that was a small victory to me.
CSN
You said it sick!! Chang Cheh..most underrated director EVER..rarely hear his name and the guy made some of the best movies ever made..Its hilarious how so many modern Asian films are at best mediocre..30-20 years ago the Japanese and Chinese were making some of the BEST movies ever made...Arc I know your gonna hate me for saying that!!
But this should be in the Asian forum so..
While at work Ive been thinking of doing a kaiju short..I know Morbid Film has experience with minitures..hmm maybe Im overreaching..I was thinking of getting all my asian friends so we can pretend its a real Toho type flick..
Re: CSN
The beginning of the Chinese Super ninjas was incredible. The fight tournament and the weapons they used was sick. Man I'm going tro watch it over this weekend.
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