The time is NOW, and...

[Ketch Rossi]

EDIT:

After some serious tough on your replies and emails plus a careful revisiting of current situation at a global scale of what is going on with Rape and abuse against women ending in a substantial percentage in their death, I have decided that the first Movie I'll be making will be indeed "B", as it makes the more sense right now, and also what it means to me at this time, plus the added important factor that it can be filmed all in one Town, vs. A which needs several towns in different countries, also the actual FX requirements for A and most importantly how it will effect me on a personal level, makes it a movie for which I really do need to be very strong inside, and I fill that currently I am at my worst at that, and need at list an other year to be back were I need to be to be able to tackle that story.


So, for now all I can really say, is again a HUGE THANKS to every one here for participating and expressing your valued opinions...


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



.. Your opinion is appreciated...

I have brought this up in the past, but now is time to make a final decision, and before I do, I absolutely would appreciate your input so please do share your tough with me.
I need to step up and make my first movie, as I will no longer linger, but the question is, which should I go for first?


A) The dramatic autobiographic true story about a young boy that struggling thru the abuse of an alcoholic stepfather, promises his younger siblings a better life and leaves home in search of it, and within this promise the coming to America to tell their Story, only to return as an adult in dying conditions, to be saved by his sister donated Kidney, to find himself ashamed that He had not kept his promise. Retuned once again to America continues his perseverance in mastering the Arts, fighting thru continuos health hazards, and both economic and personal issues with great losses, to finally at last thru a series of events come in the possibility to make his movie, and tell their story.

or

B) The dramatic love story of a young women kidnapped and raped while in captivity for over 6 months by what was her best friend turned out to be a Serial Rapist/Killer. At last saved and reunited with her thru love, which will assist and help her regain her dignity and love for life, but not without a great deal of suffering on both sides, but at the end when She finally tucked back her life, She will be faced once again with her Rapist.


Also to consider is the fact that I might at the end need to take either story to a Crowd-Funding path and this is also a consideration of which Story could gather more interest and support.
I truly look forward for you kind participation in sharing your honest opinion, just please do so respectfully, either by replying in your words, or simply by VOTING in the Poll...

THANK YOU!!

 

[John Marchant]

I would opt for B. A simple story told well appeals more to me, although your subject matter will place heavy demands on the manner in which the characters are developed. The autobiopic, if there is such a thing, is a treacherous area IMHO.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Whereas I would go with Story A, then one you know well, and can emotionally relate to. Your emotions are palpable even in how you write the blurb.

 

[Craig W. Bickerstaff]

A feels more compelling to me, maybe the way you described it made it feel more large and grand or cinematic to me that's probably the best way I can describe it at the moment.

 

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

John Marchant - +1. +many in fact. Only thing, B sounds like a bottle show. Is there a C?

Mike

 

[Ketch Rossi]

I would opt for B. A simple story told well appeals more to me, although your subject matter will place heavy demands on the manner in which the characters are developed. The autobiopic, if there is such a thing, is a treacherous area IMHO.

Thanks John,
and yes, no doubt for B, because of the subject matter, there is for sure a care to be taken on the story and its execution and framing, and it has been seriously taken in consideration in both the Script as well as it will be in the actual shooting of it.

Whereas I would go with Story A, then one you know well, and can emotionally relate to. Your emotions are palpable even in how you write the blurb.

Thans Nick,
in story A, indeed there is a direct knowledge far superior to any story I have written, as each moment is deeply embedded within me.

A feels more compelling to me, maybe the way you described it made it feel more large and grand or cinematic to me that's probably the best way I can describe it at the moment.

Thanks Craig,
hard to tell form few lines, but both stories are extremely compelling and humane, both contain high grade of violence, one to children, the other to women, of course in very different ways, were one has domestic violence, and the other criminal violence.

John Marchant - +1. +many in fact. Only thing, B sounds like a bottle show. Is there a C?

Mike

Thanks Mike,
there is no C at this time, even so I do have various other stories, but I don't understand what "bottle show" means.

Edit: Both stories actually have the same budget.

 

[Christopher Mills]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottle_episode


also related to the low budget horror concept of "kids in a box"

Small production logistics to keep a budget low..

But I digress.

Ketch, I think you actually want to do A.

You have gone into more detail in your pitch for it, and it is the story you know personally.

I do think it has a hidden challenge, though. Which is that you will have your mind split between directing and cinematography, and a cost to both.

I strongly suggest you delegate one of those tasks to someone you trust.

As far as respect in an audience in the USA, Story B has a lower potential for festivals/respect/theatrical release.
However, it has a higher potential for a video/cable/view on demand distributor.

Story A has a higher potential for a theatrical or mainstream distributor to pick up your film.

This is just the reaction I expect to hear from acquisition and exhibition execs based purely on a synopsis pitch of both projects in this season's climate. A year from now,that may be different.

It also may be different in Europe.

In the last year I produced a film noir horror film and a family themed Christmas movie. Both have distributors in place now.
My next project is a college comedy film (in prep right now).

I try to keep a sense of what distributors seek in my (lower) budget range.

As I work on studio EPKs as well, I have some sense of what is about to be released and what marketing departments feel will be succesful.

Thank you for sharing your ideas and support with us on RU!

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Thanks Christopher, I did searched but din't get what Mike meant with it, as it could not be further from what the story actually is.

This will not be for Europe only, in fact it will be shot in English and aimed at International distribution, with high hopes for a US distribution pick up first, but thanks to the capacity to have it released and premiered on a Cinema, and with the event of Odemax and others like it, if comes down to then a Digital and Blu Ray-DVD released should be planned, while I sure hope that the hard work put int to either story would attract an Acquisition officer in the US.

I do fil exactly what you are saying and this is what brings me to seek an opinion here, as to give me the final push to make this decision, as I will carefully read and analyze and consider every single reply here.

As far as position taken in either film on my side will surely be taken in careful consideration once Pre-production starts on either film, and will be consulted with either the Financing partner, or prior to enter a Crow-Funding like initiative.


Thanks again for your input and on my side its always my pleasure to share and support this community and its members...

 

[Gary Paul Walker]

I think for a directorial first (of many I would assume) - I'd go for B.

The story may seem like other films that tend to be slanted more toward horror / gore (I'm thinking of something like Martyrs), but told right the story could be character-driven, sensitive, and very personal - without pandering to a gore-entusiast looking for the next reimagining of Hostel, Saw (or any other gore-porn). An ultimately, for a first film the more personal the film is, the more it resonates.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Great point Gary, thanks for posting, and indeed for B, should this be the chosen, it will be in fact my driven goal to insure so is done as described very well by you, and the story, which has been Re-written several times over the past few years, is now very much Character driven, and not a gore of free nudity and violence.

 

[Christopher Barrett]

I voted B. I would avoid taking on a project that holds such deep, personal significance for your first feature.

We recently produced a short film based on my own childhood. We shot out of state, we had a great crew and spent about 65k of my own money. The story holds great personal meaning, of course. I wish I had done another half dozen shorts before we had shot it, though. The final piece is pretty good and holds a lot of the power that I wanted it to possess, but it could have been better. There are so many things we could have done better. I wish I had been more experienced before we attempted it.

My 2 cents.

CB

 

[Hrvoje Simic]

First story is the one you can relate to and extract the most important parts. It has a true experienced emotional basis giving it a precious advantage. It is also more unique.

Second one is already seen a bunch of times.

 

[Sergio Perez]

Hmm, hard choice. A is ultimately the story you most want to tell Ketch, bit I would probably go to 2 first. It can be a brutal film and Ican see it selling well. I would explore the captivity bit and the raping bit more, its something that catches the atention of both the critics and audiences. Filming style and pace is key here. Don't go for melodrama. My advice is you could base this on a true story you know, but take creative liberties and take this story and premise further as a cinematic experience. Can be something interesting and with the right actors, art design, script and sensibility to approach the subject, be a film that catches the eyes of bigger investors for "Film A". You can focus the budget for kick ass actors, screenplay and art design on that piece as well as technical crew. Make sure the script is spot on perfect on the dialogues and structure and get amazing actors. Then, the awards and investors will follow for the big one. (In fact, I would leave perseverance as your 3rd or 4th film). Italy needs a new strong italian director. I think your "8 and a half weeks"(Fellini film) can wait. Make your La Strada and La Dolce Vita first!

 

[Ces Peynetti]

Ketch, although I hope that some day you get to tell both stories, if you were to have just one chance, which story would you lean towards to?

I get the gist that A is the story that is closely embedded to you, and that you really want to tell someday, whereas B, though still a great story, it seems to be the easier story to tell for you (both for financial and personal reasons). That's my opinion though, I may be wrong.

 

[Björn Benckert]

I say flip a coin... Then you can blame the decision on fate and focus on the execution of the film instead. As I think you would get trough with any of them.

 

[Jay Birch]

I'd probably go with B, as, although it is a based on fact... you can step back a bit and develop the characters more.

A, you are in danger of just making a documentary, especially if you still plan to play yourself as lead. Also, if you choose A... Maybe you could change the dream from making a film to something else... The idea of watching a film that tells the story of how you came to make that film seems a bit of a strange concept.... It could work as a quirky, tongue in cheek comedy.... But as a drama?

 

[Ketch Rossi]

I voted B. I would avoid taking on a project that holds such deep, personal significance for your first feature.

We recently produced a short film based on my own childhood. We shot out of state, we had a great crew and spent about 65k of my own money. The story holds great personal meaning, of course. I wish I had done another half dozen shorts before we had shot it, though. The final piece is pretty good and holds a lot of the power that I wanted it to possess, but it could have been better. There are so many things we could have done better. I wish I had been more experienced before we attempted it.

My 2 cents.

CB

Thanks Christopher, and yes, I too, have put great tough on this but I don't consider it an issue either way, as even so this will be my first Film, I consider myself to have had plenty of time on and experience in and off set to tackle anything at this particular time, of course given even that, the true experience of making your very full length feature film will be entirely an other story...

First story is the one you can relate to and extract the most important parts. It has a true experienced emotional basis giving it a precious advantage. It is also more unique.

Second one is already seen a bunch of times.

Thanks Hrvoje, and in part I do agree with you, even so I like to think that my story has a unique perspective to it, it is nonetheless a story that has been told before in a way or an other, but then so it is the other, again, in a way or an other, were this of course is rendered most unique do to the particular sets of personal events which in turn help make it its own story..

Hmm, hard choice. A is ultimately the story you most want to tell Ketch, bit I would probably go to 2 first. It can be a brutal film and Ican see it selling well. I would explore the captivity bit and the raping bit more, its something that catches the atention of both the critics and audiences. Filming style and pace is key here. Don't go for melodrama. My advice is you could base this on a true story you know, but take creative liberties and take this story and premise further as a cinematic experience. Can be something interesting and with the right actors, art design, script and sensibility to approach the subject, be a film that catches the eyes of bigger investors for "Film A". You can focus the budget for kick ass actors, screenplay and art design on that piece as well as technical crew. Make sure the script is spot on perfect on the dialogues and structure and get amazing actors. Then, the awards and investors will follow for the big one. (In fact, I would leave perseverance as your 3rd or 4th film). Italy needs a new strong italian director. I think your "8 and a half weeks"(Fellini film) can wait. Make your La Strada and La Dolce Vita first!

Thanks Sergio,

very well put, and I completely agree with you, on all your points, just still confused on the final choice of A or B...

Ketch, although I hope that some day you get to tell both stories, if you were to have just one chance, which story would you lean towards to?

I get the gist that A is the story that is closely embedded to you, and that you really want to tell someday, whereas B, though still a great story, it seems to be the easier story to tell for you (both for financial and personal reasons). That's my opinion though, I may be wrong.

Ces,

that is a great question with an easy answer, as I would not want to for any reason not been able ot keep my Promise, so it would have to be "A"!!

No, you are not wrong as B will be surely easier for me to make, even so I must admit it also hold great personal fillings very deeply in the story, but not as deep and as important as story A.

I say flip a coin... Then you can blame the decision on fate and focus on the execution of the film instead. As I think you would get trough with any of them.

He he, I did tough of that too Björn but then I would always regret not having made an argument for it before end as I am now, and I thank you for you vote of confidence in my capacity, much appreciated.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

I'd probably go with B, as, although it is a based on fact... you can step back a bit and develop the characters more.

A, you are in danger of just making a documentary, especially if you still plan to play yourself as lead. Also, if you choose A... Maybe you could change the dream from making a film to something else... The idea of watching a film that tells the story of how you came to make that film seems a bit of a strange concept.... It could work as a quirky, tongue in cheek comedy.... But as a drama?

Thanks Jay,

actually I would be one of the Leads on either one, were of course there will be couple of younger versions of me in A, and in B the actual main role belongs to one of the Female leads.


But no, the story can not and will not be changed for A, it has raised great interest as is, and even so you are right were there can be the risk of making a Documentary, in all actuality it is in fact my intention to make a Dramatic and Inspirational DocuFilm, but of course much more on the Film side...

 

[Jacques Mersereau]

Make the movie you can finish. I have written two scripts, "Evil Exists" and "The Bedmate."
Evil Exists needs major funding, which is why I wrote The Bedmate,
because there was little chance of raising the millions to make the 'block buster trilogy franchise.'
I was advised to write a 'cabin in the woods' movie that I could actually afford to make with
minimal budget. Even so it will NOT be easy!!! Any well made movie take money for the talented team who makes it,
even if they are all vastly underpaid.

Do you have scripts for either movie? If so, pass them around and get some response.

I think you want to shoot A, but if you cannot afford to finish it... that would be bad.
No one wants to start a project, get the plane high in the air, run out of gas half way through and let everyone down who went to bat for you.
B seems more doable on the surface. If it does well, you can then afford to make A. That's my plan anyway.

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

I would typ A.

Why?

Make your own story is only way to success even if it costs more!!!

B is OK story but there are so many stories in that direction, it's a difficult to get sense of originality even if you would have chance to have the best cast possible, location, cinematographer, crew, post, etc,.....