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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Help Me Make My Debut Feature Film!

I agree, not original at all. Now days, it would be original to make movie with normal man and woman love relations theme,now that would be a refreshment...
As George said:Maybe if you come up with a better idea .... any naked chicks in this guys closet?
 
If you decide to go with the trailer idea be careful not to shoot a consumer trailer. Often times consumer trailers don't show the investors what they need to know which is you know how to write/direct a scene and that the actors can in fact act. Film investors (exec producers) tend to disregard consumer trailers cause frankly you can make a turd look decent by cutting the hell out of it.

Good luck with your pitch. Personally I would steer clear from the word "pain". It's much too vague and worst of all it eludes to the subconscious - which is very tough to film. You don't want someone thinking your movie will be about people sitting around talking about their problems or worse yet, thinking about them. Consider verbiage that projects action and plot.
 
I wouldn't abandon the donation idea all together though. If you need $75k total, break that down to something in the $5-10k area and look for donations for that amount. With the site, mention your total goal, and periodically update a current total. If you want to see my donation site, send me a PM; I still have it up, but blocked from public view, until I have it reviewed by a securities lawyer, since I'm asking for a fairly high amount.
 
Gay interest films

Gay interest films

I went to the opening night "Premiere" of the Gay interest film

"Eating Out 3 (ALL YOU CAN EAT) ", you can see the trailer here,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCS9SYon2JY

I follow that market segment because I follow various issues relating to low budget filmmaking.

I think he said his budget was about in your range and the production was about one week.

The projection was in video. Several of the Gay interest films I have seen were projected in video at the Castro. I have noticed that films projected in video seem to draw a smaller audience, but it would be hard to base that just on the projection, I enjoy watching 35mm prints more because they look more like a "movie" myself. When I get the time I hope to do some more work on my DIY film recorder program, so far tests using a 1600x1200 LCD monitor look good on 2383 projected. Movie prints are only about 1280x720 as projected on the screen a little out of focus, as studies have shown.

At the first Show at the ROXIE there were maybe 20-30 older men filling the medium size theatre. Its hard to say how many paid because I think there was a "friends" list at the box office and many of the people were there with the Director and Actors billed as showing up for Q and A.

During Q and A the director and producer stated that in their first two films there were able to work percentage deals for the music rights, but for the third film the had to pay fixed fees.

He also said that it is VERY HARD to get a Gay interest film distributed unless it is part of a trilogy that has had a track record of attendance. I notices that Crispin Glover is also working on a trilogy, so far he as shown parts one and two at the Castro.

It seems Gay people do not automaticly go see Gay films in theatres, and without cross-over attendance from other minority groups you do not get enough sets filled to break even on the cost of the house.

It seems the Gay market is heavy on the DVD sales, and the theatre showings is just for marketing at or near a loss for the most part.

I have noticed that when most straight couples go to a multi-plex the girl looks at what is showing and decides what they will see, and the guy goes along because he is just going there with here for "provider points" with other goals in mind. So if 80% of the time the girl picks the film, why would she pick a film about a Gay boy with Physiological issues? I don't see a Chniese guy saying to his girl friend "Oh, honey let see the Gay movie tonight!", is it going to get her in the right "mood"?

You might want to contact the Director and Producer of the "Eating Out" series, they have been there and done that and could probably give you some real contacts that might help.

http://www.ariztical.com/

==

On the "how do it get $75000". If you come to San Francisco and pitch your idea in person to (Gay) Tourists you might be able to get $20 each with the promise of "preorders" for your DVD, just keep track of their names and mail them the finished movie. Not quite legal, but you can work out the details. Even if you just ask for $1 from 500 to 2000 people a day you might get what you need in time. Because the (Gay) tourists may be from Europe you may need multi-region DVDs for order fulfillment.

==

Have you contacted the "Film Arts Foundation" they might be able to get you some funding, more so maybe if you have your work done at labs they are associated with.

http://www.filmarts.org/

It seems from there web site's home page that they are not doing as well as before or something, as the whole indy filmmaking area is going somehere during the digital conversion.

Anyway if you contact the people listed they may know of some other org that is still going.

==

The Center may know some wealthy people that are LGBT that could donate, although I am not sure they would share that information since they probably look for that money for their needs also.

http://www.sfcenter.org/

If you got a job working for such an org you might peek into the Rolodex to see the donor contact info, not that that would be legal or moral. You may be able to scan "donor lists" that some org publish and track down those people in person at donor parties or receptions and such for in person contact.

==

A penny saved is a penny earned, so don't discount that you may not have developed the most efficient budget, process photography can be used to reduce budgets and is used so in all major films today.

If you are inflexible with cost reductions and are asking for gifts it gives the impression that you are a spendthrift with other peoples money and that cannot help your cause.
 
Adil Lahoulou said:
Film investors (exec producers) tend to disregard consumer trailers cause frankly you can make a turd look decent by cutting the hell out of it.
Click to expand...

My experience with investors is they want to know what the poster and trailer are first. If it's not a compelling, commercial idea they won't even get into considering whether you can direct.

Having said that, if a person can get a trailer shot then they can certainly build in time to shoot a dramatic scene. They could use it for some proof of their ability to work with actors.
 
Djordje said:
I agree, not original at all. Now days, it would be original to make movie with normal man and woman love relations theme,now that would be a refreshment...
As George said:Maybe if you come up with a better idea .... any naked chicks in this guys closet?
Click to expand...

Well, Given That I'm A Proud Homosexual, I'd Rather Write & Create A Film Based On Personal Experiences Then What My Hetero Friends Tell Me They Deal With. Sorry Man. For The Record, Same Sex Relationships are COMPLETELY Normal. :001_tongue:

......

Thanks for all the info Dan, Helps Allot :)
 
Besides all the wonderful advice above... you mentioned something about paying for music. Not in your budget. Go find up and coming artists that fit the film and cost nothing. And who would be grateful for a chance to be heard in a real feature.

This type of film may not make 75K back. Think about slashing the budget. Of finding some rich friends who don't care about losing it.

As for "not original" I have to agree. You claimed it was original, but didn't show anything to substantiate the claim. From what you've posted, there's no reason for an objective observer to conclude you've written the next big original gay movie.
 
Mike

Ace's advice is really good - especially about shooting a trailer and targeting your market more directly for financing.

I went to art school with a couple of guys in Australia back in the mid 90s. Their finished piece for graduation was a brilliant trailer for a film that never got made. They didn't give up. They made another trailer (think they spent about $40,000 on it). They managed to gather a $1mill budget to make the trailer into a feature. Long story short is these talented but fairly unassuming guys I went to school with ended up making the most successful horror franchise of all time - 'Saw'. It takes both talent and persistence to get a film financed. It was probably more the persistence side of the equation that got them the money.

If you haven't read it already - get yourself a copy of 'From Reel to Deal' by Dov Simens. It's a gem of a resource for for indie film making with a lot of practical advice about independent financing.

Good luck with it.

Cam

PS - Also the advice on not paying heaps for music clearances and finding independent bands or composers to score your film is sensible.
 
Very Cool Story About Saw. Really Enjoyed The First Film, The Sequels Are Lame (my opinion)

Thank you everyone for your advice, i will take it to heart. :)


:closed2ur0:
 
Actually a mate of mine in NZ posted this - he's an indie film promoter and runs film festivals (NZ 48hours among them) - not really relevant until the film is made but it is a good idea of how 'traditional' funds can be distributed in clever ways:

Anyone short of five thousand in cash should give the below a read.

+++Film Distributor Gives Away Marketing Budget+++

A horror film is the focus of an unusual and unprecedented marketing directive. Local film promoter Ant Timpson will be giving away the marketing budget of [REC] 2, the sequel to last years acclaimed horror hit [REC]. The film [REC] 2, fresh from its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival will be released in select New Zealand cinemas on Friday 13th of November.

A few weeks ago Jill Macnab, the Marketing Manager from Vendetta Films approached Timpson about the possibility of [REC] 2 achieving a limited theatrical release with little to no marketing spend for the film.

Timpson accepted the challenge.

"Vendetta had a few thousand to release the film, which basically meant a couple of newspaper ads and a tiny radio campaign. With that spend on traditional media, you'd be lucky to even alert the films core fanbase. I suggested we simply giveaway the marketing budget as a prize to whoever creates the most "Buzz" about the films upcoming November 13th release. Instead of using static old media, I thought it'd be fun to see some innovative creative people (designers, media students, film fans, show-offs) think outside the box and raise awareness for the film in surprising and entertaining ways online and offline. We've also made all the marketing materials available for anyone to download and use. At present my bad photoshop of the Prime Minister as a zombie is in the lead to win five thousand dollars cash. It'd be a sad indictment on NZ's creative contingent if that won!"

www.rec2.co.nz

Will be interesting to see how successful this approach is.

Cam
 
Ace said:
Shoot the trailer.
Click to expand...

Agree 1000% percent. It will be your calling card for the film.

These are different than the theatrical trailers you see in theaters. This is a working trailer for raising money and interest in the film, but also gives you - the filmmaker - a solid perspective for the film, and a lot more confidence when looking for support.

Pick the top story points you can reasonably film - you don't need the 'real' locations, props, actors, etc., to do this. As close as you can get to it to sell the story.

This promo trailer (also heard them called sizzle reels) will be included in your promo packets. I can send you a sample promo script if you like.

Best of luck.

alex

www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
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