Hello,
This is my first posting, so go easy 🙂
I wrote a screenplay a couple of years ago, sent it out to a few companies, one even initially expressed an interest in it, but couldn't get the finance.
Anyway, I decided that I wasn't really cut out for a career in the film industry.
I still love the idea of being involved in a film though, even (in fact especially) a low budget one. Inspired by these fan films that are doing the rounds, I came up with the idea of a collabartive film.
The idea is that people wishing to be involved would invest a small amount towards the cost of the film, say $50, in return they would be given a copy of the screenplay and access to a private internet discussion forum where they can discuss script changes, take votes etc. Casting would also be done by people posting up their details and investors voting on who should get which role.
Those investors unable to be at the filming (e.g. those who live overseas) would be able to keep track of production progress via the website, and could watch rough cuts of that days filming.
Once the film is complete, each investor would receive a copy of the film on DVD (since they are so cheap to duplicate these days).
The hope would be that it would attract people like me who have no experience of film making, but have always wanted to get involved in a film, but also film students (especially those with access to equipment 😉 who would actually know what they are doing and can practice their trade.
Obviously at $50 per investor it would need hundreds of investors, which would be an uphill struggle, and too many cooks spoiling the broth comes to mind on the script front. But I reckon it could be a lot of fun. I've even popped up a website for it at http://www.backtothefantail.com - obviously I'm not taking any money at the moment, only getting people to register interest.
What's your thoughts? Has it been done before? Have I overlooked anything? Like I say, I don't care if the film makes Crossroads (UK Soap) look like High Art - I'm just interested in the experience of being involved in a film production.
Any advice gratefully accepted!
John King
http://www.backtothefantail.com
I've been involved in six projects like this. Not a single one ever got made.
As you pointed out the "too-many-cooks" syndrome becomes very real, very quickly. Most people who want to be involved in making a movie really want to be involved in making it.
I'm that way. I don't really like the idea of giving someone $50, reading about how much fun they are all having in the UK making a fun movie while I'm stick in the States wishing I could afford to be there helping out. And then getting a copy of the final movie.
If you can figure out a way to make something like this work, I'm all for it! I'd love to be involved in a movie made this way.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
