Why do you make films?

roethatboat

roethatboat

I'm really just trying to get to know everyone here a little more, and I thought this thread would be a good way to do that.

So, why do you make films?

Just for fun? To show off your skill to friends? Are you trying to get into "Hollywood" (by that, I don't just mean the place itself, I mean the big budget movie industry in general)? Is it out of boredom? Do you need a creative outlet?

Please share.

For me, I do it for fun, and as a creative outlet. So far it's always given me something to think about, to learn about, and to get frustrated (in a bitter sweet way) over. I'd also like to break into "Hollywood" though.
 
There are two primary reasons why i make films

Foremost is that I want to create something beautiful to leave behind after I die.

The second is that I'd like to be successful, rich and famous and have parties all the time whenever I'm not working.
 
Liking the contrast there ;)

Both very good reasons.

Do you make films full time by the way? How far away are you from reason two becoming a reality? :lol:
 
roethatboat said:
Liking the contrast there ;)

Both very good reasons.

Do you make films full time by the way? How far away are you from reason two becoming a reality? :lol:
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Do I make films full time.. no I don't have the funds or cast/crew available to me. Nor have I ever written a feature. Only shorts so far.

I have a web series criminal bounds and it's taking forever to get episode 2 in the can. Schedule conflict, now my terrorist is going back to saudia arabia until march.

That's just youtube stuff for practice and less pressure for perfection.
My masterpiece short film (superhero action comedy) starts filming in june and will take a year or so to complete. A niche film to hopefully jumpstart my career. Just need to rewrite the script first. :lol:

After that I plan to do a epic sci fi fantasy feature film
 
Welcome to the IT boards, roethaboat. :)

I don't make films. =( The closest I've come, pretty much, is shooting a wedding video.

For fun, yes. And other things. To show off? Eh. I'm not trying to get into Hollywood; I'm not going to move to Los Angeles or to New York to intern as a PA and work my way up, or something. So that kind of trajectory is just pie-in-the sky for me. And I'm pretty sure I'm not going to make a low to mid-ranged budgeted breakout indie film to propel me into Hollywood, either. Anyway, I'm probably a little too antisocial for showbiz.

Yes, I do need a creative outlet.

Presently, I'm reconsidering animation as a form of filmmaking that might allow me to do some of things I'd like to do.

Hey, your efforts sound great. And I hope you do break into Hollywood.


I'm sure (and hopeful) that you'll get more upbeat responses. =P
 
Just watched that YouTube episode Foster (imma call you Foster unless you have any objections to that?), and that was some great acting! Good story too, and some great cinematography. I saw in the credits that you didn't shoot it, but how did your camera guy get that big revolving sweep shot as the captor pushed the captive up the driveway to the house?

From seeing your script in the vampire parody thread, I think a superhero comedy would be up your alley, I look forward to seeing that.

Hey richy, that's interesting. Can I ask then why you come to these forums? (out of curiosity)

Is it because you just like the community, or watching the films people here make? Or is it because you want to pursue animation a little more, like you said?
 
roethatboat said:
Just watched that YouTube episode Foster (imma call you Foster unless you have any objections to that?), and that was some great acting! Good story too, and some great cinematography. I saw in the credits that you didn't shoot it, but how did your camera guy get that big revolving sweep shot as the captor pushed the captive up the driveway to the house?
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Yeah foster is good, I'm called that a lot by my friends.

I didn't shoot it but I did conceptualize and storyboard the shots.
I usually end up holding the boom mic while I try to direct :no:

The shot that reveals the house seems to be everyones favorite :lol:
To make the background move dramatically it takes a long lens. We zoomed in a bunch and put the camera in the back of a pickup truck at 20mph.

It was one of the more difficult shots - particularly staying in focus as the car got closer and further away. Two other really cool shots got cut out but that's the way it goes sometimes.
 
Hm, that's a smart way to do it, I might try that sometime if I get a chance to test it.

So I guess you fund these out of your own pocket, foster? Does it feel worth the money to you?

Well, obviously it does, since you're doing it, but I mean, do you think you get out what you put in financially?
 
roethatboat said:
Hm, that's a smart way to do it, I might try that sometime if I get a chance to test it.

So I guess you fund these out of your own pocket, foster? Does it feel worth the money to you?

Well, obviously it does, since you're doing it, but I mean, do you think you get out what you put in financially?
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I made that first episode for about $50. It was definitely worth it.
I keep making mistakes.

I'm not yet at the point where I could give my footage to an editor and not be embarrassed. Sure I can salvage it, and I do get my story on the screen. but I have to edit around those mistakes still. I had to throw out what should have been one of the coolest camera movements because our monitor was not showing me a widescreen view. And on the outside edges of the frame there was stuff that messed up the shot. just one example.

Definitely want to make all those mistakes now and learn from them so I don't repeat those mistakes when it really counts.
 
Yeah, when I used to make games I got the frequent advice of "your first 10 games are going to be horrible and no one is going to want to play them. get them out of the way as quick as you can so you can start making better games soon."

Well, it always sounded more inspirational coming from them.

But I think the advice can go across all creative mediums, and just generally aspiring towards many things in life. Make crap now, learn from your mistakes, get better later.
 
Now I have become more practicle.

Money matters a lot in this industry.

money making too.

I'm ready to work for any body project /production house for just 500-1000 dollars per month.

It's lot for me.

I f any one interested it, check stories written by me on this site .

mail:

johnzxyx@yahoo.com
 
My love is film,I edited a feature film that will come out this year and just like foster i hope it will jump start my career in editing features (hopefully). Sadly all the $$ comes from reality television editing and i am trying to not get sucked in that world but i will edit anything that can pay the bills and keep on working on features on the side.
 
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KnightsFan said:
What kind of games did you work on? I'm sort of into game design as well.
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I did a few things for mobile, worked on a few team projects, made a fairly nice amount of money and built a strong social presence (for a teenager, anyway) but the indie games industry is constantly filled with drama and there's more talk there of social equality than there is of actual games. Not really my thing anymore, I guess.
 
I really love putting films together...I guess that's how I think of the process...it's like a material thing...perfect a shot, know where and how it fits in...sort of like working a puzzle...i find that whether i'm on a set with a budget or just f'ing around in the living room with clamp lights and a nikon cool pix, the feeling is the same :)
 
roethatboat said:
I did a few things for mobile, worked on a few team projects, made a fairly nice amount of money and built a strong social presence (for a teenager, anyway) but the indie games industry is constantly filled with drama and there's more talk there of social equality than there is of actual games. Not really my thing anymore, I guess.
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Cool! Mobile is definitely not my area. I've never owned a phone capable of playing games. I love playing around with code; I never care whether my games are fun to play as long as they're fun to build, so I obviously have no business intents with my creations. Sort of the same as my films.
 
I need to manifest what is in my head :P
I feel an urge to create.
And video is my medium for that.

And I chose to do this for a living. I mainly do corporate stuff to make money. My own stuff to spend it ;)
 
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