A teen feature- Is it possible?

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fernando97echeverria

So I know how Scorsese, Nolan, Aronofsky and technically Kubrick broke into the industry with a feature they made on their own money. I want this career more than anything, so I ask this:

I have a 97-minute screenplay set in high school about a teen finding redemption for a friend's suicide. It's plot and dialogue driven, requires simple sets (school, home, gas station) and is not psychedelic/trippy like other films on this topic (Archie's Final Project etc.) I want to take a serious approach on teen suicide and its effects.

My friends love the *Screenplay*, I wrote some of the characters with them in mind so I think I could be able to convince them to participate in possibly a shoot spread throughout a month? I have a Canon 7D with two lens (one 50mm, other wide angle) and will soon buy a Sennheiser shotgun mic. Hopefully I win this contest so I have 500 for lighting. And I think I have enough spare money to buy food.

If I really work hard, with this equipment and friends, at age 15, could I really possibly make a feature that would garner at least some attention?

Thanks for any input.
 
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Just gotta remember that to get noticed, you need to have hollywood (or better) level cinematography, acting, sound, story, direction, set design, lighting, etc... It's possible to do on a low budget at any wage, just hard.

If it's easy it's probably not worth doing though, right?

Have you made any shorts? Diving into a feature without any production experience and a team of volunteers who are equally unexperienced sounds like a nightmare.
 
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"Some" attention? Yes.

"Some" $tudio $funding$ for your next big project? Hmm... very low probability, like lottery winning probabilities, but lottery winning possible.


PaulGriffith said:
Have you made any shorts? Diving into a feature without any production experience and a team of volunteers who are equally unexperienced sounds like a nightmare.
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+1

Yeppppp.
 
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rayw said:
"Some" $tudio $funding$ for your next big project? Hmm... very low probability, like lottery winning probabilities, but lottery winning possible.
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To quote a crappy movie, "I don't need easy...just possible." :lol:

And yeah, I've actually made two "features" (57-60minutes) with these guys before, although with a DV camera and nothing else.

Lately though I've practiced making shorts with the 7D and friends, I'll definitely be doing a few shorts with the mic when it comes in. The feature's probably a year or two away, I just wanted a few opinions on the plan.

Also: I'll be giving the three lead roles that require breakdowns/crying to friends in the theater department who do some tv/film acting classes. :D
 
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Sweet, go for it. Make a lot of shorts focusing on different areas, honing your craft. Hammer out workflow on set, learn how to lead and work together, then making your feature at the old age of 17 you'll be a lot farther ahead than most.

Again, make it great.

Taking high school theater classes doesn't make you an actor, like taking english doesn't make you a writer. Consider doing real casting and not just giving feature roles to friends. If you have a friend or two that's a legitimately great actor, then write around them for sure. Sorting the "breakdowns/crying" stuff to people who take classes and your cousins playing the other parts probably won't get you the calibre of actors you need to garner the attention you want.

Edit:
Not trying to be negative, I think doing all this in high school is awesome, just want point out the details and concerns that become more obvious with experience.
 
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Oh, yeah, definitely, man. Thanks a lot for your advice. I'll be working more with the acting house with good actors who aren't even acquainted with me, yet. I'll be waiting for a good time to make the feature, whether it be next year, or the next.

Thanks!
 
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PaulGriffith said:
Just gotta remember that to get noticed, you need to have hollywood (or better) level cinematography, acting, sound, story, direction, set design, lighting, etc... It's possible to do on a low budget at any wage, just hard.
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I don't actually agree with that. "Following" looks good, but not Hollywood good. And "Puffy Chair" just straight-up looks and sounds like crap (though I do think it's a very good movie).

I think story and acting are most important, and sound is a close third. I mean really everything is important. But my point is that though you should make it as best as you can, it doesn't have to be Hollywood quality to get you noticed.

And yes, to answer the original question, I see no reason why high school students can't pull this off. I'd recommend doing it during Summer break. Obviously, there are a million variables that would effect how much time you'd need to invest in production, but I'd say 200 hours of production is a good ball-park estimate. If you've got really dedicated cast/crew, you could knock that out in a month. I knocked it out in a month, but I was paying people. If they're volunteers, it might be more reasonable to spread it out over a Summer break?

Good luck!
 
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Cracker Funk said:
I think story and acting are most important, and sound is a close third.
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I agree. People are very forgiving if the story is great as well as
the acting and audio. Especially when they know what they are
seeing.

My only issue with your film, fernando97echeverria, is your
theme. All 12 to 20 year olds are fascinated by teen suicide. I
made mine - many of us do. But general audiences aren't
interested so you're market is quite narrow. And you will need
to be better than amazing in your writing, your directing and
your choice of actors.

Go to any student film festival and most of the movies are about
suicide. Then look at the successful independent features and
you'll find very few are about suicide.

Of course you should try it. But you are facing an even MORE difficult
battle because of your suicide plot.
 
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I don't see why not. When I was 15 I attempted a feature film but ended up with an awful 17min one - I learn't so much from it. I don't see a down side. At the time I only had a low quality handy cam but I guess now with DSLRs not only can anyone make a film but now anyone can make a high quality one too!X
 
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