Creating a local film group and festival

Elliot

Elliot

Hi everyone. I would like to share an idea with you where people in a community get together to make their own (short) films and hire or create a room to use for the showing of their work.
This video gives you the outline of the concept.

Obviously there are more details to discuss, so if you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to post them and I will get back to you.

View it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3Ff5N6VIJc
 
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As someone who has put on over 20 screenings and organized a local film group, I applaud anyone who puts in that kind of work and how much it benefits everyone.

It's not rocket science and it's pretty common sense. All you have to do is actually do it, that's all. It's a mountain of work and there is very little appreciation, but it's something that most people need.
 
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I agree with Sonnyboo about the work and lack of appreciation. We started one in our area, but it is hard to maintain interest after the first year and some conflict among members. unfortunately, there are a lot of people with big egos in the film community. With luck you can get a few people to help, but trying to have them make a steady commitment and get back to you timely is a problem.
 
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Elliot said:
Hi everyone. I would like to share an idea with you where people in a community get together to make their own (short) films and hire or create a room to use for the showing of their work.
This video gives you the outline of the concept.
Click to expand...
Welcome to indietalk, Elliot.

I think this is an excellent idea. When are you going to do it?
 
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Thanks to everyone for their replies (and to sonnyboo for sorting out the link for me!).
I am trying to set one up in my home town, which is Wolverhampton in England, although I don't currently live there. I'm trying to get some friends to get involved who live there and meet up when I go back to visit this Xmas.
I understand about the possible loss of interest over time but that all comes down to good leadership and organisation.
What needs to be done first is try to find people who have an interest in filming, directing, acting and writing and try to assemble a group that will form a film project plan and then get the basics done, i.e. writing a short script, finding the setting, getting actors and props, etc.
Basically, as we can see on YT and loads of other video sites, people like doing this even though their work will probably only be viewed by a few people, so there is the potential to get started already.
I would like to get a team together as soon as possible, tell them the criteria needed to make it work and then pass over the work to them.
It can, of course, work pretty much anywhere as it can be done with a camcorder or digital camera and a computer to edit and produce it.
If the various teams can get together a collection of 5 or 10 minute shorts, they would need to find a place for the screening. It doesn't need to be a cinema, it could even be done in bar.
The idea is that if you can get your features shown to people and just 1 or 2 people say they think it's great what they've done, this can give the incentive to go out and do more.
The reason I posted it here is that I would happily give the whole concept to anyone who wanted to set up their own version. The only thing I would aim to get from this is the knowledge that I've helped to give people their own opportunities to create something that could earn them a little money but mostly so that they feel motivated to do something that they enjoy doing and would like to spend their time on.
It's part of my philosophy to improve the quality of people's lives without needing much to begin with.
 
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Morris said:
I agree with Sonnyboo about the work and lack of appreciation. We started one in our area, but it is hard to maintain interest after the first year and some conflict among members. unfortunately, there are a lot of people with big egos in the film community. With luck you can get a few people to help, but trying to have them make a steady commitment and get back to you timely is a problem.
Click to expand...
Of course, egos can always get carried away but keeping on top of them is part of the leadership role. It would need to be spelled out to people that this is their chance to do what they like to do but without expecting it to become big. Too many people expect to reach dizzying heights of success when you can still get satisfaction from small achievements. The competition element I think should be avoided and instead the collaboration and support of other groups who are also working in the project should be emphasised.
 
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We were much better off when we were less formal. After we incorporated, the clerk embezzled the money. He still has an arrest warrant out for him. He was referred by our mayor's office.
 
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I'm trying to set up a similar thing in London, but more like an informal collective of young filmmakers. Basically so that people who might otherwise not have enough crew or actors can pool resources and make better films as a result.

So I applaud anyone doing anything similar!
 
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NickClapper said:
I'm trying to set up a similar thing in London, but more like an informal collective of young filmmakers. Basically so that people who might otherwise not have enough crew or actors can pool resources and make better films as a result.

So I applaud anyone doing anything similar!
Click to expand...

That's great Nick. Are you working along similar lines or do you have a different angle?
It would be good to share ideas so that we could find an ideal plan that anyone could implement.
 
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Elliot said:
That's great Nick. Are you working along similar lines or do you have a different angle?
It would be good to share ideas so that we could find an ideal plan that anyone could implement.
Click to expand...

My idea was more so that, particularly young, filmmakers could gather informally to exhibit and collaborate.

One of the main inhibiting factors in young people making films is that they don't know enough people who have similar interests but are interested in different parts of filmmaking. So hopefully we can get Directors, Writers, Producers, Composers, Sound Engineers, Production Designers...etc to all meet and collaborate, making the whole process easier for everyone involved...

At least that's the idea :D
 
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Cool. That sounds similar to my outline. I'm sure you will, but I hope you're going to focus on the need for teamwork and sharing ideas. We really need to bring people together to make something like this work. What you should do is aim to inspire them, make them feel like they really can achieve things, even though it will be on a small scale at first.
Have you already started this project? Or when are you planning to?
 
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sonnyboo said:
All you have to do is actually do it, that's all. It's a mountain of work and there is very little appreciation, but it's something that most people need.
Click to expand...

As someone who has been screened and did need the exposure, I think you'd be surprised just how appreciated people like you are. It's a fantastic thing you do.
 
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O.k. Have you made a facebook group? (edit. Now I see you have.) Or you could post a message on one that is about cinema to ask for people.
Mine is for Wolverhampton but as I don't live in the UK, I'd need to get some people interested, tell them all about it and pass it on to them.
edit. Your homepage link needs correcting. There's no .com in it. ;)
 
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