budget How much to do these?

Hello everyone,

First, the good news - some of my students have passed their bar exams and will be staying on as lawyers in my firm, even as the next group of students take their place. I have at least one more goal in Canada, for which I've got no results despite years of trying, and I've given myself five years to accomplish it - if nothing happens by then, I may retire; if something does happen, I may continue for 10 - 20 years, to finish my journey.

With this in mind, believe it or not, I'm thinking of filming some short scenes, just to get it out of my system. I've been typing about this for over 15 years, so I want to see if I really want to be a filmmaker after I retire from law. If not, I can still talk about it, for the time I'm around, and read and write books.

I'm therefore wondering if the experts can give their thoughts on this. I have the following scenes that have been buzzing around in my head.

Leisure Man

Years ago, I started a thread about people eating while talking to others, which is rude, because the others are not eating with him. Members of this forum hae suggested that is a sign of power, to show that those others have to organize their schedule around the person having his meal. From this, I have taken a character from the William Holden movie, "The Counterfeit Spy" where the British spymaster is eating breakfast and is a bit pompous.

Leisure Man would be a spy master, and there would be three scenes of him eating breakfast, dinner, and at a sauna/spa. In each scene, this pompous ass would be talking to others, and, when all three scenes are viewed, the audience would see he's talking on both sides of his mouth (contradictory statements). This would indicate hgw spooks use deception and falsehood to the outside world, though he is a dedicated professional. A few years ago, when I was at the AFM, I did a scene with someone who worked in the industry, and I found that to be an emotionally-powerful experience, so I would like to go through that again. I'm thinking of casting the proverbial British nobility or a Boston Brahman for Leisure Man.


Creator

This would be a conversation where a ship's captain would meet and talk to a representative of a highly advanced alien species. Again, I discussed this years ago, where he would be transported to a white space - which the alien says is null space - and discuss the nature of creation as well as the nature of God. In a different scene, that captain would have a further encounter with that alien, when they meet at a garden planet, which was paradise.


Enemy General (EG)

I haven't fleshed out this character. There would be at least one scene, where EG would be at the end of the war, sending out orders with his adjutant for their troops to hold the line. A soldier from the other side would then step into the scene, salute and apologize, saying that EG was now a prisoner. EG and the adjutant look around to see that they're surrounded, so they raise their hands. This is taken from a real scene in WW2, when a German general was captured even as he was directing the defensive forces.

In a follow up scene, the EG would realize they've been captured by juniors, so he keeps complaining as to how they're not fully trained. This is taken from an episode in Young Indiana Jones, where Indy and his colleague capture General von Lettow-Vorbeck, who rants and raves at them.



I am willing to pay standard rates for these read throughs. I'm also wondering, since these are just rehearsals, if one actor can play all of them, to be more cost efficient. I've never done this before, so I would welcome ideas and price quotes. Thank you very much.
 
Solution
@directorik, I should apologize, not you, because I'm confusing the two. I'm thinking of short scenes with little or no props - like the improvs at the theatre that would be filmed.

I understand an actor would be $150 - $250 per day. What about a crew to shoot, say, two or three actors rehearsing for one day, and, if it becomes two days, would it be double or less than double.
A day rate is just that. No discounts for more days.

Figure the crew rates at between $100/day to $500/day. It depends (have
I used that before?) on their crew position. And how many you need for a
shoot like this depends on several factors - something I have written about
often. What you want to do could cost $2,500 or $7,500. It could also be...
I don't have a complete screenplay, but I would like to film some odds and ends, to see if I really want to be a film maker.
This is the part I find confusing. For me, "to be a film maker" means to aspire to be a director or producer (or even a mogul) for which one needs two key elements: a story and a camera. From all that you've said over the years, you still have neither of these.

Even so, what's stopping you from picking up a camera (camcorder, smartphone, DSLR, whatever) and filming some "odds and ends" yourself with two willing friends or relatives? That'd give you a real feel for what it's like to work with all the different variables - technical and directorial - that contribute to "making a film".

Instead of nibbling away at the two-people-talking concept for another decade, why not film one person from your entourage doing an unboxing of a gift they receive over the holiday season? You'd start with a ready-made "story", the only prop necessary, and a chance to rehearse your directing skills for twenty minutes.
 
@directorik, I should apologize, not you, because I'm confusing the two. I'm thinking of short scenes with little or no props - like the improvs at the theatre that would be filmed.

I understand an actor would be $150 - $250 per day. What about a crew to shoot, say, two or three actors rehearsing for one day, and, if it becomes two days, would it be double or less than double.
A day rate is just that. No discounts for more days.

Figure the crew rates at between $100/day to $500/day. It depends (have
I used that before?) on their crew position. And how many you need for a
shoot like this depends on several factors - something I have written about
often. What you want to do could cost $2,500 or $7,500. It could also be
done for $1,000.
@directorik did give quotes - please scroll up.
Rik, looking at what Leisure Man is going to say, that would take 30 minutes, max. I understand a professional shoot can take several hours for that, but I don't know.
Because of the nature of this business actors and crew do not charge by the
hour. We charge by the day. It's the same rate for a one hour day or a ten
hour day.

I have mentioned (many times) that what you want to do is doable. I know many
of the filmmakers here resist or simply do not understand your method because
they (we) all think like filmmakers - you don't. And I get it.

I have always encouraged you do just do it.

Once you are ready to actually do this I will offer realistic quotes.
 
Solution
@sfoster, I've never shot a frame of film.
I mean this in the most constructive, positive way possible - it appears you have no love for the creative process.
I have to agree with rik on this one, you don't think like a filmmaker.

I would go a step further and say you don't think like a filmmaker because you aren't a filmmaker.
So what do you actually want, if it isn't to create film?

I'd say the answer is staring us all right in the face, it's right there in your username.
You're not Aspiring Director. You're not Aspiring Writer. You're Aspiring Mogul.

Your motivation, what you want, is to be important for importance sake.
If that's true, then the sooner you can accept that about yourself, the sooner you can get on the right track.

We talk about directing a lot on here, but our most successful indie creative, Mara, doesn't direct.
Maybe instead of being a director you could start your own production company?

Finance other peoples films instead of your own?
The production company A24 has cultivated an excellent filmography and now it's very name invokes respect.

If you were the guy that started A24 I think you'd have all the success, respect and recognition that you're seeking.
 
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His retirement plan has always been to be a mogul in his retirement. To create a franchise as popular as Star Wars after retiring as a lawyer. Yet he still doesn't even know if he likes filmmaking and wants to film a few scenes to see. And he's been a member since 2011. That's where we are. Just sayin.
 
To create a franchise as popular as Star Wars after retiring as a lawyer.

Star wars would've been so much better if they got rid of those stupid light sabers and talked it out instead.
Really gotta wonder WTF george lucas was thinking
 
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We talk about directing a lot on here, but our most successful indie creative, Mara, doesn't direct.
Maybe instead of being a director you could start your own production company?
Thanks for the shout out :)

But to your point, which I agree with:

I'm currently working with a team of people to get my latest screenplay produced.
One of the producers is actively working with several OTHER people to set up a production company along the lines of Blumhouse, but for
[I'm not at liberty to mention the genre] rather than horror.

This guy doesn't write or direct. He produces. That's what he wants to do.

Will he succeed? I have no idea. But I think it's a terrific idea and I'm eager to see what happens.
 
@directorik, OK, I'm not price sensitive - if it's $2,500.00 - $7,500.00, let's do it. We'll start with Leisure Man and, if feasible, do some scenes with the Creator and Enemy General. I will email you, and, please, reply.

@indietalk, I know most of you are on my side, except for the occasional troll. And don't worry, as a divorce lawyer, I have a thick skin - if you think your posts are hurtful, think of what I do to opposing parties. 😄

Anyway, Rik, start from Leisure Man - suppose we do the three scenes, they would seem to be less than 5 minutes. Who wants to do the scripts?
 
I know that one of the reasons you want to do this is to see if you
really want to be a filmmaker. Filming a rehearsal/read-through won't
give you any reasonable look at filmmaking. You need to make a
short film.

But first you need to make a decision:
Do you want to be the producer?
Do you want to be the producer/writer?
Do you want to direct?
I remember at one point you were thinking about playing one of the parts.
Do you want to be the producer/writer/actor?

Making a short film can be done simply – no sets, few props. However
I suggest you choose ascene with three to five characters. You won't
get a feel for what itt akes to be a filmmaker with the three Leisure Man
scenes you have posted. Take those scenes, expand them a little and
include a couple more characters.

And get those time frames out of your head. Doing an exercise like this
will show you how long it takes to shoot even a simple scene. Not a
read-through or rehearsal.
 
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