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...
Aspiring Mogul playing the victim.
Again, this scene could be a 20-second movie, but, again, whenever I propose something, the forum regulars tell me I'm wasting my time ...... then tell me to film something, anything ...... then tell me that I'm wasting my time.
This is not supported by facts. This is you playing the victim to excuse
your lack of forward motion on making a movie. I suspect you didn't
even read my post about it. The forum regulars have been very supportive
of you and your proposals.

I am the only one (I think) who said filming a table read is a waste of time.
And I stand by it. Many have said filming a table read is NOT film making
and they are right. You will not hear the difference because then you stop
being the victim. I suggested ON THIS thread you take the scenes you
have and film them as a movie - a 20 second movie. And I have made that
suggestion many times before.

15 years ago I said I would be willing to take part in your film project and I
say it today; I would be willing to take part in your film project. I even said
I would be willing to take part in filming a table read. But in my professional
experience filming a table read is a waste of time. That opinion doesn't make
you a victim of the forum regulars.

Even your film mentor has suggested what I suggested to you many years ago
What most of those posting here have suggested. But like any good lawyer you
carefully ignore that most people are telling you and focus on what suits your
victimhood.
 
@directorik, what role would you be playing in the production of the movie? The Director of Photography? Surely you wouldn't be Chief Procrastinator - that's my role. My mentor is going to be the Producer, by the way.
I think my screen name tells the story. It isn't directorofphotographyrik.

Your mentor suggests you make a proof of concept to show at AFM.
What is the concept you would prove you can accomplish?
 
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@directorik

The notes I sent to him were works on a historical fantasy, being the legend of King Arthur as set after the fall of Rome. This is inspired by the late Jack Whyte, who lived in British Columbia and whom I met before his untimely passing. Jack didn't seem to believe in magic, but I like magic and dragons, and I don't like being bound by historical events.

Unlike most films on ancient Rome, however, this will not be mindless action. Can anyone guess what the Romans will be doing? 😁
 
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