IndieTalk: The Movie (Story Development)

Contempovision Films said:
The films main idea: 1 film. 1 filming crew. Many writers. Many different post crews such as editing, composing, sound...
Then after this project is completed, we have the option in making films that continue from the main film/story, all around the world.
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I know what you mean media hero, but, we have discussed it, and dont think that project would ever get finished. Now when we finish this film, and have other sequels following it from around the world, and release it as a compilation, that dvd would have the worldwide appeal. I know what you mean by footage from around the world, but we will have that in the dvd package. The fact that everyone wouldnt come through with the goods is the main reason we chose to do it the way we are. And after this finishes, who knows, we will then have worked together and found out who is really willing to put in with the process, and then when we have a reliable crew worldwide, would could talk about that. I think this is the smartest way to proceed.

Also read my idea above this post!
 
Yes, I agree with the 'one country/one crew' at a time approach. Forgive my PR daydream, as it were....:lol:

Can you break down your seminar idea a little bit more? Not sure I'm tracking it clearly.
 
Thats fine Media Hero, i have had that daydream too, and as i said, once we have finished with all of this, we can find the people who WILL come through with the goods and do that too. Well thats what i was hoping, so ill cross my fingers for that!

For now, we'll say theres "the Bad guys" (BG) & "the good people" (GP)!
The BG have a big plan, i haven't fully worked out what their doing, but they have a master plan. Now for this plan to work, they need to manipulate people to do certain things. So they get worldwide buzz going for a seemingly awesome idea that everyone wants. Now they then get people GP flying in from all parts of the globe, and say "only 5 seminars ever, to be help in usa, no more will ever be held, so if you want to see this, you will have to come in one of these five days/seminars". So when the GP get there, they get hipnotize or something, and the BG do their manipulating. Then then get them to snap out of it, the people go home, feeling like they got what they originally came for (which they didnt, the BG just told them that when the GP were hypnotized). Then we do the story on how/what happens to the GP.


Now the way we could make it so we can do sequels is that we only show the first seminar in the first film, and the GP that go there, in the first film. The other seminars, we didnt see the characters that attended, so we can start with fresh characters in the sequels, from those seminars. Now i said this seminar was too perfect, so in the dialoge, we can say in the first one that they "thank everyone for coming from all around the world to attend this once off seminar". Then, in the sequels, we can see maybe what happens to those characters from the other seminars, with what happened in the first one, or even have something else done to them, so it ties into the first happening, and furthers whatever the BP were doing with the GP. It could be Phase 1 for the first film, then phase 2 for 2nd film, and so on, and this way, if the only one that ever gets made is the first film, it can/will stand alone!
 
So are we looking at some sort of jigsaw kinda thing

Where peoples action in the first film help put together some of the pieces to the puzzle …this brings us to some sort of conclusion for the first film but there are still some missing pieces… i.e. sequels

***

haven’t really read much of the last few post so kinda taking off after Spatula’s idea

What if…

A persons Computer starts to talk to them or IM them whatever…
Over time they have entered so much info into the computer that the computer knows everything about them
It tells them what to do? What?
Maybe they are just imagining their being told what to do?
Maybe there a link to the different people? A product of some sort? Takes over their brain?
What do they do?

Also I’d be wary of having too much computers so
Maybe its not their computers but another object? Light post?

****

How about go into the international element a bit more?

How about you have say…

Paddy American Man
Paddy Irish Man :beer:
Paddy English Man
Paddy Aussie Man

They could be in the same country i.e. US but with similar things happening to them…

Can later maybe develop more into their own countries…

****

oh oh wait I have it….

How about we have a group of filmmakers around the world most of which don’t know each other try to develop a film via the internet???? ….ok only joking lol :lol:
 
quinny, you said you didnt read the last few posts, check them out, i think the basis for my idea (last few threads) fits in good with how the film will be structure when filming the first one.
 
Just throwing in a random tangent idea here --

What if there was some event at which a large number of international people are gathered. Some unexpected large-scale incident happens. Maybe it is a good thing, most likely a tragic thing...that would be for writers to sort out....;) Anyway, all of the attendees return home to cope with this event in their own way. Some people use it as a catalyst to turn their lives around in a positive way, others retreat in fear and depression, the possible psychological effects go on.

This gives each crew a lot of freedom to write stories about characters and how the event affects their lives. Lilith could make her long-lost-love reunited story. Bophe could make something darker. Spatula could...eh, I don't know. But by keeping the back story a little simpler, it allows for more possibliities, more freedom, and perhaps more incentive for participation.
 
John@Bophe said:
Just throwing in a random tangent idea here --

What if there was some event at which a large number of international people are gathered. Some unexpected large-scale incident happens. Maybe it is a good thing, most likely a tragic thing...that would be for writers to sort out....;) Anyway, all of the attendees return home to cope with this event in their own way. Some people use it as a catalyst to turn their lives around in a positive way, others retreat in fear and depression, the possible psychological effects go on.

This gives each crew a lot of freedom to write stories about characters and how the event affects their lives. Lilith could make her long-lost-love reunited story. Bophe could make something darker. Spatula could...eh, I don't know. But by keeping the back story a little simpler, it allows for more possibliities, more freedom, and perhaps more incentive for participation.
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...this is the suggestion I was gonna make...something like it...still thinkin':D

-- spinner :cool:
 
Media Hero said:
I like the contest idea, different people from around the world desperately going after a goal. I'd be careful about depending too much on computer messages to forward the plot, maybe?
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Well, perhaps the computer stuff could be CGI or animation, and give a chance for animators/graphic artists to jump on board.. providing they are interested? Perhaps a small virtual reality motif? Could make some interesting comments on the effect that advanced technology has on the detachment of modern society from reality... ironically using that technology to fuel the creation of the film(s).

I like the idea of a convention/seminar. The problem there is that characters don't carry over, so really, it becomes a set of thematic shorts. In that case, why not just have a film competiton with PROP, LINE OF DIALOGUE, GENRE, LOCATION pre-supposed, and sell a compilation DVD?

I think the key to making this really neat is having a multi-layered mystery at the core, and links from one film to the next (without overtly controlling the creative aspects of the individual shorts). The characters should all add/reveal something to the underlying mystery, while finding resolution for thier own stories in thier respective shorts. So I think it would be a lot easier to approach this from the aspect of what the mystery is.... what about that perspective?
 
The film is called Benjamin. It follows the handlers of a one hundred dollar bill. The bill reach alot of crazy characters and then stops back at the bank. You think it ends but then the bank gets robbed and back the bill goes into more hands. Plenty of stories to branch off into. It gives you basically a chance to write about anything. You could take the fucking bill to space in an episode if you would like. That was my ingenious idea to help make an international project work. And YES, Benjamin can travel to other countries, as well, be spent there. THANKS JACK RYAN
 
Spatula said:
I like the idea of a convention/seminar. The problem there is that characters don't carry over, so really, it becomes a set of thematic shorts. In that case, why not just have a film competiton with PROP, LINE OF DIALOGUE, GENRE, LOCATION pre-supposed, and sell a compilation DVD?

I think the key to making this really neat is having a multi-layered mystery at the core, and links from one film to the next (without overtly controlling the creative aspects of the individual shorts). The characters should all add/reveal something to the underlying mystery, while finding resolution for thier own stories in thier respective shorts. So I think it would be a lot easier to approach this from the aspect of what the mystery is.... what about that perspective?
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Spatula, the characters, in my eyes do carry over. Well the first group of characters from the first seminar dont, but they can't anyway, because when filming sequels, the same actors cant fly to different countries. Now i say the charatcers do carry over, because the people that go to the second, third... seminars, that we dont see in the first film, will be in them. Do you get what i mean?
 
I see where the problem is -- If you get too hung up on:

a) How the production will work
b) How to sustain a sequel

The story ideas won't flow.

It would be better to open the floodgates to interesting story ideas from people and then figure the logistics later --

So, so far you've got three possible stories

A) People for some reason attend a seminar because they're hypnotised by bag guys with an agenda of some sort
B) Benjamin -- The story of a $100 bill
C) Spam -- an email or website causes people to do something

I'll throw in an idea:

D) Pull -- A group of people enter an online competition to prove that they are the world's greatest lover -- everyday they are given the profile of a specific person and then they have twenty four hours to find someone who fits that profile and seduce them -- the evidence is a JPEG of them in bed with the seducee (not a porn shot!) -- it all starts fairly easy -- Round One (pull a Blond) -- but by round three it's (Pull someone in uniform)

The advantage of this is that the characters you create already have an objective and therefore you can create obstacles for them and thus drama.

Before we discuss the merits or not of this idea -- lets have some more thrown on the table.

Save the discussion of the ideas until we've got maybe five or six to choose from.
 
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clive said:
B) Benjamin -- The story of a $100 bill
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This idea sounds similar to the movie "20 Bucks" -- which follows the adventures of different characters as a 20 dollar bill changes hands (a must see for Elizabeth Shue fans!).
 
Not to be a pessimist but I fear this project is doomed to fail and here's why. While I like the idea of everyone here collaborating on a project, just the number of people who will want creative input will smother the film. You're on the right page with having one film crew but where I think you're misguided is having everyone help write.

Everyone who participates will want their ideas included and if you have 5, 10 or 15 people trying to write together a lot of tension will mount and either the script will be convoluted and flat or people will stop working on it. Not only that, everyone's writing style is different and the voice of the characters will be lost.

My suggestion would be to have everyone throw ideas out on what they would like to see in the script. Maybe have everyone work on the outline together. But at that point you should elect one or two people to write to keep things consistent and smooth.

Like I said, I don't want to be a pessimist and stop you from working on what could potentially be a great film. But it has been my experience that when too many people get involved it usually kills a project.

And I may be totally wrong. It's just what I see potentially happening unless someone takes the reigns.

With that, the best of luck to you.
 
Thunderclap said:
My suggestion would be to have everyone throw ideas out on what they would like to see in the script. Maybe have everyone work on the outline together. But at that point you should elect one or two people to write to keep things consistent and smooth.
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A few posts back, this was mentioned either in this thread or the other one. I believe this is specifically what is intended.
 
I agree with you 100% Thunderclap. And I think Clive's thinking was similar. Keeping put ideas on the table. Then winnow them down till one stands out - instead of examining each idea one by one. Get a list of ideas, vote on them and pick one to go go with. Then perhaps let the writer who brought that idea to the table take a crack at writing an outline or a draft - or if that person wants to pass at that stage, have another writer volunteer to do it. Then get feedback from the writers group, maybe have another writer do a rewrite and keep revising, refining (perhaps limit these steps or it could go on and on) and we'll finally end up with something we're ready to roll with.

Personally, I think someone functioning as a 'producer' for this story development forum would be very helpful. Keep us wacky creatives in check and on point :lol:
 
knightly said:
A few posts back, this was mentioned either in this thread or the other one. I believe this is specifically what is intended.
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Oh good. I scanned through the messages and thought I was up to speed on what was planned. Apparently I missed something. Thanks for pointing that out to me.
 
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