pre-production New filmmaker looking for advice

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Thanks4theadvice

Does anyone know forums or resources where I can look for or find a casting director, an attorney and a location scout for my first feature?

Are there websites besides backstage that anyone recommends for casting?

Any other resources anyone suggests I check out? Thanks for your help!!!
 
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Thanks4theadvice said:
For casting, can I hand out flyers to people on the street? Is there any legal issues with doing that?
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I don't THINK there's any legal issue but I doubt you'll have any success, either getting people to take them or finding people both interested in the project and able to act.

You might consider using Actors Access
https://actorsaccess.com/

You can also reach out to your local college or university's theater department - they might let you post fliers to try to interest some of their students.
 
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mlesemann said:
I don't THINK there's any legal issue but I doubt you'll have any success, either getting people to take them or finding people both interested in the project and able to act.

You might consider using Actors Access
https://actorsaccess.com/

You can also reach out to your local college or university's theater department - they might let you post fliers to try to interest some of their students.
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Great idea!!! Thank you!!
 
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Do you have any experience making short films?

Let's say you've decided to become a pianist.
Would you immediately ask about booking international concert halls for your world tour?

Nobody wants to go to your amateur piano recital and hear you play chopsticks, you're not a child and we're not your parents, no offense.
We strangers want to hear beautiful music from the best pianists!! We only want to hear pianists that've worked hard for 10-20 years to get good enough we WANT to hear them play, hell we would even PAY for it!!


Here's the thing.... playing the piano is a LOT eaiser than making a good film. Film is a hell of a lot more complex.
Yet everyone thinks they can show up munching on a bag of popcorn and make a good film.

There are successful, experienced people in hollywood with entire production companies behind them that still manage to make terrible movies, cause it's actually that hard.

Making a short film is a cheaper, quicker way to get experience and see your vision on the screen.
It's horrifying the first time it happens, it's always bad the first time.
 
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sfoster said:
Do you have any experience making short films?

Let's say you've decided to become a pianist.
Would you immediately ask about booking international concert halls for your world tour?

Nobody wants to go to your amateur piano recital and hear you play chopsticks, you're not a child and we're not your parents, no offense.
We strangers want to hear beautiful music from the best pianists!! We only want to hear pianists that've worked hard for 10-20 years to get good enough we WANT to hear them play, hell we would even PAY for it!!


Here's the thing.... playing the piano is a LOT eaiser than making a good film. Film is a hell of a lot more complex.
Yet everyone thinks they can show up munching on a bag of popcorn and make a good film.

There are successful, experienced people in hollywood with entire production companies behind them that still manage to make terrible movies, cause it's actually that hard.

Making a short film is a cheaper, quicker way to get experience and see your vision on the screen.
It's horrifying the first time it happens, it's always bad the first time.
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Here’s the problem that I’m dealing with, I’m trying to make short films and I have the money and budget to make an independent feature but EVERYONE wants to know that they’re going to be going to be working on a mega hit masterpiece before they will even consider it, even though I’m casting all unknown actors.
 
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II you have the budget for a feature I am assuming you have the budget to pay actors so the best way to attract them would a good script and good pay. Then, your inexperience as a director may not matter as much to them, just be professional, exude confidence, and show passion for the project.
 
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Thanks4theadvice said:
Does anyone know forums or resources where I can look for or find a casting director, an attorney and a location scout for my first feature?

Are there websites besides backstage that anyone recommends for casting?

Any other resources anyone suggests I check out? Thanks for your help!!!
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First: It would be helpful to mention where you are. A local
Casting Director and Location Scout are essential. If I were
to suggest a Location Scout in London and you're in Atlanta,
well, you get my point.

Use a search engine for "entertainment lawyer" to find an attorney.
Of course a personal recommendation is much better than forums
or online resources.

sfoster brings up a good point. You say are are trying to make short
films - does that mean you have never made a short film?

While handing out flyers on the street isn't illegal it's not a good way
to find actors. How many actors do you think are walking around
your local streets?

Anyway, you now have two, excellent resources. Here's a couple of
things to consider: Before casting and location scouting you will need
a firm start date - do you have that? If not, then wait until you do. That
will make a big difference to actors and any crew. It might not be that
every person you have talked to so far only wants to be in a mega hit
masterpiece - it might be that you come off as not prepared.

Where are you?
 
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indietalk said:
II you have the budget for a feature I am assuming you have the budget to pay actors so the best way to attract them would a good script and good pay. Then, your inexperience as a director may not matter as much to them, just be professional, exude confidence, and show passion for the project.
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I’m in New York. Im offering $1,000 for a weeks worth of shooting for a short film and everyone wants to see my previous work and prove my legitimacy immediately. It’s like they’re casting me. Not the other way around.

I even make it clear they will get paid up front.

People want to see websites and social media for my production company. It’s like what do you mean? This is my first project.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your feedback.
 
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If you are making a feature with no history of films, shorts, or anything at all, well yeah, people are going to pass on it. I'm not sure why you are baffled.
 
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Thanks4theadvice said:
I’m in New York. Im offering $1,000 for a weeks worth of shooting for a short film and everyone wants to see my previous work and prove my legitimacy immediately. It’s like they’re casting me. Not the other way around.

I even make it clear they will get paid up front.

People want to see websites and social media for my production company. It’s like what do you mean? This is my first project.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your feedback.
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Well the good news is that this is the one (and probably only) area I'm qualified to give advice in.
I've never made a feature, but I've made my share of short films.

The first thing you're doing wrong is asking for a weeks worth of labor.
It's asking too big of a commitment without a portfolio.

Your first movie will be bad and nobody wants to spend a week working on something bad.

My suggestion is to get a one page script, ask people to work for 4 hours, and put an emphasis on having fun and it being quick.
People love to act! it's fun to be in front of a camera!

They just have lives and other stuff to do, keep it fun and short.
You'll learn a lot from your first short film!
 
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indietalk said:
If you are making a feature with no history of films, shorts, or anything at all, well yeah, people are going to pass on it. I'm not sure why you are baffled.
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I’m trying to make shorts or a proof of concept so I can make the feature. But people are passing on it. Even though it’s paid up front and I’m willing to unknown actors with limited experience. That’s why I’m baffled.
 
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sfoster said:
Well the good news is that this is the one (and probably only) area I'm qualified to give advice in.
I've never made a feature, but I've made my share of short films.

The first thing you're doing wrong is asking for a weeks worth of labor.
It's asking too big of a commitment without a portfolio.

Your first movie will be bad and nobody wants to spend a week working on something bad.

My suggestion is to get a one page script, ask people to work for 4 hours, and put an emphasis on having fun and it being quick.
People love to act! it's fun to be in front of a camera!

They just have lives and other stuff to do, keep it fun and short.
You'll learn a lot from your first short film!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice!
 
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Thanks4theadvice said:
I’m trying to make shorts or a proof of concept so I can make the feature. But people are passing on it. Even though it’s paid up front and I’m willing to unknown actors with limited experience. That’s why I’m baffled.
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There's many reasons for this. Doesn't matter if it's paid. Nobody wants to waste their time and risk their reputation. You have no track record so they don't know what kind of production this is. They don't know how professional it will be, or unprofessional. They don't know if you will finish it. They don't know if it will be good enough to attach their name to. They are passing because of the lack of this information. That doesn't mean you won't eventually find people to do it, but you need to think about your approach.
Thanks4theadvice said:
It’s like they’re casting me. Not the other way around.
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They are!
 
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indietalk said:
There's many reasons for this. Doesn't matter if it's paid. Nobody wants to waste their time and risk their reputation. You have no track record so they don't know what kind of production this is. They don't know how professional it will be, or unprofessional. They don't know if you will finish it. They don't know if it will be good enough to attach their name to. They are passing because of the lack of this information. That doesn't mean you won't eventually find people to do it, but you need to think about your approach.

They are!
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I understand what you are communicating and I appreciate that you’re taking the time to reply. But it’s baffling to me because I’m not trying to cast anyone that has an extensive amount of experience. I’m casting people with no experience at all from Backstage. So why is the burden on me to prove my legitimacy when there’s nothing to back up any of the actors legitimacy?
 
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So if a brand new company wants to hire you, and they have no track record and the CEO is a no name, but they offer you a decent salary you just take that job, no problem?
 
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