............ChimpPhobiaFilms raised an interesting point too (Herzog) - worst case you could go to a forest or a waterfall and simply shoot some great nature scenes. Put them together to make a great very-visual showreel, put it up on youtube for talent to see. Make it damn good. Hopefully some talent would like it enough to say 'yes' to your casting. Actors want great scenes for their showreels - if they think you can pull one off, they'll work with you. If they think you're not going to produce anything of value then won't - unless you pay them.
Okay thanks. Not much nature where I live but perhaps some city landscape. Outside the city it's just flat grasslands. But I can get some city shots and shots of birds from aways perhaps. I have some bird pictures from a trip of pictures are a good way to persuade people.
...................
It has been mentioned before:
if you can't find actors, try to tell a story without people.
Or with people who are unaware that they are filmed (by keeping them at a distance), so you can make it a poetic short about (like I suggested before) your hometown awaking.
Perhaps you can add your own voice to 'tell the story'.
(Caution: I got a brainwave including 1 actor!)
(Between [ ] are shot suggestions)
"After a good night sleep, the city of ... wakes up slowly. [sunrise over town, buildings catching daylight]
People get ready to go to their jobs as they do everyday. [people getting in cars, people at the train station]
Except for John. [people crossing street, John keeps standing still and looks to the sky]
John is different. [John walks through green meadows]
He has a dream and a purpose. [stares in distance with binoculairs]
He is determined to find the end of the rainbow." [watching smartphone to locate rain]
[John waits and waits while looking around]
END
For this you need a few shots without people.
A few shots without the actor. (A)
A few shots with the actor. (B)
And you will need a tripod. (C)
How much time do you need?
You need to get up early 2 or 3 mornings to shoot A and B shots.
You'll need 1 day to shoot C shots.
Edit in 2 days.
No VFX
Keep sound simple. (Sorry soundpeople, but he needs to finish something)
Add subtle music.
Try some colorgrading. (No more than 2 days!)
Et Voila!
Portfolio stuff!
And now you think: what is this?
I'd say poetic, fairytale fake documentary
It's strange and secretly funny and tragic
And it's short!
To good part is: you don't need a rainbow at all
(This is the 3rd or 4th short idea I give you... what do you think about these ideas? Do you read them? Did you safe them?)
Think small with big impact instead of big with low impact.
If actors 'don't understand' then you are either not clear or the plan makes no sense.
Instead of 1 scene, do a really short story.
(I'm telling you this for years now, but you keep insisting on doing long stuff without experience.
Now your 'reputation is at steak' you hopefully understand that going smaller steps might be better: it asks less of other people, making their (time) investment smaller. That makes your reputation-risk smaller too.)
yes it's key here not to be a creep
