Someone Tell Me to Just Do It!

cameronchapman

cameronchapman

I'm getting ready to dive into my first "real" short (one with a cast and crew besides myself), and I'm feeling very...apprehensive. It's a big step. And to top it all off, after looking at my schedule (parts of which I can't change), I've determined I need to film it in just over a month if I want to stay on schedule for my feature.

The script is basically done (I'll keep tweaking it over the next few weeks, but no major changes), I've done the breakdown and schedule (for a 2-day weekend shoot), and I've found one potential location (though the script was written with flexible settings, so I can always change locations if necessary). I guess I'm just a little bit afraid to take that next step...to actually start contacting potential crew, posting a casting call, contacting the location owners, etc. :scared:

I'm sure everyone here has been in the same situation...so tell me to just do it. Tell me to dive in. Tell me it'll all be okay. I need some encouragement here. :blush:

Also, any tips anyone cares to share to make my life easier for the next month (or to make things run smoother), I'm all ears!

(And, if anyone is in the northern New England area and wants to help out, let me know.)
 
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Thanks!

Okay, I emailed about a location, emailed a potential DP, and messaged a friend who works for the local public access station to see if he knows anyone who might be interested in helping out.

Later I'll post the casting call on Craigslist and a couple of other local boards. I've got 33 days to make this thing happen!
 
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JUST DO IT!!!!! :)

Screenplay
How many pages?
How many characters?
Will you need costumes or props?

Locations
How many critical locations?
How many flexible/discretionary locations?
Is there a manager to call for permission?
Does your city have a film commission to contact about permits and such?

Cast
Do you have some readily available family & friends you have in mind?
Craigslist?

Crew
What positions will you need filled?
Any local film co-ops, college film/media students, or craigslist?


How does the short tie into the feature?
(General, non-specific if you's like.)
Where will the short be shown?
 
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Going to answer here, since it'll keep me more accountable.

Screenplay
How many pages? 11
How many characters? 4 vital (2 of which are minor), 2 flexible
Will you need costumes or props? pretty sure I can borrow what I need.

Locations
How many critical locations? 1 (the one I emailed about, which would actually work for every location in the film)
How many flexible/discretionary locations? 3
Is there a manager to call for permission? no managers, just owners
Does your city have a film commission to contact about permits and such? nope, filming entirely on private property, so no official permission needed

Cast
Do you have some readily available family & friends you have in mind? no. :(
Craigslist? will post today

Crew
What positions will you need filled? all of them :D (I have a few leads)
Any local film co-ops, college film/media students, or craigslist? (will contact local colleges who have film-type programs)


How does the short tie into the feature? direct prequel
(General, non-specific if you's like.)
Where will the short be shown? online because it's being done specifically to drum up interest for the feature, though I'll probably enter it in a local festival or two, and maybe see if I can get it shown at a local arthouse-type cinema before or after one of their regular features (which are usually free to the public).
 
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Beautiful.

The more concrete you have each element written down the less they become ethereal checklists in your mind with emotional values associated with them, subject to turbulent moments of paralyzing dissuasive doubt.

GL & GB! :)
 
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And it begins...

Got an email back from the DP, he's interested, so I just sent him the script. Hopefully he'll be on board (this guy's got a very impressive reel, so I'll be incredibly psyched if he agrees to do the project).
 
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No matter the outcome pump him for all the info you can.

If he declines ask what factors would change his mind and if he could recommend others for the DP position.
Then tell him if they f#ck up you're going to call him back for the feature. ;)
Ask if he could recommend any of the other cast & crew people the project needs.
Ask if he knows who to talk to for any of the locations.
See if he know's any others looking for collaboration projects.

:)
 
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Crownom said:
Good luck with all that, but what are your goals with this "short"? Are you getting into festivals or will you be seeking profit or sth.?
Click to expand...

The goal for this is strictly to build an audience for the feature it precedes. That means online distribution, and maybe a couple of local festivals. It'll be used as a direct promotional piece for the feature, too. The feature is going to be crowd-funded, so I know how important it is to start building up an audience now, and to prove that we have what it takes to pull off the feature.
 
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Justdoit.jpg
 
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This is why I love this place! Thank you all for your encouragement and advice. I've learned so much here that I feel like this whole forum deserves an executive producer credit on every film I ever do! :D
 
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Location 1 fell through, so just emailed location 2. Because the schedule is going to be tight, I'm ideally looking for a place where we can film everything, to minimize setups and travel between locations.

I'm also thinking of pushing the shoot back by a week. I already changed one thing in my work schedule to allow for this (I'm going to NYC for a media thingy, and rather than going for the full 3 days, I'm only going for 1 now—you know I'm passionate about something when I'm willing to give up 2 free days in NYC to do it!). And having the extra 7 days for pre-production could really come in handy.
 
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Another update: still trying to figure out locations. Sending an email today to the drama chair at a local college about the casting call (since I've had 0 responses to the Craigslist casting call and I'm still waiting for my account from another site).

Best part: I've got a friend who's going to help me out in a number of ways, including creating original music for the short! He's a very talented local artist who's been playing for years. He's also involved in the local public access station, so has resources in that area, too.
 
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