Welcome all friends, family, film-goers, film-enthusiasts and an extra hot hug to all the filmmakers! Now that my first feature length movie, One Down is completed, (collapsed lung sigh) I can offer you some thoughts and insights from the pre-production, production and post-production process. Hopefully some of this info will make a fun story for most and an encouraging if not vicarious 'If i knew then, what i know now' voice towards aspiring filmmakers. And at the same time I'll offer some success' and failures on the promotional and distribution status of the movie.
Like a child, a movie creates a rare and inate affection within the filmmaker and the ability to grow and learn at an expediated rate. I don't care if your Hitchcock or Kubrick, (cinema)movies are organic. They grow and develop and it becomes a challenge to adapt and grow along with it. It's easy to say "you can't just throw money at it", but when producers ask for add-on's with a 9 figure budget... kiss my ass! When is enough enough? I'm saying it, "You can't just fix a film with money." Not having enough resources IS certainly an issue with most true Independents (not the rich, old & crusty version of George Lucas), but that lack of facility often leaves filmmakers leaning more on their most powerful tool, creativity (duh... 3 words. Hoth Ice Monster).
Taking extended responsibilities and seeing more of your voice affect the story keeps movies to a greater singular and original vision. These true independent (almost isolated)filmmakers also receive an appreciation for many more facets of the industry, some that were not even known. I gained so much as a filmmaker, as an artist and as a person by completing this movie. Filmmaking is creating something that breathes, something that will grow from generation to generation... it's collective, cathartic and rewarding for the filmmaker and their audience... it's art, treat it as such.
The Pre-production story will continue next week... :)
