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Do YOU Want To Make a Movie?

posted 7 years ago by MortSahlFan (257)
16 replies | jump to latest

And if money wasn't an issue, what would you like to do? Would you write your own screenplay, adapt from a novel, short story.. Genre?

If you could use ANY actor alive or dead, who would you use? If you had to choose a writer, who would it be?

If you have made a movie, I'm sure we'd all like to read about it... I've been in tiny budget movies, I'm a published writer and musician, and came close two summers ago. 4 days before shooting, I notice the man with all the equipment stops contacting me, so I called it off, not wanting people to come for nothing.

I don't think I'll ever pursue this in the future unless I had a ton of money, which isn't going to happen. It's too much work to half-ass it. Time and time and again it seemed like an actor would sign on to a project until they are offered a nickel more. In the past I've tried to get people to do regular acting exercises, experiment, but the people I observe seem only interested in talking about how rich they'll get, but when it comes to work or other specifics, they are MIA.

[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

In the acting industry, it is always let me see the $ first.

You have no idea how many productions I have been on that say "The money will come" or "The money is deferred until the movie makes something." So basically, you want me to come work on your site as a production assistant, extra, and/or actor; however, you have NOTHING as an incentive? WHAT?! This is what production crew and actors fought for, even before SAG! You have to have really great friends, if you expect them to do it for free.

I remember there is one production I did do, and it was SAG franchised and I basically did it for free. I was a principal actor, a production assistant, and did the lighting. The production actually was suppose to pay us all something because it WAS SAG. I thought I would do it to at least get taft hartleyed in, which I did; however, never fully went Union (still had to fork over a few grand for the membership fee).

To date, I have done maybe two projects for free; however,I EXPECT $ or a progressive incentive. In that one instance, I did have the option to be Taft Hartleyed, which may be once in a lifetime. The other project, I did it just because I had committed. It also helped that I was fed too.

Okay, so maybe a good idea is to feed your crew, AT THE LEAST, if you cannot afford to pay them.

[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

Tell me about it! I did a favor (free) for a guy I was acquainted with in the local "art" community. He needed extras, and people dropped out, and I had a suit.. He said it would take about an hour (to film a 2 minute scene).. After 3 hours, I remember pizza came, and he said "This is just for the crew" -- (then who are we?)..

[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

Oh I could write about this for hours.

When you are on set, they have a hierarchy. Are you ready for this? Here it goes:

Principal, supporting, day players = actors

Director, Assistant Director, Camera people, grips, audio, all the way down to the production assistant are crew

Extras are actually "other"

When you are an other, you are basically the dog on set. Extras get basically the scraps or the food AFTER the crew is done eating and actually, I have seen where this was the case. There was one production, I was on and they at least invested something in giving extras snacks (still have to find a project where they did not give extras even that). The first meal was literally a production assistant bringing over ONE hot plate of Quiche. He was like "So basically we were going to throw this out and we figured you guys may be hungry, so split it among yourselves and get to it while it is still warm."

All other times, I was served pizza and wings. There was one production where Jon Voight came to KY and we had make-your-own-tacos. O_o

Still, there were other times where we actually were able to eat with the crew. Well, not really eat with them; however, we were served better. We had breakfast burritos and some healthy kind of food "all salad, vegetables, beans, and rice". The only thing not healthy were these buttered cookies. OMG...they were so good!

While I look up articles on extra pay rates, I come across many where extras, in Los Angeles, get barely anything. Out there, you would be lucky to get a fruit (apple, banana, orange) and bottled water! These probably will have to last you an entire shoot day. For lunch, and this I am guessing is on bigger productions; they may get to choose between various foreign cuisine and this may only be for the extras in a Union (they have to treat people better, who are in SAG).

When you're an extra, COFFEE is a luxury.

[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

A few days ago, I looked to see how much it would cost the Writer's Guild -- hundreds of dollars..

There's a site called stage32.com -- I wouldn't put too much faith in people considering there's no human contact, but who knows, you might find something?

[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

Stage32 is a spammed site, kind of like Backstage. You would be lucky to find anything on there. For me, I found a casting director from a Film Office Website. I have worked as a production assistant and principal on a SAG film (that paid nothing) and fed us nothing. I have done ton of background work on small independent films with some B-list actors and some A-list: John Voight, Kiran Soni etc. and I also did stand-in work as well.

To make a movie though, it is very tough. First you need to get a hold of an executive producer and convince them of why they should invest. Once you have the down payment, then start hiring people.

[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

I made sure the people were real, trying to get as many people from my area.. Now I just imagine, usually when I see a movie and think "Great foundation, bad script" or other little edits I'd do..

[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

You are definitely on the right track. It is always great to get that movie unionized as well. This is so it will appear to the A-list actors and quality crew under the DGA and other crew unions. They also have a variety of different low budget options.

The one SAG production I was in, somehow was able to be accepted; however, they never paid. That was huge!

[–] Prelude (1443) 7 years ago

When I was barely out of my teens I wanted to be a writer director. This was such a long time ago that there wasn't even digital in those days. I couldn't afford the equipment of that day and age, so I never pursued anything; it was just a pipe dream.

I could do something now but I no longer have the time or that goal anymore.

[–] croft_alice (12180) 7 years ago

If i had the money and crew,with a good script,then i will made a good and proper tomb raider series,but i don't 😉

[–] Indianna (426) 7 years ago

If i found the right people to collaborate with i would write my own screenplay adapted from my published book and collaborate with the screenwriter for Million Dollar baby. I would like P. T. Anderson to go back to his indie Magnolia format and direct, another option would be Lars von trier and i would like Ewen macgregor to be in it-i love him on and off screen - he could play the dad, as for actresses i like audrey tatou and jennifer lawrence as a brunette and tautou would need to use an American accent. I would also like Taraji Henson or the othe actress from the help and hidden figures and the little girl from beasts of the wild to play the nanny and best friend respectively.
I would like chloe sevigny to play the antagonist and julianne nicholson or maggie gyllenhal to play a plain jane supporting role.
And that wonderful british actress who played the murderess and won a bafta(ruth something) wilson maybe?
Two other male supporting roles would be michael fassbender simply because he's a great actor and so gorgeous i have to meet him and i would need a repulsive obese obnoxious male character in his 30s to 40s maybe leonardo dicaprio in a fat suit because he's such a great actor and rebel wilson to play his daughter in a very minimal role.
Thanks for this question, it really helped me develop my idea. ☺️

[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

Jonah Hill for the obese obnoxious character!

Check him out in

"The Wolf of Wall Street"

https://moviechat.org/tt0993846/The-Wolf-of-Wall-Street

"War Dogs"

https://moviechat.org/tt2005151/War-Dogs

[–] TexasJack (12515) 7 years ago

need a repulsive obese obnoxious male character in his 30s to 40s

I'm so close to perfect for this role, although Im just regular fat, not quite obese. But just let me know when you're ready to shoot and I will go on a strict Haagen Daas diet to get up to the right weight.🍧🍨🍦🍦🍦🍦🍨🍨🍨

[–] Indianna (426) 7 years ago

Lol!!!! You seem too nice, this guy is a dumb Pole. Can you play dumb? 😊

[–] Indianna (426) 7 years ago

Oh it's you Tex! Lol you are hilarious! Thanks☺️

[–] TexasJack (12515) 7 years ago

Yes, playing dumb comes very naturally to me. But just how dumb are we talking about here? Forrest Gump-dumb is my limit. Any dumber than that and you're flirting with "full retard". I was warned by my acting mentor to never, ever go "full retard".

[–] Indianna (426) 7 years ago

"retard" is NOT appropriate. Lol! I would like you to play a Retard in the New York sense if the word-an asshole who's not too bright. A science teacher who believes the earth's resources are infinite-literally and has an awful New York accent like Trump. Oh yes, that's it a retard lije Trump only fatter and Polish. Hahahahahahaha!!!!