Fact Of The Matter – WETONG Blog

You Must Live In The World Of Independent Film

Michael Connelly asked:

There is a general perception amongst the public that the art of filmmaking these days belongs to Wall Street and major studios with giant budgets. But the fact of the matter is that you really do not need millions of dollars to make an independent film. You can make a movie for a fraction of what most Hollywood films cost if the right people and film production methods are employed. However, if you want to make a quality low budget movie on a shoestring budget you must immerse yourself in the world of independent filmmakers.

Most people who watch movies never even consider the fact that they could actually make a film themselves. When they hear that Spiderman 3 cost about 250 million dollars to make and the latest movie about Billy The Kid starring Brad Pitt cost around 40 million, a low budget movie by Hollywood standards, who can blame them.

There are ways to circumvent the traditional movie making process to get your film made. For instance, if you can assemble a tight cast and crew of talented people who are just as passionate about independent filmmaking as you and are willing to do more than they are being paid to do, then your film production costs can be reduced dramatically. They keys to making an independent film with a small amount of money is finding people who love to make films and then selling them on your story.

To find independent filmmakers who are willing to give you more work for less pay in the name of artistic freedom, or just because they need work you need to go to places where they hang out. This can be done online at any of the film production based websites out there that post job listings and information about the film industry. You will find many of them by doing a Google search with keywords like independent filmmakers, independent film, or film production. These sites list jobs, production companies, cast and crew available, post production houses, film labs and just about anything that has to do with making movies.

You can find most of the information you need to make a low budget movie online, but if you really want to find a quality cast and crew you need to get down in the trenches where the independent filmmakers work. You need to go and meet them in person.

The best place to find potential crew members is to visit the equipment rental houses in your area. You can get their addresses by doing an Internet search using the keywords film equipment rental with the name of the nearest major city. This is where the camera people, sound people, grips and the like all go to pick up and drop off equipment for projects they are working on. Many of the people working behind the counters are also people who have their own equipment packages. They would love to get out from behind the counter on weekends to work on an independent film. Spending time at these places, whether you are renting equipment or posting your business card on their work board is a sure way to find quality crew members to work on your low budget movie.

The best way to find quality actors who are willing to work for much less than they are worth is to spend time at professional acting classes. You can find many of them by doing a Google search using the keywords acting classes with the name of the nearest major city in your area. Contact the teachers of some classes and ask them to allow you to sit in on a couple of their classes. Be up front and tell them you are looking for quality actors to be in your low budget movie.

If you really want to get to know potential actors for your film then it would be a good idea to enroll in a class or two yourself. You can forge a working relationship with the actors on a much more intimate level if you are in a class with them. If the class is large enough, you are always going to find at least a few good actors who would love to work on your independent film for very little pay. You may even learn a thing or two about how to act yourself. If you can play one or more of the roles in your movie then that will also save you money for it means less actors to pay.

Long Live Those Who Choose the Independent Path in Film Production

Michael Connelly asked:

It seems like the only films being made these days by major studios are sequels to comic book hero movies, remakes of classic old movies and old television shows that have been turned into movies. Most of the projects of today’s film industry are chosen by Wall Street instead of by some cigar chomping studio executive sitting behind a desk on a studio lot in Hollywood. It can be disheartening at times when you are standing in front of an eighteen-plex movie theater location and you want to see a movie with a story. However, just when you think that creativity is dead in the movie business a talented filmmaker will come along and remind the big shots that they ultimately depend on them for their product.

The fact of the matter is that the film industry is a business like any other in which the primary goal is to make money. Any deviation from that concept puts a studio at risk of having a movie that “bombs”, or in other words loses money. When you are dealing with a major studio like Warner Bros or Paramount you have shareholders to worry about, and that makes studio executives nervous. When shareholders get nervous they shine a bright light on their investment and look for anything or anyone that is not making them money. This spells disaster for inept studio executives and their heads will roll. This is why they always try to cover their behinds with the safest investment, and that is why you will not see them taking any chances on something or someone that has not already been proven to make money.

A big studio is basically defined by the value of their stock, not the quality of their films. This is why major studios appear to be creatively bankrupt these days. Decisions about making movies are being made by financial people instead of creative visionaries like Jack Warner. Today’s films are constructed around a host of commercial themes instead of artistic ones and that is why you get a whole lot of special effects and very little storyline. Explosions and clever product placement sell more tickets than gripping stories.

When you think about how the odds are stacked so heavily against the financial success of a truly independent film it is a wonder that any at all get made. It is a testament to the creative and irrepressible spirit of independent filmmakers around the world. While filmmaking is first and foremost a business these days it will always rely on its creative aspect to keep the customers happy. This is why creative people are drawn to this industry despite the odds of success being heavily against them. Film production is and always will be a form of art no matter how commercialized it becomes. Artists are drawn to this business because that is what they do; they work with art forms.

You have to understand when you take on a career in film production you are rolling the dice with your future success. It is really hard to break into this field as a major player without connections due to the fact that there is a great deal of nepotism involved in the hiring process. It is hard, but not impossible.

The best way for a Nobody to become a Player in Hollywood is to make a big showing at a major film festival like Sundance or Toronto. This always leads to some good publicity, which can launch a career from independent to mainstream.

We all remember The Blair Witch Project and El Mariachi. These were films made in the late nineties that cost less than fifty thousand dollars and crossed over from the film festival circuit to the major theater circuit. They were made by artists who put their budget second and their vision first. Persistence and an undying passion to make movies was the fuel that drove them, and it paid off in the end. Big studios bought their films and went on to make millions with them. It does not matter that the studios made most of this money, for the publicity that these filmmakers received was enough to launch their careers in Hollywood. In both cases the makers of these movies went on to create sequels, but with major studio budgets backing them financially for the second episodes of their stories. Their exploits in the world of independent film was a springboard to the big time. It worked out well for them.

It is good to see that every once in a while a really independent film makes it to the big time. Most films that are entered in festivals never get to see the bright lights of the mainstream, but it does happen every once in a while. This is because passionate and creative artists will always gravitate to this line of work to tell their stories, no matter how hard the big studios make it for them to join their money-making party. A truly great story teller cannot be silenced by nepotism. They will always find a way to get their story told. One thing is for sure; when it comes to the movie industry the cream always rises to the top. Although it has been smothered by commercialism lately it cannot exist on money and test marketing alone. The main nutrient it requires to survive is creativity. Even the most heavily laden special effects movie needs some sort of creativeness to build their explosions around. Once in a while the big Hollywood studio executives open the doors to their party and let the creative people inside, but only if their financial advisors tell them that it is a good idea.

Psst.tell Your Kids That Buying A Home Is Easier Than They Think! Series Part I

Kristin Abouelata – Home Loans asked:

We encourage our kids to plan for their future, but we seldom include buying a first home sooner than average as a path to building that future. Let them know buying a home is easier than they think.

Most of the people who read this column are not first time homebuyers. The fact of the matter is many of you that are first time homebuyers and reading this article are relatively mature individuals who are fighting off your commitment fears of being tied to a mortgage. But there is a huge segment of the population that could buy their first home, yet it doesn’t occur to them to do so. Who are these people? Well, it’s your 24 year old son or daughter, new to the work force, and is throwing away money on rent somewhere. Encouraging your children to buy a home when they are young is some of the soundest financial advice you can give them. Equity in a home is an easy way to grow one’s portfolio with very little investment. But the fact of the matter is it doesn’t occur to most of us to encourage the younger generation to buy early in their lives. And trust me, it rarely occurs to our kids themselves to consider buying a home in the early twenties. They are more concerned with buying a new Halo 3 for their Xbox.

Why do so many people miss the boat on this opportunity? It could be they plan to be in the area for only a short time because they will job hop to advance their career, thus viewing a mortgage as “too permanent.” I counter to simply sell the house when you move. Or maybe they expect their income to double or triple over the next three years. I say buy a home now, then upgrade to a new home; sell or rent the old house. Investing in real estate is a proven, safe and solid return on investment. And with the right combination of credit history (or a history of paying utilities, cable and your cell phone on time) and no money down, you or someone you care about can start investing in the future.

When Junior starts his new job at the company and 401(K) is available, he’s been informed by his folks, boss or peers to enroll and contribute at least a little something to it with every paycheck. Yet, he is rarely counseled quit renting that apartment for $750 a month and buy a $75,000 house. Where will he come up with the money to do it? There are multiple options for first time buyers that allow for 100% financing. Get the seller to kick in closing costs (up to 6% of sales price with some products), and one can close on a loan and bring no funds to the table. If your home value appreciates 4% in the next year, that’s a nice return on a no cash investment.

For some time, I’ve considered writing this series for first time buyers to let them know buying a home is easier than they think. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized the advice I would offer would most likely not reach my target audience. So parents, it is up to you to supply your kids with this last little bit of advice and help to set them free to further establish their independence in this world. Clip this article out and tape it to their iPOD or the steering wheel of their car – someplace it will get noticed.

I think for most of us who have been through the experience, our first home buy was a very daunting experience. There are so many choices and unknowns – it can be overwhelming. In this series, I will try to break it down the process into small logical steps and make it easier understand the steps involved in financing your first home. Where do you start? That is perhaps the easiest part. Our newly established worker should first make a list of all his or her debt obligations such as student loans (unless deferred), car payments, credit card debt, etc. Hopefully at this age, this will be a small list. Then add what you think amount you could afford for a mortgage. Take that amount and divide it by your gross monthly income. If you come in at 43% or less, you’re in business. If you have something in your savings or checking – great. If not, don’t let it deter you. You have options.

Contact a mortgage specialist to drill out the details and find a good realtor who knows your market for housing you can afford. What next? Get ready to tell your landlord “Adios!.”