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I am thinking of starting a Youtube film project.
Sky
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I wanted to post this in the Writer's Corner, but figure I would start here and ask advice.
Border Town Youtube film project.
So, I am aiming for a show like HBO's "The Wire," the subject area will be the U.S. Mexican border.
I won't base it on any real location, but will feature the New River. Also, it is meant to support the Imperial County Film Commission which is starting up. (And that is because we need a film commission, which will be a source of money into the community.)
I have to soft sell this program at first, because I want to get into the smuggling (drugs, guns, money, people), but later. We will use real stories for the basic storylines I have in mind.
What do you guys think?
Hopefully we won't get sued, shut down, or killed.
Border Town Youtube film project.
So, I am aiming for a show like HBO's "The Wire," the subject area will be the U.S. Mexican border.
I won't base it on any real location, but will feature the New River. Also, it is meant to support the Imperial County Film Commission which is starting up. (And that is because we need a film commission, which will be a source of money into the community.)
I have to soft sell this program at first, because I want to get into the smuggling (drugs, guns, money, people), but later. We will use real stories for the basic storylines I have in mind.
What do you guys think?
Hopefully we won't get sued, shut down, or killed.
Sky on
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My concern is that once I get started, the local powers that be may begin to take exception to what I am doing. I may get sued, shut down, or even killed.
What I have going for me is that I am unemployed and so creating a means of employment and job development, as well as an outlet for a lot of people, especially students over the summer break. I am living out of my parents house and am not basing this show on any real location, and the stories will have enough artistic license to hopefully not create any trouble or cause anyone to feel they must take action against me or the group I am forming.
So far the response has been mixed.
Half the people discourage this idea and fear I will be hurt/killed. The other half are very interested and want to support me, even some businesses want to throw their in support.
And, I am starting to gather some interesting stories. Horrendous tales of people treating each other (which sound despicable but will make for juicy on screen drama). The interesting side of this is the people are the victims of injustice, the system does not protect them, so this is their outlet, their way to gain vindication and retribution.
Right now, I have four storylines in mind to start us off:
1. The Lovers.
A young couple, one or both newly immigrated across the border, possibly one living in Mexico and working in the U.S. Their relationship will be chronicled, challenges they face, problems they encounter, people who help and hinder them, drama and passion.
2. The Family.
An established family with several children of different ages. I think preferable that they have a teenage son and daughter(s). Challenges they face, problems they encounter, people who help and hinder them, drama and tension.
3. The Business Owner.
Either a new or established business owner. Depending on what sort of location can be made use of, a restaurant, bar/nightclub, merchandise store, gas station/mechanic shop, seamstress/tailorshop, bank?, lawn service, or any others. This will likely be one of the toughest storylines to create at first, but I think will feature some of the more compelling and drama filled tales.
4. The Underdog.
An (undocumented?) immigrant, maybe someone living in Mexico and beginning to work in the U.S.. Life from this person's perspective, the challenges, problems, and people encountered.
And, I am thinking of organizing people in this way:
A. Directors.
Have the highest priority since they will be needed to create the product. They will be responsible for determining how the show is shot, edited, sound-mixed, etc. However, the finished product will need to be approved by the group.
B. Actors.
Second highest priority of need. These people will need to be divided up so that those with the most skill and talent will be evenly distributed amongst the various storylines that will be created; to fill the lead roles, in other words. The lesser skilled actors will go to provide supporting roles.
However, since this will be an on-going project, and the storyline is being made up as we go along, actors who improve in ability may find their characters changed and/or re-written. (We may even pull an actor out of one storyline and put her/him in a totally new storyline that is being developed, with radical changes to the hair, wardrobe, and speech.)
C. Writers.
Are the most important for generating scripts and content, and anyone and everyone can participate in this group and it's creation process. But when the need arises for a director or actor, the priority will go to those two.
Initially, all the stories created will be based on real examples from any place along the border. These may be historical or recent events, but they must be grounded in reality. How the story is told and small details can be fabricated.
The actual creation process will be somewhat loosely organized.
Directors and Actors will need to establish groups of actors to populate the various storylines created. (Example: A farmer, foreman, and group of field workers.) Writers will then create the scripts for the actors and directors to follow. (Example: One day while working, one of the field workers suffers heat dehydration and collapses.)
A handful of writers will be named "Lead Writers" and will be responsible for organizing writer meetings or generating the scripts and circulating them for input. Often the input will be detail, such as costumes, props, etc, since the overall story will already be known.
Directors will need to take the scripts and scout locations to be filmed at. They may also need to take test shots and still frame photos to help the writers understand the area they are working with.
The Process: writers will come up with ideas for an episode, establish set locations they need, directors will scout locations, writers will finalize the script based on what is available (location, actors, time, etc), once the script is approved by the writers, it will move forward to film production. English and Spanish versions will be shot, either a rough or professional edit done with the footage, the episode will be uploaded online, and based on the group's input, either kept or removed.
It is expected that a decent amount of filming will occur on the weekends, however, should actors, and a director, be available, filming can take place at any time. This means that any actor that wishes to participate to a significant role will need to be able to commit to that role for an extended period of time. (Special exceptions can be made, however. We can always "kill off" a character.)
Lastly, I am thinking that I will need to explain to those that gather at the meeting how we will need to keep a level of secrecy about the project. That they can mention being involved if asked directly, to not volunteer the information, and to cite me as the person who comes up with all the ideas. This will be to protect those who do come up with ideas and supply information to the project.
What I am learning is making my own home area pretty sad and deplorable.
Anyways, thanks for the input.
so, basically you want to bring together a bunch of people and have them do everything and then put your name on it? You want writers and directors and such, and they have to do all the work and you call it your idea?
Drama queen and stupidity aside, what exactly are you bringing to this whole thing?
Unfortunately for small projects like this you really have to wear several hats. If you want be create a project like this you're really going to have to be (and have the skills to be) a the lead writer and/or possibly the director.
As you probably realize the biggest problem is going to getting people to work on it. Where are you going to find these people? In NYC something like this could work cause there are tons of out of work actors looking for exposure. I feel like you're not really going to be able to find the people you need in your small town.
Also, you say your ultimate goal is to create jobs. How exactly does this work? What's your business plan? You need to figure out a way to make it profitable. Is it the hope that some network will eventually make you an offer? If that ever happens, they'll want to film it in hollywood and recast the actors. They'll probably want someone they're familiar with to produce it and someone they know to direct it. They'll probably only keep the writers.
That said, it doesn't sound like you've ever worked on anything before. If you really want to produce something, the first thing you need to do is hook up with someone with experience. Read some books too.
There has not been one time where any of your ideas has come to fruition. You have basically fallen in love with the idea of being an idea-man, and that means that is all you will ever let yourself be. Everyone has had the idea of sculpting something amazing, but only the few people who actually got around to doing the damn thing got their sculptures in a museum.
Just shut the fuck up already and do what you need to do. Stop wasting your time sitting around in your room, without a job, drawing up fantasy worlds in hopes that you make it big. If you really want to help your community do it. But don't use that as an excuse to write a show.
2. TLB, What I am bringing to the table is a "treatment" I wrote up for a larger show that I like to think is akin to HBO's The Wire because I am aiming for a program where you see an on-going system of injustice and corruption. Right now, due to increased federal presence, the injustice is less visible. The people here ignorant and kept ignorant of their rights. The people in charge pick their friends for positions (we call it "Compadreism" ), and those people, as well as others, have been born and raised here and have no concept of the real United States of America. It does seem like a wierd almalgamation of Mexican government and culture in an American system. (Can you see why I want to create a program about this? 3:30 is when it gets interesting)
3. There are grants available to starting up shows and programs.
4. There are a decent number of actors around, and since I am giving them the chance to be on camera quickly, I would assume they would like that since it will be a way for them to promote themselves.
5. There are two independent film makers here locally. And a woman with experience in front of and behind the camera that I think I can get to direct (she is old friends with Donal Logue, too). I would need to study up on how to direct myself.
6. I would be overseeing everything, which is why I'm dividing the group up into three with main goals and purposes, to help delegate.
7. The meeting where I am gathering everyone will be this Saturday at the Camarena public library in Calexico, 3-5 pm.
8. Having gone around this county for the past year and a half, it has dawned on me that it is quite nigh impossible to do anything unless you have a "force" behind you. An individual with money cannot do it, surprisingly. You'd have to find a real exploitable niche, or be part of an in-group.
9. After coming up with a name at this meeting, I will create a Youtube page for the videos and then begin working on create a website to host the videos. I will also need to begin working on a way to store what is created to eventually create DVDs.
10. Yes, the incentive to work on this project is not much. We have 23% unemployment here now, but people will want more then a "Good job, bro!" for what is looking to be hours of work. Normally, having free food at the meetings is one thing, but more will be needed. So, this is where the businesses who are interested, and a website, can come into play. Advertising on that website, getting a grant, release forms and statements, payroll... headaches....
11. The work I want people to do is to help come up with stories. What I have laid out are four starting storylines, and that is to help people get a sense of what to begin with. Using some butcher paper, we'll brain storm some episode ideas and character traits (note the order). I will then also get more "storylines" to create more characters. Will see if we get those online or not.
12. After getting a website up, our next focus will be on developing a full film crew. That film crew I can then use to film comercials and rent out for film gigs for the Film Commissioner. That means I will have something more solid together, and that is when things get scary for me. But, I think I have a couple people I can trust to help keep me on the right path and not screw things up (too much). My biggest drawback is my lack of experience.
13. Thanks for the feedback guys. I need it. I can't think of everything, and I knew I could get some good input from you guys.
*removes what he was going to say about the other people*
Further investigation reveals that none of these people died because they were sitting at home talking about the YouTube videos they were going to make. Even further investigation reveals that they were actually involved in the drug trade and that this probably had something to do with their deaths. All of your plans sound fine. Now go DO THEM instead of POSTING ABOUT THEM. That's the critical step. If you want other people to write stuff, go out and ASK OTHER PEOPLE TO WRITE STUFF.
And about #5, you... this is not a business you understand. If you do meet with someone with experience, ask for advice from them rather than ask them to do it for you. Odds are they are busy, so unless you are paying them... well, see above.
Thanks. I was not seeing it from that perspective.
Again, thank you guys for the encouragement and support.
The experienced movie makers were not present, though, which was a little discouraging as I was hoping they would attend and add input on the movie making process and how to go about creating the content. Ten people stepped forward to be actors, including a couple under 18 teens boys and girl.
So, we will have to create a storyline to make use of who is available, and there were other people interested who could not make it. So another meeting will be needed.
Overall, it seems like people were interested and this project can get underway.
Thanks for the support guys.
The past couple of weeks I have been pretty consistent in having meetings every weekend, and at different times.
Now, I have a semi-permanent home at a local sports bar where the owner is quite enthusiastic for the project and what I described to him in the original concept.
I have modified the parameters of the project over time.
Instead of some grandiose idea of showing a whole community, I have to start small, with a handful of people in a simple setting. I only have so many actors showing up (average meeting I'm getting around 3-6 people).
My problem now is I need to start filming. I need to start getting those that show up to meetings to practice acting. It is getting to the point of too much talk, too much "This is what the project is" and "When I was running drugs years ago."
My lack of experience is showing.
I'm also miffed because a fair number of people I want to show up, are not.
I need to compensate them somehow, with either money or food. So I am trying to encourage people to make outreach to local businesses. We can film in their establishment, give them some promotion, and in return they get mentioned in the videos, free advertising.
The tone of the project has to change, as well. Instead of "negatives," we have to show a regular people setting, with some comedy mixed in, and have the negative themes come up now and then.
I am surprised making those first videos, even guerilla style, is so hard....
Only offer money if they signed a contract.
If there is a script, hand it out. If not, get one. Either way, if you are directing the actors, you need to arrange specific acting rehearsals.
Everything in theater and film gets handled in schedules and staffs. You can't just say "hey let's get together and work on this". That will get you ideas, that will get you basics, and to actually do anything outside of a very small partnership you just can't get anything done if you expect things just to naturally flow.
Right now I'm heading up the musical staff for a production. I had one meeting without a schedule, and that was with my assistant. I'm going to have another with the vocal director, and that's all the meetings with no schedule for the entire show. That's it. There's someone in charge of the production staff meetings and will keep them on track, and anytime I work with my staff I have to have a schedule to keep things moving. Nothing will happen without someone in charge making things happen.
I would get a production staff together. You don't need 10 directors for 15 actors, you need one director. And you probably need one lighting person, one sound person,one props director, and that should take care of prod staff. Then they choose assistants if they need them, and that will handle the production aspects. Normally there are people who want to take these jobs, either as free publicity(but again like Improvolone said... that's really only going to be the very new people without much experience or resume) or people who are interested in learning more about the position by doing it.
For that matter, with a small team you should really probably only need one head writer who may or may not want a small team of writers. You definitely don't want a room of writers for a small independent film thing. The reason TV shows have writers rooms is because they need to churn out unreasonable amounts of material in short periods of time, so one writer just couldn't do it all themselves. If you look at credits for shows, there's normally one writer that really did a lions share of the work per episode.
If you want to get things done, you have to bear down and get things done. You've made a good start, but a few people getting together and saying "Let's do this" does not a film make. Get a staff. Put them to work. Also do more research into the process of film making. There are books out there about it. The process isn't having a fleet of director go out, find locations, give pictures to a fleet of writers and have the writers all magically churn out scripts by working with actors.
One teacher of mine said talking is your enemy when leading, and it's absolutely true. Whenever you're in charge of something artistic the urge is to talk about it. You want to talk about your vision, you want to talk about the work you put in, you want to talk about how things will go, you want to talk a lot... because you're proud of what you're doing and want to share it. The thing is? That accomplishes nothing. If you have an hour rehearsal you should spend no more than 5 minutes talking and the rest actually doing things. Nothing is a bigger waste of time than talking during a process. Plan out what you're going to do and do it.
Action action action action action action action action action. Always be working. That's what people are there to do, that's what they want to do, and that's what you need to have them do.
Oh, right. Now I remember you.
You were the guy who was trying to undermine the government of the little town you lived in by filming town hall meetings a couple years back.
Did you ever get checked for being fucking schizophrenic like everyone told you to?
If not, you should really put that on your to-do list.
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After several months, several meetings, and only 3 videos to show for it, I have reached this conclusion:
I am too inexperienced.
I was hoping the talent would come forward and be able to lend their expertise where I was lacking, but it's just not materializing. People have lives, and jobs. They don't have time to waste on the weekends pursuing a creative project.
And, my family is just not supporting me.
This really frustrates me, because so many people like the project, want to see it go forward, want something to be done to draw attention to the plight of the people here, the problems we suffer and how we seem to be abandoned by the national audience and/or government.
It is difficult to balance the two.
Plus, this weekend just seemed to throw me for a loop.
*sighes*
I am bummed, more so then usual. I feel that I have failed myself (again) and so many people here, so many people who extended their hands and their hearts.
I am willing to work on the project, but I needed money to come in. And when I got this one job, it so consumed my time and energy, I could not pursue Bordertown.
If I was back in my "angry outbursts" days, I'd probably destroy something to let out the turmoil within my head.
....
It is just so frustrating! I see and read news stories every week of someone taking on a project, struggling with it, and making it work and succeed.
So many people talk about how intelligent I am, how capable I am, how there are all these resources at hand, but I can't make it any of it come together and work!
I guess I should just abandon this project, this place, and move as far away as I can. I know and understand how screwed up Imperial County is, and I want it to improve, but I can't. And the people here are going to continue to suffer.
*sighes*
Stop whining and go pursue it.
Did you make them come forward and lend their expertise, or did you just kind of hope that things would work out and people would step up? Because professionals will do the job they're given, but they need to be given the job. Did you assemble a prod staff? Did you get the senior guys in positions to lead and create/follow schedules? Essentially, did you manage the production?
Think about these two statements. You hear about people who take a project that seems like it will fail, but they power through it, don't give up, and eventually finish it. So you're giving up?
You can make it succeed. If you decide that it's not worth it to you, then by all means abandon it. But if you do want to make it work and are willing to put in what it takes to make it work, then you can.