Dark Reprieve New Trailer

[Matthew Buick]

Richard.

 

I ahve an idea for an 8-12 minute comedy called 'Let's Put Our Heads Together!'. The story is about two men who are stranded on a desert island and both want to kill themselves. But there is only one gun and one bullet. Should they put their heads togetherso the bullet will pass through both their heads?

 

Now that you are rich and investing in movies I would like to ask for $15,000 CDN to shoot the project on 35mm.

[Guest]

15K to shoot on 35mm? Will this film be 1 minute long? Using a 1:1 ratio?

 

Where will you get this desert island? The English Channel?

 

Sorry, I just gave Phil Rhodes 250,000 pounds to shoot his movie.

 

R,

 

PS: Why can't one guy drown the other, then shoot him self?

[James Steven Beverly]

"keep catering VERY basic..."

 

I was with you until this part. If you're going to feed the crew, forget it, you don't know how to handle money. Make them bring a sack lunch, or better yet, just keep working and don't stop for food.

 

If a crew member faints replace him with another free student labour guy, easy.

 

R,

 

I don't think you understand what I mean by VERY basic, I'm talking Saltines and tap water, I DO like the idea of replacing unconcious crew members with free student labor, though from what I've seen of most student's work ethic, it'd be hard to tell which one was passed out.

Edited June 28, 2007 by James Steven Beverly

[James Steven Beverly]

Richard.

 

I ahve an idea for an 8-12 minute comedy called 'Let's Put Our Heads Together!'. The story is about two men who are stranded on a desert island and both want to kill themselves. But there is only one gun and one bullet. Should they put their heads togetherso the bullet will pass through both their heads?

 

If they did put thier heads together, there is no guerantee that the bullet would exit at all or if it does exit, that it would travel in a straight line, too unpredictale. You could always have onbe of them bash the other in the head with a rock, if they are wereing cloths, they could hang themselves, if they have belts, the could sharpen the buckle and cut they wrists with it, they could start swimming out to sea and drown, they could drink a massive anount of sea water, which would kill them though it would be a very painfull death, one could strangle the other, they could use blanches, ground on rocks to a sharp point then hardened in a fire to create a spear, ste them in the ground and run on them, they could allow themselves to starve to death, which should take about one to three months depending on what kind of shape they're in at the time, They could stop drinking and would die in about a week or two, they could look for toxic plants and fish, they could find a cliff or high tree and jump off, they could cover themselves with dried driftwood and set themselves on fire, they could set a fire inside the entrance to a cave and die of smoke inhalation. there's a lot of ways they could off themselves if they were so incline so a single bullet donen't really come into play. :P

[Guest]

"though from what I've seen of most student's work ethic, it'd be hard to tell which one was passed out."

 

The passed out students will be the ones not talking on cell phones or smoking.

 

R,

[Bob Hayes]

Blair Witch was made for 30K.

 

Blair witch may have cost 40 K but the distributors put another 300 K into post production to finish the film and then spent 15 Million on prints and advertising.

[James Steven Beverly]

"though from what I've seen of most student's work ethic, it'd be hard to tell which one was passed out."

 

The passed out students will be the ones not talking on cell phones or smoking.

 

R,

 

OH you mean when the camera's rolling. Of coarse! I never thought of that. :D

[James Steven Beverly]

Blair witch may have cost 40 K but the distributors put another 300 K into post production to finish the film and then spent 15 Million on prints and advertising.

 

Man, you're right, hardly seem worth if for a measly 120mil in profit when you lookat it that way. :D

[Brad Grimmett]

Blair Witch cost 30K :blink: , they musta spent 25K on the wrap party. 'Coarse the only problem with the Blair Witch stategy is I'd have to making up some cacamamie story about the plot being true fact and then spend 4 years on the net in ennane chat rooms trying to convincing gullible teens that it really is fact in order to promote it.

Envy is a very un-enviable trait James. Can't you just be happy for someone who found some success?

[James Steven Beverly]

Envy is a very un-enviable trait James. Can't you just be happy for someone who found some success?

I'm actually happy when ANY movie makes a profit, it only helps all of us/ ;)

[Matthew Buick]

15K to shoot on 35mm? Will this film be 1 minute long? Using a 1:1 ratio?

 

Where will you get this desert island? The English Channel?

 

Sorry, I just gave Phil Rhodes 250,000 pounds to shoot his movie.

 

R,

 

PS: Why can't one guy drown the other, then shoot him self?

 

Did you really think I was serious???? I hardly want to be custodian of that sort of cash at this stage in my life.

 

What sort of idiot would give that sort of pork to me. :lol:

 

 

The movie will be shot on a beach in Northumberland. The format will be Super 8mm and the aspect ratio will be 2:35:1.

 

And I'm actually going to light things, or reflect at least. :rolleyes:

 

By the way, I think giving 250K to Phil Rhodes was a stupid idea. He'll either blow it on Nembutal or make a film about his life.

[Guest]

"He'll either blow it on Nembutal or make a film about his life."

 

It's his life story I bought, quite fascinating!!

 

R,

[Mark Williams]

Hi Richard

 

I just wanted to get your opinion on distribution. The reason I ask is before some idiot filmmaker goes and mortgages his house risks prison and sells his soul. Is he on a fools errand and if so is there a workaround?

 

1)Is it possible do you think to make a film and publicise it well enough perhaps through paid advertising, even to sell it yourself? It seems this is an area that closes down most trying to break in.

 

2)Or do you think that if your film is good enough it will be picked up by a distributer recognizing its value? Obviously you would think anybody wishing to make money would take a potential hit and promote. But perhaps other motivations are sometimes at work? Maybe some Distributers/ Producers close the doors to keep out anyone from an accepted source? An accepted source may be tied in with grant awards, backhanders, Competition control etc.

 

Just wondered what your thoughts are?

Edited June 29, 2007 by Mark Williams

[Matthew Buick]

"He'll either blow it on Nembutal or make a film about his life."

 

It's his life story I bought, quite fascinating!!

 

R,

 

HAHA! Let me guess, he's on the run for stealing from the Bank of England and has to pose as the most mundane individual ever born?

[Guest]

1)Is it possible do you think to make a film and publicise it well enough perhaps through paid advertising, even to sell it yourself? It seems this is an area that closes down most trying to break in.

 

I doubt it. There's no way you could mount a theatrical distribution on your own. Selling the DVD direct over the web might work, you set up a web site, run a trailer and do on-line ordering. This would be a very slow process though to make money back. Unless it was a cult hit on the film fest circuit.

 

2)Or do you think that if your film is good enough it will be picked up by a distributer recognizing its value? Obviously you would think anybody wishing to make money would take a potential hit and promote. But perhaps other motivations are sometimes at work? Maybe some Distributers/ Producers close the doors to keep out anyone from an accepted source? An accepted source may be tied in with grant awards, backhanders, Competition control etc.

 

There are all kinds of distribution deals out there. Total buy out, sales advance plus commission, commission only (the most common.) Even Blockbuster is on a sales commission program now, they call it "revenue sharing." If your movie rents you'll be rich, if it doesn't you'll get all the DVDs back. Great business, eh?

 

Film buyers do show up at the major festivals, and they do buy films. I have found that with a good on-line trailer getting a request for a screener from even the biggest companies is possible. I have a long list of people waiting when the mix is done. It is a numbers game of course, the more you hit the better your odds. An acquisitions VP at a major distributor will not watch a movie from an unknown. He'll hand it off to an intern, if the intern likes it, he'll suggest that the VP watch it.

 

This is nothing new, even name screenwriters have their work vetted by readers at the major studios and a report made, before a senior person will read it.

 

In the old days I think maybe the distribution channels where closed to outsiders. But the studios can't afford to do this any more. All of the majors have side operations that do nothing but acquire indie movies. The quality of the indie movies has risen greatly in the last 10 years, and so has the audience that wants to view them. Plus there is risk free profit in this game for them. They didn't have to spend any money to make the movie, they just buy a finished product. If they have to screen 100 to find one good one, it's worth it to them. I know of two major companies that shut down their production arms and do nothing but buy and sell finished product. Alliance Atlantis was one of these.

 

All of these companies have acquisitions departments, I'll never understand why filmmakers are so terrified to cold contact them. Especially via e-mail.

 

Too many start e-mails with a formal: Hello, please allow me to introduce myself, my name is....

 

This tells the VP to ignore your e-mail.

 

Your write like this: Dave, here's the trailer for my latest movie.......

 

Sounds like you know the guy....there are 100 "techniques" :D

 

R,

[Mark Williams]

OK what your saying is if you take the plunge and you can deliver the goods someone will take up a film that is likely to make money.

 

So if your brave of heart. Willing to gamble on your ability, then in todays world fairplay will mean your work will get a fair go.

 

I guess so far I have seen the way films get funded or helped in the UK and I have not been impressed. Also some people that make films that get released just dont have a clue. Not even knowing what the roles are in film or even how to make a film. Even many critics seem oblivious to any sense of morals right and wrong, whats good or bad etc. So how do these people get to these positions? Certainly not skill. My feeling is that there is a market for anything and perhaps those markets are value tested by allowing gross films to have a go with a few million, just to test the water and give those who have money to buy a foot in the door to play out their fantasies. Also to see if theres any money there or if it somehow catches on with an uneducated gullible public in moral decline.

 

Leave no stone unturned. Don't want to miss out on any unseen money .

 

I guess near the bottom of the film food chain there is a lot of hunger and some would do near anything but further up in mainstream there is a more down to earth realistic lighter common sense business approach with certain standards.

Edited June 30, 2007 by Mark Williams

[Guest]

I think a lot of filmmakers make obvious bad decisions out of the gate. Like attempting romantic comedy or drama with no name actors. Bad idea. Or advanced SFX, with no money for advanced SFX.

 

I would avoid DV or HD at all costs. I can show every one submission requirements from various movie channels that specifically state, "35mm to HD is the preferred format." You're wasting your time with video. Wait and raise the extra cash for film stock, even Super 16 is better than any video system.

 

Indie movies really have to be reverse engineered, what will the trailer look like for the final product? What will the DVD cover art look like? These are the two biggest factors that affect a member of the viewing publics decision to rent or not rent your movie. Film buyers are sensitive to this. Some distributors will package a movie with a smoking hot woman on the front cover, even though she does NOT appear in the movie!! Men will rent it based on the cover.

 

No matter what you do there is no way to guarantee success or failure. Blair Witch hits it big, and Sahara bombs, you just never know????????????

 

R,

[Mark Williams]

I think a lot of filmmakers make obvious bad decisions out of the gate. Like attempting romantic comedy or drama with no name actors. Bad idea. Or advanced SFX, with no money for advanced SFX.

 

I would avoid DV or HD at all costs. I can show every one submission requirements from various movie channels that specifically state, "35mm to HD is the preferred format." You're wasting your time with video. Wait and raise the extra cash for film stock, even Super 16 is better than any video system.

 

Indie movies really have to be reverse engineered, what will the trailer look like for the final product? What will the DVD cover art look like? These are the two biggest factors that affect a member of the viewing publics decision to rent or not rent your movie. Film buyers are sensitive to this. Some distributors will package a movie with a smoking hot woman on the front cover, even though she does NOT appear in the movie!! Men will rent it based on the cover.

 

No matter what you do there is no way to guarantee success or failure. Blair Witch hits it big, and Sahara bombs, you just never know????????????

 

R,

 

Copied and pasted to my film folder where I put everything essential and that works.

 

Thanks Richard great answers! If your film becomes available on here through Paypal etc. I want one!

[Guest]

"If your film becomes available on here through Paypal etc. I want one!"

 

If I go this route then I really screwed up.

 

R,

[Phil Rhodes]

> Like attempting romantic comedy or drama with no name actors

 

Oh, bugger.

 

Phil

[Mark Williams]

"If your film becomes available on here through Paypal etc. I want one!"

 

If I go this route then I really screwed up.

 

R,

I meant the web!

 

QUOTE

> Like attempting romantic comedy or drama with no name actors

 

--------------------------------

I think he has a point phil? If you were thinking of watching a film comedy or drama with unrecognised talent would you? Surely horror porn or action shocker has a guaranteed audience? Perhaps a kung fu film or something nasty like hooliganism? set to punk rock?

 

Lately I have come to realise that mindless pointless violence that corrodes and corrupts actually gets good reviews and is the bread and meat of those wanting to get in?

 

Not that Im advocating it just a realisation. How many new directors get in on this ticket?

[Guest]

I had the composer score the trailer so the music matches up better now:

 

http://homepage.mac.com/rboddington/DR_Tra...Theater110.html

 

There's hits that match the video plus a proper out. All this done for my chief critic Daniel :D

 

Better or worse?

 

Changed a few shots and added the tag.

 

You can also find it on YouTube now under "Dark Reprieve".

 

R,

[James Steven Beverly]

It looks slicker, better and has a more professional feel to it than before, couple of quick things though, kick up the dialog on "Are you the best at what you do" "Depends on who you ask", and Raquel's line after that which I couldn't make out, the music is stepping on their dialog so you need to either bring their sound levels up or douse the music a little the instant they speak then bring it up the instant they finish so they can be heard. The cut from Raquel Lake's eye to her medium shot on the "I don't play with guns" line bothers me too, it's like you didn't have the confidence to hold on the shot of her eye long enough to make it effective. I'd either hold on the eye a few beats longer or better yet in my opinion, stay on the eye though out her line and lose the medium shot of her, it gives the audience a moment of looking into her eyes st decide if she's lying or not, besides you've used that basic medium shot once already. Aside from that, it's REALLY starting to get there. B)

[Guest]

Stay on her eye the entire time for her line, hmmmmmmmmmm, very interesting......

 

Sure you can't hear the lines? Seems fine on my speakers, I have Apple Sounsticks, maybe they trick me?

 

I'll look at it.

 

Ta

R,

[James Steven Beverly]

Sure you can't hear the lines? Seems fine on my speakers, I have Apple Sounsticks, maybe they trick me?

 

I'll look at it.

 

Ta

R,

 

 

Wouldn't lie ta ya, amigo. ;)