Problems starting a short period piece

[George Ebersole]

I've been trying to get a small short film off the ground for a year now, and am having real problems getting it rolling. It's a small short period piece regarding a knight, and some private time in a forest by a small lake. Everytime I put out a call for actors or somekind of help I get no reply.

 

The only material thing holding me back are costumes. I've got a beed on some cheap costumes and props, and my boss is going to let me use his 3-chip Panasonic, but either somebody backs out, is unavailable, or, more often, I get absolutely no reply whatsoever.

 

Has anybody ever encountered this kind of problem before?

 

p.s. I'm tempted just to costume myself up, and shoot myself as the main character.