Andrew, I just got on here a few minutes ago. I've been reading this, and figured I'd try to see if I can bang something into your skull.
Nate Downes is one of my very good friends. He's been a friend of mine for the last 4-5 years now. We've even worked on a trailer together, with me as a producer and he as the DP. He's also working on my short film that I am shooting in a couple weeks. Trust me when I say he knows what he is talking about when he gives you advice. This guy could make Titanic with $50, three paperclips, playdoh, and papier mache'. I truly call him the MacGyver of filmmaking.
Though I've only seen Matthew Phillips for about four seconds, I can already tell he knows what he's talking about. He's got experience in this business that you can't dream of having right now. Plus he's in the process of making a movie right now, which is closer than you are at this point, with or without the business plan.
So now that we've gotten that out of the way, let me tell you about me.
I started in this business at 22-23 years old, which is absolutely ancient for most people. Got started on accident, and ended up making an 85 minute documentary on my school's basketball team. Total budget was $5500, and $5000 of that was editing costs. I had a $500 JVC camera and got to use the equipment from our school for the rest. I got to pilfer the game tapes for the game footage, so that helped too. In all, the movie took 11 months to make, and a lot of my patience. To this day, it's a labor of love that I'd do all over again if I could.
I've been an actor, a director, a producer, a script supervisor, a writer, and an editor. I've also had the unfortunate task of chasing down casting directors, agents, and lots of money. I've been successful in some of those things, not so successful in others. Nate's been in this whole thing with me also, along with others, so he knows what I'm talking about. We're like brothers from other mothers.
So I'm going to tell you these things right now. In some parts, I'm going to be nice, in other parts, I won't be.
1. I am as business minded as anyone around, but I can tell you right now that you do not need that kind of cash. The way you described your movie, it's aesthetically simple to shoot, even with 90 zillion cameras in all seven continents. You can shoot in one or two states and find different sceneries to emulate said location. MASH was on TV for 11 years, yet they stretched 11 years out of a 4 year war in Korea, and "Korea" was shot inside of a soundstage in California, and all of the outside scenery was the same. It was there all the way till the last show, when a forest fire destroyed the "4077". If they shot that in Korea for real, they'd have to deal with so many issues, and that's not including the embassy.
2. I'm glad you want to stay away from studio funding because they wouldn't touch you anyway. You have to remember that studios view your project as nothing more than business, and they want their money back. In all honesty, I'm proud that you've put all your time and energy into this project, but people like you are a dime a dozen to them. Studios receive thousands and thousands of scripts a day. They are probably used as doorstops("epic" scripts), or extra toilet paper. If you had $20 million, wouldn't you want it back also?
3. Oh, and to add to Nate's point about "don't worry about being a player, just get a track record". Sounds like you want to be a player. That's a good thing, it means you raise your bar high. The thing is, if you want to TRY to be a player, go outside the box a bit. Don't use this board to ask for how to get cash, or connections. If you use this board whatsoever, use it to trade ideas and talk with some friends(and even getting jobs on here isn't a bad thing). Players call casting directors and agents and figure out how to get through the gatekeepers. Players get business cards and find whatever party or event they can to get their name out there. Players generate some public interest in their film and get money that way. Asking or begging for money is like going up to a hot chick and saying "you are gorgeous". Everyone does this.
4. If you are a quitter by nature, get out of this business now. This business is hell on earth, and we've all had heartbreak at one time or another. Plus I hate quitters, so you won't get any of my sympathies.
5. You don't want to "waste energy" by writing a script? Write a five page script and shoot it. Buy a camera off of ebay and shoot like you've never shot before(AND TRUST ME, THEY ARE THERE!). You will learn just as much shooting with your friends and a few helpers every weekend as you will at film school. After the five page movie is done and edited, send it to film festivals and get yourself out there. Just keep going. Might take a couple more years, but it is worth it.
6. Oh yeah, those scripts that Nate mentioned? There was a $12 million, a $1 million, and a 250k. I stayed up many a night editing those suckers. The guy has improved by leaps and bounds, and has never ever quit. I remember when I was up for a couple weeks straight, well into the night, editing every comma and storyline hole. He took all that advice and improved his writing. He's now close to getting some good cash for his film, and I couldn't be prouder of him.
7. Wimps use excuses for bad equipment. Nate could light a scene using a maglight flashlight and a PA holding it in position for a long time. If you have a big budget on one of his movies, most of it will be used for post production and payroll. More money DOES make someone lazy in figuring things out. Just throw more money out there and that's it. Mike Tyson thought of that also. He'd get a flat on one of his luxury cars, leave it on the side of the road, and buy another one the next day. He went broke.
8. You want $20 million, but you can't find 5k?! You need to set priorities straight!
9. Matthew, he has no experience(high school doesn't count). He does not need to hire a DP at all, he needs to shoot this himself....the short idea you had that is.
10. Shoot a trailer if you can't shoot the short. Sell it that way(got that idea from a certain friend of mine *wink*)
11. A 3 hour epic is HORRIBLE to get $500 for, much less 20 million. You forget that people's attention spans are about the size of a junebug's anymore, so unless you have 2 1/2 hours of explosions, or Leo drowning, you'll have trouble here. Usually, you'll get money for shorter films, ones that attention spans can sit through. Your movie is NOT a three hour movie. Oh, and I could make your synopsis into a 15 minute film.
12. Matthew, he's not a pipe dreamer, he's an inner tube dreamer. Much bigger holes in that dreaming.
13. Word of advice Andrew. You want a big enough star? Get Bruce Campbell and work with that. He's got more name recognition than you think, and he'll work with a newbie like you....even help you too. Oh, and take this advice from someone who tried to get to a certain A-List star's agent. They won't even BREATHE in your direction unless you have at least 70% of your cash up front.
14. Don't want to work with SAG, AFTRA, OR WGA?! You won't even get $50 without any of them. EVERYONE with any pull is union based.
15. Nate, you just shaved 100% from his budget if he wants to be that stubborn, and you know that.
I don't know if this works or not, but it's time this kid got a reality check. If he doesn't quit, he'll get many more before he's successful, if he does get there.
I wish him luck though.
