Anyone else having problems getting people together to film?

[Dawg]

That can be the premature death of an independent film I guess. Out of six people that were suppose to show up this weekend for a shoot, only two could make it with a third with no word yet! I told one of the three that he didn't have to come out since he was needed with the ones that couldn't! So, that leaves me with one dude to shoot, which are mostly retakes because I wanted a new look for him. Oh well, what do you expect for a no to low budget movie? Regardless, it will get done. I just need to get these schedules working together to make it ultimately work out. And a WHOLE lot of green screen! Dawg

[Danny]

notcie ive been rambling on about being an amatuer film maker yet have yet to show you guys anything shot on my new mini dv camera? thats why. a lot of people i know , adn its kinda sad, not in the pathetic way, in the genuinely sad way, just think im playing around and aint going anywere with this even though im looking at universitys for a film degree and the like, hell even my mom said "your living in a fiary world". though dont know about you but that just kinda lights a fire under me to try harder, though without people you cant do anything simple as. Though a few people lately including a long time freind who a few guys on here have seen on my own forum have recently been getting more into the idealately, possibly given ive almost finished college and am after a degree in this, cus honestly i have though a little about teaching film studies so when you say stuff like that i guess it seems a little more reasonable so they kae ya a little more seriously. still ive got a new one in the works ive allready mentioned on here that requires 2 people to act, that should work out pretty good, story wise, the acting'll probably suck knowing my friends

[MinionZombie]

Oh hell yeah, organising a no budget shoot is a pain in the arse alright, you've really got to find people you can trust who are also into what you're doing. I've been lucky to have Knox and Ben on my side, as they're pretty much up for anything and enjoy being in the films I make, so on one hand it's restrictive as I have to wait for them to be available (or in the actual country, in Ben's case, hehe) and then work around them as much as possible - holidays are always the best time to get filming done as everyone comes back home so everyone is in the same place at the same time, it's just fitting in a few hours here and there to quickly shoot some stuff. So aye, I'm lucky to have Knox and Ben as they're a really big help and it allows me to make little films to try out new ideas and improve my craft and so on. It always helps to write something you know you will be able to shoot, secure people in advance and know whether they're actually gonna do it or not, then think of what/where you have at your disposal, and write around your constraints, even write something because of the restraints. That's the best option, I've found, at this level. Of course, it also helps to have media groups in your area where you can find work experience and contacts, which I'm again lucky to have nearby, but for me that's more documentary work rather than actually putting together short films, which is fairly infrequent...but they still film a lot of various stuff, it's just getting on particular projects that is the hard thing, it often comes down to being called up by them, as many projects are "only for under 18's" or "only for girls" or whatever because of whatever issue the project deals with...it's all about hanging in there basically, having the attitude of "no, THIS is what I want to do with my life, not rot in an office I hate"...it's not easy, far from it, but having a stubborn streak (as I do) certainly helps a lot. Also - always be friendly, affable and appreciative - those really help at this level, and all levels I guess, but especially at this level.

[Cykotic]

and this is why none of my films have ever gone past the script stage

[Danny]

Oh hell yeah, organising a no budget shoot is a pain in the arse alright, you've really got to find people you can trust who are also into what you're doing. I've been lucky to have Knox and Ben on my side, as they're pretty much up for anything and enjoy being in the films I make, so on one hand it's restrictive as I have to wait for them to be available (or in the actual country, in Ben's case, hehe) and then work around them as much as possible - holidays are always the best time to get filming done as everyone comes back home so everyone is in the same place at the same time, it's just fitting in a few hours here and there to quickly shoot some stuff. So aye, I'm lucky to have Knox and Ben as they're a really big help and it allows me to make little films to try out new ideas and improve my craft and so on. It always helps to write something you know you will be able to shoot, secure people in advance and know whether they're actually gonna do it or not, then think of what/where you have at your disposal, and write around your constraints, even write something because of the restraints. That's the best option, I've found, at this level. Of course, it also helps to have media groups in your area where you can find work experience and contacts, which I'm again lucky to have nearby, but for me that's more documentary work rather than actually putting together short films, which is fairly infrequent...but they still film a lot of various stuff, it's just getting on particular projects that is the hard thing, it often comes down to being called up by them, as many projects are "only for under 18's" or "only for girls" or whatever because of whatever issue the project deals with...it's all about hanging in there basically, having the attitude of "no, THIS is what I want to do with my life, not rot in an office I hate"...it's not easy, far from it, but having a stubborn streak (as I do) certainly helps a lot. Also - always be friendly, affable and appreciative - those really help at this level, and all levels I guess, but especially at this level. thats what i say all the time, the dude i was on about in my post dropped out the 6th form to wokr in It ( ) wearing a shirt and tie and working with blokes in there 30's, thats my idea of hell, in fact in a fulll length feature script im wirting theres a scene inspired by that.

[MikePizzoff]

Yep. Every time I want to make a movie that will take more than one day to shoot, it never gets finished due to the fact that people are just unreliable. Be it whether they lose inspiration, can't work their schedules out, or are just lazy bastards.

[Danny]

beats getting an office job though huh?

[EvilBread]

It can be problomatic, but I guess the simplest way around it is to try sites and locations in which you know other people are as serious about filmmaking as yourselves. There are dozens of online sites for filmmakers to get hold of cast and crew which helps out no end. I have recently signed up to shootingpeople and UK Screen (I think it's called that) and both are pretty good sites at picking up cast and crew. On the other hand, you could always go the contractual route. There are hundreds of contracts online that you could use for your friends to sign in order for them to actually stick it out. Heck, most are probably not legit, but they don't have to know that.

[Echoblack]

Yeah geting folks together can be hard. We had an absolute set in stone shooting day at a paid for location. I spent the best part of the month prior to the shoot, asking, reminding and cajouling folks I knew to come along and be extras. Of the people who agreed to come, only 50% actually turned up Which to be fair was a pretty good turn out! Guess I just knew a lot of folks who kinda liked the idea of dressing up as zombies and chasing people around poorly lit tunnels But it was hard work getting that many people. Arranging the transport alone was a nightmare.

[Khardis]

That can be the premature death of an independent film I guess. Out of six people that were suppose to show up this weekend for a shoot, only two could make it with a third with no word yet! I told one of the three that he didn't have to come out since he was needed with the ones that couldn't! So, that leaves me with one dude to shoot, which are mostly retakes because I wanted a new look for him. Oh well, what do you expect for a no to low budget movie? Regardless, it will get done. I just need to get these schedules working together to make it ultimately work out. And a WHOLE lot of green screen! Dawg Yes yes an YES! Don't get discouraged. Every time I have filmed something, it has nearly fallen apart from no-shows, last minute absences and lack of material we planned to have off the bat. You just gotta plow through and keep chugging along.

[kortick]

hang in there guys and read john waters book about this problem he has some really good ways of controlling this exact situation and he made movies for no money and used only friends to make them but he had some really cool ways of controlling things and getting them done

[Danny]

^ i recommend takeing a leaf out the pedophile book, lure them to the shoot with promises of candy

[capncnut]

i recommend takeing a leaf out the pedophile book, lure them to the shoot with promises of candy I've always wondered why smelly, unshaved 40 year old men buy Pokemon cards...

[Danny]

i ****ing knew youd be the one to reply man, seriously, i knew it!

[MinionZombie]

i ****ing knew youd be the one to reply man, seriously, i knew it! *gasps* You mean Capn's a fiddler?! *runs off to the gubment to dob him in* *runs back home, closes curtains, pokes eye through curtains to see what's going on...* *gets bored ... goes and watches porn instead*