Is it too much to ask??

[nate_dog]

I'm feeling really discouraged.

I was filming a movie the other week which I was looking forward to make for a while. It was going to be a 40 minute thriller on a script I took some time to write.

After renting $300 of equiptment and assembling my cast and crew I began production. With only two days of shooting left, my lead actor dissappeared on me. He stopped returning my calls and was nowhere to be found. I later learned that he "wanted to see his friends before they left for university and he decided not to tell me 'cuz he didn't think I'd understand."

I'm soo sick of dealing with unreliable people and I can't help to think that the lack of motivation of money is to blame. The costs came out of my own pocket and of course I couldn't afford to pay anyone anything.

Is making a no/lo budget video hopeless if the total number of cast/crew exceeds 4 or 5 people?

What do you no/lo budget filmmakers do to attract your actors for free? Is a five day shoot of 8 hours/day too much to ask? Should I just focus on smaller projects? Do I have to wait for film school before I get a chance to work with a decent and reliable crew who won't b-itch and complain about waking up early to make the movie?

Well, here I am with half a movie shot and $300 in the toilet. I think I've chosen the wrong hobby.

[OfficeNN]

Well, I think it?s possible to make at least ok movie with only couple of actors, let?s say 3-4. Of course it?s more harder, but the good side is that it is much more easier to find time to get the group together. The important thing is to have fun when shooting and if you are going to shoot 5x 8h days then I?m not sure where the fun part is? I for instanse couldn?t even dream to shoot that long, I can?t even direct that long [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Alex]

Well, it appears the actor was right, you didn't understand.

You could probably sue him and win. Actually, just do it, sue him. Bring your rental receipts to small claims court and sue him, I'm sure he'll understand.

It beats whining about it, don't you think?

[ehingston]

I don't think a 5 8hr day shoot is too much to ask at all - even for no/lo budget projects. After all, if these actors ever realise their dreams of getting the lead in a ?multi-million budget film, then alot more than 8 hours a day for a week would be expected of their free time. They have subscribed themselves to a profession and if they can't handle it, then perhaps it's time to **** off out of there.

[Sam Gowland]

Philip (Spare time Films - another movie forum here on h/board) got disillusioned by unreliable people. Or at least I think he did [img]confused.gif[/img] .I'm not sure what you can do about it really - I don't make movies, I have no idea about all the possible probs involved in getting everyone together.

Personally if I commit to doing something for myself or someone else I endeavour to fulfill that aim to my full ability, even if I do end up resenting it. That's just me... you need to find people with a similar attitude I guess(no mean feat I presume)

lol Star of no use what-so-ever as per usual [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Kev Owens]

There's always gonna be problems when people aren't getting paid.

I think five 8 hour days is a lot unless:

a)you're feeing them,
b)you're buying them drinks [at least once!],
c)it's a laugh/good time,
d)they're getting something out of it.

It's not easy but what do you expect?

You can tell Alex is from U.S.A saying sue them- but I agree with him that whining won't help. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get on with it.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 17, 2003 09:03 PM: Message edited by: Kev Owens ]</font>

[Alex]

I took the plunge recently and sued my idiot smog technician, who crashed my car while he was driving it, crashed it into someone else's car, and then didn't want to pay for the damages, and he had no insurance.

The guy just pretended nothing happened, which, you may discover some day, is the most annoying defensive posture an aggressor can take. I even agreed to mediation at the court date. All I asked was that he pay for the repairs to my car that I went ahead and made.

He refused. The judge just ripped through him so fast he really had no idea just how stupid he really was, I enjoyed it beyond words, and I won a $2,300 dollar judgement.

If you didn't feed your cast & crew, you have no case. If you did feed your cast and crew, then you should win.

The reason to sue is to recover your financial expense AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, as a sign of respect to everyone else who seemed willing to help you make your movie. You owe everyone else that much.

[Micaso]

I just recently discovered a new method of getting crew to be reliable and there whenever you need them.

Here's what you do:

1) Meet people from towns/cities near you who like to act.
2) Tell them you're gonna make a movie.
3) Offer them a part and be really vague about the shooting schedule.
4) Arrange to pick them up on a given day.
5) Show up and tell them to bring extra clothes, if they ask why tell them the movie takes place over various days.
6) When you get back to your house, tell them their gonna be sleeping here or there.
7) Act like you told them it was a more than one day shoot...

*Note: Offer to pick them up, it is very important that you are their only means of transportation home.

We actually did this, albiet by accident, but it worked for about 5 people. This way you can force them to get up at like 8 in the morning with lights and loud music, and then keep them up all hours of the night. As long as people are having a good time, it should work out fine.

[Yammeryammeryammer]

Hey,
I am the other half of Mr. Micaso's method from the above reply. I have directed 2 video features he has produced/acted in, and this does work. Essentially, we tend to meet people who are interested in acting just through mutual friends, and at improv theatre tournaments. Then, we casually mention movies as our hobby, show them the best of our work, if they are impressed or at least don't run screaming out of the room, we mention the next project. Generally, we have a part that they would be good for (considering the alternative being unreliable, nontheatrically interested friends of ours). Vaguelly outline the shooting, underestimating time all the way. But what actually hooks people (and gets them to work for no money) is enthusiasm. The reason we were able to snag at least 5 people who shouldn't be giving us the time of day is because they:
1- see that we are enthusiastic and believe in the project to the death
2- see we have the means and initiative
3- keep having fun
We shot a video feature (82 minutes, dialogue heavy) in 46 hours. An 18 hour day, a 9-6 and a 8-2 in the morning the first night. It was **** , but eventually people get into the sadistic thrill of it all, and things go smoothly. Ultimately, someone will snap, but it is bound to happen. Unforseen difficulties really force you to think on your toes, and is a good experience. This is not the way I really wanted to shoot this movie, but it ended up being the time of my life. Now, in contrast, we did shoot a 75 minute movie last year over the span of 6 days, 8 hours a day, give or take. People were equally happy, but things were more relaxed, and we ended up with the same amount of footage. I don't know if either way is better, but it really comes down to having people who you kind of belive in, and they believe in you enough to stick around. If all else fails the isolation/only mode of transportation thing really seals the deal. [img]wink.gif[/img] Good luck.

[eidde]

welcome to the most expensive hobby in the world.

I dont know about what the last two folk have said, but I would try and stick with being upfront and honest with everyone - making it absolutley clear from the start what you expect from everyone. If you cant find a compromise then get someone else.

5 days isnt that much, but if you must shoot for 5 days either do it all in one week: 5 days in a row or make sure that you do it weekends in a few weeks. Nothing worse that something dragging on for months on end.

So Id be inclined to try and shoot in as few a days as possible.

Alex has a point too. If someone lets you down, they are also letting down everyone else who turned up. You owe it to them (as much as yourself) to treat it seriously, and never ask them to help out again (at least).

I dont beleive its lack of money motivation - although thats a biggy.
People will always let you down one way or another. You have to learn to minimise it.
Recast, and rearrange another date, and dont ask this guy for anymore filmmaking favours.

Good luck.