EmeraldEdge
09-01-2008, 02:20 AM
So, in the wake of today's industry 101 and talking about people taking the next step from machinima to live action (whether it's shorts or full length features), I thought it would be interesting to start a thread where people could talk about their experiences with it, if they've taken the leap in the past, or those who haven't could ask questions about getting the things they need together and actually making it happen.
I'll give it a start I guess, but will preface it by saying that I am no expert or even a professional of any kind, and don't intend this to be any kind of replacement for the 101 thread, where you can ask someone who really knows, but rather a back and forth with everyone who has or intends to do the deed. I've had the opportunity to be involved in several adventures thus far, in various degrees. The one in which I had the strongest involvement was one that I wrote (but was subsequently stripped and changed until it lost a lot of it's power, I felt). It was called "Repetition". I was also involved in casting, I was the art department, and was supposed to score the film as well. On one feature, I was an extra (in a strip club, Yipee!), and filmed a second unit sequence that was shown on a television in the film, and then basically a whatever was needed of me on another short.
So, let's talk Repetition:
In the course of today's 101, there was talk of how easy it is to get actors, and believe me, it is. When we put out the call (I don't remember all we did, but it wasn't much) we had people showing up from other states, driving down just to audition, and staying over for call backs the next day. I was shocked that there were people willing to do that, at that level. I mean we were first timers just trying to make a go of it. Incidentally, I guess Craig's list has a section for actors and such looking for productions, and I know some who have used it to find gigs. Not saying they were quality films (haven't seen them) but they were acting, and that's the important thing for them, and for the producers looking for people to be in their films.
It was a very interesting process, actually. We had the lead set, as he was friend of a friend who was willing to swing up and take it on, so it was on to find the rest of the roles. We had made our decisions, but oddly enough, there was only one of the actors that we originally cast (outside of the lead) who ended up in the film. The female lead had gone to an actress who bowed out to be in a National Geographic thing (they were paying, we weren't) which is understandable I guess. The lucky part was, we ended up getting a tape from an actress who wanted to take part. She was much better looking and I suspect was a better actress as well, so very lucky indeed on that. So, don't get discouraged if someone has to drop out, something better may be just around the corner. There was another actress that we chose that was arguably the best in the auditions at one role, but when it came to rehearsals, she just couldn't bring it (or so I hear, as I was madly trying to finish the artwork for the production), and she was replaced. The replacement, I felt, wasn't necessarily a step up, but there wasn't much that could be done at that point (as it was the night before the shoot), and I have no idea how bad the other actress was tanking.
So, I had to have drawings and paintings of these women, and the last minute replacement meant I had to spend all night (I got one picture of her at midnight and had to make alterations to existing art to make it work as best I could for the next days shoot). The time given for the art production wasn't enough, in the end, and there were several things that hindered my progress, so in the end it was a bit more spartan than I would have liked.
In the end, I think we had, the Director, and assistant director, DP, script supervisor, four actors, the sound guy, and a grip, as well as myself, and whoever else would show up (mostly to hang out and bring food). Realistically, you could get by with much less, I believe. Personally, I would say that if there is one person you need more than anything else, it would be a decent sound guy, or a way to make sure your sound is tolerable. I can't tell you the number of indie's that I've seen that had bad sound, that ruined an otherwise tolerable effort. Wind spiking the mic when one person is talking, with a train the background, and a nice clear day from the other angle. No effort to make them sound like they were shot at the same time at all. Yuck. If you're just doing it with a few friends, that's one thing, but if you're doing it with the intent of showing it anywhere, I think you owe it to yourself, and the actors, to have presentable sound, where their performances are clear.
We shot in one location over the course of a weekend. In the end, it was a lot of fun, and a lot of anguish (I still have some scars from certain things that happened during the production), and even though there are many things I would have done differently, it was a first step into a larger world. :D
Anyway, I'd really like to hear from people who have taken a walk on the Live side of things and what their experiences have been, what their process was, etc. and if there's anything I can help at all with, I'd be happy chime in with a half (or less) informed answer or two, or recount a tale of 24 hour shoots, in the rain, or whatever.
I'll give it a start I guess, but will preface it by saying that I am no expert or even a professional of any kind, and don't intend this to be any kind of replacement for the 101 thread, where you can ask someone who really knows, but rather a back and forth with everyone who has or intends to do the deed. I've had the opportunity to be involved in several adventures thus far, in various degrees. The one in which I had the strongest involvement was one that I wrote (but was subsequently stripped and changed until it lost a lot of it's power, I felt). It was called "Repetition". I was also involved in casting, I was the art department, and was supposed to score the film as well. On one feature, I was an extra (in a strip club, Yipee!), and filmed a second unit sequence that was shown on a television in the film, and then basically a whatever was needed of me on another short.
So, let's talk Repetition:
In the course of today's 101, there was talk of how easy it is to get actors, and believe me, it is. When we put out the call (I don't remember all we did, but it wasn't much) we had people showing up from other states, driving down just to audition, and staying over for call backs the next day. I was shocked that there were people willing to do that, at that level. I mean we were first timers just trying to make a go of it. Incidentally, I guess Craig's list has a section for actors and such looking for productions, and I know some who have used it to find gigs. Not saying they were quality films (haven't seen them) but they were acting, and that's the important thing for them, and for the producers looking for people to be in their films.
It was a very interesting process, actually. We had the lead set, as he was friend of a friend who was willing to swing up and take it on, so it was on to find the rest of the roles. We had made our decisions, but oddly enough, there was only one of the actors that we originally cast (outside of the lead) who ended up in the film. The female lead had gone to an actress who bowed out to be in a National Geographic thing (they were paying, we weren't) which is understandable I guess. The lucky part was, we ended up getting a tape from an actress who wanted to take part. She was much better looking and I suspect was a better actress as well, so very lucky indeed on that. So, don't get discouraged if someone has to drop out, something better may be just around the corner. There was another actress that we chose that was arguably the best in the auditions at one role, but when it came to rehearsals, she just couldn't bring it (or so I hear, as I was madly trying to finish the artwork for the production), and she was replaced. The replacement, I felt, wasn't necessarily a step up, but there wasn't much that could be done at that point (as it was the night before the shoot), and I have no idea how bad the other actress was tanking.
So, I had to have drawings and paintings of these women, and the last minute replacement meant I had to spend all night (I got one picture of her at midnight and had to make alterations to existing art to make it work as best I could for the next days shoot). The time given for the art production wasn't enough, in the end, and there were several things that hindered my progress, so in the end it was a bit more spartan than I would have liked.
In the end, I think we had, the Director, and assistant director, DP, script supervisor, four actors, the sound guy, and a grip, as well as myself, and whoever else would show up (mostly to hang out and bring food). Realistically, you could get by with much less, I believe. Personally, I would say that if there is one person you need more than anything else, it would be a decent sound guy, or a way to make sure your sound is tolerable. I can't tell you the number of indie's that I've seen that had bad sound, that ruined an otherwise tolerable effort. Wind spiking the mic when one person is talking, with a train the background, and a nice clear day from the other angle. No effort to make them sound like they were shot at the same time at all. Yuck. If you're just doing it with a few friends, that's one thing, but if you're doing it with the intent of showing it anywhere, I think you owe it to yourself, and the actors, to have presentable sound, where their performances are clear.
We shot in one location over the course of a weekend. In the end, it was a lot of fun, and a lot of anguish (I still have some scars from certain things that happened during the production), and even though there are many things I would have done differently, it was a first step into a larger world. :D
Anyway, I'd really like to hear from people who have taken a walk on the Live side of things and what their experiences have been, what their process was, etc. and if there's anything I can help at all with, I'd be happy chime in with a half (or less) informed answer or two, or recount a tale of 24 hour shoots, in the rain, or whatever.