Favours - The Filmmakers Currency

I have been to hell and back working on the most exciting yet most gruelling project anyone could ever wish to take on. An interactive film - Not a job for the faint hearted!

Split across projects, I’ve been working on something that aims to close the gap between the film and gamers market for the last few months. You know, I’m sick & tired of the dinosaur ‘that’s so childish’ attitudes towards gamers from those who think they know better. Look at the market motherfuckers… Tell me you don’t want a piece of that pie!

Having been born in 1984, I’d like to think I’ve been a gamer from the industry’s very beginning and can’t help but feel a strange feeling of both happiness and disappointment that my 12 year younger brother, Oliver was able to start his interaction with them at a far more advanced stage. Take a look at some of these amazing brands like ‘Assassin’s Creed,’ ‘Metal Gear Solid,’ ‘Grand Theft Auto’, ‘Resident Evil.’

Even fossils like ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ & ‘Mario’ get their own reboots too. Wish I could say the same for cinema. Fuck me, if I see yet another DC Comic or Marvel sequel or reboot I’ll scream… Buy your earplugs now as we ALL already know that’s already going to happen.

 The point: I feel the chance to be original in cinema is beaten by gaming! I’d like to say the same for TV but since most are such a pile of closed doors for unknown writers, we’ve got to seek alternate means of standing out, would you not agree?

Needless to say, I’ve been working myself stupid with only a day to spare in the months of madness, which I have already used to send two new animated scripts to the next BFX competition, whilst I attempt to garner support for the release of the project I hope my clairvoyant abilities do not deceive me that will deliver me free from this insane ‘working for scraps’ lifestyle into something far more enjoyable and comfortable.

Only one question remains: How the fuck do I get it out there?

At the end of every film I put into cyberspace, people have now started calling ‘The Cloud’ for some reason, sure I get the couple of hundred views then despite all my hard labour and rally of willing crew and cast, the damn thing just gets forgotten about, when next day one of my friends show me a Youtube clip of a talking cat that attracts over 6.5 million views!!! – (yes, it was hilarious but God help me…) Explain!

Anyway, I’ve greatly revised my approach to this and since I hover around Bournemouth University a lot, I thought, “hmm, sure there’ll be a few in there who study & practice this kind of stuff, lets go have a talk and see if they want to be involved, especially as they’ll be looking for stuff to impress with when they go start seeking jobs?” – I must have emailed dozens of their staff and hundreds of their students and you know how many responses I got? – ZERO!

These places kind of remind me ‘No, Dan – DO judge books by their covers!’ I’m not going to go into another rant about students anymore, in three years I’m still unconvinced 90% of them are anything but a lazy, mollycoddled species that unless they’re not working for a grade / mark given by one or two people on a piece of paper, they simply don’t care.

This has been proven all the more true when I was given a lovely breath of fresh air, working on a recent production at the time
‘Stay With Me' written and produced by a friend of mine, Nicola Hosking. At the time we’d met at the London Screenwriter’s Festival 2014 and said she wanted to get something made herself.
Despite her being a first time director here, she made me 1^st AD (assistant director) to make sure it all came together but this wouldn’t have been possible if she hadn’t put together the crew and cast. Pro’s on every station; camera, sound, actors, music and even the loveliest production assistants you could ask for. Fair enough I had to tell off another power-tripping Director Of Photography 

(… again) who tried over ruling the director.’ 

*NOTE TO ALL CINEMATOGRAPHERS* 

Those of you who love taking control, learn your place. Your job is to make things look good and suggest good ideas – THAT IS ALL. Not happy then piss off! Even as an experienced filmmaker I still see this happening, here’s something to remember:

How many times on a film do you see: Written & Directed by…?

Right – now how many times do you see Cinematography & Directed by…?

-       Yeah, I rest my case, there’s a reason for it and it makes for no exemption of manners, cooperation or ability to enjoy our time together. 

Would you rather make a friend or enemy in this business? – Use your knowledge to encourage & inspire. NOT patronise & condescend!

Anyway, the production was fucking great and “meh, yeah it was bloody freezing” but well worth it. Was one of those productions that reminds you why you get into this damn stuff in the first place, especially when its mostly student-free meaning people pay attention, get there on time and do a good job and respect each others shit – making it all the more rewarding for future contacts etc.

I also happened to meet a guy in animation recently whom was able to add some superb gunfire and things for this interactive project I’d directed following a script consultation I gave him over an animated feature script I agreed to rewrite for him.

New filmmakers, I can’t stress this enough –

“RACK UP YOUR FAVOURS & DON’T SCREW PEOPLE OVER!”

It’s horrible we can ill afford to pay each other anything but at least we can use ‘Favours’ as currency – you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

A bitter taste has been left in my mouth after some of my stories have been taken away with my time & investment seemingly having counted for nothing, whether they ended up looking good or shit. I’m still being sought after, mostly by students just because they’ve seen something good on my portfolio but all you need nowadays is a computer, Google and the ability to type in their name, followed by a 5-minute meeting. Trust me, if someone’s full of shit, the project will be shit! When YOU get to 30 years of age or more, believe me just be polite and say ‘no.’ You’ve only got time left on Earth to invest not throw away. Like I said before ‘YES – DO Judge!’ – unless you owe them a favour & in my book, you repay them for that, don’t be a wanker – there’s too many of them out there & not enough genuine human beings as it is! Be firm but fair!

As I turn back to my interactive film project, I continue to unwillingly learn yet ANOTHER skill in terms of marketing film projects, which hopefully I can learn to love.

I’ve already picked up attention from ‘Scriptshark’, ‘Raindance’ a core ‘Assassin’s Creed’ actress (before choosing another who I felt resembled the character more, hopefully I don’t regret that – my audience will tell me soon enough) two professional music composers from LA and another in Poland not to mention two separate parties that may be able to sort my U.S & UK promotional needs. Not a bad start, clearly I’m on the right track but please God – remember that as MUCH as I’ve done, learned, spent, sacrificed & emotionally invested, I can’t keep up the way things are forever, no matter how much I love this industry.

 

I’ll die before I go back to the bullshit job circuit out there. I’ve done my several years worth of soul-destroying, unrelated, hard labour – Not asking to be rich, I’ve never and shall never pay the tax on hope (a.k.a; play the lottery). In the end I’ve worked my ass off and expect to get a good living for it and tried to help as many people as I can along the way… So… I dunno...

Come Ooooonnnnnn!!!