Thoughts for the day

Or Making Movies = Making Decisions

Boom, and that is all there is too it. Unfortunately those decisions are tough, tough, tough. I’ve been burned enough to realise that its certainly not an easy journey.  However… At the end of the day we are very close to doing something exceptional. You will often hear tales of woe from people like myself that want to make movies, get their films financed and made. Yes it’s a struggle to convince everybody. Really difficult. but it’s not going to happen if the idea’s not thought out and you don’t have a great script. To make it easier you also have to show that if people do put money in, they will get that money back out, preferably with more cash in their pockets. MUCH MORE. If you sit on the “The world is against me, or the I deserve it because I’ve worked in the industry for 125 years so I know more then everybody else, then you’re never going to get it done are you?You get knocked down then get back up dust yourself off, work out what is your fault, correct it and go again. The minute you start pushing the blame in other people before you access yourself is the moment you are starting to fail.

And That is The Reason

That some people leave our projects. I hope that they take a good look at themselves and realise it is because of what they have or have not done, badly made decisions. Dog it dog people!

Laters,

Chalkster

2011 comes and goes

And whilst the achievements we were expecting to have done have not all been, er, achieved. We are certainly on the right track at the moment.  It’s been a very, very hard year, and had it not been for an awful lot of support from friends and family I’m not entirely sure how I would have got through it.

Off in the wrong direction

I’ve learned to trust my gut over the past 30 odd years and am rarely wrong on the big decisions for it.  But sometimes my lack of patience makes me override that feeling.  The most damaging time for that was the beginning of the year and the repercussions are to some extent being felt today.  Main lesson learned? Check people’s credentials out carefully. If they say they worked for one of the largest film companies, make sure that it was not front of house at their local cinema. At the level we are working on, that just don’t cut the mustard they were putting on your hotdogs. It’s also a time when you realise some people will take advantage of you and never expect to deliver anything.  But that’s okay, they will put the blame firmly on your shoulders. The rub is we have some very competent people in charge of the big project now, and it’s bigger and better then ever before.

On the right track

The script has come on leaps and bounds and Si and I feel we are back in control of it. The dirge dialog that we were forced to include has long since disappeared and some of our favorite moments have re-appeared. We have even been lucky enough to have some Script master class time with our friend and mentor Mike. We’ve learned so much about story and characters that our original ramblings and attempts at writing seam to be a distant memory. I’m not sure I even want to read them again, though I might as a form of inspiration. I often wonder how we were so lucky as to find such a strong group of people to help us into this harsh business.  At the moment we can only repay them one way and that’s by working hard and proving that we have listened to everything they have told us, that we have improved through our associations.

On Set

I also got back on set this year, and met some childhood hero’s  without any real disappointment.  Whilst my expectation of the film are held realistically low, I did get to meet and make friends with some very talented individuals who I really would like to work with again. It was also nice to start the whole thing of as a Head of Department with authority from the off.  Although my hands were tied with regards to dealing with some of the laziest in for themselves wankers anybody could hope to meet.  Hopefully they will learn that their are many other people that can do their jobs, they are not special.  For me though it was a great chance to prove how much I’ve learned and do a good job.  They film, I’ll leave that up to the director and producers.

SFC

The first year without a season ticket in ages, and I still blame those charlatans for putting Baz and myself in financial jeopardy.  Worst still we have only seen the mighty Southampton a few times this year, and as we start the new year we are at the top of the Championship.  That’s something they will never be able to give back to me, and I will never forgive. Hopefully next year we will get to go to see them more regularly back in the Premiership.  Hugely optimistic.

Tech

Still learning, and the film will be shot in a very new and state of the art format, which is very exciting.

So

On with the year, it’s set to be very exciting and there is much work to do, but one hope that this time next year No Balls will be in the charts :)

Laters,

Chalkster

Under Pressure

It would appear that No Balls is very, Very Close to becoming a very, very real thing.  As in actually happening.   In months rather then years.  And this weekend, I’ve really started to feel the pressure.  I’m going to have to stop to favors fairly soon.  Just because I wont have the time and I will need to bring a very sharp focus into the production.  This is my one shot at a career that I’ve dreamed of all my life. There is nothing else I wan to do and to have to do something else would be an immense letdown. It’s not about being able to tell people that I’m a film writer or director, it’s about making a really fucking good film.  Better then people expect.  Not cutting corners thinking out every moment of it.  And it’s that realisation that is scary.  I’ve an awful lot to do and an awful lot riding on it.

So that’s who I am?

I Found out what Chalkster is in an urban dictionary.  Could not have put it better myself.

Disappointed

Just went to see a local filmmakers short down at the picture palace. I was really hoping that it would be good.  I though that it was likely to be pretentious, but that it had the chance of being technically and literary very good. Sadly it was not only pretentious, it was possibly the worst short film I’ve ever seen.  I really upset by it and how poor it was.  It came from guys who have taken the OFVM courses, so there really was no excuse for it. We legged it afterwards so that we didn’t have to compliment it. Gutted.

More Video’s

I helped out Hayley Nolan and up and coming comedy actress who’s just moved to LA, by filming editing her Short Sketch “Sue Silvester’s Daughter”which seams to have really taken off…

Also been catching up with an old Pal, who is interested in doing some writing with the team.  Check out this video of his:

Whats happening now?

I’m just finishing a video for Nick Cope called “My Socks” which is a lovely childrens peace.  Which I”l post in the next week or two.  And we are filming 4 short Virals for Atomic Burger and Atomic Pizza  this week.  All frickin’ go!

Laters,

Chalkster