Film Interpretation Contest (FIC)

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:13 am

I like flatwood's suggestions ;)

Seriously, post ads around your local college/art school. Find where the theatre department is and cover their bulletin boards. I'm not sure what age range you're looking for but I think posting want ads at schools would be a good idea.

Post by **keagan** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:54 pm

Yeah, putting up posters is quite effective. Especially it it's for students and if you pad it with phrases like 'Great Career Opportunity' and the like. Although I've had some troubles with students; they have their own deadlines and projects on the go, and if you're not paying them, you may just slide to the back burner. Although I'm sure you'll have no problem holding their interest with the riding pants and beret!

Keagan

Post by **mattias** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:24 pm

in europe there's a website called stagepool. free for productions to advertise for talent (actors, extras, dancers, models) but they pay to read so you only get serious replies. no free gigs allowed, but i believe deferred is ok. i'm sure north america has something similar. i find most of my supporting actors and extras that way. leads i usually get from watching films and plays then hunt down the contact info through the director or production company. much easier in sweden since almost everyone is in or around stockholm though.

/matt

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:49 pm

Mandy.com. Probably only worthwhile if you're in NY, LA, or (sort of) Miami.

Post by **flatwood** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:33 pm

Best bet as suggested (besides adding an eye patch or monacle to the riding pants and boots) is lurking around little theater groups as they are usually dedicated theater junkies who are used to working long and hard for free but the student thing can be iffy for the reasons suggested as well.

Post by **mattias** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:11 pm

no, i think mandy is a different beast. the point with stagepool is that only professionals will see your ad, and there are much fewer ads since no free gigs are allowed. this makes it much easier both for performers to find jobs and for you to find talent. also if you're looking for amateurs or actors willing to work for free it's often better to do it the other way around. find actors looking for jobs, browse, pre-select, call, cast. posting ads will give you way too many not so great leads.

(without getting too political, most film productions have a budget, even zero budget ones, and paying an actor a few bucks is usually worth at least as much as an extra roll of film and processing. i've found that for just $50 per day or so you can get "real" professionals if they have nothing else booked and they like you)

/matt

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:29 pm

no, i think mandy is a different beast.

Probably true. The section for crew/production jobs is also large relative to the casting calls section. I think there was something more along the lines of what you describe for the NY area but I can't remember the name.

Paying $50/day is definitely worth it for a legitimate actor.

Post by **mattias** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:57 am

Evan Kubota wrote:Paying $50/day is definitely worth it for a legitimate actor.

yes, and even such a small amount will give you access to so much more talent, plus they don't get food poisoned as often. ;-)

/matt

Post by **keagan** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:39 am

mattias wrote: paying an actor a few bucks is usually worth at least as much as an extra roll of film and processing. i've found that for just $50 per day or so you can get "real" professionals if they have nothing else booked and they like you

/matt

great point!

Keagan

Post by **ccortez** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:32 pm

This is not an endorsement of our current governor. Of course I'm a Kinky supporter. But this is a damn useful organization and website anyway, at least if you're in TX or looking to source crew from here:

http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/film

Post by **johnnhud** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:48 pm

Thanks for that link ccortez. I found it to be interesting and useful. My state has so many cool locations to film in it makes me wonder why more isn't shot out here! Plus the cost of living is about 1/2 of what it is out in the L.A. area.

I have taken some suggestions and printed up a flyer to post at the local college. I'm not sure where to go for professionals in my area, although I'm sure there are some. Still, since this is a new experience for me, I'd like to keep it small and quiet. At least until I feel like I'm ready for the bigger leagues.

It's been really overcast here which makes for some great filming of Tri-X. This weekend I shot several shots of the city and scouted for my final location. There's a total of about 4 in my film. I probably should have kept it much simpler than i have but I'm to into it now to change it.

One shot I'll mention that I'm really looking forward to seeing is the following: There is a large bridge that connects two of the major freeways in Dallas from North/South to East/West. At about 60mph it takes a good 45 - 60 seconds to go over it and it is an incredibly high bridge that passes directly around the city. I shot out the window while in the back seat at 9 fps and focused on a particular building that Dallas is well known for. I shot the entire length of the bridge which I'm expecting to play back at 24fps in order to get a quick, smooth upward panning shot of the city. I hope it turns out like I want it to!

Post by **paul** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:11 pm

Hi,

I am sorry to say that I can't make it. I knew in advance I was a bit optimistic to participate in this project, since I'm also involved in another one and have to take care of my income as well. I do have some thoughts for a story for the project. I have about 7 pages of notes for it. I collected them the last few weeks and I ordered two books on the subject, but only got half way the first (They are interesting books anyway. Since this is going to be my second script, I liked the idea of doing research for it; next time I want to do research "in the field" for a script; taking myself one step further every time. ). However I didn't find time to write a final story of it. I will in the future, and will write it loosely around the structure Mattias proposed, but I am afraid it will be in februari or march at earliest, then I can finish it. So, I am sorry. I wont give my story idea away naturally, since I grew attached to it.

Good luck, I am looking forward to your results

Paul

Post by **ccortez** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:09 pm

Well, I was going to say that I'm the contest's first casualty, but it looks like Paul beat me to it. Thanks, Paul... ;)

Sadly, I have to drop out too. I have too much paying work that has to be done by the end of the year. And we're trying to premiere our short film "The Pit" at CineVegas '07, so that has to be done by February.

I'm bummed b/c I was really looking forward to participating. The good news is that the contest did provoke a project that will get made -- the bad news is that it'll probably be spring/summer of next year.

Anyway, sorry for flaking and I really look forward to seeing what everybody comes up with...

Best wishes to all,
Chris

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:16 pm

I'm bummed b/c I was really looking forward to participating. The good news is that the contest did provoke a project that will get made -- the bad news is that it'll probably be spring/summer of next year.

Is there something strange going on here? I'm in about the same situation... I have an idea that is promising and roughly fits the project guidelines but I won't be able to make it until January at the earliest.

Post by **ccortez** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:51 pm

Well, for me it's just classic overcommitment:

- I shot 2 weddings in October, both need edited, DVD produced, etc.

- After 3 years of work, our documentary feature just put initial funding in escrow;

- We are (finally) committed to completing and premiering our short early next year;

- All manner of home improvement projects, kids, job, life...

My wife is trying to teach me to say no; and assuming that will never happen, to raise my prices. ;)

I could not start a single new thing and have enough work just finishing stuff to last all of 2007. But what fun would that be? :twisted: