Well, I am.
I just got these cool Super8 and regular 8mm cameras, and I'm dying to use them. But because of the short film length in the super 8 carts and the cost of processing and telecine-ing the film, i want to have a good subject for a short film that lends itself to the short filmstock length.
Now, I do have my own ideas for shorts, and I'm in the process of writing one now, but they're all leaning towards the 15-20 minute mark. for super8, I'd like to keep the film around 4-6 minutes.
So, any ideas for subjects/topics/genres? Drop a line here.
Thanks,
Cavs
Dying for a plot...
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MrMojoRisin
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want an idea?
document something/someone...
it can be short enough to keep the costs low I guess...
personnaly I am a registering type of guy... I like to capture things, not just A moment or THE moment but the most I can... I tend to spend rolls of film (either photography or cine) on little nothings... then afterwards some of them actually make sense when pasted together...
and if you, like me, are a beginner... shooting like the world is coming to an end is surely the best way to introduce yourself to the medium... inspite of the costs implied; no sacrifice no gain I guess.
film isn't that expensive... save on some cd's, dvd's and the likes and you'll come up with enough money for some carts... two, three each month and you'll come up with a full featured short movie in 6 months... voilá.
document something/someone...
it can be short enough to keep the costs low I guess...
personnaly I am a registering type of guy... I like to capture things, not just A moment or THE moment but the most I can... I tend to spend rolls of film (either photography or cine) on little nothings... then afterwards some of them actually make sense when pasted together...
and if you, like me, are a beginner... shooting like the world is coming to an end is surely the best way to introduce yourself to the medium... inspite of the costs implied; no sacrifice no gain I guess.
film isn't that expensive... save on some cd's, dvd's and the likes and you'll come up with enough money for some carts... two, three each month and you'll come up with a full featured short movie in 6 months... voilá.
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Guest
I suggest you try just filming something topical, a local event of some kind like a gala parade. That can provide many different types of shot and many subjects to film whilst all fitting neatly onto one roll of film.
You could also try writing a silent movie. The silent genre is a brilliiant way to make short films. The scene can be set from the start with one title card, then charactors introduced very quickly and the story unfolds fast but not jumping ahead of the audience. We have a short plot which will last around 6 minutes and is carried on 26 title cards. It's easy to keep the continuity in between and there can be more dialogue written so that actors can be seen to speak before or after a title card. Try a simple theme like a man trying to buy flowers for his darling or a love tri-angle story.
You could also try writing a silent movie. The silent genre is a brilliiant way to make short films. The scene can be set from the start with one title card, then charactors introduced very quickly and the story unfolds fast but not jumping ahead of the audience. We have a short plot which will last around 6 minutes and is carried on 26 title cards. It's easy to keep the continuity in between and there can be more dialogue written so that actors can be seen to speak before or after a title card. Try a simple theme like a man trying to buy flowers for his darling or a love tri-angle story.
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FILM-THURSO
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craighaylett
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ideas
Hey. I am simular in this respect. I am shooting a Super 8mm film next February. It is going to be a silent movie like the type you used to get from the 30's. It's going to be shot on Colour and Converted to B/W in Post.
I suggest watching some Laurel and Hardy's or Charlie Chaplins. They give me lots of inspiration.
Good luck.
Craig
I suggest watching some Laurel and Hardy's or Charlie Chaplins. They give me lots of inspiration.
Good luck.
Craig
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FILM-THURSO
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It may be posible to go even older in style. I did a show for a specialist group (not movie specialists) a few weeks ago. The first hour was all stuff from before 1914 - drama and documentrary. To my surprise, they loved the very old drama shorts (2 to 8 minutes) and have me to do another show. Perhaps it is time for a real silent revival!
This has inspired me to plan a '20s-style movie using Fomapan 100 with all the effects box stuff. Perhaps it is time for a real silent revival!
This has inspired me to plan a '20s-style movie using Fomapan 100 with all the effects box stuff. Perhaps it is time for a real silent revival!
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FILM-THURSO
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What surprises me is that the very old films are still enjoyable. The sound I used was just old 'silent movie' piano, but the audience really enjoyed them.
For my own films, it still surprises me how tolerant audiences are to sync. Stuff you've recorded completely wild, just for effect, is accepted - provided the sound is as 'in focus' as the picture. As far as true lip sync is concerned, have you noticed how bad this can be on digital TV. Sync 1/2 sec sound slip doesn't seem to bother anybody.
For my own films, it still surprises me how tolerant audiences are to sync. Stuff you've recorded completely wild, just for effect, is accepted - provided the sound is as 'in focus' as the picture. As far as true lip sync is concerned, have you noticed how bad this can be on digital TV. Sync 1/2 sec sound slip doesn't seem to bother anybody.
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mattias
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hey, let's post screenplays? i wrote this six years ago, but never got around to shooting it. it's copyrighted, but if you want to use it let me know and we'll work something out (it won't cost you a dime), or maybe it will give you some ideas?
PIECE OF CAKE
Written by
Mattias Sandström
mattias@beauty.se
copyright 1999 all rights reserved
FADE IN:
INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
Panties, tee shirts and sweaters are flying through the air from a doorway. Out comes a WOMAN in her twenties, looking stressed out and somewhat exhausted. She's wearing a pair of dark sweat pants and a white tank top. She wipes the sweat from her forehead with the back of her arm, picks up some pieces of laundry from the floor and throws it in the BAG. She checks her pocket for quarters.
CLOSE UP - WOMAN'S HAND
Counting four quarters.
BACK TO APARTMENT
She gets a pack of detergent from a closet, takes a deep breath, sits down on the floor and lights a cigarette.
We roll the CREDITS superimposed over her smoking. The MUSIC is suggestive and indicates that something is about to happen.
The woman puts out her cigarette. She stands up, grabs the bag of laundry and exits the apartment with the bag over her shoulder.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
The hallway is very unfriendly, graffiti on the walls and hard, yet poor, lighting. The woman is putting the bag down next to the ELEVATOR, pushes the button and turns around to lock the door. When she turns back, the bag is gone. She stares at where it used to be, and starts to panic.
MAN O.S.
Hey!
Cut to a MAN who is holding the bag. He's wearing blue jeans, sneakers and a tee shirt and he looks scarier than he acts. We hold for a BEAT and then cut back to:
WOMAN
(hesitant)
Give me that!
She grabs the bag and angrily snatches it from the PUZZLED man. She enters the elevator, pushes the button and closes the door before he can get in.
INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT
The elevator starts moving. The sound is disturbing, as if the cable is about to break or something. Our Protagonist looks really scared, though somehow calm and focused, as if she's counting the floors. Finally we arrive at the basement floor and the elevator makes an abrupt stop. The woman moves towards the door.
INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT. WOMAN'S POV
It's pitch black. A slight bluish light comes from the elevator behind us. The only thing we see is the light switch on the opposite wall, about ten feet away. As we move towards it, we hear the sound of the elevator door closing. A hand reaches into frame and pushes the light switch. A relay makes it's characteristic sound and the fluorescent lights start flashing. After just a few flashes though, the light switch short circuits and catches fire and everything is pitch black and dead quiet again. We turn around only to see the elevator leaving and it's
BLACK
We hear the woman sobbing and cursing and her careful footsteps echoing through the concrete walled basement.
INT. LAUNDRY ROOM - NIGHT
The door opens and the woman enters, looking just terrified. She shivers a little and then snaps out of her state of panic. Focused and determined, she walks up to the WASHING MACHINE and puts the bag on the floor and the money on top of the machine.
WOMAN
Piece of cake
With one hand she takes the detergent out of the bag and places it next to the coins and with the other she opens the hatch.
INT. WASHING MACHINE - NIGHT. SOMETHING'S POV
A roar and we fly out of through the hatch down on the floor.
BACK TO LAUNDRY ROOM
The woman jumps back with a scream, as she sees the CAT run off to the other end of the room. Shaking her head she sighs and starts putting her laundry in the machine. She adds detergent and starts inserting coins. After all four coins she stops. There's still room for two coins. We hold for a BEAT and cut to:
CLOSE UP - LABEL ON MACHINE
The label reads: "new rate: $1.50".
BACK TO LAUNDRY ROOM
The woman FAINTS and falls to the floor, exiting frame. We pan the laundry room while rolling the
END CREDITS
Finally, we tilt down to a medium shot of the woman, the cat licking her face.
FADE OUT.
PIECE OF CAKE
Written by
Mattias Sandström
mattias@beauty.se
copyright 1999 all rights reserved
FADE IN:
INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
Panties, tee shirts and sweaters are flying through the air from a doorway. Out comes a WOMAN in her twenties, looking stressed out and somewhat exhausted. She's wearing a pair of dark sweat pants and a white tank top. She wipes the sweat from her forehead with the back of her arm, picks up some pieces of laundry from the floor and throws it in the BAG. She checks her pocket for quarters.
CLOSE UP - WOMAN'S HAND
Counting four quarters.
BACK TO APARTMENT
She gets a pack of detergent from a closet, takes a deep breath, sits down on the floor and lights a cigarette.
We roll the CREDITS superimposed over her smoking. The MUSIC is suggestive and indicates that something is about to happen.
The woman puts out her cigarette. She stands up, grabs the bag of laundry and exits the apartment with the bag over her shoulder.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
The hallway is very unfriendly, graffiti on the walls and hard, yet poor, lighting. The woman is putting the bag down next to the ELEVATOR, pushes the button and turns around to lock the door. When she turns back, the bag is gone. She stares at where it used to be, and starts to panic.
MAN O.S.
Hey!
Cut to a MAN who is holding the bag. He's wearing blue jeans, sneakers and a tee shirt and he looks scarier than he acts. We hold for a BEAT and then cut back to:
WOMAN
(hesitant)
Give me that!
She grabs the bag and angrily snatches it from the PUZZLED man. She enters the elevator, pushes the button and closes the door before he can get in.
INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT
The elevator starts moving. The sound is disturbing, as if the cable is about to break or something. Our Protagonist looks really scared, though somehow calm and focused, as if she's counting the floors. Finally we arrive at the basement floor and the elevator makes an abrupt stop. The woman moves towards the door.
INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT. WOMAN'S POV
It's pitch black. A slight bluish light comes from the elevator behind us. The only thing we see is the light switch on the opposite wall, about ten feet away. As we move towards it, we hear the sound of the elevator door closing. A hand reaches into frame and pushes the light switch. A relay makes it's characteristic sound and the fluorescent lights start flashing. After just a few flashes though, the light switch short circuits and catches fire and everything is pitch black and dead quiet again. We turn around only to see the elevator leaving and it's
BLACK
We hear the woman sobbing and cursing and her careful footsteps echoing through the concrete walled basement.
INT. LAUNDRY ROOM - NIGHT
The door opens and the woman enters, looking just terrified. She shivers a little and then snaps out of her state of panic. Focused and determined, she walks up to the WASHING MACHINE and puts the bag on the floor and the money on top of the machine.
WOMAN
Piece of cake
With one hand she takes the detergent out of the bag and places it next to the coins and with the other she opens the hatch.
INT. WASHING MACHINE - NIGHT. SOMETHING'S POV
A roar and we fly out of through the hatch down on the floor.
BACK TO LAUNDRY ROOM
The woman jumps back with a scream, as she sees the CAT run off to the other end of the room. Shaking her head she sighs and starts putting her laundry in the machine. She adds detergent and starts inserting coins. After all four coins she stops. There's still room for two coins. We hold for a BEAT and cut to:
CLOSE UP - LABEL ON MACHINE
The label reads: "new rate: $1.50".
BACK TO LAUNDRY ROOM
The woman FAINTS and falls to the floor, exiting frame. We pan the laundry room while rolling the
END CREDITS
Finally, we tilt down to a medium shot of the woman, the cat licking her face.
FADE OUT.
Sound killed the visual cinema. If you watch the films from the mid to late twenties you'll see what I'm talking about.tim wrote:What surprises me is that the very old films are still enjoyable. The sound I used was just old 'silent movie' piano, but the audience really enjoyed them.
Some times I go to these showings where they have a live pianist. It's really really cool, and quite a different film experience.
michael
Nice idea, and a nice little story.mattias wrote:hey, let's post screenplays?
I write all my stuff in Danish. Whenever I try making something in a different language it always turns out to be something with two middleaged women having lesbian sex by the fireplace of a wooden house next to a Swedish lake a summer evening. I don't know why...
michael
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mattias
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i write in the language in which the story comes to me. i've no idea why this one came in english. it was before i lived in new york and the story is kind of universal. maybe it's that i had only seen coin operated laundromats in american movies... ;-)
i tried to start a thread like this before, but it didn't take off (thanks a lot for reading my script then though). perhaps this time? come on folks? some of you must be writing?
/matt
i tried to start a thread like this before, but it didn't take off (thanks a lot for reading my script then though). perhaps this time? come on folks? some of you must be writing?
/matt
That's the subconscious Bergman movie, the one Ingmar actively resisted making his whole career. It informs his entire body of work. You have clearly been subconsciously affected as well... ;)sunrise wrote:Whenever I try making something in a different language it always turns out to be something with two middleaged women having lesbian sex by the fireplace of a wooden house next to a Swedish lake a summer evening.