I think at the no budget level just getting a film made is excellent, and if it is received as a good film by audiences - even better, and if it can get some sort of distribution - better still. But beyond that, if you are going to do this filmmaking thing as a career or a life long obsession, the more you know, the better off you are I think. Also, one of the aspects of industry knowledge is to know that some successes can't easily be duplicated, even by the filmmakers who originally had those success. Anyway, I think the more you know the better off you are, as long as the knowledge you possess does not get in the way of making movies. Maybe eternal optimism is a skill to be developed & maintained by the professional filmmaker/director/producer.
- Sujewa
#
posted by The Sujewa @ 12/12/2006 11:37 AM
Hi Sujewa,
Thanks for replying. I think your response is dead on, and, obviously, the "denial/reality" ratio is going to be different for each person. I know that as a producer you want a director to be a little removed from the business -- you want to feel like you're in the presence of someone whose primary motive is a creative one. And then sometimes you wish some directors had a more realistic understanding of sales, marketing and distribution during the process. In the end, though, I think your last sentence -- developing "eternal optimism" -- is the best strategy as long as its tempered by a knowledge base underneath.
#
posted by Scott Macaulay @ 12/12/2006 11:53 AM
And congrats on that project you can't talk about here doing well in theaters this past weekend. In the top 10 in the iWBot, not bad at all, go cantmentionnamehere project team!
- Sujewa
#
posted by The Sujewa @ 12/12/2006 10:34 PM
Very interesting and provocative post here. Good to know that some denial can be acceptable . . .
can't help but think that success is fated to a degree, not to say hard work isn't part of the equation.
#
posted by @ 12/12/2006 11:03 PM
fate helps those who help themselves i think. specially in such an action based industry, business as film production & marketing & distribution. how about - work will get you to about the 75% success level, luck will take you to the 110% level. luckily for most of us that 75% level is far above what it takes to be happy in this industry/pursuit/expensive hobby/whatever.
- Sujewa
#
posted by The Sujewa @ 12/12/2006 11:10 PM
Scott -
Ego and self-respect? You want it all, don’t you? Great blog entry. This is something that doesn't get discussed all that much but is very important. You remember the 90’s in New York? Every week in the press there was an inspiring story of an independent filmmaker blowing out his or her credit cards to make their passion project, learning every step of the way. Nick Gomez, Spike, Todd Haynes etc. Everyone was under the radar. They were fearless and I think a lot of that came from just wanting to make films and starting from zero. It was a very exciting time.
We are talking about today though. I think with the internet and filmmaker blogs we are getting information a lot faster and easier. It’s all out there if you want it. Budgets, weekend receipt estimates, DVD sale predictions, DIY workflows. Trying to figure out the market is futile and I don’t think that it is true to the spirit of what we are talking about here. It hasn't stopped some from trying though.
In a perfect world and ultimately as a filmmaker, I would love to just worry about one thing; making the ultimate film experience I can make with the resources and knowledge I have at that given moment in time. That's all you can do. We all, especially early in our careers, have to know the lay of the land and have some control over our careers or we won’t have one. Part of that control is being educated to the business and technology of making films.
-William
#
posted by William @ 12/13/2006 10:20 AM
It's fun to read the trades when you how it all works. It gives you something to talk about with agents and stuff.
#
posted by @ 12/14/2006 9:21 AM
hey sujewa,
i like where you're going and i dig thoughts about eternal optimism . . . as there is no othe way. Yet, i have to say that i believe even being in the position where the forces in your life are lined up, so that you can work hard takes a degree of luck. I'm always amazed when somehow and some way i am able to make a film again and the space opens up before me.
#
posted by @ 12/14/2006 10:32 PM
