Strength in Numbers-
Independent Film-makers We are our own problem.
Originally written made Thursday, April 21, 2011, 6:40:57 PM on Final Draft (register Jack Eagen)
Who am I:
So I grew up on the East Coast in Durham, NC. I have loved film my entire life and been a story teller since birth. I went to film school during my summers in high-school and I graduated from Western Caroline University with a BS in Communications and a minor in Film. At the rime being no Film Major. I have written many things and have shown very few. My novella is available for sale on Amazon.com as a self published representation of my work. It was written quickly and not edited by quote “professionals”.
I have now been in Asheville 6 year. After college I moved to Asheville, NC I shot my first feature attempt in 2007. I refer to it as my first project, Other than short films.
My first project cost me $3,000 (Straw Dogs End) and went to only one festival, before it was polished with color, sound, and all of its final sfx. I cut it together by myself over almost a year. I then went back to the drawing board doing some shorts, and work with Zamani Productions. They liked my work and agreed to help produce my next project, Ringside Rosary.
I wrapped Ringside Rosary, shooting at the end of last year and it is currently in post. I networked as hard as I could and was able to raise an impressive crew, cast, and locations. Almost all of which was volunteered. My production company gained some attention and I received a private investment to see what I can produce in one year with a $50,000 budget for one film. My first film Ringside Rosary, only cost me $10,000. We had stunts, lights, power, great cameras, ward robe and so much more. Now that we are moving forward with 5 times the budget we have high expectations for ourselves.
What am I saying:
Independent Filmmakers have been talking about competing with Hollywood ever since I was a child. I have heard the rumors that this city or that city is about to blow up. It is about to explode with film work and a revolution in film. I have had enough. I am sick of talk. But mostly I have noticed what I see has a misdirected focus. It should not be about one city, it should be about all of us.
A theory I hear a lot is, “well if we make one great film then they will notice us and come to us with money for films.” But what happens is one person works with a company for a long time on that one film and when it does well they leave and go to LA. The other idea is, “Get LA money to come here.” OK, great idea. But what happens is they want to bring their union crew and they want their equipment. And they want actors from LA and people they know. Wee are just a location. We are being used for a quickie and then they are gone without so much as a note on the bedside table.
Again I see a misdirected focus. People say they will imitate what Hollywood is done and start one out here. But they choose to try and price things as if on an LA set, or budget things, or even just how they choose to talk and work with people. Does it work? No. If it did, it would have already. The truth is, Hollywood is Hollywood, because they make everything and they make so much of it all year round. That is key, every year without fail an insane amount of stuff comes out on DVD, TV, Netflix, Hulu, and theater across the country. To ever really compete or be taken seriously we have to do the same. We have to do it until some one realizes what we are accomplishing. We have to stop thinking we have to spend eight years in preproduction on our masterpiece. Quantity and Quality should not HAVE to be separated.
We are putting our money where our mouth is. We will attempt to put every dollar of the $50,000 on the screen. We are asking that others take out a little bit of their time and join us. If everyone shows a little faith, and works for deferred payment. We can all make great films. We have to pull our resources. We have to stop sporadically popping up all over the place with small projects, that aren't thought out, that struggle to get made, and no one ever really see’s them. Instead join a large project, do a job you might not love to help that film be a success and increase your own experience and network. If it succeeds and brings more films, that’s more jobs for you. Also, we remember the people we work with. We always call those who have worked for free first when we have paying work, before we ever contact new talent. This is what can save us. Mutual respect. It can lift us up and make us different from everyone else.
We also have to produce shows. We have to help those in other states, and cities. We cant all be so self obsessed that we only will work on films in the genres we prefer, or wait until “we are sure the project is for real” If we all hold onto all our networking and favors for ever what good does it do? I called in every favor I had for Ringside Rosary. The result was not that the well dried up. But more people were interested in getting involved because what we were doing was so much bigger than ourselves. The result is I got my next film budgeted with a budget 5 times my last. We are currently talking with other people about another film I may be directing, and other directors. It was when I started helping everyone I could in every way I could that things started happening. It was when I worked for the good of the group that I got a break. If we want more film jobs, there has to be more films.
What am I doing about it:
I am shooting my next film. But I am also using my time every day working on finding distribution connections, not just for my films. But for all of us. We want to form a bridge with distribution all over the world so that we can help others get there films out there.
We are forming a solid business plan for a studio on the east coast. One that isn't a big building somewhere, but one that is a community. One that will utilize the natural locations, and only rents out a studio space when a film absolutely requires it. A studio that hires people as salary employees that receive a share in the studio. If you are dedicated to helping all of the projects by working your hardest your stock becomes more valuable with the success of each project.
We are willing to pay to put up a website, a Co-Op for film makers. The idea is, you sign up, put up what you do and when your are available. You d do X-amount of films as say a production designer, but you want to be a DP. Once you hit X- you become the next top of the list for the DP job. OR you can be bumped up on the list for priority calls when a paying job is available in your field. Also once you earn X-amount of credit the co-op will support YOUR project.
What can you do about it:
When you hear there is an independent film, get involved, and hearing that they have a budget shouldn't be a target for you to price gouge, or demand payment when you yourself could use the experience.
Join our Mailing list.
Email us and tell us what you do and what you can do to help our cause.
Help us build the website for the Co-op.
Ghost town guys wanna do stuff. They will let people film there.... I am trying to help everyone. I am working with another guy who is doing a much bigger project and more your speed I think. As he tells me what he needs I will keep you in mind. We aren'T. about "everyone has to make my movie" but we don't want people splitting up our strength by starting up so many half assed projects. There are plenty to join that are already budgeted or supported or whatever.
THE MAIN POINTS
The Co-Op idea was started based on a rant I had, and wrote down. It was the culmination of growing up on the East Coast and constantly waiting for the mythical Film Explosion that was going to happen here every year, but never did.
Multiple factors have gone into every aspect of the Co_op as a concept. But the most important and influential are truly such;
1. That more films must be made here before there will be more film work. To impress and gain the respect of the already established film industry by increase the voluming and quality of the media coming out of the Independent NC scene. We all represent each other, when one of us does a bad project, it reflects on all of us. Also I have heard since I was little that Hollywood "aint so great". But the east coast never really competes in the same ring, because we do not consistently put out anywhere near as many films, good or bad. That says something. Hollywood is Hollywood because they do the job. If you want to ever reach their level, you must set your determination at doing at least the same. If not better. Right now we are only a location to Productions, we want to be much more. So we must impress with talent and drive. There for the Co-Op should make atleast one film a year using a script from a member, and crew/cast from within.
2. That the normal "Asheville relaxed attitude" does nothing to help the image of the independant film scene. To sit and talk does nothing. To plan meetings that no one comes too helps nothing. A lot of iffy, wishy washy, film makers have come through Asheville. Other companies have come to the area and sucked, or money gouged, incoming productions to a point where the productions left, angry and scorned. In short, anyone from this area has to work to over come the Bad Rep already established. The Co-Op is here to Be An Active and Positive influence on the film makers in the area. We are not here to control your project, just help your project reach a higher potential. But the design of the co-op is be professional and not to placate individuals. It should be a petri dish in which talent can rise to the top, and the unexperienced can have access to productions on which their talents can be improved.
3. That a solid, easily navigated database has not seemingly been done and perfected. One which someone from any side of a production can find people, assistance, locations, anything. With a complicated sliding scale of people who are working for free or working for pay, People ranging in experience, Peoples participation with in the co-op, and many other factors... it should be easy for members and non members to find what they are looking for. It should also be maintained, on some level, by the members updating their own accounts with in the data base. For this reason it will have monthly reminders (or something similar) that reminds members to make updates and stay active. X-Amount of time without active participation will result in the deletion of your account.
4. Many people get together and start discussing a similar idea as our Co-Op every year. New blood moves into town, the scene changes a little, and the people who havnt become jaded yet get angry and start talking together about starting something. Well the next step that ALWAYS seems to occur is some one says "Well we should do something, not just talk. We should all get together and make a film.... lets start from scratch to be fair........" WRONG! You want to help the area, you want to make a difference? Stop trying to get yourself in on the writing table and get your ass in the feild. Find a project that is already started, one that has momentum, and one that can only be improved by further assistance AND JOIN UP! Every one has a day job and complains about how much time they have to put into their passion, every one has excuses until some one wants to shoot Your script. Mean while you could work on every other film you can find, building up your knowledge, experience, connections, and resources. While you are working these other productions and working your day job, build your own production. Make yourself the next production people can jump on.
One reason this scenario happens, and is an issue, refers to the "Relaxed Attitude" mention above. These groups start to plan out a whole new project and set meetings and dates that fizzle out or no one follows through on. The Co-Op is the place for people to go when they get this idea. When they are excited and inspired and ready to work, they can go to the Co-Op and quickly find productions in the area or other people who want to participate. You can go on and post your own ideas for projects recruiting other people in your area to shoot it.
5. That this IS NOT HOLlYWOOD, it IS NOT LA. We can learn much from what they have done, how they did it, what works and what doesn't. But we must start from scratch, only observing these trends. To start a film scene, or increase the existing one, it must be approached by the new minds behind it. I am talking about more than the difference between fast talking “rude” producer talk from NY or CA VS Southern polite leisurely disposition.... Not this isn't a good example, BUT more importantly I am talking about generations of people coming up during the largest Technological advancement boom ever. Many new artists wont care about the arguments between film and digital, because the digital they see has come so far and their eyes are not acclimated to seeing film all the time. These are people who can edit there own music of videos at home on their lap-tops at the age of 10. Artists that are not just influenced by the Hitchcocks and Fellinis, but by the Tarantino’s and Aronofskys. A world of people are coming up that have only been in a film theater a handful of times, but have seen thousands of films on their home entertainment theaters. People who dont see hand held “documentarian” styled films as unique. (Blair Witch, Black Swan, Children of Men.....ect) These people will have an entirely different approach and will prove to be capable of achieving new vision through new tactics based on this centuries technological advancements. These are the people that should be leading us. These people should not be left out side the doors begging to get in just because the gate keepers are outdated and unwilling to coup with the tide of change.
6. There will only be two kinds of members in this Co-Op. Members that sign up for free and have access to all the same Database info, but will not receive priority access to paying jobs that come from outside the co-op. And Paying members. Paying members will have the same access to the Database, but will be given priority to paying gigs. This means if I am a producer looking to higher and pay a DP, when I got to the Database and enter my information, Non paying members will be listed very last in my search, IF at all. Also paying members will have the opportunity to put their own script up in the competition for the Co-Op’s one film a year. You will also of course have priority on the higher credited positions on the Co-Op’s film. Such as director, DP, AD, Producer... so on. Both types of members will be expected to participate in X amount of productions a year. Doing more than the minimum will gain points or credits for you. Increasing you position in searches for crew and priority in paying gigs. (The Minimum has not yet been set, and dues are discussed as being $50.00 A year, but a final decision has not been made.)
7. The Co-Op needs to generate regular buzz. One way discussed currently is hosting a film festival. Showing or premiering the Co-Op’s one film a year as the highlight of the festivals. Also of course showing other films from other members or entries from all over. The Co-Op’s film would not be allowed to compete for any awards or prizes.
Another idea has been to set up monthly events year round. Such as script pitching competitions that might eventually lead to the script chosen to be produced at the end of the year. Networking events, workshops, screenings of works in progress, Trailer competition for the yearly film and so on. This is an idea that I believe is absolutely necessary to the success of this co-op.
The LEADERSHIP
Original written file made Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 7:29:11 PM on Final Draft (register Jack Eagen)
OK. So I have met with an insane amount of people since I first opened my mouth and started this whole thing. At first, as many of you know, I have put up a fair fight about my own participation. I want very much for this Co-Op to not only work, but to not be something I am running as one man, or dictatorship. Recently I have met several people with a much larger professional back ground in the area of running a Co-Op than anyone else we have consulted. One thing has become clear. Until the board is up and established, some one does have to lead the group. As the founder, I will accept responsibility, but when I started this idea there were certain aspects that were clear from the beginning. One is that there has to be a board, of professionals, year round, with 5 or 7 members, that vote and make the final decisions on what the Co-Op does next. This board can not be made up of people who are "just passionate", but must be made up of people bringing specific contributions to the table. Also a system has to be put in place that allows for the board members to change. Not just so that the Co-Op can find better board members if they are not performing their duties, but also to make it possible for board members to leave and move on if they decide too.
From the notes taken at our first couple brain storms I have seen a pattern of areas that everyone seems to agree are necessary.
The Administrator- The person in charge of monitoring, updateing, and maintaining the website. Also this position should maintain the Social Network needs. This may or may not be a paying job, but for the immediate future it will not be paying, and will never be glorious. This is for some one passionate and dedicated. This person could be one of the Board members, but it should not be encouraged.
THE BOARD MEMBERS:
1. Member--- with Equipment to guarantee one film is made a year with or with out $. This must be equipment that meets a certain standard or professionalism. (1 full HD, Widescreen, professional camcorder/Dslr/ or whatever. at least 1 Light kit that is an aris or lowel. 1 tripod, 1 other rig via shoulder or crane/dolly. 1 boom mic and cables for audio. ect...)
2. Member--- A back ground in running a business. Accounting, Non-Profit, grant writers, anyone with a respectable resume in the financial background of running a company. This does not include people who have a "production company" that makes no profit. So people who own a laptop and call themselves a Film Company are not included in this. This position is specifically aimed at the financial support and records of the Co-Op
3. Member --- LA/ Hollywood Veteran (for clout and an understanding of the industry)
4. Member--- Some one with aback ground in Film Festivals and/or owner of a film theater
5. Member --- PR/ Promotional representative.... The one looking for new connections to the Co-Op. Bringing in other Co-Ops, or organizations, investors, sponsors, whatever. This person needs to be mostly The Voice of the group. (Currently, as the Founder this is what I would consider my position. We will be supplying in some sense the computer and means to make sure an editing station is available and may be putting up the funds to support the website until enough members join with dues to support itself.
