eberhard grossgasteiger
Trying to strike a balance.
NOTE: I wrote the main bulk of this post before COVID-19 decided to go global and in turn I decided to put any future plans on hold. Now that things have stabilized a bit (relative term) I have revisited and edited the original text. Most of it still stands which is a good sign of a flexible plan I guess.
ALSO NOTE: Half a year between posts 😬 Next one is already written and only missing editing and pictures so I try not to repeat this mistake again 🤞
And now back to the story of the day…
This has been bugging me for a while now: is my script trying too hard to cram too many things into a short running time.
The doubts started after the intense period of building the props last summer. I might have thought about it earlier but this was the point when things started to materialise and become more than just words on the page. The film has several pretty complex and ambitious set pieces that at least in principle would be able to be the main gags of an indie feature film. And what I’ve had in my mind is something like 10-15 min short.
That sparked a process in my head where I started to think about the possibility of a feature length film in which I would keep the set pieces (at least most of them) and expand the story, world and characters enough to fill an 80-90min long feature. Right now I have some idea of an outline for a feature BUT! being a first timer when it comes to film production and some kind of perfectionism creeping into my persona it is pretty obvious that a feature wont happen this year.
But something needs to happen, otherwise I will be just building props year after year and that is not really the point of this project.
So, I’ve hatched a new plan and course of action that has started to feel like the correct one in which I get things done this year but open the door to do something on a larger scale.
New plan, version 2020:
- continue building everything as planned
- rewrite a shorter version of the script
- couple of key scenes
- focus on “proof of concept”-angle
- take the time to hone the practical effects required for the shorter version
- shoot the short version at the end of the summer
- shoot more and more tests as they were the best thing about last year
- parallel to all of the above: write a feature length version to be produced in 2021/22
The logic behind this turn of events, or possible turn of events, I reserve the right to change my mind back and forth on this subject for the foreseeable future. Where was I…? Ah, the logic of this decision:
- A) I don’t have to postpone basically anything and can get my feet wet
- B) I get to do a proper test with some of the key visual concepts with a production that has much smaller stakes than the “trying to be a feature in the guise of a shortfilm”-project
- C) if all goes well enough, one of the outputs will be a concept film that should help with hiring talent for the feature, maybe getting some crowdfunding, building and audience, etc.
- D) this will buy some time for some of the visual concepts and effects gags to develop and mature to a point where they will be ready for prime time
Sounds good enough to me.
In other news
So far the global pandemic has not affected this production much, main thing that concerns me though is how to take care of the safety of the people who will be present on the shoot of the concept short. Also if things go really south I will probably just postpone indefinitely again but as Finland has been doing quite well all things considered, I would trust to be able to go and shoot this little thing in the autumn.
One big breakthrough this year has been the custom gun prop which turned out to a massive project involving 3D modelling and printing, electronics, custom software for Arduino, metal work, woodcraft etc. The next post will detail the journey from concept to finished prop and it is already the longest post yet. Consider yourself teased.
I’ve also taken some time to work on the imaginary software/apps that are central to the story and the characters have to interact with them. As I am a software engineer by profession this has been a pretty nice way to bring up the production value by doing something that I am actually good at and do not have to be in constant learning mode. We’ll see how this works in practise and if I’ll have to composite the screens after all.
One new learning has been switching between modes of working hard and then not working at all. For a couple of weeks I was hacking away with lots of stuff until it started to feel like I was forcing it and not enjoying it. I decided to take a week off from working or even thinking about the project and it was pretty much the best decision. Now I am again aching to work on something and finish things and the joy has returned as well. As this is a side project and I have limited time and energy I have to be very mindful about not pushing too hard.
This month I am on holiday and will dedicate lots of time for pushing this project forward so expect seeing some test footage popping up on Instagram and later maybe here on the blog as well.
Until then, stay safe.