Tuesday, November 16, 2004
So, I'm a little annoyed with the Had to Be Made Film Fest because they have not been updating their website. HTBM has video stores across the country that participate and rent out the movies in their fest. Ours is coming up around the end of the year, but the website is terribly outdated. They tell me, for example, that there are several outlets in Illinois that carry the fest, but none of them are mentioned on the site. Check back here and I'll try to get some more info.
I did an interview for the DVD that will appear on the beginning and end of the movie. They had me driving my car around their neighborhood on a somewhat rainy day while they filmed me from the passenger and back seat. In other words, the interview will be cutting between a profile and the back of my head. Thinking back on it, I'm pretty sure it was boring as hell.
Part of promoting your film, helping it rise above the dung heap, is using your own charm to add a personality to your projects. Kind of like a politician, or a porn star. The renegade filmmaker, the underground auteur, the underdog idealist, whatever. Something.
Example:
HAD TO BE MADE GUY: So, why are you an independent filmmaker?
RENEGADE FILMMAKER: Because indie film FUCKIN' RULES, G! They can't take my shit uptown. Too off the hook, make the man shit his BVDs.
UNDERGROUND AUTEUR: If not, I would be a traveling monk in the mountains of Nepal subsisting on fervent prayer and yak fat.
UNDERDOG IDEALIST: Because independent film gives hope for the children.
FRANK: Well, you see, that's the big choice a filmmaker has to make, if you want to try and work in the studio system, you have more money but less creative control, whereas with independent film you have complete creative control but low budget, and there are pros and cons bla bla bla bla bla bla bla.
The interview ended with my having to tell the camera why my film "Had To Be Made". This was the introduction for the DVD. My brain completely shorted out. Huh? Why my film Had To Be Made? I don't know. Because I wanted to make it. Because I raised the money for it and didn't want to go to jail for fraud. Because "Buttleman" gives hope for the children. I couldn't think of an answer. I felt like someone in one of those rigged infomercials: Tell us why the Miracle Supremo-Tongs are the only tongs you'll ever need!
Anyway, I hope they find some way to edit a non-tedious interview out of it. I kept thinking of the interview on "Being John Malkovich" where Spike Jonze is driving his car and looking kind of woozy, until he jumps out to vomit at an intersection. Next time I'll try that.
I did an interview for the DVD that will appear on the beginning and end of the movie. They had me driving my car around their neighborhood on a somewhat rainy day while they filmed me from the passenger and back seat. In other words, the interview will be cutting between a profile and the back of my head. Thinking back on it, I'm pretty sure it was boring as hell.
Part of promoting your film, helping it rise above the dung heap, is using your own charm to add a personality to your projects. Kind of like a politician, or a porn star. The renegade filmmaker, the underground auteur, the underdog idealist, whatever. Something.
Example:
HAD TO BE MADE GUY: So, why are you an independent filmmaker?
RENEGADE FILMMAKER: Because indie film FUCKIN' RULES, G! They can't take my shit uptown. Too off the hook, make the man shit his BVDs.
UNDERGROUND AUTEUR: If not, I would be a traveling monk in the mountains of Nepal subsisting on fervent prayer and yak fat.
UNDERDOG IDEALIST: Because independent film gives hope for the children.
FRANK: Well, you see, that's the big choice a filmmaker has to make, if you want to try and work in the studio system, you have more money but less creative control, whereas with independent film you have complete creative control but low budget, and there are pros and cons bla bla bla bla bla bla bla.
The interview ended with my having to tell the camera why my film "Had To Be Made". This was the introduction for the DVD. My brain completely shorted out. Huh? Why my film Had To Be Made? I don't know. Because I wanted to make it. Because I raised the money for it and didn't want to go to jail for fraud. Because "Buttleman" gives hope for the children. I couldn't think of an answer. I felt like someone in one of those rigged infomercials: Tell us why the Miracle Supremo-Tongs are the only tongs you'll ever need!
Anyway, I hope they find some way to edit a non-tedious interview out of it. I kept thinking of the interview on "Being John Malkovich" where Spike Jonze is driving his car and looking kind of woozy, until he jumps out to vomit at an intersection. Next time I'll try that.
