Diary Of An Indie Filmmaker: Part IV

CHAPTER IV: Shake The Flake

Shake 'em. Shake 'em before they break your heart. You knew they were a flake to begin with because they told you everything you wanted to hear but in the end didn't really say anything at all. You knew they were a flake because you were always trying to reel them in, get a straight answer, a real commitment, a concrete thing actually DONE. Don't try to figure them out. Just shake 'em. I can't tell you how many of them have wasted my time and gas and postage and hopes. This production has now become a No Flake Zone.

But good things are happening. Promising things. Found a co-producer who did a splendid ten minute short that if we can sustain that same quality over a hundred minutes will assure we end up with a great film. I wasn't sure this was the guy until I met with him and he showed me two notebooks filled with plastic page protectors for all the insurance forms, contracts, agreements, receipts, and further proof that he's good at all the shit work that makes a film.

I wasn't sure this was the guy until he told me he wanted to find locations (the worst job there is), and that he wasn't going to take the job unless his wife liked the script as much as he did. She did and I hired him. He's ambitious, organized, believes in the script, gets the whole Bowfinger thing, and knows that shit work produces a film not the fun creative stuff. Oh, I got hundreds of people eager to see a first cut and give me notes in the comfort of a dark air conditioned room. But what I need are just a few willing to sit in heavy traffic under a hot sun to track down the perfect family restaurant owned by a fella willing to let us in for free. This may be the guy. We'll see. But I like him and think he'll make a great partner.

Found a composer. Not any composer. A real composer. He's done features you've heard of and currently scores a couple television shows. He likes to help new filmmakers, contacted me through a friend, and said if the script was great he'd do it. He loved the script and agreed to score it if we can marshall the forces to get it on film. He asked me a great question too. When I started talking about the type of music I was interested in, he asked me to send him what I listened to while writing the script. Is that brilliant or what? It's the smartest question anyone's ever asked me.

The Budget: Met with one of those boutique agencies I discussed in last weeks diary. Told them I wouldn't meet with them unless they brought a detailed estimate. They did. And wouldn't you know it was a mere $500 less than my entire budget! Never saw that coming. Of course that leaves nothing for locations, meals, set decoration, and tape stock. (They always think you have more money and want ALL of it). But he paid for my waffles and now I have the prices and rates needed to create a budget for these supposed investors. A sucker play, but I'm in no position to let my common sense get in the way of even a no shot at a few more thousand dollars.

Still trying to hunt down a DP and Sound Engineer. These are going to be the hardest roles to fill even though I'm paying them with the equipment we use once the film's over. I've just posted a want ad on Craig's List and will hit the film schools this week with fliers. Once these positions are locked, the groundwork is being built to roll out the rest. And if my co-producer is what he promises to be... Well, we'll see. If he flakes, he's gone. I'll do it my damn self.

Finally I want to thank Jason and Govindini from Libertas for having dinner with the Hot Little Number and I and letting us pick their brains late into Friday night. Being able to learn from two smart people who've already been through it was invaluable. We also had a helluva good time.