A Fine Figure of a Day

I woke up Thursday morning to an unexpected email. It was from someone who had attended my fundraiser a couple of weeks ago. They explained that they had a wonderful time and were encouraged to see that such things were happening in the town, which was nice to hear.

The person went on to say they were involved with a local organisation (who have asked to remain anonymous) that sometimes help people like me, people trying to do something creative, constructive and generally positive in the community. So they wanted to make a donation toward the film. Great!

I called them right away to thank them and we set a meeting for that very afternoon. So I popped down to their office just after 3pm and met with the lady who emailed and the director of the association. We chatted for a little while and then they handed me a sealed white envelope. I thought it rude to open it in front of them. I kind of wish I had! My gratitude and enthusiasm might have been more!

I went straight to my bank to deposit it. I opened it while in line expecting to see an amount somewhere in the region of €100 to €200, I almost fell over when I read the words - one thousand euros and zero cents, and just to confirm I was reading it wrong, the figure €1000, in the small box on the right! Couldn't believe it! You could have knocked me over with a feather!

So between 10am and 4pm that day I had an email, an offer, a phone-call, a meeting, a donation and a cheque for €1000 in my bank account! Thank you very much indeed anonymous donor! You've basically given me one fifth of the budget I had in mind and got Derelict a huge step closer to production.

It certainly is encouraging. Not only because the film is that much closer to production, but the fact that people I don't know are paying attention to my work and have enough faith in me to make such a generous donation. It's a boost for the film and a huge boost for my own moral.

We are on the way!

Guiding Lights Don't Shine.

I don't enter that many film festivals. Though I've had a pretty good hit rate on the ones I have. I like festivals, don't get me wrong, it's just that I cant afford a lot of them and honestly, I'd rather get on to the next film! I'm a filmmaker, that's what I'm about. I know my films need to be seen, and festivals are a great boost to a film's reputation and advertising. But after five or six festivals I just want to be writing again, getting the next film up and running.


With Emily's Song I put an enormous amount of time and effort into entering festivals and both Thomas and I spent a huge amount of money doing so. We got into about 30 film festivals, couple of big ones and won a few awards along the way, which was nice. But so much time passed while we promoted that film, two years in fact. When I wrapped that film I wanted to be shooting 6 month later! I thought I would, I had the next script ready to go. It was 3 years before I stood in front of a camera again. And even then it was just a no-budget doc short with friends, something personal for something to do.


Elliot Kotek once said something to me that made a lot of sense, he said "You only allow your films to be a successful as you want them to be," which is true. I could have pushed my other short films more, but maybe 140 wouldn't have happened. I could be pushing 140 more, but maybe Derelict wouldn't be happening. Again, I just want to be making films, and while festivals are an essential part of being an independent filmmaker, once I've done four or five of them I just want to on to the next film.


However, this attitude seems to have backfired on me a bit. I recently came across the Guiding Lights Mentorship Programme for aspiring filmmakers. Filmmakers in my position who have a few films under their belt, who have made a mark, got into festivals and won some awards. But just need that extra boost to get to the next level. I got very excited, especially when I saw that the mentors included the likes of Danny Boyle, Sam Mendes and Stephen Frears. I thought - This is so for me! 


So I got applying, jumped the gun of course and started filling in the application form first! Then I got to a couple of awkward questions and requirements. One of which was about film festivals. It asked that the applicant, me, send in two sole directed films that have been selected by and screen at a film festival from an approved list of film festivals. A list of about 100 of the most prestigious festival around the world. Eek! It's kind of like arriving at the door of a nightclub with a smart dress policy and realising you're wearing trainers and hoody!


Now Emily's Song had been to two, maybe three of those festivals, even got a special mention at one (Oberhausen). But ES was co-directed, it's not a sole project. Bill, For Short has only been to a couple of film festivals. It was a personal film never meant for festival. It was just of the off chance I sent it to a couple of familiar festivals and they picked it up, Bonus! Slán suffered from bad promotion at the hands of 140 and never really got pushed at all, my own fault! I hold my hands up to that. And as for 140 - a few fests, none on the list and it certainly isn't a sole directing project!!!


So I'm screwed. It seemed like the mentoring programme was made for me from the questions in the email:


Are you a talented, ambitious filmmaker with a proven track record?

YES! 

Have you reached a critical stage in your career where high quality industry support would help you reach the next level?

YES!

Would a mentor’s expert guidance enable you to achieve your full potential?

ABSOLUTELY... where do I sign?!

If so, Guiding Lights is for you.

Awesome, I'm in!

As it happened those questions were completely irrelevant. The single most important question was waiting inside - Have you got into any of these festivals? No? - sling your hook pal, you can't wear trainers and a hoody in this establishment!

I guess it's my own fault, as I said above, I'm about filmmaking. I love festivals, they have certainly helped me along the way. But again I just want to get on to the next project. And again - I just can't afford it. I'm an Unemployed Dad, as my friend Mark likes to say! I spend my days looking after my beautiful daughter and pushing her buggy around town, grabbing time to write when she sleeps and organise with my Wife or my Mam to babysit her if I want to do a reading or rehearsal or get some work done with a co-writer. All my spare money goes to her. All my time too. Festivals can take a back seat to that. 

So I don't qualify. I'm not considered worthy of mentorship by the greats! My achievements, such as they are, count of naught here. Fair enough. Not for me. But I still find it odd that I, and many other talented filmmakers with heaps of potential I'm sure, get excluded because they haven't entered the right festivals. Doesn't seem fair or right. Shouldn't it be based on the work rather than the accolades?

Maybe not! Or maybe I'm just being sore?! Anyway, good luck to those who do get through. I'm going off to make another film.

Two Things.

First, 140 just won a Bronze Palm Award from the Mexico International Film Festival! Woot! Thank you Mexico International, it's an honour! I'm thrilled.

Second, here's a little piece from the Drogheda Leader about the fundraiser.

That's it really. We're back working on Iscariot, I think I mentioned that earlier. Thomas and I were working on a beat sheet for a new draft today, it's looking good. Hopefully good enjoy to get us PAID for the next draft, wouldn't that be something?! And just need to find time now to work on the next draft of Derelict. OK, that's all, gotta fly.

Onward and Upward.

The fundraiser has been and gone. I'm still recovering somewhat from the exertion involved, from the build up and all the running around, to the event itself. But it was worth it I think. The night was a success, we had a good crowd in, perhaps even a little more than I had expected and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. There was a good vibe in the room anyway.

In attendance: Kevin McAlister and Aoife Ruane.
All Photos © Eric O'Niell @ Drogheda Daily

Held in the Highlanes Gallery, in downtown Drogheda the event kicked off with a wine and food reception just after 7pm. People relaxed, sat and talked until 8pm when we moved downstairs to the main gallery. I gave a little speech, of course with all the preparation and running around I never actually prepared anything to say! So hopefully I didn't ramble too much, I don't think I did!

I spoke briefly about my experiences with trying to get films off the ground without any backing. From Emily's Song, where we managed to get something of a budget (back when people had money - including me!) and a full cast and crew, to Bill, For Short, which had no money and was shot in a weekend by 3 people, to Slán agus Beannacht, which was somewhere in the middle. I touch on 140, where crowd-source online funding came in to play. 

Gerry Shanahan, Me, Ian Watters.

In each case I was reliant on the belief and generosity of my friends, family and community, both in the arts and the general public! People who came to my parties and events and gave. I always like to give something in return of course, by throwing a party or putting on a show at a good price - but of course, people can choose to spend their money wherever and however they please, I'm encouraged and grateful that they chose to support my cause!

After the talk I screened my three short films, Emily's Song, Bill, For Shot and Slán agus Beannacht, all of which got a good reaction. A lot of the crowd hadn't seen them before, so that was good, nice to get a fresh reaction and know they're still working!

Declan Kelly & Els Boghart

After that I went into a bit more detail about Derelict and screened 6 minutes of rehearsal footage, just as a taster and a reminder of what the night was about. Straight after that was the raffle, which was fun, and then the auction, which was somewhat tense, but also fun and much to my surprise and delight a great success, we sold all but three pieces.

Sarah Bradley & Paul Hayes

Once initial outlays and expenses are settled I will have raised a few-hundred euro (final figure to be tallied). In this climate I'm very happy with that. And it will go a long way in helping to getting the film made, either by going toward insurance, catering, location, equipment... it will be well spent!  

So my thanks to everyone who came and supported and to everyone who helped and took part. 

To our main sponsors:

Highlanes Gallery - The Wine Buff - Andersons Cafe

To our raffle sponsors: 

Scholars Townhouse Hotel - Stockwell Artisan Foods - Waterstones - Unwind - Stoney Road Films

To the Artists who donated their work: Richard Moore, Robert Ardill, Willie Dillon, Noel Kelly, Cara Konig-Brock and Brendan McHugh. To Justin Stubbs, auctioneer on the night. Especially to Mark Kearns whose idea the whole thing was and who was the driving force behind it. And of course my wife, Maryann, who is my biggest supporter and source of encouragement.

Still a lot of work to do. A script to be finished. Rehearsals to take place. Dates to be finalised and more money to be found! But this is an encouraging start to it all. Onward and upward. 

Nothing Quite Like It.

Sometimes things just work out for the best. 

Last Monday I thought I had a venue booked, at least, I didn't think it would be an issue. Then I got an email from said venue to say my email had been found in their junk mail folder and they hadn't actually seen my request. So they booked the room out to someone else. So the reading it had taken me weeks to coordinated around everyone's busy schedules looked as if it was about to slip through me fingers once again. AARRRGH!!! Read the subject line of my email to the cast. No, I'm not a pirate, but I was frustrated! 

Luckily the cast know Dublin, and the spaces available, a lot better than I do. So Wednesday the problem was solved, thanks to Keith Ward (below), who made The Complex available to us. A great space and perfectly suited to Derelict, itself an empty warehouse. So we all met there at 12:30pm yesterday for a couple of hour and the second reading of Derelict.

Above: Michael Bates as J and Keith Ward as Tone have words, during rehearsal.

There seemed to be a good vibe in the room. I enjoyed myself anyway. It's always interesting to see what's working and what's not working when you hear your words read back to you. The mistakes become glaringly obvious. As it stands at the moment the script still needs a lot of work. Too much exposition, something I hate to see in a script anyway. But it's still at 'mind-dump' stage, where everything in my head is getting put on the page, without too much editing.

Michael Bates as J tells Elaine Reddy
as Kate what he thinks of her

It's early stages though, and I've purposely brought the actors in at this early stage because I really wanted them to be involved in the creation of their characters and their backstory. I felt, as the audience are dropped into an hour and half in the lives of these characters, without knowing who they are, where they're from or even what the situation is, we really need a strong sense of who these people are without it being rammed down our throats. At the moment it's still being a little bit rammed!

I know we'll get there though. The tone is there. The characters are there. The structure is there. The backbone of the piece is intact, we need to start layering the organs, the muscles, the fat, the flesh.

Steve Gunn as Davey-boy gives Rory Mullen
(Standing in as J) a piece of his mind.

After the reading we went through a couple of scenes to camera. More as something of a preview at the fundraiser this Thursday, give everyone a taste of what they are supporting. But it was great fun. I love getting behind the camera, and while there wasn't much in the way of direction, or delving the recesses of the characters minds and motivation, it was still fun to be holding a camera and have actors in front of it saying my words and see them come to life... there's no buzz quite like it! I Love it!!!

So everything is on track and ticking along nicely. I'll have a busy week ahead in the run up to the fundraiser and hopefully that will be a success! At least bring in some much needed funds. Id I can cover the cost of the location, or the insurance, or the food, I'll be happy. But in the meantime things are looking up.

This is coming up fast!

Workspace

My work space today:

• Fundraiser poster.
• Moleskin Journal
• Eternal Hard-drives x2
• Mac
• Coffee Mug
• iPod
• Benny and Omar by Eoin Colfer
• Tin Whistle
• Moleskin Storyboard pad
• Film Ireland
• Variety
• Batteries
• Derelict script
• Book about Rembrandt
• Notepad
• Sony HDR FX7
• More Notebooks

Just so you know!

You're In or You're Out.

FADE OUT:

THE END.

Always nice to get to that point of a script. Of course it's usually just the beginning. It's somewhere in the middle for me. This the third draft. I'll do a reading soon with the actors and see how it reads, there will be changes, no doubt. I already feel like it needs a lot less dialogue, there's a lot in there that can be said without being said. I also want to explore certain relationships a bit further and a couple of the character get left out in the cold a bit in this draft, so I want to pull them back in.

The tone of this one has changed slightly. The moral compass is slightly more eschew... if there at all! It's longer and has my interplay between the characters and some of the relationships have changed. There's added conflict and drama. I've basically up the stakes for everyone. I think that's the key for making it work. Is pushing it as far as it will go.

It's been a difficult project so far, no doubt about that. It's really pushing and pulling at me. I'm running hot and cold on this one, which is a first I think. There's a lot of doubt, which probably comes from a lack of confidence in myself, my ability as a writer and director, my vision. I know it's there, but it's hard to see the wood from the trees sometimes.

At the moment I feel a little flabby, both on the belly and the brain! In need of collaboration, inspiration, the back and forth that comes with creative partnership. I've been missing it for a long time. It's been two years since my last narrative film shoot and about a year and half since 140 (though that was quite a solitary project too). So maybe that's where my self doubt and doubt about this film comes from - I'm out of practice!

What always bring me back around though is the idea of working with the actors on this. Getting to play! Everyone piling into a rehearsal space for a couple of weeks to find the rhythm of the piece and then piling into the location to shoot the thing. Organised chaos! And once again creating something. The doubts are the demons that try to pull you down. The light at the end of the tunnel is the vision, the spark that started it all in the first place. The challenge is to fight the demons to reach the light.

I'm sure I'll get there. And hopefully there wont be anymore delays. They have largely come due to people schedules, again my own doubts and of course money. But maybe I don't need that much money. Hopefully I'll raise a good bit on the 14th and maybe I can make whatever that amount is work. Maybe I should just set the date, book the venue and let people know, see if anyone shows up and then make it up on the day with whatever and whoever arrives. You're in or you're out, this is it or it's nothing at all (there are a couple of other personal factors that make that last statement more than me just blowing hard! This is the last chance.)

A Productive Day

As it happened last Monday in Dublin was postponed to Friday, which in turn happened to be a very busy and productive day. A meeting at the Irish Film Board to really just put Derelict on their radar, let them know it's being made so if there's room for future collaboration they will have watched it's progress.

That was followed by a meeting with Derry O'Brien at Network Ireland Television. Derry is the sales agent for Emily's Song and Bill, For Short. I was there to talk about 140 and while I didn't sign any contracts he's going to put the feelers out and see if he can generate some interest with festivals and buyers, see if there's a market there somewhere. So that good, nice to have someone else on side.

I've decided to delay Derelict again, until September. Which will hopefully give the time we need to pull things together. Starting with money! First fundraiser is April 14th in the Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda, a night of Fine Wine, Gourmet Food, Short Films, an Auction and a Raffle. Hopefully we can raise a few quid toward the budget. It should also give us more time for readings and rehearsal.

I'm still working away on the new draft of the script, when I can get to it... should really be working on it now instead of blogging! But I have an excuse, I've been sick all weekend, some bug that wasn't very pleasant, my head still isn't fully clear! So don't want to commit anything sub par to the page... that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

That's all for now. Hopefully more news to report soon.

On The Ropes.

I feel like a boxer climbing the ropes for the third time in the ninth round wondering if I should just lie down. I think Monday will help me answer that question.

I set the dates for shooting for May 14 - 19 and we booked a location in Slane, just outside of Drogheda, a great location! Perfect. Just what I was hoping for and access all areas, which is even better. Now it seems those dates wont work for some people involved. So it's a case of delaying or recasting. Neither of which I want to do.

There are pros and cons to delaying. Pros: more time to find money, more time on the script, more time to rehearse. Cons: I might lose other people, DOP included, I might lose certain big favours and I might even lose the chance to shoot it here entirely!

Every time I think I'm there, something happens to knock me back down. I do believe the film will come together and we will shoot... but when keeps getting called into question, and indeed - where?

A friend and colleague recently suggested shooting in the states. It's a possibility I suppose, a last resort if everything here falls through. I have as many, if not more, friends and film contacts there as I do here. It's an option. One I may end up exploring if this keeps getting delayed.

On Monday I will know more, I have several meetings all day that may determine my final decision. They will involve funding possibilities and availability of all involved. So we may still be shooting in May, we may push it to September, we may say bye bye Ireland, hello LA.

What's so hard is that this is a no-budget film, so everyone is generously working for free. But that also means anything that pays takes precedence. It was stated at the start, by everyone involved, so it's not unexpected... just, annoying! I wish I could make it a paying gig, pay everyone there rate and just get on with it, shoot it and get it out there. Maybe until I do make it a paying gig it will remain a dangling carrot, I don't know.

I hope someday to get out of the indies. Just because I'd like the get paid! And I'd like to pay people. It's not that I don't think people are worth it, of course I do! It's one part of it I hate the most, but I also believe the work should be allowed exist. I believe scripts call out to be made. They arrive, as a twinkle in their father's eye and we must then carry them to birth and do the best job we can as parents. And sometimes parents aren't rich. Sometimes they're on the dole and just doing the best they can!

It's trying at the best of times. There is a lot of time spent wondering if any of this is truly worth it. I guess I think it is, otherwise I wouldn't be doing it, or maybe I'm doing because I don't know what else to do?! I don't know anymore. I just keeping moving forward, head down, one foot in front of the other in the hope that one day I'll look up and realise I've arrived. Until that day I have to keep begging and hoping and sucking it up.

So Monday! I will know more then. I will have answers and a direction of one sort or another.

The Creative Side.

Things are going well on Derelict, coming together at last. Richard Quinn has joined the production as Producer and he's pulled a lot of things together very quickly for us. He's good at what I'm crap at, phoning people and asking for things! I don't know why I'm bad at that, I get nervous and self-conscious and worry about asking for favours and things for free, so I don't call or put it off until it's too late. I'm not much of a producer. I don't know how I've made 4 films to date! But it's great he's on board, it allows my to concentrate more on my side of things, the creative side.

We have a few details to confirm on some exciting things and then I can talk about them. We're close to getting the Location... at least I hope we are! I'll wait until we do to say where and what it is, but if we secure it, it will be very cool!

New draft of the script is now, at last, going well. It's been so hard to get to it lately. Being a stay-at-home dad with a one year-old makes writing near impossible. I find the best time is between 11pm and 3am... but I'm usually falling over by 11pm and ready for bed! If I can break through that barrier I'm usually OK. Managed to do it last night and got a good bit done. Will try again tonight. Tomorrow the little one if off with her grandmother for the day, so it's a writing day for me. Hope to put a big dent in the next draft.

My old/new friend Mark Kearns (former owner of Boyne Books) has stepped in to help with some fundraising and has organised a Wine/Food/Film night in association with Andersons cafe in the Highlanes Gallery and The Wine Buff, on the 31st of March (tbc). There be... well, wine food and films! My short films intersperse between wine tasting, food consumption and an auction! Of some yet to be confirmed items, most likely various vouchers for one thing or another, but certain some of my photography. Fittingly enough pieces from my 'Old Shoes and Broken Walls' collection (images of Derelict buildings) and a portfolio or two of unframed images. Hopefully we'll pull a good crowd in. I'm looking forward to it.

I'm going to be having the second reading with the cast soon. I'll be filming that and hopefully doing some scenes. Will be nice to get stuck in. But I'll also be cutting a promo from the footage and including a pitch from myself which will go up on the relaunched kickstarter fund and be used on the wine night and hopefully to entice further contribution and sponsorship from local people and businesses. That'll be coming at the end of March too.

That's all for now. Next post should have some cool news.

Stepping Up.

Busy week following the 140 screening, which went great by the way. Good turn out, warm reception, good Q&A, live music afterwards, good conversation - so I was happy! And the Droichead is such a great place, I love screening there. I've screening three films there now and had one photo exhibition. The staff are a pleasure to work with. I hope I can always bring my films there.

After the screening I got talking to a few people who seemed eager to help on Derelict, which was a bonus. A friend, Mark Kearns, who screened Slán agus Beannacht and Bill, For Short when he owned and ran Boyne Books (great store, sad it's gone) talked about ideas for fundraisers, as did my friend Kieran, who was once a prominent comedy promoter. So I think there'll be a couple of fundraising events on the way.

I also spoke to an old friend, Richard Quinn, who's always shown interest and support in my films. He offered his services a producer, stepping to help organise the shoot and to get the things I need to make it happen ie. location, crew, equipment etc. He's been on the job a couple of days and has already booked a location viewing, which we went to see last night, great place, Millhouse in Slane. It's ideal really, exactly what I was looking for. Just some details to check out to see if it's suitable, cost, distance for commuting and the like. But even if it doesn't work out I know he's on the job. So that's a load off my mind.

Our prodigal producer returned with some good notes on Iscariot. The reader seemed to like it and the notes were mainly with regard to tone, characterization and some plot holes. Nothing that can't be fixed and a adjusted. So Thomas and I may get back to work on that i the Summer. There'll be nothing doing until then of course, Thomas is stuck into college and I'm working on Derelict, but that's OK. At least there's potential there for something to happen.

So it's all good, all moving forward. What I thought was a stall on Derelict only happened to be a speed bump, all systems go now and looking good. I'm sure there'll be plenty of complications leading up to shooting, but aren't there always! That's what makes it interesting.

I set my cast some homework, to watch 'The French Connection' again. And you dear reader, the same. Such an amazing film. And a big inspiration for this, in terms of tone and style, raw and documentary like. I love it. I'll be looking at it again a couple of times in the lead up to shooting Derelict. It blends the traditions of noir and cop procedure movies with the ragged unruliness of 70s filmmaking. It breaks alot of the rules, but never disrespects what's gone before, just brings a new energy that is still blistering to watch today, far more than most film now, 40 years later! 40 YEARS!!! Come on! We need to get some of that energy back. Hackman is just brilliant as Popeye Doyle, the quintessential anti-hero leading man. He's detestable, unruly, a borderline criminal himself, relentless, a womaniser, authority hater and you love him for all his faults. A great character. Watch it!

Hometown Screening.

OK, doom and gloom aside for a second. 140 is screening tonight in the Droichead Arts Centre. Hometown crowd. Always slightly daunting, especially as everyone's been hearing about this film for nearly 2 years and finally seeing it tonight!

Should be a good event, it's free, there'll be a Q&A, hosted by my wife, Maryann, which should be fun (we met at the Heartland Film Festival of course where she worked as Film Researcher and Co-ordinator for 3 years, so she's well experienced in this kind of thing) After the Q&A there'll be live music in the bar from Eoin McCabe and Tadhg Murphy, playing song from the film, so that'll be great! I'm also going to try and sell some DVDs and T-shirts, see if I can't raise some funds for Derelict!

I'll hopefully be able to film the Q&A so I'll post it at a later date. OK, I'm off to quell my nerves with some stiff drinks!

The Breaks.

I had hoped to counter the last moany post with something a bit more positive this time, but alas, that was not to be. With only 6 weeks to go I've decided to postpone the Derelict shoot by several months. It's frustrating and a little disheartening but in my view necessary. Too many things haven't come together to risk pushing ahead and falling at the final hurdle. I'd rather stop now and move the race dates!

At the moment the script has yet to be finished, equipment needs to be sourced and paid for. I still don't have a location or the key crew and of course - there's no money. It occurred to me that when I was shooting 'Slán agus Beannacht', it took me 6 weeks to organise the bloody fundraiser! And that was a short! I'm talking about doing a feature from scratch in 6 weeks! I have the cast, yes. By by the time I started the run down to the fundraiser on Slán, let alone the film, I had the script finished, the entire cast and crew, half the budget and all the locations (of which there were about 10, not just 1!). When I remembered that I made up my mind fairly quickly after much back and forth.

I want the film to be good. I'd like it to do well and for everyone involved to be proud of it. I'd like it to get into festivals, be well received, sell and be distributed. I want people to see this film, enjoy it and not feel like they're watching some inferior work that could have been done so much better. I fear if I kept going the way I am now that's how it would end up. I would just let myself down and everyone else involved. I don't want that, especially when I know that just a bit more time is all that's needed to get it right.

Sucks! But them's the breaks I guess. My energy is still high. I'm still excited about the script, the project and working with the actors and everyone else involved so far. I still believe it's going to be a unique film. This is just a set back. I still hope to have the film shot, cut and heading out the door by the end of this year.

Meantime - money, crew where for art thou?

May Contain Moaning.

Moan Alert: This blog may containing moaning.

I'm stressed. And it's starting to take its tole on my body. Woken up by the baby crying this morning at 4am, once fed she went back to sleep. I, on the other hand, did not. I lay awake thinking about all that has to be done and all that's not getting done. The location I don't have, the money I don't have, the crew I don't have, the equipment I don't have, the fact that crew I've worked with before aren't returning calls and new crew aren't answering the call to aid! I became so tight and tense I thought the tendons in my neck would snap!

I've always been a one-man-band on my films. I've had to to get them made. But there just seems to be a lot more to do on this one, and for some reason people seem to be a lot less willing to get involved. Maybe it's because it's a feature film, perhaps there's more at stack, maybe people are sick of my asking for help and freebies! Seems more likely. Fair enough I suppose! I guess there comes a time when you have to start making something that pays or just hang up the gloves. Accept that I'm actually no good at this otherwise someone would have paid me by now! I fear I've reached that crossroads. Make or break... again!

Me as I'm writing this blog

Of course every film feels like make or break. I suppose this one is different because it's the first film I've made with a family in tow. Finding the time to write, make phone calls, sit down and make schedule, think about budget, organise a fundraiser... all that stuff is near impossible. Plus there's the Guilt Factor. Before I never had to worry about not eating for a day or missing the rent. I can't do that now. And I can't find any satisfactory reasons that makes it OK for me to drag my family through poverty anymore. For Art? Yeah, whatever! Art me arse!

I don't know why doing what you want has to be such a struggle? Why it has to test you and stress you and make you feel so miserable before paying off, IF it pays off. Do you think it works the other way too? What about people who just want to have a few cans and watch Eastenders of an evening, do you think they're struggling to do that, while being miserable billionaires in Bel Air?! "Why is so hard to be poor? Stupid Aston martins!"

Oh I shouldn't moan. I'm on the path I chose. I wanted to make films, no one forced me to. For me it's a vocation. A calling. I'm compelled to do this. And even in these stressful moment, when it's full of doubt and questions, there's always the knowledge that I will continue, there will be another project. Even though I'm stressing over this film and wishing everything would just click into place and wondering why the hell I'm doing this to myself, I'm still thinking "I'd love to make that werewolf movie... I wish I could get back to that script... You know what make a great film..." so it doesn't go away.

And some good people have of course stepped up, Caroline Farrell, a writer I let down a couple of years ago on a short I promised to make and never did, remains true and supportive. Colette and Darren at Calipo as always make a donation, friends in LA, Elliot, Trampas, Robert are always on hand with whatever they can muster and encouraging phone calls and emails. And of course my wonderful wife, who wouldn't let me throw in the towel no matter how much I fussed and griped.

It's all part of the process unfortunately. I guess I've gone through it to a lesser extent on all my films. I remember Emily's Song was quite a stressful process with a lot of set backs. I think we had to push the shooting back three times before we were ready to shoot. Then people kept delaying us, letting us down and pulling out at the last minute. There was a lot to deal with on that film, but we got their in the end and we had a good film after all the struggles. Hopefully the same will happen here.

Right. Better go do something constructive with my day. Not much point in sitting around here moaning!

Going For A Song.

Sorry for the delay since last I posted. I've been busy on things other than Derelict! Among them a Kelly Family reunion (first time all my Uncles and Aunts, 12 in all, have been altoghter in 35 years) I got roped into doing the photo slide-show, so that took up a few days! I didn't think putting together a slideshow could get so complicated... or maybe I just made it that way!

There are a couple of screenings coming up for 140. On Tuesday 8th it's screening in Shebeen on George's st. in Dublin as part of the Shebeen Flick series of Irish films, loved and unseen! Hosted be Fernanda Parente. I'll be there for a Q&A (hopefully with some of the other filmmakers). It's free in and all are welcome, so pop in if you're in the area.

Next is the Drogheda screening at the Droichead Arts Centre on Stockwell St. Screening is at 8PM on Saturday the 19th and again I'll be there for the Q&A. Plus some pints afterwards in the local no doubt! Looking forward to that, two years since I came up with the idea it'll be nice to finaly screen the film in my hometown!

Derelict News:

I'm happy to announce that Tim Hanan has join the crew as Script Supervisor, Dave O'Sullivan as Production Assistant and Behind the Scenes Videographer and Eddie Quinn on Continuity. I also have a couple of runners lined up but need to interview and comfirm that. And still plenty of important positions need to be filled - Sound Recordist, Lighting Technician, AD, Production Manager, Art Director, Costume and Make-up Artist. I'm sure we'll get there!

I'm still working on the new draft of the script. But should get that out in the next week or so. Also still looking for a main location. Started thinking outside the box, derelict buildings are proving to be difficult to come by, strangely, so thinking of new and empty buildings, factories, churches and abandoned building sites in the middle of nowhere! We'll see, I'm sure something will come up... a location manager would be nice too now that I think of it!

Fundraising too needs to be looked at. I honestly haven't put too much thought or effort into it, just been distracted really. So I need to get on that. Will most likely hold a benifit concert of some kind, comedy perhaps, music no doubt, a raffle, perhaps a table quiz or something similar. Might even have a car boot sale, god knows I have a ton of stuff I could sell. Years worth of baby clothes if anyone's interested?! Films, mags, book, clothes, posters and much much more... all going for a song ;)

But things are moving forward at least! So that's good. Hopefully more news and announcements soon.

A Contradiction in Terms.

(Derelict Cast - Clockwise from top left: Michael Bates, Kieth Ward, Gerry Shanahan,

Steve Gunn, Brian Fortune, Elaine Reddy, Rory Mullen and Andy Gallagher.)

We had our first cast reading last Saturday in Filmbase. Read through the script and had a discussion afterwards. I think it went really well. Everyone got on, seemed to click and enjoyed the reading. Of course the glaring problems in the script jumped out at me - as they do! But nothing detrimental. I was delighted that everyone was so involved and had alot of ideas themselves, good ideas that I will incorporate into the next draft.

I would usually spend months, even years working on a script before I would let anyone read it, that's if I'd even let them read it! But this is the first time I've taken a first-draft to a bunch of people and just laid it all out there. It was quite refreshing. Admitedly, this draft only took 3 nights to write, so it probably could have been given at least one more going over (especially for typos! Sorry guys!) But in saying that, the fact that it was so raw gives everyone a chance to be involved right from the start and to help in the growth of the story and their characters. I like this approach.

After a two and half hour meeting I came away feeling confident, excited and eager to get writing again -but as yet I haven't had the time! Why is it when you're busy people suddenly want you?! Everything is quiet for 3 months and now, two months out from shooting my first feature film, everyone's calling me looking for favours! I shouldn't complain really. After all, I'm asking a whole bunch of people to work for free for me. Karma. You give you get. (But I'm still secretly praying I'll get out of the Indies some day soon!)

Still lots to do. First, to work on the script and then meet again. But I still need a location, backing, lights, sound equipment, sponsorship of one kind or another - bottled water and food would be a good start! Any supermarkets reading? Want a credit on a film?! Hotel would be nice for cast and crew. D? Scholars? So, plenty to be getting on with, all while I try to write, produce and direct...

This is now the hard part of Indie filmmaking, the Doing Everything. The One-Man-Show part. This is where I need the most help. As the writer and the director I really should be concentrating on those two things so the film can benefit from my undivided attention, but it's not a luxury I have. I just hope I'm as good at time management as I am at daydreaming... bit of a contradiction in terms there! Such is the film business!

More soon.

A Thing of the Past.

Ever feel like you're forgetting something? You're walking home from town and you just know there was something you forgot, but you never remember, you just have to live with that gnawing blank spot in your brain. Or ever get that feeling like you're waiting for something to happen? But you don't know what. Am I expecting someone? Is someone going to call? But no one arrives, no one calls and it just hangs there. You can't shake it. So you pace the house. Check emails. Check your phone. Walk in out of rooms. Well that's what it feels like when you're gearing up to make a film.

I remember now. It been a while since I was in this position. Two years in fact, which is hard to believe! 140 was such a long process and I don't even count that as a shoot, considering the actual shoot was, well, 140 seconds! So I guess Slán agus Beannacht was the last time I directed a film with a cast and crew. That was April 2009! Almost two years ago. I find that hard to believe. But I guess I've done alot in between.

But yes, that feeling, that irritation at the back of my mind. Anxiety I guess. Nervous energy. Excitement. Anticipation. Fear. Doubt. It's all there. I've been lucky this week. I've been sick. Lucky? You might ask. Well, it meant I had to take Night Nurse, a cold and flu remedy that basically knocks you out at night. I don't think I'd be sleeping otherwise. Sleep takes a back seat leading up to these things. The two nights previous to being sick I awoke at 4am. Brain alight. And awoken I stayed. I got some work done. Plenty of emailing. Thoughts on the script. To do lists. Got a head start on things.

There's very little time and a hell of a lot to do. I guess I'm lucky we're fully cast. Lesson learned from previous films with a week to go before shooting and still parts to be cast. But as mention below, crew, money, location all to be got. These things will keep me up nights until the first day of shooting. I wont relax until "CUT" is called on the very last take on the very last day. But that's OK. I think the nervous energy is important. You need adrenaline to do something like this, it's fuel. And the fear and doubt, well that'll keep me in check and make sure I'm prepared.

Right, I better go take some Night Nurse and get some sleep before I get better and it becomes a thing of the past!

Derelict Diary: New Entry

Day one of the new year on Derelict. The shoot is scheduled for the end of March, 23rd to April 1st to be precise, with a weeks rehearsal beforehand. I'm putting out a crew call. The positions available are:

1st AD

Production manager

Lighting Technician

Sound Recordist

Make-up Artist (including special f/x)

Script Supervisor

Costume Designer

Runner

Other positions may open up but at the moment I want to keep the crew as small as possible, given the nature of the shoot itself. There's no need for a bunch of people running around.

1st AD, essential position in my view! It would be nice to get someone with experience to wrangle everyone, keep an eye on the clock, make sure everyone's doing what they're supposed to be and are where they're supposed to be! (I've had some experience of disappearing cast and crew! I think because it's no-budget people sometimes feel as though they can take it a little bit easier, hang out, have a laugh - but if anything it's the opposite!)

Production Manager, again experienced manager to look after contracts, insurance, locations, budget (if we get one) etc.

Sound Recordist, possibly the most essential part of the whole thing. This is going to be cheap, on the fly, bare bones, I know the performances will be good and I know we'll be able to capture them, and with some style, but this film will fall flat on it's face if the sound isn't good.

Make-up, plenty for one, maybe two people to be getting on with. Lots of blood. Also a bit of prosthetic work and blood f/x.

Script Supervisor, another important role, someone to keep an eye on the script is essential. We're going to be shooting in long takes, I'll need someone to keep an eye on things, make sure we're heading in the right direction and be on hand to nudge us back should we loose our way.

Costumes, it would be nice to have someone think about costumes for the actors. At this level it's often just what the actors have themselves and charity shops. But it would be nice to have some thought behind it, someone to create cinematic looks, strong silhouettes etc.

Runner, might be more then one place here. This is a position for someone who likes helping, getting their hands dirty, doesn't mind slogging it, running here there and everywhere at a moments notices. You'll be doing everything from running for teas and coffees, to carrying gear, to making phone calls and driving people around (own car and full license a major plus).

I've had a few emails already. So I'm going to go through everyone and then I'll see where we stand and start building the crew. But please, if you're interested get in touch. The positions are unpaid, this is a labour of poverty... I mean Love! There simply is no money, experience aplenty, but no money. So click on the contact button on the right or email me at derelicmovie(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks.

Spot the Difference.

A couple of things that bothered me in 2010 was of course waking up one morning to find out that Ridley Scott was making a film with the exact same premise as 140 and that he was premiering at Sundance sight-unseen even though they had rejected 140 a few months earlier!

Another incident was when I had been developing a premise for a new take on the Cú Chulain legend. I thought it could really work well, and was different to anything I had heard from anyone else who wanted to tell that story. Then another production company announced they were making it with almost the exact same premise. This has happened me before. I know I wasn't ripped off. I didn't tell anyone about my idea, it's just one of those things. Annoying nonetheless.

But the thing that probably irked me the most was when the new Sky HD campaign was launched. The one featuring the big furry blue monsters "The Spenglers", you know the one.

5 years ago Thomas and I had been developing a script called Puca (you'll find it in these pages) It was about a boy and his imaginary friend, Puca, a large furry blue monster. Not too strange, I mean Monsters Inc. has a furry blue monster. But there was something really familiar about these monsters. So I did a little digging, went back through some designs and emails to a certain company and discovered that the same company I spoke to about make our big furry blue monster suit was the very same company who made the Spengler suits! Check out below, see if you can see why I might find this particular incident irksome...

My Design:

Their Design:

Similar? No?

Ah well, no point letting these thing annoy me. Happens I guess. On ward an upward. I have enough to be getting one with this year. Will be interesting to see what ideas of mine people get to before I do though!

Happy New Year!!!

Just a quick note to wish everyone who has followed this blog, dropped in from time to time and shown interest and support in what I do, a Very Happy New Year! Thank you. I appreciate it, believe me, I do! I hope to bring you more of the same, and much more of something new in 2011! Have a great new year, I hope it brings you everything you hope for.

All the very best

Frank

Writing In The Dark.

I've been working on the Derelict script the last two nights, till 2 and 3am. I wrote 23 pages the first night, and 28 the second. 51 pages in. I decided to start from scratch. I started to write a draft a couple of months ago, wrote about the same, 50 pages. But I just wasn't happy with it. I didn't feel the characters were there and the structure was lying a little flat. So I left it for a while and just thought about it, made some notes, thought about it some more.

On Wednesday night (15th) I opened a new tab to write down a new beginning of a visual idea I had for the opening. It worked really nicely and added a new tone. It also propelled me further. 23 pages and several hours later I stood up from my desk, stretched, cracked, groaned and felt pretty happy with a good night's work and the new direction the script was taking.

Last night I type THE END on page 51. Very short feature script you might say. But that's OK. I skipped passed scenes I knew needed more time. Tagged them for later revision. I got the main structure and sequences I was clear on out of the way. The final page count will be in the region of 70/75 pages, still a short feature screenplay. But I know the story is there. I have a clear vision of what I want to make. And I have a sense that with workshops and rehearsal with the actors over the next few months we'll be able to grow their relationships and these scenes.

It's shaping into a tight, tense and quite violent piece, perhaps a little more violent than I had first envisaged. But I'm enjoying writing it. It has a tone of anger and frustration about it, which is reflective of present times. It's a film about trying to escape but realising escape is impossible and the tension, anxiety and frustration that brings. These men have already arrived in hell, they just don't know it.

Like so much of Film Noir it presents a hopeless situation, with characters plagued by misfortune, a shady past and no hope for the future, regardless of how they try to better themselves. Of course there betterment usually involves a crime of sorts, something seemingly simple that goes so complete wrong. (Am I ruining the ending here?!)

I've wanted to do something like this since I decided to start writing screenplays over ten years ago. The first two feature scripts I tried to write (started, but never finished) were crime thrillers. Then I read Story by Robert McKee, and Screenplay by Syd Field, they gave me some grounding and focused my mind. I then wrote Blood.Dirt.Money, which wasn't very good, but had some nice moments and, more to the point, was the first fully finished feature script I ever wrote. It too was a crime thriller, about an American man who inherits a fortune, comes to Ireland with his girlfriend, who is duly kidnapped and held to ransom (I guess not entirely a million miles away from Derelict - kidnapping - money etc.) - but seriously, who inherits a fortune and comes to Ireland?!

I moved away from crime to explore adventure, fantasy and family drama - all of which I enjoy. But I keep coming back to crime and Noir. Thomas Kennedy and I wrote Iscariot of course, part-time over two years, which is very much inspired by and drawn from Hollywood Noir of the 40s and 50s. It's funny, I remember a readers note we got when we went looking for funding initially that criticized the character development and especially the female character for being "just like a femme fatale from 1940's Hollywod Noir..." Top marks there! The completely missed the point and criticized us for doing exactly what we intended!

(Mind you, these are the same people who criticized Puca, a children's story about a 12 year-old boy and his imaginary friend, for being aimed at children. And criticized Nevermore for being too literal, offering that it should be a novel, because it was largely descriptive without much dialogue. I was going for visual... it being cinema and all that. I do spend a lot of time scratching my head with these reports!)

But I digress, Iscariot was indeed film noir and while that percolates I wanted to explore the genre some more, hence Derelict. Iscariot is much bigger, so I thought something smaller, low-budget, one location, manageable would be a good place to put this desire to make a crime thriller into practice.

I still have some work to do before I put the script into people's hands. And I suspect it will continue to evolve, especially during shooting, given the nature of the shoot itself.

Once this draft is done and out I'll take a break for Christmas and the new year and then come January, it's full tilt into shooting. So my blogs and updates should come more regularly - provided everything goes according to plan, which of course it never does!

24 hours left on the Kickstarter fund! Of the $6,750 goal I managed to raise... drum roll - $359.00 :( Not very good! But that's OK, there's 24 hours to go, I'm sure someone out there has $6,391 they don't know what to do with and will pledge it in the very last minutes! Unlikely... but possible! It doesn't stop plans. This fund was a shot in the dark, a plus if it happened, would have made life a lot easier, but now I just have to hustle some more, come with the territory. No point in getting downhearted about it. If I was the kind of person who worried about money I wouldn't be making films!

OK, better get back to it, I'm using up all my words here, they're needed elsewhere! More soon.

Derelict Cast Complete

I'm excited to announce a new, and final, addition to the cast - Rory Mullen (above) joins us to play the kidnapped bank manager, Laurence. I worked with Rory on Slán agus Beannacht when he played a rent collector alongside Pascal Scott.

Rory has appeared in many other films including Anton, by Graham Cantwell, Hunger, by Steve McQueen and will appear in the forth coming Portrait of a Zombie, as well as many other films, short and TV shows.

Script to be finished. Money to be raised. Location to be found. Final crew to be confirmed... so lots to do in the new year. Should be a busy one.

Meantime, just for fun, here's the Derelict "Noir" Poster!

2010 Review

J

...This is what life really is.

And you’re going to get what you

deserve for a change.

Well, it's Christmas, I'm shutting up shop. I finished the first draft of Derelict last night (tiny extract above) and sent it off to the actors, wrapped in a nice festive bow. I hope they like it! I'm happy with the direction it's taking. I think the story, the structure and the characters are all there. But there's room to grow. There'll be plenty of news coming in 2011.


At the end of the year I like to look back and take stock. So what's happened in 2010. Well, plenty!

Finished 140, Held the World Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival, the European Premiere at the Irish Film Institute and also screened at the Denver Film Society, Hatch Fest Film Festival, Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles and Heartland Film Festival.


Invited to:
Sedona International Film Festival
and to be a part of the Media Course the Ottawa University in Canada.


Got some great press from MovieLine, MovieViral, Fast Company and Variety.


My short film Emily's Song sold to Channel 4 in the UK and has been broadcast twice this year.


Started putting together my next film, Derelict, and pulled together a great cast.


I finished a feature script called Iscariot with Thomas Kennedy, something that we had been writing for over two years. Found a producer who was excited about it and wanted to take it on. He said he'd get back to us in two weeks - six months ago... we'll see!


Edited a short called 'Raise My Hands' with Elliot Kotek producing and photography from Scott McDermott. Is sitting in limbo at the moment waiting for release... we'll see!


And the prospect of many more good things to come. 2011 should be an interesting year and I can't wait to get started.


OK, bit of fun now, my top (and bottom) films of 2010:

My Favourite Films of 2010:

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Toy Story 3

How to Train Your Dragon

Ponyo

Valhalla Rising

Let the Right One In

Kick Ass

My Least Favourite Films of 2010:

Robin Hood

Ondine

Clash of the Titans

Most Disappointing:

(films I was looking forward to that just didn't deliver)

Inception

Shutter Island

Iron Man 2

The Killer Inside Me

Rec 2

Most Anticipated:

True Grit

The Town

Black Swan

The American

The Illusionist

Happy Christmas everyone. Thanks for reading. Hope to see you in the new year for the next leg of the journey.

The Quiet Man

All's quiet on the western front, at least on the surface it is, beneath things are bubbling.

Derelict is coming together. Script is going well, though still needs plenty of work. Still no location and still no money! But those will come. I'm hoping to get the script done in the next two weeks. Before Christmas anyway. I'm sure Christmas will be the usual distraction from work. Once it's over things will start heating up on Derelict as we head toward a March shoot.

Meantime I'm editing a short for Victoria Charters called Backstage. I'll get that finished next week. Interesting little short, shot for no money on a Canon 5D. It's about an actress preparing to go on stage.

Good news for 140. We were invited to screen at the 2011 Sedona International Film Festival and I was asked by the Ottawa University in Canada if they could include the film in their media class, which is quite a privilege.

Couple of other cool things I can't talk about at the moment... wouldn't be me if I wasn't keeping quiet about something. But hopefully I can talk more about it in the not too distant future!

Busy, and exciting times!

(Recent Article by the Drogheda Leader for Derelict, written by Ian Watter.)