Pirates

Crazy PiRATE from a new animation I'm working on.

Casting for a Short Film

So... I'm working on several different stories and animations simultaneously, seeing which one will get done first for this year's deadCENTER Film Festival. This happens every year.

Except last year. I finished one way early for the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival so it was ready when deadCENTER rolled around.

Anyway... today I'm visualizing one of my stories as a live action short and the image of Robert DeNiro playing the lead popped into my head.

Wow.

That would make my funny short film marketable.

I've been thinking of animating it and doing all the voices myself (like I normally do.)

But now I'm seeing it as a live action with a star actor as the lead.

Sometimes you can hire one that's not too expensive. And it gets you a name to use on the posters for film festivals.

I don't know if Mr. DeNiro does these kind of things.

But there are others who add to the part just by showing up.

I'll start a list soon.

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RocknRolla and Guy Ritchie

Just rented RocknRolla by Guy Ritchie and decided I want to write "The Next Guy Ritchie Film".

Can I call it that?

I also want to animate a Guy Ritchie synopsis using bumper cars to show how all the convoluted stories collide and connect.

So anyway, a review of sorts: The movie started sloooow for me. I had friends tell me to stick with it so I did. I picked up where I left off and finished it.

And it was good.

What was wrong with the first part for me? I guess I was looking for a main character to be interested in. And there wasn't one for me. I kept trying to make it One-Two's story. Or Archie's story. Or even Johnny Quid's story.

So that's what threw me off. That was my problem.

But the sequences were fascinating. The action was cool when the action started.

So I want to write "The Next Guy Ritchie Film" script.

Anyone want to write it with me? We could use Google Docs to write this thing. I have a situation and some characters in mind. But we could do something else.

Something crazy and complex and delicious and violent and sexy and visual and intelligent and silly.

....

Springboard Storyboard Software

I downloaded a trial version of a storyboard program called Springboard. I'm not sure if it will be the thing I'm looking for. But I love trying out new software.

http://6sys.com/Springboard/index.html

It's like making little mini movies with sound and drawing.

....

Writing Process

This weekend I worked on streamlining my process of
concept-to-outlining-to-storyboard-to-script.

I'm good at generating initial concepts and making a plausible story.


But in writing the script, I'm short on words.

A writer without words is like an artist without art.


And sometimes I am both.


So.... here is my new revised process to streamline the script to screen process:

1. Idea


2. Outline, Plot and Scenes


3. Art, Characters and Background


4. Digital Storyboard and Animatic


5. More Ideas


6. More Scenes


7. More Art


8. More Animatic


9. Then write the script.

This is similar to writers who do a lot of research before writing. They get everything collected first so all they have to do is write.

It practically writes itself. (Or so they claim.)

On "Where Nightmares Feed", I came up with the concept. Then put some art in Sony Vegas to see what 2 minutes looked like and felt like. Then I added more art and animation and sound FX and dialog. And edited as I went along, taking out still art and adding in animation.

Later I added some more scenes and details to make in about 3 minutes long. Then I typed up the script of the finished version.

This is what I want to do with a feature-length script. I'm a visual guy. I need to see the scenes and the action so I can understand what I want to next.

Words-Art-Words-Art-Words

Like other people looking to bottle lightning, I'd like to be able to put together several 1st drafts a year.

I need to get this show on the road.

...

Short Film Ideas

Ideas are plentiful.

Not even a dime a dozen, though.

To create a longer script takes... I don't know... more words?

Short scripts are easy for me. Give me a theme or a page limit and I can cram it full of shiney stuff. Make it sing.

But stretching out the idea for 90 to 120 pages is painful. The words get tough and chewey. Like gristle. What fun is that?

But I am transforming "Where Nightmares Feed" into a feature script. Word by awful word. It doesn't sing yet. But it will.

It must. Or any festival buzz will be lost.

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Sci-Fi London

Sent my DVD off to London on Saturday. They should get it on Tuesday.

Most of the festivals I'm sending to right now are for next year. And the notification process will be next year too.

I really want to find some festivals that are sooner. Just for my own gratification.

I found another sci-fi/horror festival in Austin. But it's not till next September. I'll submit to it in February.

My feature script I'm writing will be less horror and more fantasy.

...