Latest Production Meeting and Shooting Dates

Yesterday I had another production and another long day.

What did we get done?

We have a budget! We're legit shooting for around $3500 still with hopes of shooting in Connecticut. The complete breakdown of the budget is available to those who ask. I'm not sure if I'm going to put it up on the blog or not yet. We are also more or less set on crew. I have to put their complete updates up as I am waiting on their bios and pics. The prospectus is more or less complete. Mike and I are ready to venture to CT for some final scouting and some fundraiser planning.

As of today, we also have a shooting date. Production dates are set March 27-29.

The film will be shot outdoors during the day. A "rain" script backup is in the works as well.

Script Feedback

My professor looked over my script for feedback today. For all those concerned, over all, everything was good. There are a few minor details that will have to be changed with the script. There are things that obviously to be trusted to me as a director to convey that can't be contained in the script. 

The most difficult piece that I tried fighting for may be changed. I intended my story to be shot at night, but this provides a few problems. This includes problems such as eliminating noise from generators, trying to light for night, losing depth in frame, keeping cast and actors warm and awake, etc. Plenty of problems that I can change easily enough and will be coming in the future draft.

The ending will (thankfully) be scrapped as well. It's always provided so much difficulty that thankfully my professor said that the ending is there, it's just a page too long. He said ripping off the last page of my scripts (literally) would put me in the right spot.

Production Meeting #2

So last Thursday was my rather crazy day. My schedule that day:

8:50 Leave Dorm

9:30-12:15 Screenwriting Class (Waverly and Broadway)

12:30-1:45 German Class (14th and 4th Ave)

2-4:45 Directing Class (Waverly and Broadway)

5-6:15 Dinner/Production Meeting

7-9:15 Acting master class (4th and LaGuardia)

9:45-10:45 Coffee

11:20 Back at the Dorm

Needless to say, Thursdays are usually rather crazy, but for some reason or another they also make the most sense for me to schedule production meetings (particularly with Mike). The master class (amazing) made my normally busy schedule even more hectic that particular day. But like always, we did schedule a production meeting and met up with a few friends to discuss their films as well.

The topic of this particular meeting was focused mainly on budgeting. We hope to get the costs of film down so that future investors will know where all the funds are going to.

I have to go back to Connecticut sooner or later to look at a few locations as well as confirm the ones I have in mind.

What's the estimate? I'm estimating about $4000 (transportation, extra film, possible lens rentals, craft services, etc).

Starting the Semester

So happy Presidential-Hand-Off-Day everyone.

Upon my last trip to Connecticut, I was able to confirm a location. I've received a verbal agreement and upon completion of the prospectus for a formal presentation, we can rest assured that one of my main locations is secured. To build up a little hype, this will be the Village Market in Wilton, Connecticut. So if anyone is there and really wants to help us, continue buying your groceries, mention the film and create a little excitement and some buzz.

You can find their website here. I used to work there so I know the staff fairly well. I look forward to shooting a few scenes here and to more or less know that we will indeed be shooting in my hometown.

Starting Preproduction

In the past 24 hours the following has been accomplished:
Completion of script (though another revision or two are imminent)
Start of prospectus for investors
some minor work done to the blog

As more crew members and actors come together, their mini bios will be provided on the right-hand side of the page here. At the moment I've got myself and Mike listed. There are other people I have in mind for my crew that I have yet to confirm.

First Production Meeting

Last night I had my first production meeting. Mike Wright, a fellow film student will be co-producing my film (though I think I'll be more of an assistant as he's teaching me). Mike's an experienced producer and a talented director. He spent this past fall semester in Dublin with the film school's music video production program.
Last night, we attempted to get a majority of the logistics down. Major location scouting has also been done by myself and it will be a matter of securing those locations. There's also the matter of making sure that the script is locked (relatively so) so we can get a better idea of the budget and the script will be better prepared for the workshop.
I'll be advertising auditions for the film and the search for extras in Wilton, Connecticut, which is where the film will hopefully be shot. We will be looking for adults and children to be extras. This will probably be sent out in the elementary school newsletter. I'll also start advertising at the high school. We'll be looking for will and able teenagers to help on set and to help with the fundraising process (a helpful college resume boost as well).

Introduction

So hi to everyone who has come on to this little film blog of mine. This blog is for anyone interested in the development of my film, "The Park" to be filmed for my intermediate level course work at *breath* the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. From here on out, I will address the school simply as either NYU or TSOA (Tisch).

In my upcoming posts, I will post a summary of the script and will also include the latest developments. This includes anything from crew news, script revisions, casting, etc.
I am, of course in the preliminary phase of the film and still working on my best draft possible before presenting and pitching when the course begins. The Spring semester has not yet begun. It is the hope/assumption that my script will be workshop-ed in class before the film's actual preproduction begins. But as I've learned, one can never have too much preproduction, which is why I want to start work now.

Also, please keep in mind that a copy of the script will not be posted on the blog or online for my own copyright issues. The script is available to those interested in making donations (either with finances or services).