I'm in the middle of writing a script for a low-budget film. I'm on page 39 to be exact. But as I'm writing I'm becoming aware of the issues and difficulties around film locations. I realize that not only am I trying to write an engaging story, but I'm also having to be mindful of where I'm placing these scenes. Am I setting a scene in a location that might not be available for shooting? And if I am, do I have an out? Can I change the location of the scene at the last minute and still have the scene play effectively?
I've got one scene where the main character meets with a lawyer. I was going to have it in an office setting, but as I thought about it I realized that an element of character could be shown if the lawyer was out at a picnic table eating lunch. I could show that he's not a high dollar lawyer; that he eats a bag lunch. Maybe he's a little more down to earth. And in the end, shooting at a picnic table in a public park is a whole lot easier than finding an indoor location. So I began to think about other scenes that I've already written and looking at them through this lens. Can a scene that I originally had in a court house lobby be shot outside while the characters are walking up to the courthouse? Can a scene in a mansion be outside the mansion while the character is gardening? Can a scene in a restaurant be outside at a beer garden instead? I know I can't do this with every scene. Viewers might begin to wonder why there are no scenes inside any buildings. And I don't want concerns over locations to take priority as I'm working on the first draft. But I think once I'm done with this draft, I'll go back and see if there are any other places where I could change the scene to a more accessible location without comprising the story.
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This may sound a bit crazy, but I'm thinking about making a movie. And not solely a Blender movie, per se, but a live action feature film. I mean, there would be elements in which I'd need to use Blender and maybe After Effects. But this would be a low-budget independent feature film. Really low-budget.
I'm working on a script now and have been really enjoying the process. And as I go I can really picture it in my head. Which of course makes me want to do this even more. And I'm now to the point in my life that this wouldn't be for anything like fame or fortune or getting some fantastic studio deal from Hollywood. I'm past that now. It would be for fun. But can a person do that? Can you really make movies as a hobby? I have all of the camera gear and editing tools I would need. I've got a Masters degree in Film from 30 years ago and I directed two films at that time. One even won a few awards in the US and England. Those were shot on film and required so much help from other people just to load the camera and process the film and conform the negative. But with a good 4k camera and a computer so much of that can be done by one person now. Not that I could do this completely alone. You need people in front of the camera too. And there are so many amazing actors in this area. I wonder if anyone would be interested in this kind of project. Well, there's only one way to find out. I've got to finish the script and see what people think. I'm on page 22 of what I call the Vomit Draft. The first draft in which everything is spit out onto the page without worrying about anything. Just get it out. And once that is done, we'll see if anything comes of it. One step at time. I have this vision of renting a movie theater and screening the film for family and friends and everyone involved with the movie. And then going out for drinks and having a great time. And then get up and start it all again. I may be crazy, but that sounds like a lot of fun to me. |
AuthorDarrin Lile is a 3D Artist, Blender Instructor, and all-around tech and science nerd. He can be bribed with Peanut M&Ms. Archives
June 2024
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