Short Film. Advice?

[JakePC]

Dear Mr Deakins,

I will try and keep this short. I am a young enthusiastic and dedicated film maker with credits on television broadcasts, DVD releases, independent films, music videos and corporate promos. This includes ITV's Emergency Medics (also broadcast on The Discovery Channel), Pro Wrestling documentary 'Hard Knocks' (2009) which was nominated for Best Documentary 2009 at the Bafta funded Norwich Film Festival.

For a year now I have been writing a short movie script, and re writing, and again re writing. Finally, now it is complete. After putting out casting calls I had over 200 responses - eventually narrowing it down to the better and more serious of actors, I'm holding auditions in early March. Persuasion and offering successful applicants a copy of the film and a credit upon completion has saved me having to pay them however much they charge. I will however be offering food and accommodation. I am very grateful for this. Then I plan to begin shooting in late march, for at least one intense week as I don't want to keep the actors away from home and work longer than necessary.

Anyway, after pulling loads of favours and scraping money together to get some great kit - After auditions I'll be all set. I'm getting nervous now, I've made many short films before, but this is different, I'm putting everything into this and want it to go right, I've never had the chance to individually direct and shoot, I've always been jumping from behind the camera, to in front, to directing and it all becomes a big mess.

Upon completion I'm going to send it to any and every film festival possible. Production companies too. There's nothing more I want in life than to be a huge well known director or cinematographer. I'd just love for people to recognize my work and appreciate it for it's beauty.

I was wondering, if you had the time, Mr Deakins, if you had any advice to offer about my upcoming short, or even my chosen career and passion, I would be forever grateful.

You've truly inspired me with fantastic photography and direction producing some excellent, beautifully created movies. I hope to one day do the same, I know I can do it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I understand and appreciate that you don't have the time to respond to everyone, however if you have the chance I would be more than grateful.

Awaiting patiently for your response,

Jake

[Roger]

I wonder a little as to your motivation. Is it that you want to be 'recognized', to be 'a huge well known director or cinematographer', or is it that you have a passion to create work that you feel has some value - other than monetary? It certainly sounds that you have set out toward your goal with considerable passion and dedication but seem to now realize that failure is also an option. I only see that as a positive feeling. As the saying goes 'If it were easy........' not only would everybody be doing it but it might not offer any satisfaction either.

[JakePC]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

The truth is, I have a huge passion to create film that contains some value - something that also makes the audience feel emotion of some kind, and therefore recognize me because of that. I also feel that this movie I'm about to create will reveal my true potential to others, and myself also. I get great satisfaction out of creating something amazing and wonderful, even more so when someone watching recognises my creation for its beauty and meaning. Cinematography is what I love to do and will never stop persuing it. My dream is to be highly recognised for my work and creations, I wish for someone to know my name and link it with something amazing and meaningful I have created. I believe you're right, and "If it were easy.." it probably wouldn't offer any satisfaction but become more as a chore. I'm glad that it is hard in that respect, however, failure sometimes lingers on the horizon - more as an option that I may never accept, than something dark out to get me if in 'xx' years I am still where I am today. I hope that makes sense.

I welcome any other comments you may have and appreciate the time taken to respond to me.

I look forward to future discussions

[Roger]

You really seem to have more passion for the recognition than for the actual film making! You will find that only one of those will give you true satisfaction.

[JakePC]

Thank you once again for taking the time to reply.

I understand what you're saying there, but don't get me wrong there's nothing I love to do more than make films. To me, life looks better through a camera lens. Cinematography has infinite possibilities and I love exploring and creating them, and have done so for almost 10 years now. As times goes on my work continues to get better and better, I think I would just like someone to recognise me for my work that's all. Maybe this will happen when I have finished my movie, it has generated some interest already, however it is yet to be unveiled to the world in its entirety. Upon completion I will upload to YouTube and welcome your thoughts if you have the time to view it.

I look forward to further discussions with you, Thank you once again.

[Subhadip]

We would of course want all our works to be recognized. But it isn't a perfect world, is it?! If recognition is all you want, there's a "formula" out there. Of course, that is hardly guaranteed to work, and every so often we find a rather unique film recognized by award juries and the audience alike.

If you are passionate about cinema and making films, the only thing you could do is forget about everything else, and concentrate on your work. Give it your best efforts and intentions, with utmost sincerity. Don't be disheartened if you don't get the recognition immediately, be patient and keep at it. Don't relate a lack of recognition with failure, at all. If you do, it is clear that your main passion is getting recognition and not making films!

[Roger]

That is a really good comment. Thank you Subhadip!
By the way, in my mind a camera is best used to reflect reality and not make life 'look better'. I hope my work does not just 'make life look better' or I might just have to .....

[JakePC]

I meant it to sound differently when I said 'make life look better' what I meant for it to mean was...

When you go through life, your eyes take in thousands of images every day, and the way I see it - you see a tree, it's just a tree, you see anything: a building, a flower, the sky, that's what you see. But using a camera you can then achieve fantastic artistic and technical decisions related to the image. You can turn a simple daisy into a beautiful extreme close up with great depth of field, and it will look amazing. Turn the sky into an awesome time lapse, begin shooting and sun rise and have the camera follow the sun throughout the day as it sets and turn 24 hours into a one minute piece. The possibilities are endless. That's what I meant by 'making life look better'

Your work, to me, is incredible. Each movie is unique in it's artistic and beautifully detailed 'reflection of reality', as you said. Sorry if it came across any different and if I offended you. I am a true fan and love your work.

I won't ever stop what I love, I just felt as though I wanted someone to recognise what I can do. Rarely I get the chance to show my work to great people in the industry: Chris Dickens, Edgar Wright, BBC, Working Title etc, and when I do they love it, and are usually surprised at my talents. But that is a rare occasion, and maybe felt others were missing out on what I was creating as I love to share my work. You're right, it's not a perfect world, it's far from that, but I will continue to create movies, and just shoot everything as it's what I love to do. If in say 10 years no one recognises my work, then fine, I still do what I love and what fills me with joy.

Film is my life, I work stupid hours usually 10pm til 4am, or 4am until 10am, so I can pay the bills and have the rest of the day to shoot and edit something, or photograph something, I even love to sit and watch movies taking notes all the way on narrative, structure, framing, etc. I love it all

[Roger]

It really does sound like you do!