We are now one month and eight days away from shooting. Yikes! I am miraculously still in the relatively-calm-though-constantly-busy phase. I am sure the too-busy-to-sleep-frantic-stressed-can’t-stop-thinking-catastrophic-thoughts phase is swiftly approaching. I think knowing that I have a really great team of people on board is dramatically helping with my sanity.
I’m finding that the hardest part of making a microbudget film is not actually making a microbudget film, but is convincing everyone that you can make a microbudget film. I’m really proud of how low we’ve been able to keep our costs, but it’s been really difficult making some people fully grasp and believe in what we’re doing. I know it’s not a common thing, but I see no reason why films can’t be made inexpensively. What matters ultimately, whether it’s a $5,000 film or a $50 million film, is the story. I really want to believe that a group of people can so believe in a story and believe in its need to be told and to be heard that they will make huge sacrifices to help make it a reality. And I intend to prove it!
I think we’ve really been able to find people with this quality in choosing our crew and cast. It blows my mind, day after day, to see all these people working so hard and diligently to bring Hope For A Thorn to life. I am so grateful to each and every person who has helped us in any way, shape, or form. And I hope we can all be proud to see the final product and know that the vast majority of the money we’ve received from our generous donators and investors is going to what you see on the screen, not getting caught up in all of the other expenses that drive a film’s cost up.
A quick update: We are in the final phases of casting, I am aiming for a locked script by Monday (or my line producer might kill me), we’re signing the location agreement with our main house tomorrow, money is coming in (but we still need more!), the crew is almost complete, and all is well!!
To be a director of a microbudget independent film… well, how do I explain it? It’s also being a businesswoman (which anyone that knows me can tell you I abhor!), a legal intern, an accountant, a researcher, a location scout, a teacher, a coach, and so many other things… It’s pretty crazy all the hats I have to wear. And it’s not just me. I think just about everybody on our team is doing so many different things at once and our minds are in a zillion places at once. By the time we get around to shooting, it’ll be a wonder if anyone’s brain is working at all. At any given time when 3 or more crewmembers are gathered, you can bet that one is giggling inexplicably and another is not even aware a conversation is going on and the third is just speaking gibberish. But somehow a movie gets made! And it’ll be a darn good one! It is amazing what we’re capable of doing when pushed.
Okay enough rambling…. time to get writing. Happy weekend!
-Erin
