Independent filmmaking

Well I'm not going to say I'm an expert by any means but am a independent filmmaker who is looking for the right guidance from time to time. I got a book that I really wanted called the Filmmakers book of the Dead, But as much as I like this book it is another book that fails to really deliver to true independent filmmakers like myself. I'm going to list a few things here and then act on them.

- Shooting on 16-35MM
- Budget sheets

These are the two issues I'm having a problem with at the present time with the book. All right it list that you should not shoot on mini DV, well when this is all you have and all you can afford you cant really as an independent filmmaker afford a $5,000 pro HD camera, just not doable. I use a mini DV to shoot my stuff on and it's fine, you can clean everything up in post, I have a MAC so can clean up my films with out a problem. I mean really what independent filmmaker can afford a 16mm or 35mm camera? Plus unfortunately as good as film looks and it can never be copied it's expensive to cut and is time consuming, why use these old means when you have the digital age right in front of you? Hell some are using photography cameras to shoot films now at a fraction of the cost. We now live in a digital age, we adapt, you cant tell people not to shoot on DV if it's all they have to work with and all they can afford,in short you work with what you got. I'm not saying that I won't be getting an HD camera in the future because chances are good that I in fact will. When I can afford one.

Now with budgeting. For one to do budgeting you have to have funding which in short is the hardest thing to obtain in the industry. I mean your asking people for money and they need to see something credible and at an independent level that is often hard to do. It of coarse can be done, you shoot a few short clips of your film and present it to somebody they might like it and give you money. But again it's still hard to do. So having a budget sheet for an independent production really doesn't make sense at all, mainly big sets have these because Hollywood can afford to pay people. I made my first short on no budget and it came in the top 10 out of like 60 other entries.

Anyway wrote this because I feel that some film making books should actually tell you these things, that your not apart of Hollywood, you can make it there of coarse, but at an independent level you cant achieve some of these things, it's just not possible. I mean shooting on 16mm or 35mm, hey if somebody can spare a 16mm or 35mm camera for free then hey that's great. Plus you have the RED camera, another camera that is not possible to obtain with out a high cost, again I recommend use what you got, it's not the camera it's how you use it.

Corey Sim

Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies and Bigfoot?

I've been a busy guy as of late and really am looking forward to going back to my roots, my roots you say? Well that being the horror genre, yes what I know, but I'm not the guy that throws up a bunch of gore on the screen, that part is easy, I like to play with the mind, much more frightening, ever go to or see a film that just plays with your mind? I'll go back a few years and one movie had done that to me, an independent film called Bully, you can see the trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8dLkbNq3fA This was a great film and would go on record and say it was a true masterpiece. But here is how I tend to write, I deal with human emotion, even the creatures of the night may have that touch of human emotion, I love to play with the mind. So here is what I'm looking at in terms of my horror films.


The Choice


The Desperate Hours



The Beast Lurks Deep Within


Big Foot: HUNTED

Well looking back at the film and the great experiences we all shared I really want to do more with this film and add a beginning to which tells the story of Will's(played by talented actor Ryan Worrall) condition which is that of depression and panic disorder, an illness I'm all to familiar with. Plus want to get more into the struggles and wear and tear it puts o those closes to him, such as his girlfriend Maggie(played by a great actress in that of Meghan Sardesai), also want to get more into the relationship with him and his best friend Mike(played by Chrisstopher Waterman), I want to bring out the inner strength between the two leads and show what the human spirit is capable of. This film should come together very nicely in the end.

Being apart of the film ENCLOSED was a great experience, the people I worked with are amazing actors and proud to call them friends as well, I am a filmmaker and love to make films, it's my love, my passion, it's who I am, expect more things from myself through Time Knows Films as well.

Right now I'm writing a lot of lovey dovey stuff, but of coarse will return to my roots which is horror, it's what I'm very good at, I have a lot of original material for the horror genre, but it's not me just throwing a bunch of gore up on screen, these stories will make you think, will make you feel for the characters, I love to play with the mind, because just throwing a bunch of gore up on the screen is easy, now playing with ones mind is pure genius.

I'm going end this with a special note. I was watching an up and coming filmmaker apologize relentlessly in regards to his film, you should NEVER have to apologize for your art, for your film, remember some people love Quetin Tarantino, some hate his stuff, some love Tim Burton's films, some despise them, but in the end remember who gear your work towards those ones who support your work, you should never have to say I'm sorry, you can't please everybody and that's a fact.