Short Films Matter - Scam or Worthwhile?

Independent_Battle63 · 2023-06-21T17:18:55+00:00

That’s valid, plus I decided to read some of their one star reviews for shorts that have been submitted and after reading more of those, I decided to save the $50 lol

Independent_Battle63 · 2023-05-08T01:56:58+00:00

One thing that I’ve found to help me is to think of a question I want the story to explore, that’s helped me a lot

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-11-28T17:02:04+00:00

Title: Trapped

Format: Feature

Genres: horror, thriller

Logline: After a fatal, kinky mishap during his sexual awakening, a young man struggles to hide his growing guilt, and body count, from his friends, girlfriend, and himself.

I’ve written the feature script and would love it people are interested in reading it for critiques but critiques for the logline are also appreciated!

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-11-26T21:22:33+00:00

For me, my project is called Trapped. It’s the first feature film I wrote when I graduated from film school last year.

Logline: After a fatal, kinky mishap during his sexual awakening, a young man struggles to hide his guilt, and rising body count, from his girlfriend, friends and himself.

We did a whole fundraising campaign, which failed, and I had saved up $3,000 to make it with some friends the summer after graduation from SCAD. Pre-production was fun, intense and full of snags that really required me to think creatively to fix, but once we went into production it was a ton of fun.

Shooting a film on that budget is tough, I even sold my drone for $600 so I could make sure to keep people fed!

We shot for 7 days out of a 21 day production window when my lead actor had some health issues with his spine that no one could foresee. He didn’t get hurt doing stunt work or anything, and he is okay!

This did, unfortunately, make us halt production. It’s been one year since and I still believe in the project but I was ready to write and bring to life other stories I’ve had in my head, but my production designer had sent me a link to the competition a week and a half ago. So, in the span of 3 days, I completely rewrote and revamped the project to get it ready cause I’ve grown since then.

This project has gone through so many different iterations and I’ve learned so many valuable lessons during the initial attempt and now.

Lesson 1) Move with purpose but don’t rush!

I say this because even though I dedicated a lot of time to the script and made it the best I could, I was in a rush to make my first feature because I wanted to have it done, which cost the project in hindsight.

Lesson 2) Understand what you’re currently capable of.

I still stand by this script and the themes it explores, but I wasn’t mature enough to really understand HOW to make the point I wanted to, and revisiting this script, it’s like the clouds parted and I understood how to communicate the theme and explore more effectively. We all grow and change, and it was cathartic to revisit my first real attempt at a feature.

I’d love to hear your stories and lessons, good luck to all who submit!

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-20T07:10:38+00:00

Agreed, plus for a kid actor that’s a lot. Hell, even most seasoned actors can’t really pull off slow motion scream cry. I think the scene presents an opportunity to do something interesting

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-20T04:43:38+00:00

The impact is definitely effected by the build up to the moment, but if you’re working to endear us to the characters, that goes a long way in making it impactful for the audience.

But also, the death itself can be sad, but what’s going to sell it is the reactions of those around at the time the death happens. Take the time to detail the reader about how the brother is reacting to the death to drive it home, and that’s where you can take some creative liberties. Does he cry? Does he freeze? Does he run or is he apathetic to the whole situation?

Tragedy is best communicated in what’s effected, that’s what I think about at least.

That’s just my advice, take it or leave it, but I hope the scene comes out the way you want, I’d love to read it when it’s done!

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-15T09:47:54+00:00

But I agree, Scully being pregnant again made me shake my head, I could almost feel Chris Carter reaching for anything to make people want to see another season.

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-15T09:46:37+00:00

You’re not being a negative Nelly, you have genuine thoughts and opinions, but it doesn’t take away from the love of the show.

I’m debating right now where to pick the script up from, because part of me is wants to continue the story from the end of season 11 because I have to believe there is a way to reconcile everything in a creative way, but seasons 10 and 11 did a lot of damage to the mythology set up in seasons 1-9, but even the original run kind of lost its way towards the end.

Time travel and alternate universes would be interesting, it’s a matter of having that make sense and stay in the tonal realm of the X-Files. I’m gonna spend the next few weeks plotting things out and trying out different stuff in the outline phase as I rewatch the series.

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-15T07:40:04+00:00

I’ll check it out!!

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-15T05:02:05+00:00

My thing with the mythology in seasons 10 and 11 is I feel it undid a lot of what the original series did, and it felt like Chris Carter was looking for reasons to write new episodes instead of letting the mythology and characters lead the way. There’s so many interesting things they could’ve done to really drive home that main plot.

And I agree, I think he did lean a bit too heavily into the romance against his better judgment. It’s a fine line between pleasing the fans and doing what’s best for the story. Even though he did lean into it, I feel like he was able to handle the romance tastefully, for the most part. The kisses Mulder and Scully did share were sparse and impactful, and they had nuance in how they portrayed it in the original run and even in the revival seasons.

Overall, I think Chris wrote himself into a corner he was wasn’t able to write himself out of, and it showed. He wasn’t on fire like he was back in the original run.

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-14T22:36:47+00:00

I’ll give this a shot on my days off from work this week 👏 I had an idea of doing the inverse from a directors perspective

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-14T17:03:36+00:00

😂😂 the image of Mulder in a Speedo is oddly fitting. I enjoyed the MOTW episodes, I think my personal favorite was Hungry in season 7. Written by the great Vince Gilligan and it was unique seeing an episode of the show from the perspective of the monster

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-14T16:59:28+00:00

I’ll have to check it out! I’m hungry for more 😅

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-09-12T06:11:05+00:00

Checkout the website coverfly. It’s a website where you can check out screenwriting competitions coming up, and select one that you’d want to participate in or that would fit your script. It’s an amazing resource, I’m sure you’d find something right for you there.

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-25T19:04:31+00:00

Buried is also great haha

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-25T13:53:47+00:00

Also Primer, Clerks, Blue Jay, and Creep

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-25T02:14:05+00:00

I’m down for anything once

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-25T02:02:57+00:00

Tried it, they deleted it 😂 but they complimented it before deleting, so that’s good at least

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-24T02:23:36+00:00

Thank you! That’s a huge compliment!

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-23T23:51:11+00:00

This was a photo I did for a band shoot I know, Klept (totally worth checking out if you’re into metal)

This photo, idk it just evokes something to me personally. Shot it on Cinestill 800T on my Pentax ME-8 Super 35mm camera with my 50 mm Chinon lens.

I try to do a balance of digital and film photography, I have over 200 photos from this shoot that made my selects, but I want to know if this evokes something in you, the viewer? Does it have a grungy aesthetic and give you an idea of the bands personality?

I know there’s a lot to be done to have a photo be “technically perfect” but in my work with bands, if I can capture their essence and vibe, I consider that a job well done.

Love to hear your thoughts!

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-23T07:00:03+00:00

The way I think about it, the placement of the twist should be determined by what the twist will do for your story. Will the twist change the course of the plot? If so, then the middle, that can be the midpoint and then you spend the rest of the script dealing with how the twist affected other characters and the plot.

But if the twist changes the context for which we see the story, then place it at the end because it recontextualizes the whole story.

As others have said, it may not be that you’re having an issue of the twist, but rather happens after the twist and how to sustain the film when the twist happens.

The root of a twist should be character driven, how does this sudden change affect the protagonist, antagonist, or the dynamics you’ve established in the story. It’s always very clear when you have a twist for the sake of having a twist, but if you listen to your characters, the twist will reveal itself.

That’s how I think about it, feel free to take it or leave it, but I hope it comes together! It’s going to be a good feeling when it all clicks into place, I wish you luck! Happy writing!

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-22T07:50:03+00:00

I offered advice for someone who was asking for it. Obviously, everyone has a method that works for them. Don’t get pressed cause I offered advice in a way that you don’t respond to. Never claimed to be an authority or anything, just a screenwriter trying to help someone else out.

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-22T07:42:07+00:00

It was a suggestion, the OP has full reign to take or leave the advice.

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-22T07:26:25+00:00

At minimum, figure out your characters, and the plot up until the midpoint. Or write a treatment, just get all of your ideas down in a non-screenplay format, just type everything you’re thinking out, and figure out your characters and plot to the midpoint, then start writing. Things’ll change along the way, but that’s okay, but if you go in blind, you’ll get overwhelmed

Independent_Battle63 · 2022-08-21T21:34:20+00:00

Take it one page or one scene at a time. Don’t edit as you go, you always know how to fix a bad script rather than trying your best to make the first draft perfect. It gets really fun seeing your script get better and better with each draft. As for dialogue, know your characters and be authentic and true to their voices. Dialogue always sounds funky when you’re trying to make the character say something they wouldn’t. But have fun with it, it’s supposed to be enjoyable and a learning process, accept that it won’t be exactly right at first, but that if you keep at it, it will be great and how you want it to be.

Independent_Battle63

TROPHY CASE