So, in my journey to make a feature film I've been noticing all the different types of projects that get
crowdfunded and seem to grow. As it comes to indy, no budget-to-low budget projects, the ones that seem to grow are the ones that do so through
multiple PHASES. In other words, start small. Don't try to make a
feature right away- but instead put something online- anything. Ask for
money at a certain point- or get support to help you with SPECIFIC
goals. These goals are one puzzle piece in a larger, bigger project. But
each piece is what you focus on NOW. If you have a snag, either you
change how you relate to the bigger project or you change projects, at
least temporarily.
 |
| One puzzle piece at a time. |
So, Ive been learning this lately trying to apply it to my currently germinating projects. As a result, here's the theory...
1. Write a treatment for a FEATURE.
2. Begin to write the feature script. (Right now I'm working on "The Good Grief" primarily)
3. Write a PROMO TRAILER script for the feature project.
4. Shoot the promo trailer.
5. In process of writing the feature- write a SHORT which is a snippet, a distillation, or a powerful scene in the feature, (but doesn't give away the ending).
6. Use promo trailer to help fundraising for the short.
7. Shoot the short.
8. Finish the feature script.
9. Use short to help fundraising for the feature.
10. Shoot the feature.
You can see that each phase is about rolling any support for your smaller project into a larger project.
As a filmmaker, you must make sure that this initial IDEA is interesting and good enough to build this amount of hype and prolonged interest. Otherwise, someone like me would get bored and want to move on after the first project.
What is your feeling about this? Do you think its a good idea to 'break up' a larger project into numerous smaller ones? Or does this make it seem even more complicated to you?
