Oh no… what now? Anonymouse? PolarisDiB?…
:/ We need to hurry this kickstarter/indiegogo campaign a bit. I hope things work out for you Dandara
@ODILONVERT – No panic. It’s part of the process. We’re doing something new, in a global range, seting rules as we move, in a delicate trial & error basis. Our Project gathers filmmakers in various career levels, from diverse realities, countries and cultures. It’s presumable that we won’t navigate in a smooth road all the time. In special when we leave the virtual realm of film ideas, pitch and script submissions to the concrete production level. Before I joined the experiment, I made sure I wasn’t required to guarantee the production of my eventual submissions. I knew I had no means to produce my piece on my own and, from the begining, I shared my concerns here. But I got so excited with everything we’re doing… that I got a little carried away. Not to mention that my pich was voted as 1st segment while I was caught by the impact of my grandma’s death. I’m sure you all want me to direct/produce my own script. However, real life obstacles (which have always been here) forced me to realize that, since there is no funding available for my production, I don’t now HOW to make it work, or IF I could make it in a workable timing. We have to see this matter with a clearer, colder mind. There is no fire in the set.
@Dandara — do you think there is any way that you can modify your story to escape the funding dilemma? Just thought I would ask. Or, if we must choose another film as key (for example Ryan’s), you could do a different but similar segment using some of the elements (i.e. the wonderful pics) from your first, again escaping from a funding dilemma? I SO want to keep you in some way involved with our project… Your ideas are great and inspiring, it would be a pity to lose you just because this particular idea is not possible to produce at this time. Or am I hanging on the edge of the cliff here with this plea? (don’t worry, no panic, I just don’t want to lose you)
As for the project, I think yes it will morph and we need to be prepared for that. However no one is actually funding us now so we should keep going steadily but surely, and without the feeling of a financial sword of Damocles over our heads if we don’t complete everything by a certain (as yet unknown) self-imposed deadline.
Well, you should contact PolarisDiB who knows a lot more about this sort of thing than I do. If it’s only a matter of editing software (supposing your cast and crew will be working for free, &c.) there’s always the “middle way” (i.e. download Final Cut Pro from TPB). You could also try to get in touch with audio-visual clubs at local universities which might let you use their equipment or you might be able to get your hands on some stuff if you know someone at film school.
Once we get Kickstarter or similar up, we’ll advertise around MUBI and elsewhere, hopefully that should earn us a little. When we do that though, we’ll have to really work on getting a lot of information to “sell” Dandara’s movie to the public. I don’t think we’ll have enough to buy computers and (legitimate) copies of Final Cut/ Premiere Pro and After Effects (which would easily be in the thousands) however.
In the short-term, what we’ll do is we’ll put Act 1 on hold until we figure something out. We’ll move Act 2 into the production phase when the vote is finished and then we’ll move on to Act 3. Eventually we’ll have to get Act 1 done but it can wait a little while if need be.
That’s a great plan, Anonymouse! Dan — we’re not letting you off the hook so easily! :)
Just like any other production, shooting need not be done chronologically. Nevertheless, the sooner we have actual material, the more we have to work with to create MORE material. This is a significant setback, but illustrative of the work we have to get through.
I am still figuring out stuff behind the scenes, I ask for other collaborator’s patience as I figure out some unfamiliar waters. Sorry for lack of updates on my side.
—PolarisDiB
No worries from me — I’m known for my patience. :)
The way I see it is this: I am about to enter the second year of my two year contract. We’ve a year to get this production going, so we have time, but the momentum is mostly to keep interest going. Once my contract ends, doing this project will become much more difficult for me because I will be back in the rat race so to speak.
My funding battle plan is as follows: separate IndieGoGo accounts are opened, one for the project as a whole, then smaller ones for each production, none of them extending beyond $2000 (and really, the individual projects should be $500, IndieGoGo’s bare minimum). While those are promoted, I have grant writing to do (which I have begun), something that I will have to work with each individual filmmaker with to some degree as we all have our own unique assets and information to include.
However, the thing with grants is that even when they are received, they are not to be expected readily. Each individual filmmaker IS going to have to take personal responsibility in the long run for their production and none of this is going to end up being supervised by one source. I again reiterate what Anonymouse has said about filming close to the chest—plan for productions you can fund yourself and begin now, and then submit information to me about additional funding concerns.
—PolarisDiB
Bump.
It’s highly likely that I’m going to be closing my account here on MUBI at some point in the very near future. Just a note to everyone who has contributed to this project, I’m sure that you’ll all get along perfectly fine without me (especially with PolarisDiB on the team) and so you shouldn’t worry about things falling apart.
@ANONIMOUSE – I credit much of our ‘success’ to your generous, straightforward managment of the forum’s flow and diverse content. I certainly hope this is not final. However, if it does happen in the near future, I want you to know that, to me, some people can never be replaced. Once we part, they’re forever MISSING.
@ODILONVERT – Your idea is not a bad one. In case RYAN’s, or anypne elese’s script would be chosen to be segment one, I’d humbly submit another pitch for a later ACT. I just don’t know when I’d be able to do so. I’ve prioritized the MISSING production, gathered a professional crew around it and don’t have the energy or the time to re-start from zero. Real life commitments, that had been on hold, scream for my attention now.
The Shadow may know what the human heart conceals. – But who knows what the future holds?
Dandara, I think that PolarisDiB said that we can do your film, as is, later in the game. Do you think that would work?
Anonymouse — :(
Hi everyone. I know I haven’t been on here for a while, but I think I’ll have to read the entire thread to catch up on what everybody is doing. It turns out that what was making my computer turn off was that I did not have the plug completely in to the computer, so I thought it had originally had crashed or needed a new battery or something. If I can’t get involved with this particular project, I am interested in a future project when that comes to fruition. I had thought of taking the pitch I submitted to this project and making it myself. It changed a lot from that Mutual Friend type of idea to where it is now, based on what I had read on threads concerning this project. I have thought of getting a camera that works on my Imac g3, but I’m sorta thinking that perhaps I should wait to get a camera until after I buy a MacBook Pro. Of course, that’s not easy for me, because I do not make a lot of money and if I start saving, it would take a while. Also, I go to the movies a lot and they are not cheap. I’ll have to see what I am going to do. I hope this project that you all are working on really comes out great!
Hal 9000 — Good to see you back! Please feel free to jump in and get involved once you read where we’re at. We’ve got two production notes in Garage already so that might help you come up to speed more quickly.
Anonymouse – That’s a shame, I do hope you change your mind :/
Hal 9000 – Actually the project needs more contributors, so you can still submit to this project now :)
@ROBOKO. it’s not just a matter of me saying yes or no. We need a strategy. This Project’s strategist, who kept this thread’s polifonic dinamics and democratic procedures, in the right pace to favour a unique collective creative process – has been ANONIMOUSE. While each of us focused mostly in one specific aspect, he identifyed which new contributions pointed to newer possibilities, underligned to all of us aspects the whole group had to pay attention to (such as POLARIS DIB Ergodic structure, which was a perfect fitting).
I don’t know what you think, but the mapping of votes and submissions, is a complex math to my Humanistic mind. Without his clear directions, I must confess I would never had the courage to be a part of it. What I think we better do now is to hold a vote to see how many of us would like to kindly request ANONIMOUSE to stay at least until the first 7 segments (ACT 1 to ACT 3) are voted, written and produced, accepting the Co-Executive Producer credits for the whole Project. Does anyone else agree it’s crucial and that we should vote on that?
I certainly agree :)
“In case Ryan’s or anyone elese’s script would be chosen to be segment one, I’d humbly submit another pitch for a later Act.”
I don’t think that would be possible. Well, it would I suppose but it would be far easier just to put Act 1 on hold and then to continue with Acts 2 and 3. Otherwise, we’d end up having to edit everyone’s work.
Latest tally:
Sorry the fonts &c. are a little messed up, Mubi doesn’t like it when you copy/paste things.
1. Approval of Ryan, Odilonvert and Santropez’ Scripts for the “Act 2” Films:
Ryan’s Script – Yes 4/No2. Website Referrendum:
Yes 4/No
3. Delegation of Roles:
Director:PolarisDiB – Yes 4/No
ii. Press Officer:
Odilonvert – Yes 3/ No
iii. Financial Officer:
PolarisDiB – Yes 4/No
Addendum
Site Administrator:Roboko – Yes 4/No
It goes without saying that if the vote for an external website fails, so too will the vote for a site administrator.
Voting will run for three (3) days and will end on 2011-03-1T00:01:00Z. As usual, my vote will only be cast in the case of a tie. It also goes without saying that you cannot vote for yourself or your own segment. These votes will be discarded.
Voting is open to the general public. Everyone is encouraged to vote so long as they understand the nature of this project. You can vote here or by private message.
The title of the vote is italicized, the object(s) currently ahead is/are in bold and ranked vertically (i, ii, iii &c.).
Please, please stay on Anonymouse!
I’m OK with placing my production on hold. I’ll hang here until I can further discuss funding with POLARIS DIB
My votes:
1) Approval of scripts – Yes – Yes – Yes!
2) Website referendum – Yes
3) Delegation of roles
i – Yes
ii- Yes
iii- Yes (I just think it should be either financial officer or co-executive producer, which usually includes financial management. 3 roles for the same person may feel and actually be quite overwhelming. And this is a collective project after all.)
4) Site Administrator – ROBOKO – Yes!
As for my motion for us to aprove a petition (thanks for improving my vocabulary ROBOKO) to kindly request ANONIMOUSE to stay (at least) until the first 3 ACTs are born and ready to go — since he organizes the votes himself, I think it is better if each us freely expresses his/hers position in relation to that, in a spontaneous ODILONVERT style.
So, although I realize it’s ANONIMOUSE’s decision to make, and I do appreciate POLARIS leadership (which will be much needed to deal with the ups & downs of production) , I must ask “Please, ANONIMOUSEdon’t leave us now. We’re in the middle of a great thing. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without your guidance and support. So, if there’s any chance for you to stay, please do so!”
My warmest regards to the whole Ergodic Team,
from the pre-carnival frenzy of Rio!
Yaaaayy, DAN!!!! (my spontaneous enthusiasm has burst forth from its grey cell)
Everything passes unanimously and the vote is closed. Acts 1 and 2 can go make their movies whenever they’re ready.
For the run-off vote:
This will be a yes/no vote, the basic modalities will be the same as in the past. Voting will be held on the following:
1. Act 3 Referrendum:
.
i. Should we allow Roboko, TheGamgee and Tremolo to make the Act 3 segments without competition on the ballot? – Yes/No
Supposing the vote passes, another vote will be held immediately after on whether or not to approve their pitches and thus to move them into the script writing phase. Effectively then, the final deadline for the all Act 3 pitches will be the 2011-03-8T00:01:00Z.
The vote on whether or not to keep myself (Anonymouse) as the “Producer” will be on the next vote (in seven days) when we determine a) what exactly the duties of the “Producer” are and b) whether or not there is anyone else who could relieve me of all or some of whatever those duties may be (likely our director). Some existing positions may be slightly altered in consequence.
Voting will run for seven (7) days and will end on 2011-03-8T00:01:00Z. As usual, my vote will only be cast in the case of a tie. It also goes without saying that you cannot vote for yourself or your own segment. These votes will be discarded.
Voting is open to the general public. Everyone is encouraged to vote so long as they understand the nature of this project.
The title of the vote is italicized, the object(s) currently ahead is/are in bold and ranked vertically (where appropriate).
We’re also looking for volunteers (preferably someone who has not yet been selected to make a film) in order to make a segment for Act 4 which, effectively, will be the last film in the project. (Act 1= 1 segment, Act 2= 3 segments, Act 3= 3 segments, Act 4= 1 segment). It’s either this or Acts 4 and beyond will be on indefinate hold until more contributors are found.
Fabulous!!!
Great news. It’s good to know there are several films now ready to go. I see some technical problems though, with ACT 2 films being shot before ACT 1. I think the visual elements might look unconsistent, if each necklace, for example, is too different from another one. Or if the jacket, in one segment, has nothing to do with the jacket appearing in a later segment. I had prepared myself to pass the objects on to GARAGE, so that other films could use them. Even if they’d stand just as a reference for similar objects in other productions, it would still add to the over all continuity in a Project that is so diverse in every other way.
So I though over what my options for the MISSING production would be, regarding the fulfillment of the Egodic Project goals. And I think I could do a test movie, just me and the actress, focusing on the objects production, rahter than lighting and stuff. I’d do the best I could with the 2,000 or so, which POLARIS DIB mentioned as the average amount for Quick Starter or Indie Gogo. This way the following segments wouldn’t fall of track, in terms of the visual links betwen them. If later I get local support (withing a workable timing) I could shoot my segment again (unless, of course, the test movie is considered good enough).
That may not be a bad idea, to make a “reduced length” film before a longer. Although Act 2 (and perhaps Act 3 soon) can go to production, Im not recommending they begin shooting before a short while for a number of reasons. First, we may or may not get some funding (contact PolarisDiB) and second, we may be able to reuse some props and things (or somehow coordinate visual elements between films) so we should take it slow. However, if Act 2 goes forward then we can “reverse coordinate” those elements in Act 1 if need be.
Also, it might be cool to have films made in different seasons (as well as locales and languages).
I’d like to start shooting some segments of my film asap. They can be revised later, but I need to start some testing to see what it might look like and where it might go. I have a new camera and I’m excited to use it! :)
As for props, do we really need to have them be the same throughout the film? I have a necklace in mine, but I want people to make the connection without necessarily LITERALLY seeing the same necklace as in Act 1. It’s just more imaginative to me that way, i.e. it makes people work a little for the connections and adds mystery. Like the idea that a person may be represented in the same film by two very different looking actors. This has been done before, and people can stretch to “get it.” I have faith. And since this is starting out as a Garage film with a Mubi audience, I’d like to live up a little to the sophistication that our cinephiles here are capable of in terms of comprehension and analysis.
@Anonymouse
I’m definitely shooting my segment (at least the country part) during the rain season, the place just looks fantastic when the leaves are green. (O:
@Odilonvert: Well, it’s up to you how you want to go about things. It may be a good idea to take a look at the other films already completed before (some contributors) begin filming, that way you can get a certain idea of how to visually tie your film in with the preceeding segments. Reusing props is a pretty obvious way of accomplishing this and not “necessary,” but it may be interesting to tie the segments together with similar visual cues (like shots or scenes in a forest, fields &c.) and sounds (folk songs, maybe characters singing?) and style (expressive long shots &c.).
It’s up to you to work through this, so you should contact eachother if you’re interested in doing something like that (or like I said, wait until some segments are done).
DANDARA
Hi there. It’s 9:53 AM in Rio and I’m kind of sorry to announce that I haven`t yet found a bridge to cross over the troubled financing waters… So I’m calling off the 1st shoot of the documentary, which had been scheduled for this Sunday, Feb, 27th. The MISSING pre-production has to be put on hold too, since it’s the same crew and same production effort for both films.
The support I can count on is a post-production facility owned by the Ministry of Culture, that is great for 35mm films and for animation too. I used some of their free services for A FUNERAL AT THE SAMBA SCHOOL, but they can’t help my DV short fiction. Funding in Brazil could take months. I’m willing to go for it, but I don’t know if my timing will work for the Ergodic Film Project. I’m confused about what to do next with this script, because I feel it’s part of a whole, not only an indivisual creation of mine, that I could just withdraw from a broader (& so fantastic!) context. The realistic picture of the situation now is that what I had 1st figured out for the MISSING production – a 5 day shooting starting right after carnival, is just not possible. ‘Quick Starter’ is not as quick (or thick) as I’d need it to be in order to make it happen whithin the production schedule we had envisioned. I have to release my crew for other GIGs.
I do believe in this Project, regardless of my own ability to move into the production stage. All scripts are great and I can’t wait to see the films “be born”, quoting ODILONVERT. As I said before, if another Filmmaker here wants to direct/produce my piece, I’m on.
It’s been a pleasure collaborating with you.
Best! DAN