The Re-Development Diary: Catch-22, The Formal Route and Never Giving Up "Wait a minute!", I hear you all cry, "This isn't the second part of the pre-production diary," and truth is, it's not. Let me refer to the first sentence from Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." First the bad news. Our financing has fallen through; all the private investors who promised funding cheques have suddenly become signature-shy. The main reason being I'm a young (21 year old) film-maker with no back record of profitable projects. Even though the film is being produced by a company with a track record of making successful projects, it may open some doors but overall I'm fighting an up-hill battle. That's where the Catch-22 comes in. How does a first time director make his debut and create a track record in the first place? Many people tell me that most first time directors are sons, nephews and nieces of big-shot producers who bank-roll most of the budget. That maybe true, however there is small percentage of new writer-directors out there who can get their feature made and that's through having a great script. Now I'm not saying that I'm some creative genius here but the script has had some very good feedback from agents and actors alike. The good news is, as I mentioned in the past, Rik Mayall personally read it and enjoyed it. We also have had a very big name American actor (I can't give you his name at the moment) who looked through it and I'm told' laughed at the appropriate times', which definitely helps seeing as it's a comedy. So what next? Well we're taking the more formal route of applying via UK film-funding organisations; if we're able to get recommendations from these big actors it will definitely help our cause. Also we were originally aiming for an ultra-low five-digit budget but seeing the increasing interest in the project (see The Sun 's article about our actress Adele Silva (04/09/04)) we will be able to push our film into a bigger budget and therefore help get the film seen to a worldwide audience. So it is indeed a rollercoaster of events and the future, although uncertain, still remains exciting and prosperous. I feel physically and mentally drained however the show must go on, every time a door closes, a new one surely opens and with enough of that true British grit we'll keep on fighting and release the project onto the world. Plus, how many low budget films do you know that have been mentioned in the highest selling national newspaper! So we return to Development Hell. Will we get the recommendations from our big-names, how will our application progress go and will some rich 'British comedy lover' come to our financial rescue?! Find out next month in the "Funding Diary" Nick O'Mahoney www.gangstafish.com |
