2 Days Later CiAO Film Project Update

Next Working Group Meeting is Friday, August 27 at 6:30 pm

Our first Working Group meeting was a success. We had several attendees (unfortunately only one male actor) and ironed out some of the details. Some roles and duties were tentatively decided upon. We will be meeting again this Friday to firm up decisions and discuss new information that has come to light. (see below)

Anyone and everyone who is interested in working on this project needs to attend the meetings so we can continue with "development". This includes crew and actors and writers and creatives (idea people). We need people to show up at the meetings and/or send an e-mail stating your interest and intent if you cannot make the meetings. (we also got one e-mail from another interested male actor)

People can show up at Working Group meetings when they can make them, or even on the Day(s)-of, but this will be "first come, first served", so if you really want to insure that you can participate, especially in some specific function if that is your interest (and this is particularly true for actors), then you need to be proactive and dedicate some time and energy from beginning to end. And also be communicative, especially if your schedule is not wide-open and you are only available at certain times and days. We will attempt to be as accommodating as possible.

(Note that this is a perfect opportunity for beginning filmmakers and others to be on set and learn and familiarize yourself with processes and such)

Clarifications and Realizations

NOTE: After re-reading the 2010 Brief, which has all of the information and explanations needed to participate in the competition, it has become more clear as to what directions and actions can be taken now. You are encouraged to read the document yourself. (link below) Additionally, the contest promoters have answered some questions to clarify certain points.

http://www.ciaoifilm.net/docs/2dl10_brief.pdf  (~364K)

One very important clarification / realization is that, although the entire film needs to be completed in 48 hours, those hours do not need to be successive, in date or time, and can be broken up into whatever date and time segments we choose. So you could create the film in six (6) 8-hour days, or twelve (12) days of four (4) hours each, or three (3) weekends of four (4) hours on Friday evening and six (6) hours on Saturday and Sunday, or whatever time frame we choose or is convenient.

The Guidelines / Rules state:
3. The video must be shot and edited in 48 hours total production time: No more! We rely on your integrity in this matter. You can however, spread out your 48 hours over an extended period, for example, you could work eight hours a day on five separate days.

This is both good and bad. (and explains why some of the films of past years are so much better than the traditional 48-hour films from other contests) On the one hand it gives more hours to create the film, but on the other hand it gives more hours to create the film. So, rather than "quickly" completing it in one weekend, there will probably be a tendency to do it over more than one weekend and perhaps some evenings over a few weeks. However, more time usually means a better film, less stress, no need to rush, time to develop a better idea and concept and script, and perform a more finished post-production, etc. This can be discussed at the next meeting.

The "exclusive rights" section is not as exclusive as it sounds. We still retain complete ownership and rights to the film. It was discussed and agreed to in the meeting that CiAO will be the owner of the film. (eventually, the Board of Directors of CiAO, after it becomes officially nonprofit, will be in control of the film) So the film can be put on the Internet, submitted to other festivals, put on DVD, shown on TV, etc... (the tentative production company name will be "Team CiAO")

You must have at least three (3) of the six (6) required items in the film, and you can have all of them. We discussed putting all of the items in the film. (just because, why not?)

The film needs to be snail-mailed to the UK, so it needs to be completed several days before the submission deadline of September 29 to allow for overseas mailing time.

It was discussed how difficult it is to not think about ideas for a film because that is how our minds work as filmmakers. To embrace the spirit of "making a film in 48 hours", that is, without "working on the film prematurely", I mentioned to the UK promoters that we might "force" ourselves into more closely following this spirit of the contest by customizing the film idea by writing it specifically around the actors that show up and want to be in the film. They thought that might be a good idea. This additional unknown requirement would partially solve this "problem", and would also "guarantee" the actors who do show up a spot in the film. And, ideally, not just a background role, or a quick walk on one-liner, if that is possible. We can discuss this at the next meeting.

Where have all the actors gone?

As stated above, only one (1) male actor attended the Working Group meeting last Friday. (sorry for the late notice) Hopefully more actors, both male and female, will attend future meetings. One thing we will attempt to do is to create a script around the actors who show up and show interest. So this is a prime opportunity to get an almost 100% guarantee to be in a short film. And we will attempt to give everyone a choice or decent role with good screen time, and good dialogue, as much as that is possible. So this can be good for a demo reel, or perhaps someone will see your work, and it could lead to other work, perhaps paid work. Networking and getting face time cannot be over-emphasized. Who knows what it could lead to down the line. As an actor, you need to be on screen, as much as possible. And you won't get a better chance than this. This is not an opportunity that any actor should pass up if they can avoid doing so. (and, please, if you commit to being in the film, then make sure you show up when needed!!)

Next Meeting: Same place, near the same time

Note that the meeting time is 6:30. The meeting location is the Not Quite Hollywood Studio, 120 W. 2nd. St., Chico, CA 95927, between Main and Broadway. Phone: (530) 343-6741 See map (click to see larger version), which also shows parking locations.

Please visit the competition homepage and familiarize yourself with some of the films from past competitions if you can.
 
   

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