Looking to fill my free time

Discussion in 'The Workshop' started by mburtonk, Dec 7, 2005.

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  1. mburtonk

    mburtonk mburtonkulous

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    Due to my soon entrance into graduate school, I will again have time and ability and resources to entertain myself freely by doing other fun things than rocks, i.e., theatrical and/or creative filmmaking. It's not for a purpose or anything, it's just something I like to do in my free time, messing with video, and things like that. My personal problem is that I tend to start filming with a general story idea in mind and let my actors run from there and fill in all those nasty bits of dialogue that I haven't the time nor the talent to write out beforee I begin.
    Since I'll be moving away from people I know really well, I think at first my productions are going to need to be a little bit more structured, depending on how good the students at UND are at improvisational acting (it is not that I use the first take, but letting them make up the scenes gives me better ideas than I could normally come up with). I'm wondering if there is anyone around who has some screenplays burning a hole in their pocket and would be willing to collaborate on something that may in fact never get done. I just like putting pages on the screen and seeing what can be done with them. I'm also interested in short films (more so than long ones, actually) and even commercials. It's sort of time to broaden my horizons.
    Anyway, that's my spiel.

    edit: No money involved in any way here. Cash infringes on creative process.
    mburtonk, Dec 7, 2005
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  2. Quincunx

    Quincunx anti-anti Staff Member Administrator

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    I wouldn't mind helping out . . . let me dig around (in my files and in my brain, lol) and see what I can come up with.
    Quincunx, Dec 9, 2005
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  3. Shades

    Shades Guest

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    You know how to use Final Cut Pro or Avid Express?

    Edit: PM Me.

    Shades, Dec 9, 2005
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  4. mburtonk

    mburtonk mburtonkulous

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    I used to be able to. Right now I use iMovie since, well, I have it. I hope I made clear that I'm serious, but not REALLY serious.
    mburtonk, Dec 9, 2005
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  5. Shades

    Shades Guest

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    I'm interested in making short films too. mainly for online distribution. :D

    And I probably have less experience than you! :D But I've read a fair bit about the process.

    What sound and lighting equipment do you have? Also, do you have access to more than one camera, or do you need to re-shoot from different angles? Thx.
    Shades, Dec 9, 2005
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  6. Quincunx

    Quincunx anti-anti Staff Member Administrator

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    OMG! I just remembered an idea I had a few years ago for a movie about the Donner Party.

    Kinda sick though. Maybe not your cup of tea. :unsure:
    Quincunx, Dec 9, 2005
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  7. mburtonk

    mburtonk mburtonkulous

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    I'm not up on the history of the Donner Party, but how sick are we talking?
    mburtonk, Dec 10, 2005
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  8. Quincunx

    Quincunx anti-anti Staff Member Administrator

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    Well it wouldn't be historically accurate at all. So much sicker than what really happened.

    I think the main idea I had was that the cannibalism was the reason for the journey into the wilderness. Like a ritual duty they had to fulfill.

    I have another idea if you don't like that but I'll need a day or so to mull it over before I can present it.
    Quincunx, Dec 10, 2005
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  9. mburtonk

    mburtonk mburtonkulous

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    Reminds me of The Lottery.
    mburtonk, Dec 10, 2005
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  10. Techman

    Techman Still smilin' Deceased Member

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    Let a library card.
    Techman, Dec 10, 2005
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  11. mburtonk

    mburtonk mburtonkulous

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    [G]et a library card?

    Then I don't get to interact with the author.
    mburtonk, Dec 10, 2005
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  12. Quincunx

    Quincunx anti-anti Staff Member Administrator

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    Funny you should say that, I was just rereading The Lottery. I hadn't madt that connection but it may very well apply.

    I guess the sense I have of this is it would feel like a dream. You know how you can know what's coming next but you still have to go through it? Things have to happen in a certain order. Even though it is not based on history the name Donner is important because of the association. The audience and the characters know the ending (in that way not like The Lottery) but are unable to change it.

    Interested?
    Quincunx, Dec 11, 2005
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  13. mburtonk

    mburtonk mburtonkulous

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    I sort of get what you are saying now...when you know the ending but you can do nothing to change it. Reminds me of time travel paradoxes. I'm interested.
    mburtonk, Dec 11, 2005
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  14. Quincunx

    Quincunx anti-anti Staff Member Administrator

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    I'll come up with a rough outline. I'm pretty confident you can do it in a couple of days with an extremely minimal budget. There should be some excellent locations in ND, though ideally there should be snow so you'll want to work quickly. I guess you don't know anybody out there yet but "wanna be in my movie" is better than most ways of making friends. :)
    Quincunx, Dec 12, 2005
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  15. Quincunx

    Quincunx anti-anti Staff Member Administrator

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    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Party

    What really happened.

    I didn't really think about oxen and horses. You don't want to fuck with that. :lol:

    This is definitely in the realm of the surreal tho so maybe it won't matter.
    Quincunx, Dec 12, 2005
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  16. Mandi

    Mandi Bow Before Lord Voltaire

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    I don't really have a screenplay. More of a short story that could be made into a screen play. But it has two kids in it, would that be a problem?
    Mandi, Dec 12, 2005
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  17. Quincunx

    Quincunx anti-anti Staff Member Administrator

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    I'm thinking of using only a small part of the actual Donner party, the family of Jacob Donner. Furthermore, only the 6 members of that family who died, the survivors don't interest me.

    I don't think any of them were involved in the cannibalism either but reality doesn't necessairly interest me either. ;)
    Quincunx, Dec 12, 2005
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