What a fortnight. Almost two weeks to the day when our shoot got buggered up by bureaucracy and bush-less-ness. We're back and soon to be on track. I'll press the green light once we lock the cast in for May 1 to 8 this week.
Some quotable quotes amidst the good vibes and well wishes around the place follow...
The script definitely works...so all that has to be done is to.... make it on a shoe string. So make it!
Jack Feldstein, film-maker (email)
Thanks for being so cool...these sort of projects are definitely the way of the future. Who would have thought DJing would get so popular? And that's what you are...Film DJs.
Calvin Lawson (email)
I had good luck casting non-actors with my last (CC) feature. A lot of
people are naturals once you get them relaxed. And lawyers for some
reason seem to make pretty good actors.
Brian Flemming, open source film-maker (email)
These are people who are prepared to “go the extra mile” when it comes to organising creative opportunities and it would seem that you are not prepared to meet them... I don't think this project is fundamentally different in scope to any number of "stock footage" projects.
mfallu, CC website producer (submission to MEAA)
This is unfortunately typical. They should be called the ostrich corporation! I too had a movie stopped by them.
Gordon Williams, film-maker (web contact form)
Unless the production company reserves all rights, they feel they will lose money. No lawsuits over unauthorzed translations, no lawsuits over non-commercial copying and viewing, etc....
vandon (Slashdot)
And the award for burying their head in the sand and hoping that reality goes away goes to ... MEAA.
rhysweatherley (Slashdot)
Great work MEAA, you bunch of f****** retarded ludites.
Pirate (zgeek)
OMG...how lame is this. Apparently SHARING is not something the Screen Actors Guild nows how to do. Should we blame their mothers?
Calvin (rights.apc.org.au)
Let time and experience decide which licensing models are more beneficial to actors... Allow your members to participate in this future, or risk becoming an obsolete artifact of an earlier age.
Rob (rights.apc.org.au)
If they want to move it all to California, let me know - I have a book full of non-union actors who would _jump_ at the chance to tackle this sort of project...
Chris Tann, film-maker (rights.apc.org.au)
I hope one of these groups blinks soon and the filming goes ahead; the frustration you and the rest of the MOD Films' crew are experiencing must be immense!
Mia Garlick, CC US General Counsel (email)
A problem can not be solved with the same consciousness that created it.
A Einstein, genius (email)
Don't believe everything you read online. But this last quote is strangely appropriate. The "traditional film" approach to managing the live shoot dimension of this project didn't work. Round two I'm going to be more confident about managing it the new media way.