So it's been a long journey making IMPULSE. And it's about time I recap the process -- both for you and, selfishly, for myself. This will be a story about making an incredibly ambitious short, raising tens of thousands of dollars in a matter of weeks, locking down a notable actor, and encountering and averting dozens of difficult circumstances throughout production. I plan on chronicling the process throughout several blog entires... thus, it's fitting to start from the beginning. I may weave in and out of journal format and present day reflection so, please bear with me.
May 26, 2009
Bryan and I've been out of college for two years. We've written a dozen more scripts, we've had multiple meetings with several agencies and producers, we've got a deal with MTV, but we haven't actually, physically, tangibly made a film since The Bride Wore Blood and that was in November 2006!... and "You're only as good as your last film." I'm itching to direct something new... and that itch only gets worse with time.I came across this short Glory At Sea. Loved the emotion it packed into it's short running length. Such a strange, beautiful concept, well executed -- and for cheap. Between this and all of the productions that have popped up in Iowa, I'm sooo inspired to make something new. I know another feature is still a little ways off, but maybe we can do a short? But it's gotta be like the BMW short films... like Ticker, where it's fast, compelling and has a brain. Even a twist. It can't just be two guys sitting in a room. It needs to be a brilliant idea or else, it's not doing us justice.
May 27, 2009
Was driving home on Beverly Glen tonight and I got The Idea. Based it on a concept that never had the substance to warrant a feature-length script. It'll be better as a short anyway... more powerful and will pack a punch. Special thanks to James Newton Howard and his Lady in the Water score for providing some inspiring "thought" music.
May 28, 2009
Brainstormed more of the idea during my 30 minute commute. Then took 90 minutes this morning to outline the piece beat by beat. Spent the next 2 hours writing the first pass... it's done by noon. Let's keep up this pace.May 29, 2009
Sent the script to Bryan. He read it, liked it... he thought it had the potential to be a great story and showcase us as directors. He thinks it's worthy to invest our time in it, so basically, we're on the same page. We talked loosely about some things to keep in mind during the process. Here's my summation...1) When writing the script, throw in every idea you have, no matter how impossible it might be to pull off. We can always take things out later in the process.
2) Make it short, make it fast, make it high-concept. Always keep it entertaining. This film is for an audience.
3) Don't make a short that people will write off as "Oh, it was JUST a short film".
4) Have the film shot by the end of the year.
5) No matter how intimidating the project becomes, persist.
6) Be ambitious to the point where the risk is huge. You don't get anywhere by playing it safe.All in all... let's have a new film under our belts by the end of the year.
Last movie Scott watched: Shutter Island (Martin Scorsese)
