Dilemma for a first timer
iView Author: Gajendra S Shrotriya (Jaipur, India)
Email: gshrotriya [at] yahoo [dot] com
Dilemma for a first timer
To write something for PFC always confuses me on what to write about. May be it is a universal issue. Besides, for quite some time, I have been partly occupied with some of my business engagements and some what with my scripts. Even the film for PFCOne (Without Cheese) was made with lots of inputs from my thirteen year old son, I being responsible for camera and editing. He however, uploaded it under my name but most of the credit should go to him.
Further, I am not a great cinema expert, who would keep track of every film that gets released by Hollywood or Bollywood or other cinema producing regions and write about them. Nor do I know much about world classics or so called classic cinema. Even if I get to watch one, I either like it or dislike it. That is it for me. I don’t get inspired enough to write about it. Same is true with music. I never analyze it to come up with something that would become an interesting read for others, at least that is what I feel. So I keep my reactions to myself.
But of course when I come up with my own creation, I suddenly have lots of things to say. I write about it. Whatever I have written so far on PFC, most of that has been on the work I created and all of that has been my first hand observation. My comfort lies with this kind of article-writing. This I suppose goes with many film makers on PFC who happen to write only when some of their creation is about to release.
With stories however, the case is different. I have so far written three four stories and a full feature script. I had submitted those for Sankalan but two of those could make it to 24 and unfortunately (or may be fortunately) none in the final twelve. Somehow, I had known this as the ideas needed some sprucing before they could be read by professionals, but what ever success I got, gave me enough confidence to work exhaustively on my script.
This brings to my dilemma of a first time film maker. I mean full length film maker. I have already made several short films. Some of them have been for Filmaka. I would like to share here one of my 3- minute film that I like the most and which has won the entry level contest. Here is the link for PFC viewers to watch it;
http://www.filmaka.in/premiumshorts.asp?ContestID=24.0&id=2341&Keyword=
Coming back to the topic, so what’s the dilemma? It’s a given fact that finding a producer for one’s first film is out of question, especially when you don’t have a proven track record. Even I would not have enough confidence to put my money on something like this. This makes me write under budgetary constraints, especially when I know, I may have to produce it myself and make it under a very very tight budget. Dilemma is whether to write it for a celluloid production (with a higher Production Value) for a wider theatrical release or for digital media to show it in festivals and finally upload it on some website or may be release it in some digital theatres. That is whether to wait for a producer and a distributor or just go ahead and make it with what ever resources you could muster, for your own satisfaction and passion.
Dream of every film maker is to make a film which gets widely viewed and appreciated and at the same time gives the film maker a satisfaction of producing what he wanted. The sense of fulfillment is achieved only when the work you created gets a wide and large audience. So the key question becomes; Is it worthwhile to squander your hard-work, which has gone into carefully and diligently developing each scene and shot of your script, by eventually producing a film which does not have enough attraction in terms of production value and cast to make an appeal for a wider release. I am going through this dilemma and still writing.
I keep assuring myself that I will be able to do justice to my own effort that I am putting in developing each scene and shot of my script. May be the current financial recession would help me able to produce my film at a cost I can afford. Recession may have answers for film makers like me, as the low budget films with higher potential to make profits become the order of the day.
Here, to continue with a solution to this dilemma, I would like to share one more thing. My earlier effort for short film Picnic got rewarded, when an animation company got to see it and requested me to direct their animation feature film for children. I can not divulge the details at present as I am bound by an NDA but the film is about a famous Indian historic character we all know. Working on the script of this animation feature suddenly threw several ideas to me. I discussed one idea with the above animation company. They immediately consented to partner with me and asked me to develop the story. So, I got to work on my second animation feature project.
This helped me think that for low budget film makers like me, animation offered as a viable alternative to tell a story. Animation films don’t need bigger stars to sell your product. If you believe in your story and can afford to garner the production budget, animation seems to be a better idea instead of going for live-action film with unknown actors or outdated stars. You get saved from building up the team of good performers and lot of production staff and equipments. Besides no location hunting and other high cost stuff is required to be managed, saving you from lot of hassles.
Production is taken care of by some Animation Company who have everything in-house (It is not difficult to find one with a good team of animators and infrastructure). Rest of the post work like editing and sound is very similar to Live-action and can be done by hiring a good studio, within your budget. That way, you don’t have to fear about the star ensemble one needs to sell his film and you get good quality film for theatrical release at a reasonable cost. Here, I’m not discussing animation quality of Disney. Persepolis is an example in case where a strong story idea could be developed into a good animation film which could be released in theatres and reach the masses. Who knows the success of your animation film may find you a big-budget producer to make a live-action film on the same story.
Another possibility for a first timer is to team up and work on a live-action project on sweat equity basis, but this seems feasible only for an enterprising team. Building a team of enterprising people in different departments of film making, atleast in key areas, is a herculean task in itself. We as humans find it difficult to trust others and prefer to wait rather than to pick the gauntlet.
Tags: film festival, Making
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@ Gajendra..Nice to see you write after a long time..your articles, just like your movies..have a lot of innocense and tons of honesty…keep writing bhai..and keep making your movies..waiting for Just Cheese :-)
nice article gajendra……as om said…it comes across as very honest and straight from the heart
Om and Ashwin… Thanks for your comments. As far as honesty is concerned, I write only when I strongly feel about something. May be that’s the secret.
and i just now saw solitude…..
very endearing movie…..
loved the bgm and kid’s acting was good too…is he ur son?
Hi GSS, its nice to read this update on your cinematic endeavours. All the best!
Thanks Ashwin… yes, the kid is my son.
Thanks Arun
hi..
saw your short films on filmaka… very inspiring… keep up the great work and good to see that your son is also very involved!
is this filmaka contest year long? it says “end of season” right now. i just found out about it via your post here and would like to participate in the future too. the next batch is ending on nov 25th leaving no time for me, but was wondering whether it is an ongoing thing since it says end of season. also whats the difference between their periodic contest and filmaka journal. didnt quite understand that part from the web.
good luck and congratulations on making it to the competitive section of PFCOne as well!
there is a really funny movie i remember seeing…its got amrish puri in it as an old judge and some random lead actor…think its by priyadarshan ? anyone knows …i think it starts with M
oh sorry i replied on the wrong post ….