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Okay, so Grand Avenue has its first acting attachment (I know, now all I need is the rest of the actors, a director, and all of the money).
I always see on IMDB posts "screenplay available with A-list talent attached". What determines that? Of course no one's going to say that their movie is stocked with B and C list talent.
Obviously Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts are a-list talent. But where's the cutoff? The guy who's interested in acting in GA is a working actor, with IMDB credits, mostly supporting roles and indy stuff, plus he does Broadway. How would he be billed?
Just wondering if there's any conventional wisdom on this, or if people make it up as they go along.
I'd say it's the latter. And their salaries. And that they ain't Jemery Kyle. Or Vanessa Feltz.
Anyone who's been on any big Big Brother show or shared studio space with Simon "Tory" Cowell or Gordon "Alf" Ramsey is instantly descended to the lower ranks of the alphabet.
Anyone over 1 million dollars a film in C and above. The rest just depends on column inches. What? That sounded more naughty than intended.
I climbed a column once. It was made of stone, I hasten to add.
I enjoyed it although people will obviously have their complaints. One such complaint might be the acting of Sage Mears, but I loved her in the film. Why? I think somehow that one particular scene that had her acting a little poorly might have been sent to pass for "whatever reason". Maybe it was just a bad day. But she really fit the bill in this movie that was remaking an old style western. She had that tender age thing going on and with a much older man.
The scene I'm referring to is when she recounts what was done to her and why she wants to learn to shoot.
Anyways, I enjoyed this film and if you haven't seen a western in awhile, well this one brings those days back.
A-List defines itself...they are the current most famous/sought after people...the people who get on Time magazine, get a Hollywood walk of fame, command extortionate fees.
B-List tends to denote someone who may be considered as talented as an A-list...but simply isn't as well known.
I'd hazard a guess at someone like Jean Reno as being "B-List"...although someone can be an A-ist celeb in one country and not in another.
Anyway...tell us the story about GA. What's going on? Have you got a Producer aboard, or are you putting a package together yourself?
Nope, I can't produce anything. Wouldn't know how and I couldn't afford to buy the film much less anything else.
The guy who's attached actually read it at first because he also produces, but now he's trying to get his own stuff off the ground. I'm still hoping he may agree to direct and assist me in shopping it. But he's "definitely" interested in acting in it.
And he's around a 20,000 IMDB if that helps in assigning him status.
Orson Welles once said that you can learn everything you need to know about filmmaking in three days.
It's one of those things that can take you a relatively long time to realise is true, but it is definitely true.
If you've got a phone and access to the internet...you can produce a film. No question about it.
Maybe you couldn't put together multi-million pound financing..but you can put together a credible film. It's just preparation and organisation at the end of the day.
Literally everything you need to know about producing a film can be found in this book:
Not saying you absolutely should do it...but it couldn't hurt to have a read.
Filmmakers basically come in two categories: Obsessive geeks or obsessive artists...or both combined.
A camera man likes nothing better than playing with a camera. A sound guy likes nothing better than playing with mikes. An actor loves acting etc
Build it and they will come..it's just in their blood.
Outside of filmmakers you'll also find that film still has a glamour and mystique to the ordinary person...they'll happily give you stuff for free...let you shoot in their restaurant..whatever.
And equipment companies will even give you stuff for free as well..handouts on the weekend, stuff that's not booked out. The idea being that once you make it you'll repay the favour. You can even get film for free from Kodak...just tell them that you are doing test shots for a feature...they'll send you different types of film to try out (35MM stuff). Ask a few other companies and you've got enough to shoot a film provided you have a very low shooting ratio (you have to do minimal takes...maybe even just one).
The trick would be to make sure you use the different film stock in different locations...then no-one can tell that it's different stock.
That's if you want to shoot film...there will be people all around you with top class digital cameras.
Anyway, not trying to push you into it, but there are few things that you can't do with just a few phone calls....the option is always there if you just one day decide to say, fuck it, I'm making my movie.
It's addictive though..once you've made one, you can't stop.
Six Guns. Looks the part. Might watch that sometime. All the acting to me looked fine. But I didn't recognise anyone. So. None of them are A. I doubt B too.
If they are A or B they are unavoidable. This isn't about talent. It's about fame. And she's a fickle lady.
AJR and STF are right on most points.
I disagree about some thing STF says. But they're on opinions rather than facts. Every body have different opinions on diff things. That's how it goes so well. Or so badly. Depends. On people.
We now live in a very celebrity and youth driven culture. Only really famous women survive in the film biz after thirty. It's shite. But that's how it is.
Proof of this can be found in many places. Look at what happened to Phil Spector's victim for proof. Or Johnny Cash. Thank Jehusus for Rick R. Without him the world of music would be a much more barren place. The big hairy genius.
Where is my Blood Sugar SM?
"That girl was made to suck my kiss. Hit it, Flea. Yeah baby."
It's an intriguing prospect, making your own film, and believe me I'd like nothing more than for that to be my life's work. But I'm not 24 anymore and life has got me by the curlies (shut up, Ren) - middle management job, marriage, a mortgage, the whole thing...
And I guess I think that there's something more, I don't know, credentialing, to coin a phrase, by going through the vetting process of having your script liked and invested in.
I know you've been successful in working with Pia and Phil and doing your own films, but for every one of you there's a thousand people running around with a camera out there who have no idea what they're doing, and they call themselves filmmakers. Some days it seems like there are more people running around with cameras in the world than there are cameras (wait, I'm doing the math... that means that some of those people are borrowing cameras from others - okay, that works).
Having said all that, I did put a book on hold at the library (not the one you suggested, but I'll look that up as well) about how to go about the whole process. Not that I'll ever do it, but I think it would be beneficial to know it and learn it so that if I ever become a part of it, I'll know if the "experts" are doing it properly.
Okay, so I'll ask my question again - if an actor is rated around 20,000 on IMDB, is he a B, C or D?
I wouldn't call myself a success just yet! Long way to go.
I hear you about life getting in the way...I think that's the case for the vast majority of people. Just thought I'd throw it out there. I don't think the task is quite as daunting as it may seem..it's a pretty friendly industry all things considered. Getting money is hard, but getting access isn't particularly difficult.
And social media is changing everything. You don't have to make it huge to make it on some level now. Make a film for cheap, find 10,000 people to spend $10 on it...the figures don't have to be astronomical to make things work.
As for the actor...I honestly don't know. Haven't a clue. Wish I could be of more help.
Though as a Z list writer I can hardly criticize...
I beg to differ. Everyone starts somewhere. If the script is good enough you may get a man who can. Rather than one who might. Or a bird who can fly rather than flutter.
If it's so good they can't argue with it why would anyone say no? They'll at least put you on the list. And lists can be great. If you have patience. As much as a good doctor does.
Just talked with the guy for about 20 minutes. I don't care, A, B, C or D, he's a super-nice guy and very passionate about his projects.
He's too old for any of the main roles but he'd be interested in a character role. AND he said he'll send me an LOI to direct.
I've got at least one production company that wants to see attachments before they review it, so I'm hoping he's at least a step in the right direction if not a foot in the door.
And he said if his two projects get off the ground he has a production company interested in merging with him, so he may be able to produce about a year or so down the road. He told me to hang in there.
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How are "A" and "B" list talent determined?
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