TheMakingOf a Short Film + 5 lessons to getting.stuff.done
My colleague and partner-in-crime said to me
"Brittany, if you keep trying to make it perfect, you'll never get anything done"
Perfectionism is the fastest way to accomplish nothing!
It's been nearly 2 years since my short film has been in the making. A 10 minute short film!! It's not my first film either, so why was THIS ONE taking me so long? Why was I having so much resistance?
LESSON #1 :: YOU HAVE 2 OPTIONS-EITHER GET IT DONE OR... HAVE NOTHING AT ALL
I was trying, waiting, wishing to...
:: SAVE MONEY FOR A HUGE BUDGET
:: WRITE THE MOST CLEVER SCREENPLAY
:: HIRE THE PERFECT TEAM WHO BELIEVED IN MY VISION
:: FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN MY ACTING
:: HAVE THE PERFECT BODY
:: HAVE THE PERFECT SCREENPLAY
:: HAVE THE PERFECT TEAM, EQUIPEMENT, LOCATION, COSTUMES
The list goes on...
Once upon a time, I was acting (for free!) in some of the films made by the local film school students. I asked them if they'd be interested in helping me with my own short film. Here's the answer I got:
" so you'll have to hire (enter long list of people) who need to be paid the standard rate of (enter exuberant price for students) so after my calculations, it'll cost you 1700€. Oh and that's BEFORE the post-production & editing costs "
LESSON # 2 :: FOCUS ON THE WHY ; FIGURE OUT THE HOW LATER
a huge budget + a lack of listening to my needs.
How could I invest 1700€ + into a project that has no ROI ?! Doesn't seem like a smart business decision. At least not in the short term aspect.
For months on end, I felt discouraged. I kept focusing on the LACK of this, the lack of that. How do I do this? How do I do that? How can I invest in something when I'm not even clear on the result let alone the vision? And how can I fork over a wad of cash to someone who is NOT listening to my needs and just wants the money instead ??
LESSON # 3 :: THE ROI (return on investment) ISN'T ALWAYS IN THE CURRENCY OF DOLLARS.... BUT MEASURED IN OVERALL HAPPINESS & FULFILLMENT
I accepted that it doesn't need to be perfect, it won't be perfect, BUT it just needs to be made.
I created a sense of self-imposed urgency.
IT'S NOW OR NEVER.
RULE # :: 4 RAISE THE STAKES
What would you have to lose?
I gave myself a deadline. I have until the end of august (literally ONE year after having the publicity photos taken) to make this film a reality or I will abandon forever. And I knew I couldn't abandon so once I raised those stakes, it became a non-negociable.
It won't turn out the way I imagined, but it will exist. Maybe it will be better, maybe it will be worse!
RULE # 5 :: TRUST IN DIVINE TIMING AND THE STARS ALIGNING
When things aren't working out and obstacles keep coming up... it's hard to have faith. That's where you make a tough choice: do I plough through or abandon ship?
When everything did start panning out, it was effortless. My team members were available. I successfully interviewed and hired my sound engineer. I got my first choice makeup artist.
Sometimes when the universe throws you obstacles, it's his way of guiding us down a different path. I have no regrets that it took me so long to make this short film because what I know today, I didn't know before. I trust that I am always being guided and that things will happen in the right time.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Creating a vision for your short film is similar to branding your business and finding a unique style. And it starts with a pinterest mood board!
Use Mood Boards to research:
- colors
- styles
- characters
- feelings
- camera shots
Results= Bonnie & Clyde CHECK, Rebels CHECK, betrayal CHECK guns CHECK
OUR PHOTOSHOOT
INSPIRATION
RESULT
PUBLICITY PHOTOSHOOT
The film was shot August 14th 2016 in Cannes, France. Stayed tuned to see some on-set shots and behind the scenes tidbits! :)
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
- My dad, for helping me write & refine my screenplay
- My boyfriend, partner in crime, business partner, mentor, love, Julien Croquet
- Nicolas Colombi for the most amazing photos ever, exceeding any expectations I could have
- Nathan & Fabrice Ambrosini for helping me to create this
- To that person who made me doubt myself, who told me I didn't have the skill set and who pressured me for 1700€ to film this movie. Looks like I've succeeded after all, sans your help!