A friend of mine and I were talking recently about some ideas. She called and asked if I'd be interested in helping her bring a short film she was writing to life. (of course I obliged) In the course of our discussion, I had a brilliant return of some ideas, as well as a timely coordination of elements.
I'd like to shoot a mockumentary. That's what it comes down to.
Lately I've watched a few mockumentaries that have awakened my consistent interest in comedy, but pointed out to me the genre that could most likely facilitate the goal I recently stated on this blog. Seems the resources I've been connecting with these last months would be extremely contributive for a project such as this. Further, The youtube model of creating a few experimental shorts could allow significant development as well as content for pitching for budget from 3rd parties, not to mention the central necessity of me being able to finance appropriately these small productions myself.
If I have learned anything in my time in this business (and I assure you that I have) it's that you get what you pay for.. and further, that some money in a small film budget can stretch infinitely farther than none at all.
So far I think I have a great concept or premise.. but lack a strong central narrative. I'm thinking the idiosyncracies surrounding social networking and modern communication aka texting.. along with maybe the pseudo social hanging out nondating culture now persisting in college age adults and all the stereotypes in the spectrum.
The idea will be to create a general outline and characters, then cast experienced comedic actors and allow them to work together to create their characters alongside the writing team.. ultimately they'll be able to improv as much as they like within the general context of the overall story idea.. we'd shoot it almost like a documentary.. hence (partly at least) the title of the genre.
I have experience with the elements of this type of production, but I am yet to shoot a fully developed feature of any type, doc or mock included.
This very well may be my first. Everybody's got one, that is, except those that never step out and try.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This isn't my idea, but I give it to you freely knowing that the people who came up with aren't going to reattempt it. You are searching for some kind of idiosyncrasies surround social networking ... how about the speech and game patterns?
ReplyDeleteThe basic idea is that you exist in an area where you can only speak within reference to facebook (like instead of introducing yourself you'd say, "friend request" or instead of saying hi you'd say, like, "poke ... poke again... poke back." Things like that. I could elaborate but maybe you hate it.
This, if done well and written well, would be esoteric and timely. I give it to you knowing you may or may not have more time to develop it then I do (but I'd love to help you out since you already know how I feel about the modern mockumentary).
alisha, what about giving this quality to a character or two in a more broad canvas of more easily relatable context; they decide to speak to each other as emblematic of how people do that with their relationships these days, as well as for pure idiotic entertainment? with the right cast and crew, this could be absolutely genius. you were my introduction to mockumentary, need i say more? i just saw 'for your consideration' and just began 'best of show.' hahaha. waiting for guffman though has to be my favorite so far..
ReplyDelete