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Ups and downs November 10, 2008

Posted by joost in : film, funding, netherlands, work , comments closed

I’m a bit grumpy, because I didn’t succeed in submitting an application for PULSE 2008. Or to be more precise, I chose not to submit anything.

The past ten days I’ve been working on new scripts ‘tailor made’ for this funding scheme. One of their judging criteria states: “We are looking for original storylines with a powerful visual edge and innovative sound design. Applicants will need to demonstrate how they intend to use digital technology creatively.“, so I thought it would be best to write something with that in mind. Apart from that I was already toying with one or two ideas to write scripts about. As the days progressed, my story outline did not really develop. I changed the direction, thought and wrote some more, changed direction again, decided to restart from scratch, changed genres, started yet another story outline, …

Eventually I ended up with a handful of story outlines, none of them promising enough in my opinion to flesh out into a full script, let alone to write an accompanying proposal including budget and planning. Key thing for me was the internal validation that one of my lecturers mentioned a while ago: ask yourself if this script and this film is good enough for you to be willing to spend (in this case) a couple of months on. And none of the outlines gave me that enthusiasm and belief, so I decided it would be better not to submit anything and to move on to something that does work and that is worth the effort.

I thought that would be KORT!, the Dutch short film initiative by the Dutch Film Fund, NPS, VARA, etc. Turns out that they only accept submissions by established (Dutch) production companies, not by individual writer/directors. With only three weeks to go that leaves me with the minor tasks of writing a 10 page script, finding and getting in touch with a production company that not only wants to represent me and my script but that will also do a detailed planning and budget… It’s safe to say that this is near impossible given the timeline. Which means exit KORT, at least for this year.

Luckily it’s not all doom and gloom. I’ve been asked to help out some more days on the Nine production (first official picture here), which probably means that I’ve done a good job so far. More importantly it enables me to learn more on the intricacies of working on a really big production.

Other good news: Rule 2 will be screened in the non-competitive section at L’Alternativa, the 15th Independent Film Festival in Barcelona, and I have one or two interesting jobs coming up the rest of this month, one day paid camera operating and four days possibly as first AD on a short film.

Funding proposals update (second half of 2008) October 21, 2008

Posted by joost in : film, funding, london, netherlands, producing, screenwriting , comments closed

A quick update on the three scripts and proposals for funding that I had been working on in August and September:

NPS One Night Stand – They received 125 entries, my treatment has not made it to the final 18. A pity, although I gauged that this scheme was probably more oriented towards writer/directors who have a couple of years of film making under their belt, so I wasn’t too surprised. At least they’ve seen my name for the first time, more will follow in the future!

UK Film Council / Film4 Cinema Extreme – In progress, will receive feedback half December. I submitted roughly the same treatment here (but adapted to the UK) as to One Night Stand since it is a similar scheme. Chances of success are slim here as well judging on the winners of previous grants, almost all filmmakers with a number of successful short films on their CV’s. Curious to see what will happen nevertheless.

North London Production Fund – Received a phone call last week, my script and proposal made it to the final round and I was invited for an interview! This took place on Friday the 17th of October. I had half an hour to introduce myself, to talk about my plans for the film and to answer a series of questions on the script, the characters, the visuals, etc etc etc. They will tell me this week whether or not they will award me some funding!

Coming up in the next few weeks are new scripts and proposals for: