My Parents Are Trying to Seize Control of My Money! conversation reopened

[d0nnivain]

1 minute ago, ironpony said:

Oh okay thanks.  But I still will need actors, a DP and a PSM, and make up, bare minimum though, wouldn't I, as far as collaboration goes?

Maybe but a make up person isn't going to help you write a business plan.  They don't know how.  You need to factor in how much each actor will cost, as well as how much a DP, a PSM & whoever else you need will cost.  Frankly for a 1st production I was always under the impression the cast did their own makeup. Still somebody will have to buy the make up & some type of trailer or other set up where it will be applied.  How much does that cost?  Where are you planning to get the cash? 

[ironpony]

Oh well I didn't think I would need a trailer, but a room in which they could to the make up in.  For example, on the shoots I have been on, they just use one of the rooms that isn't being used for shooting, to do make up.  Do I need a trailer, when I can just use a room?  One shoot I was on, they did make up outside in a lawn chair as well.

Well as far as how much everything will cost, I was told to only shoot the feature for 10-20K if I can, because then it won't be so much pressure.  But I the cost keeps coming up to more, so I am having trouble getting it down.  That is where I thought someone who knows more about it can help maybe.

[basil67]

I see where d0nnivain is going with being responsible for all of this yourself.  It's the only way to keep the budget to a minimum.    However, if you don't have the skills to analyse and deliver this on your own, you will have to pay for others to advise you or do it for you.   And the costs will blow out enormously.  

Given your lack of experience and lack of money to pay for those who have experience, my biggest fear is that you will embark on this, get a quarter of the way through and run out of money.   And all your savings will be wasted.  

 

[ironpony]

Oh okay, well it's just I don't think I can do everything myself, and I do think I need hired help to make a good quality product and it's just the nature of the beast, as the expression goes.  I don't think there is avoiding the nature of the beast, unless I am wrong?

[basil67]

If you don't have the skills to do it yourself, then yes, you have to hire people to help.  

The very first thing you have to do is to have them help you plan how it will all work and make a budget.  This MUST happen before you even consider signing contracts with actors etc.    Make sure to get a written quote upfront from the people who will take this first step with you.

Edited August 12, 2020 by basil67

[elaine567]

11 hours ago, ironpony said:

, I was told to only shoot the feature for 10-20K if I can

Seems to me figures in this ball park keep cropping up with you, but even the ultra low budget Blair Witch Project took  around $60 000 to shoot, so how can this all be done for $20,000 max.?
Are you talking about 20K in Canadian dollars?

[d0nnivain]

8 hours ago, ironpony said:

Oh okay, well it's just I don't think I can do everything myself, and I do think I need hired help to make a good quality product and it's just the nature of the beast, as the expression goes.  I don't think there is avoiding the nature of the beast, unless I am wrong?

You still need a business plan.  If you have to hire people to help you still have to know how much they charge & where you will get the money to pay them.  It seems you keep putting the cart before the horse.  

You need the capital first.  

[ironpony]

Oh thanks.  I mean 20K American, sorry for not specifying.

[basil67]

Just $20K for filming?   I can imagine that cost for a short film done with quality amateur equipment, but you're wanting feature film with cinema release.

Who will be doing the cinematography?   What is the cost of hiring the equipment?   How many hours does the average feature film take to shoot and what is the hourly wage for a cinematographer?   

[ironpony]

I will have to pick a cinematographer once I put the adds out, once covid has died down more.  The cost of the equipment depends a lot on what the cinematographer would already have.  A lot of feature films take about 3 weeks to shoot but I was advised on my budget to do it in a week.  Which I think will be very challenging.  As for the cinematographer's wage, well the films I worked before, they were getting a hundred a day, but that's very much on the cheap of course, and I could maybe go higher, but will I would need a line producer to help with that I think.

[ironpony]

[merged from new thread: Should I tell my parents I am making a feature film]

If they knew I was using a lot of my savings to make it, they would freak out and cause a lot of drama over it I think, or headaches that I don't need.  But on the other hand, I could use their house as one of the major shooting locations and it's easy access to a location for sure that can double for two of the longer sequences.

So I am wondering if I should tell them so I could get it, or best not if I do not want the headaches of them being freaked out by it.  What do you think, if any thoughts on that come to mind?  Thank you very much for any advice on it!  I really appreciate it.

Edited April 27, 2021 by a LoveShack.org Moderator

[Lisa]

This thread has just had a small clean up.  Please stay on topic - topic being the cost of the movie and OP's parent's reaction to it.  

thank you

The LS Moderation Team

 

[Happy Lemming]

On 4/27/2021 at 11:22 AM, ironpony said:

If they knew I was using a lot of my savings to make it, they would freak out and cause a lot of drama over it I think.... 

I could use their house as one of the major shooting locations and it's easy access to a location for sure that can double for two of the longer sequences.

OK... here are the facts as I see them.

Your parents are vehemently against you making this film, (to the point) they sought out legal advice to seize control of your money to stop you. So you are fully aware of their feelings on this matter.  Why would you even think they would be OK with surrendering their house for this endeavor?? Why would they want their lives upset by this process when you already know how they feel about the film?? Asking to use their home seems like a way to throw dirt in their faces and is quite vindictive on your part.

[]

I think discussing the use of your parents' home with them is putting the cart before the horse.

Edited April 28, 2021 by a LoveShack.org Moderator
off topic

[RecentChange]

I agree with Happy's thoughts.

The way I see it, if you are going to pursue this dream of making a film, you need to do it without any support from your parents. 

That would mean living on your own. Paying all of your own expenses. Providing for your self 100% financially, including building more savings.

Once you are completely independent, have formed a realistic business plan, and have aquirered all the needed financing, you can pursue the movie production.

At this point your parents have a say regarding how you use your savings, as they have been instrumental in creating a situation that allowed you to save money in the first place.

Their concern I am sure is that this money will be spent, with zero return on the investment, and THEY will be the ones left having to clean up the financial mess.

You have a lot of work to do before gog are in a position to follow this dream. 

[BaileyB]

57 minutes ago, RecentChange said:

At this point your parents have a say regarding how you use your savings, as they have been instrumental in creating a situation that allowed you to save money in the first place.

Assuming that they are loving parents who are concerned about your well being, they must have done this to ensure that you have some financial stability... And perhaps, your plan to forge ahead with this movie idea without more planning and thought confirms what they have been concerned about all along. 

 

[jspice]

You're either independent from your parents, or you’re not. 
 

I think it’s clear [redacted] that without your parents support you wouldn’t even HAVE that money [redacted]
If you don’t want your parents to have a say-so over you then get your act together and leave their house alone. Find your own locations and move out. 

Edited April 28, 2021 by a LoveShack.org Moderator
rude

[ironpony]

Oh okay thanks.  I can move out, I just need to find a job that pays high enough for me to rent a place then, since I lost my job before covid.  I have another one now, it's just not high paying enough at the moment to rent with.

[ironpony]

Oh well I just pay for my own food and everything else and everything at my parents rather than rent so it's not the same each month but can be about a thousand a month around or less depending on what I am doing.  Sometimes a few hundred.

I was hoping to do it in 40K.  Right now I have almost 200k saved up, and wanted to spend more on the feature, but people said i should just try to do it with 40K, if possible, but it seems really hard to keep it down that low so far.  Perhaps I need a producing expert to help with this.

i would need to be making about 7 dollars more an hour to cover rent of a cheaper apartment here.

Edited April 29, 2021 by ironpony

[elaine567]

2 hours ago, ironpony said:

Oh well I just pay for my own food and everything else and everything at my parents rather than rent so it's not the same each month but can be about a thousand a month around or less depending on what I am doing.  Sometimes a few hundred.

Is that the money you give to your parents for staying in their home, or is that just the money you spend monthly?

[Wiseman2]

Do they manage your money because you live at home or do they have power of attorney?

[ironpony]

Some of it I spend monthly for myself, and some I give to them.  They don't have power of attorney.

[Happy Lemming]

On 4/26/2021 at 6:22 PM, ironpony said:

 I could use their house as one of the major shooting locations

 

9 hours ago, ironpony said:

I was hoping to do it in 40K.

 

How much of the $40K budget would you save by using their home as a "major shooting location"??

[vla1120]

On 12/12/2019 at 2:38 PM, ironpony said:

Oh okay, it's just I don't know how else to break into the business otherwise, than doing it on my own.  Is there another way to work towards such a career goal that is better?

Plus I was told before on here, in past threads that I should go for it, cause if I don't, I will keep on regretting it.

Your parents just want what's best for you. History is full of successful people who went against the "safe" plans their parents had in store for them.

I'm probably one of those people who have told you to follow your dreams no matter how many people dissuade you. However, you also must understand that, in that business, for every triumph you experience, there are 50 failures. You have to be mentally prepared for all the failure. You also have to be smart about it and put yourself in the best position possible to be successful. 

Have you considered moving to a place where they make the most movies? Of course, LA and NYC are the two biggest, but there are movies being made in other cities like Philly, Boston, Atlanta, etc.  The more you can work on the sets of active movies and gain experience (doing whatever), the more prepared you will be to branch out on your own. Also, you'll be building a resume that will help get you backing when you're ready to shoot your own film.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

[Els]

You do realize that the vast majority of the questions you are asking, are answerable by simply working in filmmaking, making connections, and learning based on what you see your bosses doing... right?

If you are serious about this IMO you should move to a location where film studios are and apply like crazy for a job there. ANY job. Janitor, clerk, production crew, whatever. If you don't even have the motivation to do that, you won't get halfway through your own movie before you give up.

[ironpony]

10 hours ago, vla1120 said:

Your parents just want what's best for you. History is full of successful people who went against the "safe" plans their parents had in store for them.

I'm probably one of those people who have told you to follow your dreams no matter how many people dissuade you. However, you also must understand that, in that business, for every triumph you experience, there are 50 failures. You have to be mentally prepared for all the failure. You also have to be smart about it and put yourself in the best position possible to be successful. 

Have you considered moving to a place where they make the most movies? Of course, LA and NYC are the two biggest, but there are movies being made in other cities like Philly, Boston, Atlanta, etc.  The more you can work on the sets of active movies and gain experience (doing whatever), the more prepared you will be to branch out on your own. Also, you'll be building a resume that will help get you backing when you're ready to shoot your own film.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

Oh well everyone seems to be getting out of L.A. and NYC now because of covid and the political situations, it seems movies are not being made there near as much as it use to be, or so I hear.  I thought I would be better prepared for the failure if I only spent 40K.  Also LA and NYC are really expensive to live in, so I would need a job that can pay for me living there, and I do not know what to do as a profession that would pay that high to do so.

But also, I don't have a green card to move to either of those cities either.