So my friend zack and I spent the last two months working on a script for a full length feature film that we want to do this summer. We would be shooting digital, and need about $8,000 to get this film made. It is a world war ii script that illustrates many themes of war.

The script is here:
http://ricepail.com/binary/scripts/TheCrossing.txt

I am currently a freshmen at Chapman University and Zack Keller is a Sophmore at USC. Both of us have made digital features before, mine being "The Age of the Ruash" and Zack's being "Hired".

We are also looking for prop designers to construct rifles and weapons for us. If this is in your league, please let me know. We are shooting both in Northern Cali and Socal. But the prop designers can be elseware.

Just thought I'd throw this out there. Anybody who would be willing to throw in some money for some kind of credit or sponsorship, we're open to really anything. We'll even sell our souls to the devil for this thing.

Thanks guys.
Jesse Tarnoff

Hey, I only read a few pages in, but started our well enough. However, assuming you do make this into a movie with the goal of being a real period piece, make sure to change some of the terminilogy since I don't believe some terms you used were spoken often back in WWII.

Hey Jesse, did you think about getting some investors? Or sponsors? I'm sure some local businesses would help you out if they got something in return.

Dude, with your hardcore Age of Raush portfolio, you could probably convince SOMEONE to invest in your movie.
You guys got talent that people know will make it into the industry, and would love to have their names attached to you

anyways, there's lots of desert out here in AZ. If you guys want a deser scene I could probably find a place for you to bunk. Not guaranteeing, but let me knwo so I can start looking.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Forsakenproductions,

I didnt have a chance to read your whole screenplay but if I, or some other prospective investor, is going to put money into your movie we'd probably like to know more than just its a WWII movie that covers a lot of war themes. Like what makes the concept different from whats allready been made? If its the same style of movie as other war movies out there what are you doing to improve on whats been done? I don't know whats in your script so I can't make any judgements obviously, but if I was going to invest in a movie Id want to know that there was something worthwhile to it. You should be telling us what about your movie makes it unique or innovative or creatively valuable you know?

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly guys.

Darkfire-PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know what terminology you think is dated wrong. If one person thinks this, then other people might and I will have to replace words like "gangsta illin" with words like "swell". No but seriously, let me know what words should be changed, what they should be changed to, and I will consider it.

My good pal Josh-The problem with getting local businesses to sponsor this puppy is that we are all going to different universities. Chapman and USC aren't too far apart, but the filming is going to take place in Northern California. Adobe sponsored us by giving us a crapload of free software, but we need money right now. We are going to send out some letters to various companies. That's what we did for Ruash.

Forsaken-I dont really know anybody who would be in a position to give us the money that we need. If anybody does know anyone, i'd love to credit you as an associate producer if you could put me in contact with them. There aren't any desert scenes, but maybe if we cant find any locations we'll turn this into the north african campaign. But thanks for the offer, I'll let you know if anything comes up.

KingMolson-You are absolutly right. I need to separate this from Saving Private Ryan and others. Well the jist of it is the same, a squad goes off and travels across country to complete an objective. What's different is that their mission is to assasinate a scientist who is working on the german atomic bomb (which was in development). Yet when they get there, they have to decide what to do, because what they thought they had to do ends up being the wrong call. So they have to decide whether the army is right, or whether their hearts are right.

This movie is really made to display various themes of war, much like the way Catch 22 is made to display war themes, or Gallipoli.

If ANYBODY knows ANYBODY who can help us with funding, talk to them about it, let me know, and I will give you credit for it. I would love to have people from all over the US working on this sucker, even if their part is small.

Production doesn't start for another 4-5 months. So we will be updating studentfilms.com to let everybody know how this is going.

Thanks for your support and feedback.

You guys could always do some good old fashioned fundraisers. I know it sounds silly, but you'd be surprised at how much money you could make. You could have bake sales, car washes, yard sales, etc. I know some people who had a Rock-A-Thon a few years ago. They got people to pledge money to see how long they could rock in a rocking chair without stopping. I think they went for 48 straight hours with only bathroom breaks. Think of something clever like that. You could make A LOT of money.

hey, jesse. I am kind of new to this site. Anyway, I goofed up on a reply to this topic. I accidentally made it a new sudject on the classifieds page, where you posted this topic, its titled 'some typos' by Comrade.

[note from moderator: I have moved the post to this thread for you, and deleted the accidental post in the classifieds section; see below - titaniumdoughnut]

some typos
Okay, I am a big military-junkie dude...and theres a few things I would like to point out. I read until they move up the hill after taking out the MG, and found quite a few mistakes, ones that definately need fixing.

-Okay, the boys are playing soccer, and all of a sudden, american paratrooper telling them to leave. If you know what a paratrooper is, they are delivered by plane, big loud ones. So the reaction I would expect, is they hear dozens of big planes overhead, and they take off.
+From what I read, they are trying to take a bridge, held by Germans. You would also want flak guns(if you dont know what those are, ask.), anti-aircraft, to be going off everywhere, trying to bring those planes down.

-When the soldier says 'silver, parker!' and silver turns his gun on them, no way. Doesnt work. Even if he was 110% trigger-happy, no jerry (german), is going to call him by his name. Point being, why does he ponit his gun at a guy who is addressing by name, hes obviously not an enemy.

-Little note= If you study the map, you will find that england is North-west of France. When they get to talking about the captain, he says 'he should be a bit northeast.' they claim that he jumps first, which was the tradition then and now, the leader goes first, but if thats true, then he would have landed northwest.

-having trouble seeing logic in this= they start to hear gunfire, and he says 'take it easy, nobody's shooting yet'?

-In the airborne, the group of men jumping from a plane isnt referred to as a platoon, its known as a 'stick'. ex. they walk into the barn and recognize the paratroopers, they are all in the same platoon.

-When they get shot at by the machine gun, one of them yells 'take cover'. I am cool with that, however, another guy says 'incoming!', which is a term used for when they are being shot at by artillery shells.

-I know in some movies, they say, 'I'm hit, i need a medic!', but in actuality, they called them corpsman. ex. 'Corpsman, I need a corpsman!"
Your probably glad I didnt read the rest of the script, but If you refine it, alot, then you might have something. Anyways, theres my two cents. Good-luck

This message has been edited. Last edited by: titaniumdoughnut,

thank you very much for that wonderful post, we are looking into all of this right now, trying to adjust some things.

As far as funding goes we found plenty of it, possibly shooting in romania. thank you guys for your help once again, this site has never failed me.

Hello Jesse,

I'm also in the making of a WWII movie. Instead of writing the script immediately, we started reading books and analysing some movies more thoroughly, on how they created certain things like sound, Special FX, etc. At the moment we're about to write the script, after having investigated many oppurtunities on how to create costumes, get them, rifles/guns, etc.

First thing you wanna know that it could be darn hard, or darn easy. With luck, you might run into someone who can help you A LOT. If not, you might spend a long period looking for someone. For example, just a couple of weeks after we launched the project, we found someone who was capable of constructing weapons. I mean, not just a couple pieces of wood, carved out, then painted, I mean guns who look real, not 100% authentic, but that cannot be done anyway. Reading books, watching and analysing more WWII movies really help you into making yours. However, the two major problems are (from what experience thus far told us):

- Authenticity.
It's really hard to convey notions of authenticity. It costs a lot of research, plus more hard work, to try to get the genuine look of WWII. Tattered robes/uniforms, guns who have a firm combat-look, it's all in the job. As for me, I find it very important to convey these notions of authenticity, because in making a WWII movie, I think it's important to try to give the viewer a look into the Second World War.
- Props, uniforms, etc (logistic)
The more you want to try to create great battles or something similar, the harder it gets. It's hard to get to guns and uniforms, extra props come in very handy to create a more realistic and authentic feel, but that again, costs a lot of time and efforts (maybe even money) to get them. I haven't read your script yet, just surfed through it a bit, but, don't, under any circumstance, try to write things who are beyond creating. What I mean by this is, I've seen some people who wanted to make a war movie, they were younger, but they wanted to recreate the landings on Utah or Omaha beach, or something similar. I'm pretty sure you don't want to try something that silly.

However, it should give you a fair deal of problems and efforts. It will cost you a lot of time. Getting an experienced producer will do you some good, for sure. In my country (Holland), we are forbidden to use any guns that look like the real ones. We also need permission to film on locations, which becomes hard when you have a lot of them, you need to get to many police stations or something similar to sort that out.

You shouldn't limit yourself when recreate a battle. In real, (WWII), they may have had armored infantry, thus including Tiger tanks, Halftracks, FLAK's (20mm and 88's). If you have a lot of German infantry walking aroudn without any armored protection, the viewer won't believe it. The german's, particulairy, had a lot of armory, and they used their Flak's 88's for instance, to shoot at people! Not at full squads or platoons, but many times they shot one 88 at one person, which is very remarkable, but true nevertheless.

So concluding, it;s hard to come by weapons and uniforms. We contacted some musea. We make our own weapons (well, we have someone who makes em), because you can't think you can borrow some, they are worth a lot, many musea only have just one specimen of a certain rifle or anything similar. Check out websites like www.marketgarden.com and www.rememberseptember44.com or something like these, to get a feel on how it should like. These websites show a lot of information about uniforms and equipment. Try to look for collectors to get some equipment and uniforms. We've had many enthusiastic people around who wanted to help us. WWII collectors can really help you around, most of 'em have some uniforms, medailles, and authentic props which you can use to enhance the feeling of true authenticity. It's pretty much impossible to recreate uniforms (unlike weapons), because it doesn't look real if you try to recreate them, besides, their very hard to recreate. Re-enactors can help you getting some uniforms. If you have certain uniforms, like an American paratrooper uniform (M42 or M43 jumpsuit) you can get a helmet for not too much money and a insignia quite easily to complete the uniform. In great battles, just give some people for are are pretty far away, something that looks like a real gun in minor detail. Don't try to recreate those as much as you do with the weapons needed for big closeups.

Try to contact people. Musea, re-enactors, etc. Some might even be interested in the funding of your movie (be it entirely or partially).

I would like to contact you, to exchange our experiences. I'd like to help you in setting up your further pre-production. A couple of tips may be at place: be ready to put in your best of efforts. And lest I forget: "You gotta be smart enough to do it. You gotta be good enough to do it. Oh yeah, one more thing, you gotta be DUMB enough to do it."

Have fun on your project, hopefully we'll get in contact soon enough.

Gotan

PS. Jeez, that was a lot of typing. Took me quite some time, lol hopefully it's usefull to you.

A WW2 themed movie on an 8k budget. Not possible unless you're going for a really cheap feel. Costumes and equipment alone should cost well over 8k, even using airsoft guns and not authentic or authentic replica costumes. I shot a super8 b&w film last semester and I spent about 600 just on ONE ww2 costume, and we subbed in vietnam era stuff! On top of that the m1 tommygun airsoft gun was 100 and the helmet another 100. 700 per Soldier. And you want to have an entire unit?? What about the enemies? There's going to need to be at least 2 on screen at a time for it to be realistic in the slightest sense (especially for a feature - if it is a student film it is forgivable). Not trying to impede any progress, but 8k is not enough money. Would love to look at your budget breakdown and see where you've been spread thin. - Ethan

Well, Axe, I have to say you haven't been that clever back then. Because, if you're persistent enough, it won't cost you that much. We've got all guns covered, costs: 0,00 $. We don't even have to pay for the materials being used. Costumes: re-enactors, musea, etc. There is absolutely no need to buy all that. If you don't want to spend that amount of money, just try and get it cheap, that works for us. Could save you a lot of money. The one downside is that it MAY be possible that it takes longer to get all that stuff far cheaper/free, but hey, it saves so much money. For now, all WE have to buy is a new camera possibly and some DV Tapes. Also we may need to buy some insignia (5 euro's each, for an A/B insignia), and possibly some other small equipment, like a helmet. Catering is no need, every actor just pays about 1 euro a day, then you can get a lot of food and enough drinks. And no, they love to be in a WWII flick, so there's absolutely no fuss about paying that 1 euro.

Gotan

I would never consider asking talent or any supporting crew to actually pay to be a part of a project...especially a feature. The idea being features MAKE MONEY. Shorts are essentially for exposure and reels, so while I may not agree I still find it feasable to require talent/crew to pay for meals (and even their dvd copy). You'll burn bridges really quickly if you continue on this route.

I didn't even ask about lighting; I assumed you had a clever way of going about it. But looking at your previous post I can infer that you won't have any lighting. Wow. The only way you could possibly get around that is shoot every scene in outdoor daylight. I'm sorry, but that won't work for a feature ww2 film. You'll need to vary your locations and times of day.

My reply is in experience...if we can limit each other's mistakes we will become better filmmakers by learning from each other.

Hello axe,

I may have forgotten to mention that I am mere 16 years old, and our intent is, not at all, to make any money out of it. Our intent is to have fun, and make a nice movie out of it. Sure, if people react enthusiastically, we may sell DVD Copy's, but we don't plan that yet, because we cannot yet foresee what people reactions will be. So my movie is completely amateurbased, no need for talents, etc, as we don't plan to make any money out of it. I hate people who make films just for money. My $ 0.02

gotan

I did a WWI flick, with true authentic uniforms. I had German ones and Canadian ones, had the right rifles that even fired blanks. No lights or anything, the whole cost of the project, $750. The end result, it got played infront of war veterns on Remembrance Day, and is now being used as an educational piece in schools. I just turned 17 when I made it, and now it's in talks of being being nominated at a couple film festivals. Gotan, keep up the good work man, $8000 is a lot of money. I would've loved to get that budget. My advice to you is make sure you plan everything you want to shoot the day before, and make sure you have a clear vision in your mind and storyboards. Also have crew meetings on what to do, how to act and character backgrounds. With so many people on set, things might get confusing sometimes, but I wish the best of luck to you and would love to see your final project!

Gotan my appologies. Normally features are for money making purposes, as they are the ONLY way of making money in the narrative realm. They cost a lot of time & money to make and therefore it is essential to do them correctly so you can have a fighting chance selling them. However, there's someone in my motion pictures/language class that shot a feature on dv before and I'm almost positive he had no budget. My concern is this:

1 - A period piece requires resources to sell the audience that what is onscreen is REAL!

2 - A war film, especially a WW2 flick that has been done a billion times before at much MUCH higher budgets... is hard to top. You won't top them, not at your budget and experience.

I'm in california also, and if you're in northern california (like I am) you should contact me if you need anything or are running into difficulties or problems. Glad to help.

Ethan

hey guys it's Jesse. Thank's for all of your advice. Here is the situation.

My Co-Director and I are writing a very contemporary film right now. It is going to be very stylistic, fairly dark. We're doing this because we have the option to take the World War II film I was talking about earlier to Romania, and shoot on a 1 million dollar budget. In order to get there though, we are being given money to make a film for a lot less money, to show that we are capable of very hard subject matter. We will be shooting that film this summer, and postponing the World War II film until later, when we can get a budget that is worth the film.

The link earlier regarding the script is a link to the first draft. We have since done a lot of revising, and we have registered that new draft with the Writers Guild of America. I will upload it as soon as I can, and supply the link to you guys.

When we finish the screenplay for the summer film, I will register and post that as well.

Axebox, I didn't see that you were from Alameda. I'm from Piedmont, you probably hate me. How old are you and are you still in highschool? I'm at Chapman University right now, but I get out pretty soon and will be coming back to the Bay Area. Stay in touch, the day may come when I will be in need of your services. We shall see.

So that's the situation everyone, I really do appreciate all of your advice and support. My films on this site are going to be taken down soon, but I am thinking about submitting some of my Chapman ones. We'll see, I've been pretty busy these days, and have to finish this summer feature in a week and a half...

Chatyall later and good luck with all of your films.

Jesse Tarnoff

As long as you don't feel that you're talented and will be rich and famous someday and its just a matter of "when".

Projects are projects. Put them together and shoot them. But dont ever get it in your head that what you are doing, in whatever capacity, is good. Directing is pulling together OTHER talent and making use of it, but it is definitely not your own. Spielberg is talented because of the people he works with during preproduction, production and post. His editor and cinematographer are gods. He only works with the best. Same goes for most Directors in hollywood. They are simply good time managers and people smoochers. Don't aspire to be them.

Axebox, is that your way of saying "Dude! congratulations on all the opportunities you're getting! I'd love to see one of my projects get that far... way to go!"?

Your comment on talent belongs in a different thread (as does this one), but really... the man was hoping for an 8k budget, an now has a chance to get 1mil.... He must be doing something right.

E.

quote:

Projects are projects. Put them together and shoot them. But dont ever get it in your head that what you are doing, in whatever capacity, is good. Directing is pulling together OTHER talent and making use of it, but it is definitely not your own.

That's the greatest quote I've had the pleasure of reading in some time.