"Sometimes the end ....feels like the beginning"

Ok. It’s taken a long time for me to get to writing this post. I’ve been putting it off for a while because I just havn’t been in the mood to face it. The reason is because just before Christmas I had to CALL THE SHOOT OFF AND PUT THE FILM ON HOLD because we just didn’t have enough money.

Going back to mid December this was a completely crazy time. I was so busy trying to organize everything, find the last locations, rehearse with the actors and go over the sets with Michael the DOP. The rehearsals were awesome and put a huge smile on my face. Max and Claus are really great. This makes it even harder now that the film isn’t going ahead at this time.

So basically in the last few days before the Christmas break we got our final deal back from Bavaria Film and it wasn’t quite as low as we had hoped. On top of this, our last chance for financial support, 13th Street, decided not to back us. I weighed everything and after much consideration decided I would put 20,000 Euros of my own (and borrowed) money into the film. In the end, even this was not enough.

A last minute glimmer of hope had us scrambling around between Christmas and New Year trying to see if we could make it work but eventually we had to face up to the fact that it was not completely prepared and yes, we didn’t have enough money. So we called everyone and told them it wasn’t going to happen at this time. I felt the worst for Michael because when I rang him he had just spent the entire day going over the locations with his gaffer. I’m really sorry Michael.

Anyway there is way more behind the story but I can’t be bothered to go into it. I’d rather just move on.

If things had gone to plan we would be shooting right now and as it turns out the weather is no good anyway. I wanted snow and it is 11 degrees C at the moment and also has been raining. The weather would have been crap for the film. So that makes me feel a bit better.

The new plan. Try and shoot it next winter in March or April. We have another year to prepare and find some different finance possibilities (if there are any) and I’m going to try and do some more writing in the meantime.

On a positive note. I had drinks with a producer from Ratpack Filmproduktion last night and got chatting to him about writing and eventually the short. He said he’d like to read it so I’m sending the script to him tonight. A great contact to have in the future whatever happens.

So… on a final note (for now) and not that anyone from the crew actually reads this blog but I just want to say a HUGE thankyou to everyone who jumped on board this crazy film. It’s a real shame it didn’t work out for this time but thank you all so much for all the time and effort you all put into it. It really was amazing for me to have had the opportunity to meet and work with you all and I hope that we can all regroup again when the time comes. Cheers!!

..and Happy New Year!

Thursday
Got up early and Basti picked me up and drove us to Bavaria Film to look at the sets on the lot. Jean-Luc met us there with Jake, Jeremy and our new production designer Tobi. We looked at all the rooms and decided on two that would work for us. Then we went over to the Make-up Academy and talked with the girls that will be on set for make up. They had a few questions about some of the scenes and we went through it all.

We also got the news this day that 13th Street and Acte would not be supporting our project. This means we have absolutely zero $ in support for the film. Quite a depressing day.

In the evening I had a costume check with Constanze who had several outfits she borrowed from the Bavaria Film costume department. She also explained to me that the Diesel support was not quite what we expected and they didn't send us anything that we can actually use. Also dissapointing.

During this evening I thought a lot about the funding situation and eventually came to the decision that I will invest my own money into the film. I will have to borrow half of it but I think it will be worth the risk. I can manage 20,000 Euros. It still might not be enough.

Friday
I met with Tobi for lunch and briefed him on the style of the film and what I was after in terms of Roberts apartment which we would be set dressing at Bavaria Film.

Saturday
I met with Michael the DOP and we talked about some of the locations and individual shots in some of the scenes. I also explained to him the situation with the funding and that I will be paying for the film. He said I was crazy :) I said I know but I really believe in this film and where it might take us. People wouldn't bat an eyelid if you told them you borrowed 20,000 to buy a car, when you look at it like this it's not so bad. Worst case scenario, it doesn't win any money and I don't get any directing work from it, then I spend a couple of years paying it off. I can live with that.
We talked about shooting smarter and tighter and then eventually decided we might go HD. Something I've been holding back on for as long as possible but he showed me some other stuff he had shot on HD and it looks pretty good. It will still be a really nice looking film. So we are probably going HD.
We didn't get through all the scenes and had to wrap it up because I had to prepare for our first rehearsal.
Max and Claus arrived with Jean-Luc and Jake and we rehearsed until around 4:30pm. It was a good rehearsal and we talked about a lot of stuff and they had some good ideas and seemed to generally have a good feel for who their characters were. It was quite fun I have to say. Such a nice change from all the producing stuff that keeps pounding my brain on a daily basis. Once again we didn't get through it all before Constanze arrived and tried a few costumes on Claus and Max. We sorted out Clause but there wasn't too much for Max because of the Diesel problem. Max might just use some of his own stuff.

The fait of the film now rests on a few quotes for HD equipment and a blow up, and finding and securing a couple of locations.

After speaking with Simon we proposed Tuesday as the day we must decide if we can actually go on and make this film. Tuesday is D-Day.

Monday

Had lunch with Jean-Luc and a DOP. Michael Praun. He is a really great DOP and is also a steadicam operator. He was a nice guy and really likes the script. We arranged to meet on Tuesday night after my work to go over the locations together.

In the evening we had a meeting with a Sound Designer who was cool and he showed me his work. Nice stuff but not sure if we can use him unless we get some funding. Also, Jeremy came along with his friend Rafael who is interested in helping on the film and trying to get us some sponsorship from his dads company Gruppe 3 who hire out equipment.

Tuesday

Met with Michael after work and we went to every location and I walked him through all the scenes. He made notes and we talked about shots and some logistical stuff. He is very professional and I wants to do everything properly, naturally. He is fantastic but I might have to try and dial him back a bit into indie, low budget mode. He mentioned two cameras, 8 gaffers and that 20 cans of film might not even be enough. I'm scared. $$$ He is going to go over everything and then we will sit down again and discuss it all. It was a very long day because I was up at 7 to get to a physio appointment and back at home around 10:30.

Regrouping

Yesterday Simon was in Munich and staying at Jean-Luc’s so we all got together and tried to figure out plan B.  Actually we started first with plan C.  Plan C was worst case scenario we have absolutely no money and would have to shoot on HD.  I thought about this a lot while we were discussing it and decided that we are definitely going to shoot on film no matter what.  Basically I decided I will put quite a bit of my own money into the film so we can still shoot 16mm and have a beautiful looking picture.  I know its generally a rule to never use your own money, but I believe in this film and maybe it’s my last short (hopefully) so it might be my last chance to shoot a ‘film’.
We made plans to approach other production companies for support and we are still waiting on 13th Street for their answer about co-producing.  After much discussion, a family size pizza and a bottle of wine we had worked out a few different plans and were back on track. (I think)
At 7:30 we met Sebastian Stalzer at my work in the city.  He was a great guy and very keen to help us out as our Production Manager.  He is now on board and will take care of the location permits.  
After this meeting we decided to walk around the Old Munich city area to check out some alleys that Max suggested for us.  Eventually we stumbled across a parking garage that was 6 stories high and is perfect for one of the scenes and two other locations we needed from high on top of buildings.  3 for 1!  Perfect!
Next we headed to Harras and the restaurant I had liked a week or so ago.  The owner had been a bit unsupportive of no-budget film making but we decided to try and talk him around.  Eventually we offered him 400 Euros for two days shooting in his restaurant.  He was offended.  He wanted 1000 and wouldn’t budge.  Eventually we gave up and told him to forget about it.  We left a card and told him if he changes his mind to give us a call.  It’s a shame because now it is the only location that we don’t have and my mind would have been so much more at ease if we had gotten it.  Damn!
It was a good productive day but by the time I got home it was 3AM.

Plan B

Well…. That’s disappointing.  We got the decision from the FFF today and it was NO.  I can’t believe it.  I was 100% convinced in my mind we would get it.  We now have no funding for our film.  I feel like I just lost 25,000 Euros at the casino.  After hearing the news and sharing the disappointment with Jean-Luc and Simon it was a pretty sad day.  You can’t help but think about all the reasons why it might not have been chosen but in the end it’s pointless.  It was hard to be motivated to do much tonight but eventually I’m starting to feel better about it and now we have to get focused on figuring out plan B.  Simon is coming to Munich this evening and will stay at Jean-Luc’s.  We’ll get together on the weekend and try to figure out our new strategy.

I thought we would find out about the FFF decision today....

I was wrong. We didn't. Hopefully tomorrow.

Tonight I was supposed to meet with Max Lichnter who is helping us with locations and Kerstin Grund the production designer. Kerstin rang today and sadly is pulling out of the project. So this evening Jean-Luc and I met with Max and he showed us some suggestions for locations and we chatted about other potential spots. I told him what we still need and he is going to check out some more places this week and get back to me. He also will feed Jean-Luc some more contacts for possible crew. Max was a really great guy. It's a shame he isn't available to be our Production Designer.

1 day till we find out about the FFF......again!

Tonight I was scheduled to meet another DOP who was also a steadicam operator. He phoned during the day and canceled. He won't be able to do the film because something else came up. So I went shopping and bought a jacket. The shoot is going to be very cold.

Tomorrow we find out about the FFF funding application!