Oscar nominated actor in short being shot in CT that needs RED for cheap or free

[lockeu2]

Hi guys,

I realize that many of you folks are planning on capitalizing on the demand for the new camera and need to make some money. If so, this post wouldn't interest you. I'm a producer, writer, director of a short which has the commitment of Oscar nominated actor, Charles Durning (Dog Day Afternoon, Tootsie, Rescue Me). The screenplay is based on award winning writer Peter Orner's short story, "The Raft." It's a modern day story about the fallout of war on a family with fantasy flashbacks set on a WWII battleship (which we are filming on the bridge of the very real USS Mass in Fall River) with a tone that could be compared to "The Squid and the Whale." It's a drama with comedic elements.

We want to use the RED camera for our shoot. We are a micro-budget and are hoping we get someone who wants to try out their new RED - on our week long film shoot in CT, MA - but we are trying to get goods/services donated. Much of our budget is going to our excellent actors and insurance. I'm hoping to find an altrustic RED owner who will give us a good deal or even consider letting us utilize their camera without cost. The shoot will be Nov. 26 through Dec. 2nd. I'd be happy to email you our screenplay and answer any questions you have about the production. We are making the film for the international film festival circuit.

Kind Regards,
Robert Jones - lockeu2@hotmail.com

http://www.playwar.net//

http://www.peterorner.net//

[Roberto B]

there's no free of charge for nobody unless you'll offer some sort of revenue ala co-production..

[Michael Schrengohst]

Charles Durning? Now if you would have said Mrs. Pitt or Jodie Foster....

[Alex Wengert]

Pretty ballsy, I have to admit. I think that you are barking up the wrong tree.

[Mark Thorpe]

I guess the budget has been spent on the talent!!

[Sean R.]

Damn you guys are pretty brutal. You can't blame the guy for throwin it out there. lockeu2 I'm sure you'll find someone who is more concerned with making good films before making good money. But to explain some of the vibe, RED is such a high commodity right now that most owners plan on industry standard pay just to power their cameras up. However you shouldn't let that discourage your vision. Good luck.

[Chuck T.]

Please send me a PM, i might have options for you.

[James T Mather]

there's no free of charge for nobody unless you'll offer some sort of revenue ala co-production..
__________________
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Jim Jannard

May 27 2007, 01:26 AM
May 28 2007, 11:52 PM


Interesting that you'll offer no quarter in your post yet will hold mr. jannard to low cost glass in your sub-line. Bit hypocritical perhaps?

[Unwounded]

To be fair though, the best time for one of the res holder to make the bulk of their return on investment is between now and the end of the year when there are still not too many reds available. After that the there will lots of reds around and the prices will go down. I'd think you'd have a better chance of waiting till early next year if you're dead set on a red. If it needs to be shot around thanksgiving I'd try dvxuser and post for an HVX with redrock 35mm adapter kit. You'd have a much better chance of finding that kinda deal and in all honesty it still makes a beautiful picture.

[Mark L. Pederson]

I couldn't resist.

Can't blame the guy for trying.

You can't catch a fish just starin' at the water.

And look ... THE BRAIN already has "options" for you.

REDUSER is pretty damn amazing ...

so ... if you are sick and tired of that Ferrari ....

[Jay A. Kelley]

Damn you guys are pretty brutal. You can't blame the guy for throwin it out there. lockeu2 I'm sure you'll find someone who is more concerned with making good films before making good money. But to explain some of the vibe, RED is such a high commodity right now that most owners plan on industry standard pay just to power their cameras up. However you shouldn't let that discourage your vision. Good luck.


Hey Sean,

I'll tell you what, you give me my package and all the accessories for FREE, and I'll do the guy's movie for FREE. After all, I agree with you, art rules and we need to support it.

I'll send you my address so you can ship it right out here while I schedule a production meeting with the guy and get ready to shoot his movie on RED for the sake of good films everywhere.

(Costs roll DOWN hill dude.. We're charging cause YOU do... Remember that!)

:)

Your friend
Jay

PS: Take this with a grain of salt.. I'm kidding mostly, but I would be good for those who are looking for freebies and favors to remember that RED did not give us these cameras for free, and so it's not realistic to expect us to behave differently.

[number6]

Hi guys/gals,

I'm a producer, writer, director of a short which has the commitment of Oscar nominated actor, Charles Durning. The screenplay is based on award winning writer Peter Orner's short story, "The Raft." We want to use the RED camera for our shoot but we are low, low budget and are hoping we get someone who wants to try out their new RED on our week long film shoot in CT for really cheap or, even better, for free. The shoot will be the week before or after Thanksgiving. I'd be happy to email you the screenplay and answer any questions you have about the production. We are making the film for the festival circuit.

Kind Regards,
Robert Jones - lockeu2@hotmail.com

http://www.playwar.net//

http://www.peterorner.net//

Time frame and travel distance is all wrong for me, otherwise, I would jump at the chance to be INVOLVED in a short with Charles Durning in it, if I were between projects of my oun. Don't worry, somebody will step up.

edit: Just re-read and saw that the title of your story is "The Raft". Sounds like a water shoot to me. I retract my previous willingness to participate, even if I could.

[Sean R.]

Jay. A. Kelly
remember that RED did not give us these cameras for free, and so it's not realistic to expect us to behave differently.

Never once did I suggest that anyone should work for free or that this person deserved charity work. However if you are not going to help with his project, why even post discouraging statements about it. There's nothing wrong with him taking a chance, the only thing bad that could happen is other artists ream him for taking a chance and give him a wonderful first impression of reduser. Like offhollywood said no one ever caught a fish by staring at the water. Any way the way I feel is respect to all and their efforts, but that's just me.

About me giving you your camera for free, I know it was a joke but I just want to state that I have to work my arse off to buy it for the same price as you all do, and a very fare price at that I must say.

[Ken Corben]

I've shot vanity, I mean personal projects for A-list actors before and funny thing - they don't return your phone calls after they sign up for Spiderman 1-3. Bottom line, do it cuz' you love it and wish to practice your craft and leave the Hollywood BS behind.

[Johnny Friday]

I've shot vanity, I mean personal projects for A-list actors before and funny thing - they don't return your phone calls after they sign up for Spiderman 1-3. Bottom line, do it cuz' you love it and wish to practice your craft and leave the Hollywood BS behind.

whadaya mean? I call you all the time!

oh...but it wasn't spiderman.

and is there an E list?

[Ken Corben]

Baja Johnny,

Any buddy of mine that can and will endure a fast moving squall in open water with embedded thunderstorms in an 18' inflatable while pursuing a shot can call me anytime - you earned your stripes!

Sharky

[Joe Carney]

I wonder if the guy could at least afford to insure the camera?
Free is one thing, stupid is another.

[Jay A. Kelley]

Hey Sean,

About working your ass off to buy the camera..

Dude.... I hear that.....

Jay

[donatello b]

in the past i have done personal/small/1st time director projects for nil ..
in general it's for persons i know or a friend of a friend type situation ...
also i'll add that i find most persons do give/work below rates when they see a project they like or if you ask them at the right time ( perhaps they just made 40k for the week/month)... we all like to give back when we can ...

IMO a producer should ask for the best - if you don't ask there's NO way you'll get a RED ... ask around perhaps you'll have a friend that knows somebody with a Red ...
in general the business is busy nov and up thru Dec 18th then it slows down till end of Jan - so you might have better luck during the slow time PLUS they'll be 5-600 more Reds out there .... but if your actor is only available at your stated dates then you might have to switch to a different camera or perhaps your actors knows somebody that will do him a favor ?

[lockeu2]

This is a short film production meant for the film festival circuit produced by UCSB and Columbia University film school grads who attracted Oscar nominated talent with a great script. The producer has been to Sundance a few times with other films. We have a SAG short film low budget agreement so that the actors are working for deferred salaries but they want first class transportation/accomodations. We'll be trying to get local 1st class hotels, etc. to help but we'll have to pay for the plane tickets. Getting Charles Durning, etc. is worth it. The shoot is Nov. 26th through Dec 1st in CT and on the USS Mass WWII battleship in Fall River, MA. Our total budget isn't more than 20K so we have to find folks who appreciate our desire to go premium not just with actors/script/crew but with everything - granted, on a micro-budget. My contract with the original author of the story runs out very soon so I wanted to shoot before the year is out. Yeah, it's a bit ballsy and I know many of you RED owners are capitalizing on demand but I figure you never know unless you ask. I'm confident that an altruistic RED owner will get excited enough about our production that they'll give us the opportunity to work with them! Ultimately, it's about creating a beautiful and moving "film."

[lockeu2]

As to the title "The Raft" and the production being a on water or an underwater shoot. Not the case. We are shooting 70% in a house and 30% on a de-commisioned battleship in Fall River. No water!

[lockeu2]

We intend on insuring the camera.

[Keith Alan Morris]

i'd say extend that contract with the author--til when theres alot more reds on the market... i offered a swap--i need one for 2 weeks in DEC for 1 month with mine coming in FEB--and I was met by silence on the boards. That may change come November/Dec, but it was a bitter pill to swallow.

[Andrew Benz]

Oh, Hey Keith I wish I could help you but I have to hit the bricks on some paying gigs... now it were for a week... that is another story.

Lockeu2, I wish I could help you out but the timing is bad for me... See one of the concepts that I really wanted to incorporate into my on going work was the "RED vacation". No vacation per say but a percentage of the year that I go get on a plane to travel anywhere in the world to work on some great project to meet great people, do great work--just to cover the expenses. I have some other gigs that pay the bils and equipment. I used to be in the military and I really miss TDYs (Temporary Duty) to locals all over the world... they were highly project focused, the work was always interesting and great friendships were always born from them. I have work... But I want to do great work with great people.

If anyone fits that bill pm me...