Steve GannMaking a Film Happen - The Beginning!
December 11th 2006 11:11
Setting Up an Incubator!
When I was a kid, mum used to hatch chickens with an electric blanket and an old tea cosy in an old wooden box. So what can we do to grow our film industry?
I've said it before and I'll keep saying it until something happens: More needs to be done to fire up the film industry in this land of OZ. There are those that say that film is nothing more than dreams and childish fantasy -- that we have no more right to expect support or help than any other industry.
They are wrong!
I have long held the view we need more support/funds/infrastructure built into incubating our film product. I am not alone in this belief. Perhaps we need to build a networking body which exists outside SPAA, AWG, ASDA and the various funding bodies. Perhaps we need a networking organisation which brings these bodies together and creates synergy or people just meeting together to discuss ideas.
Let me explain. I have been knocking around this industry for quite some time now. I believe I have earnt the right to call myself a writer. Over the years I have built a body of works, all of which are yet to be produced. So a couple of years ago I decided to make a real pain of myself to get something happening. I called people at SPAA and people at AWG. Partly due to my nagging, there began a series of Speed Dating events where producers come along and meet writers. The first event I went to, I was a non-financial member of the AWG and got into trouble with a certain person for not paying my dues. (Hi Megan, hope you're enjoying your new gig.) The next two events (this year), I also went to. You could say I have paid my dues, but has it put me in the winner's circle or even close? Unfortunately no.
The Speed Dating events were good. No argument. I have met several producers, but for whatever reason, nothing happened - or at least not yet. The reality is that Speed Dating is not the be all and end all. We need more sustained networking. We need more building of resources. And we need more producers. We need monthly and weekly get togethers, barbecues, pub evenings, let's do lunch -- call it what you like. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that we need to get together with people -- writers/producers/directors/financiers on a regular basis. Why? To get things going. To fire things up. To make something happen!
Then we need the financial resources and the support structures in place so that product can be developed. I can never understand how the powers that be in the film industry expect projects to come into their own without any real support. As an industry we need support of real substance. It needs to be focussed and planned on building scripts and production teams. It needs risk capital so that people can make mistakes, can screw up in the attempt to explore new territories and find new solutions.
Just as important we need to encourage the outlaws, the brumbies, the ratbags - the rough and original pattern breakers, iconoclasts -- like the makers of Mad Max and Bad Boy Bubby -- creaters of improbable visions -- like me!
When I was a kid, mum used to hatch chickens with an electric blanket and an old tea cosy in an old wooden box. So what can we do to grow our film industry?
I've said it before and I'll keep saying it until something happens: More needs to be done to fire up the film industry in this land of OZ. There are those that say that film is nothing more than dreams and childish fantasy -- that we have no more right to expect support or help than any other industry.
They are wrong!
I have long held the view we need more support/funds/infrastructure built into incubating our film product. I am not alone in this belief. Perhaps we need to build a networking body which exists outside SPAA, AWG, ASDA and the various funding bodies. Perhaps we need a networking organisation which brings these bodies together and creates synergy or people just meeting together to discuss ideas.
Let me explain. I have been knocking around this industry for quite some time now. I believe I have earnt the right to call myself a writer. Over the years I have built a body of works, all of which are yet to be produced. So a couple of years ago I decided to make a real pain of myself to get something happening. I called people at SPAA and people at AWG. Partly due to my nagging, there began a series of Speed Dating events where producers come along and meet writers. The first event I went to, I was a non-financial member of the AWG and got into trouble with a certain person for not paying my dues. (Hi Megan, hope you're enjoying your new gig.) The next two events (this year), I also went to. You could say I have paid my dues, but has it put me in the winner's circle or even close? Unfortunately no.
The Speed Dating events were good. No argument. I have met several producers, but for whatever reason, nothing happened - or at least not yet. The reality is that Speed Dating is not the be all and end all. We need more sustained networking. We need more building of resources. And we need more producers. We need monthly and weekly get togethers, barbecues, pub evenings, let's do lunch -- call it what you like. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that we need to get together with people -- writers/producers/directors/financiers on a regular basis. Why? To get things going. To fire things up. To make something happen!
Then we need the financial resources and the support structures in place so that product can be developed. I can never understand how the powers that be in the film industry expect projects to come into their own without any real support. As an industry we need support of real substance. It needs to be focussed and planned on building scripts and production teams. It needs risk capital so that people can make mistakes, can screw up in the attempt to explore new territories and find new solutions.
Just as important we need to encourage the outlaws, the brumbies, the ratbags - the rough and original pattern breakers, iconoclasts -- like the makers of Mad Max and Bad Boy Bubby -- creaters of improbable visions -- like me!
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