Kaleidoscope Man - Draft 17 Begins...

After a week of taking notes, hearing opinions and listening to a bunch of screenwriting CD's, the new draft of the script has begun. I went through the first 20 pages on Saturday, ruthlessly hacking and slashing and re-ordering scenes, and I have to say I'm delighted with the progress so far. I've ironed out the main issues with the beginning being a little slow and confusing. There’s now plenty of action and conflict and it certainly doesn’t stand still. Just another 70 pages to go!

An Investor called me on Thursday and said that he would discuss the business plan with some other film investor contacts. Watch this space for more news.

Sitting Here Watching The Wheels Go Round

I'm staying in London at the moment working on a big corporate video. This job has gone on and on and the weeks are turning into months. Its hard living out of a rucksack and crashing on a colleagues sofa, especially when I have so much I need and want to do on the movie. The daily rate is very good so I can't afford not too really. I was just thinking how wonderful life would be if we didn't have huge mortgages to pay and could just focus on the things that are important to us. Ahhh, one day... But then I'm reminded that I could have a real job or be fighting a war somewhere... that sofa seems appealing again!!

I got up at 6.00am this morning and sat in Costa Coffee working on the re-draft of Kaleidoscope Man. Just making notes really and thinking things through. As I'm getting more into it, I don't think the script needs a radical re-write, more of a serious edit and shifting of scenes mainly in the first act. In the story there is a whole sub-plot set on earth and although I really like it, I'm seriously considering giving it the chop. It's good character stuff but doesn't drive the narrative as well as the scenes around it do.

I haven't heard anything back from the business plans I sent out to Investors yet, fingers crossed we'll here something soon.

Watch this space…!

Getting The Script Right....

Well, a huge chunk of business plans have gone out to potential Investors. The flyers I mentioned in my last entry have arrived and look great. They'll be hitting the floors of Lawyers and Accountants in the city early next week. And I've had the first few conversations about the budget. All exciting stuff...

But, something has been nagging me for the last few months; the big ugly monster waiting for me in the corner, the thing that, if I don't sort out now, will haunt me for the rest of my life. Yep, you've got it, THE SCRIPT!!!

Now, there's nothing actually wrong with the script, it certainly works, and is a very powerful piece of narrative. But is it really as good as it can be???

Some close friends have read it recently and although they've been complimentary, the same issues come to light. They've found some areas confusing and in places it's hard to follow. The problem seems to be due to the high level of visual set pieces in the film. There is a lot of description about alien things that are hard to visualize. In my heart, I'm sure that when an audience SEES what I have in mind they will have no problem following it, but it's vital that the script works in my favor (as investors are bound to read it) so this must be addressed.

Over the last year, I've been busy on business plans, making pilots and generally working hard to pay the mortgage and get to this stage. The thought of going back to the script scares the life out of me. It's a bit like ripping your back bone out and then trying to stand. The whole thing could collapses around me. But, I have to be grown up and embrace this demon, because this has to be sensational and world class.

When I set out to make this movie, I intended to make it "one of the greatest British sci-fi movies of all time". Which is easy to say, and gets even easier the more you say it. And the more you say it, the more you start to believe it. And the thing is, I genuinely DO believe it will be "one of the greatest British sci-fi movies of all time". But, delivering on this, well, that's a different story!

So, from here on, its head down and get on with it. The new draft starts over the weekend (GULP!). Wish me luck.....

Finding Investors - The Next Step

As I've mentioned previously, the laws on raising funds are strict and we’re not allowed to market that we’re looking to sell shares in our company to raise money for making the movie. So how on earth do we get to investors to tell them about our fantastic new film?

Well, last week I came up with a cunning plan to get around this. I would write to every Accountant in the City of London to tell them about the movie in the hope that they would guide any potential Investors to my website, where these investors could watch the trailer and then contact us for a copy of the business plan. A good idea I felt. However, our Lawyers didn’t think it was so good and they wouldn't advise.

So, having thought it through, I’ve decided a slightly different approach. Instead of writing a letter, I‘ve designed a small flyer that I will send out to the Lawyers and Accountants instead. This way I don’t have to write individual letters and the artwork and website will hopefully hook them in. Printing.com have a fabulous deal on at the moment. 2000 high gloss double sided flyers for only £76 – A bargain!! The flyer will also act as a sort of business card telling people about the movie. These should be ready by early next week.

Here is the first batch of business plans that will go out later this week. I have a nice little list of potential investors they’re going to and the plans look great – really glossy, I really don’t think they could look any better.

By the way, I’m getting loads of hits on my blog at the moment. Thank you all for your support. Here's a rather nice email I received earlier this week:

I came across your blog through Chris Jones’ blog and just wanted to say that everything you discuss on your blog is extremely interesting and useful to someone like myself, just starting out in the industry. The 'making of' video entries are FANTASTIC! I want to learn as much as I can about the business, I want to see things being made, people physically using the camera, watching the editing process, directing the actors etc etc. So, THANK YOU , and I do hope you add more 'behind the scenes' video on your blog page!

Also, may I wish you every success with your latest project!!

Danny Lacey - STADA MEDIA - Thanks Danny, I'll keep the "Making Of's" coming!

Creating The Opening Sequence for Kaleidoscope Man

I've put this little video together which will give you an idea of how we made the opening sequence of the movie. This video follows on from the storyboarding sequence lower down on the blog.

I'll try and keep the videos coming as I really enjoy making them (it's also a great way to use up some of the hours of footage we've been shooting). Although apologies for the dodgy voice over artist (he was cheap!!)

Once we've raised the money to finish the film, I'll keep the "Making Of's" coming.

I hope you like them!

For more infomation about Screenburn Animation go to: www.screenburn.co.uk