Just asking. I didn't know how else to start a topic here. There aren't any others.

Is anyone out there (hello-o-o-o-o-o) who has thought about following in Richard Stanley's steps and make their own independent film?

Anyone out there who had to quit in film or music or something and is lonely 'cause there's no one to chat about this stuff with?

(Just so this thread doesn't die too quickly...)

I've struggled with independent filmmaking for years myself. I haven't quit yet- not until I really feel the race is over- and it's not over yet!

Been in the industry long?

Currently studying film, been working on different stuff across the board for some years now.

Cinema can be a very harsh mistress, but for some reason I haven't been able to force myself into a steady 9-5 dayjob. (Currently recovering from a 16 hour day/night - including building the set, filming and cleaning up - with a 4 hour sleep.)

Hi

Ah, there's no such thing as the race being over. Not as long as someone's got his legs or at least a car.

I guess I wanted to hear other people chat about their work and inexperiences and hopes. I'm sappy that way.

I'm not in the film industry; I wish. Well, a little independent work in sound edit, but very little. What I did (loooong ago) was sound mixing. Originally I trained in studio recording with the Big Idea that I would work in a studio for film doing sound work---mixing. I actually grabbed the closest work I could get, which was mostly live sound: concerts, conventions, stuff like that. It was very nice and great experience but not the same. That was so long ago, I know I wouldn't recognize any of today's equipment. I think I find that more upsetting than the fact that I had to quit. Sort of, there's no way to catch up.

I really like seeing people stick with it. It's not impossible and it's always worth it, even with a lousy show---at the end of the day, it was always worth it.

I might not work anymore, sic, but I DO remember the 15-hour days!!!

So, did you get your rest, finally? And I feel like you---the 9 to 5 jobs---I'm not knocking anyone who can hold to that; I feel those jobs are very difficult to do, but they made me insane. I don't think there is any way to explain the addiction to working on a set or stage. At least I felt like it was an addiction, and I loved it. I didn't work film though---when I wasn't mixing for a local or nearby concert, I was doing stagework: sets, costume assistant(omg THAT last one was always frightening, I'm afraid of the WARDROBE MISTRESS ).

But it's like I told Glurkk---sound mixing and stage work is so far behind me, I don't know what to do anymore or even what to ask, so I wanted to give a nudge on this forum for people to talk about their own work and/or dreams.

I can't believe I"m going to say this---but I used to cry sometimes because the workdays were so hard, and now I cry because I don't do them anymore. Wah!!! Watching your audience's face is the ultimate drug, I think.

Speaking of watching the audience's face, I went to a GWAR concert once (they're on the TV set in HARDWARE when the fabulous Ms. Travis is working on her sculpture, although the music is Ministry, not GWAR)
and I think I began to understand the "high" that musicians feel when the crowd is crazy for them. The energy was fairly intense in that place that night...

I did, and the funny thing is, the more I have downtime concerning the project, the more I long to get back on the horse. A crazy life it is.



Just you wait till we get the interview out. Stanley told me some interesting stories about a London-based female punk band, Rock Bitch.

I daresay it's almost like a drug, except the weird thing is that actually doing the work (the production process) is the hardest work of all- but when you're finished and have something to show for all those days/months/years, THAT'S when you get your "high"... (Especially when someone compliments it behind your back.)

Recently came back from shooting my final term as a writer/director this year. Felt pretty intense about returning to the big chair and building the atmosphere of the scene with the actors for three hours straight; feedback, reherseal, shoot. Repeat, now keep filming. Then order for the master shoot; everything electrifies. Reality blurs when your cast stays in character between takes, the crew slides through technological glitches times ten after multiple soundchecks and camera tests. One begins to feel one is inside a dream, a strange new reality spawned from one's own making. After muttering the words "That's a wrap!", one is pulled back from a mysterious place, reality shoving down a cold turkey. One feels the urge to go back as it will never feel the same when captured from hiding with 24 frames per second. Once you open the portal, you'll never be the same.

At least that's how I felt, more or less.

I keep forgetting that I need to check back on the forums. Gee, I thought the universe revolved around me and I would get numerous emails everytime someone posted!

At any rate, even though very late, congrats, sic. If you felt like a wrung-out rag, then I know it was good for ye!