One step back can be a huge step forward!

Okay... So this monday I went out on a location scouting. I was about going by a house for my post apocalyptic drama just to take som measurments for the set design.
When I got there there I found out that the house already was in use for a nearby hotel. And I just thought I was an abandoned house. So there I was, inte middle of nowhere with one location less and a huge step backwards for my production.

I had no plan in my head other than to build a new set and a house for us. But then the question was where and how will I do it?!

Thanks to my wonderful supervising Set Designer, Edvin Steen, we came up with a cool solution that will make us having a house both exterior and interior. And that for only 5000:- SEK ($770). So we sat down for a few hours and made a plan for the set building, got a hold of an forrest where we can do whatever we want. And then just see a dream come true. To build a set for a film and just use the handcraft needed.

I am pleased that we got this set back, because now we can develope in the skills of filmmaking.
Just need to raise the money to make the set.  That's all I need right now.

So if you want to become an associate producer, just as Kevin Noble from New Zealand, please just click the banner below and see what you can do to help. And be a part of a filmmakers biggest dream, to develop in filmmaking!

Back to basics.

It is interesting when you somehow go back to basics. Back to the point where you started with something. In my example it is about film, of course. :)

I am making a film, indiestyle, and that is for me to get back to basics. We have a camera, a tripod, a microphone, a boom and three LED-lamps for lightning, no money and a good script. If we need something else we have to ask if we can borrow it, make it our self or find a way to raise money for it.

And I have started to enjoy filmmaking again! I have missed and also forgot the true basics of filmmaking. How did you do when you just had a camera and nothing else? How did you make a set? How did you get props? How did you decide what is good or not?

This story is post apocalyptic so there is almost no rules when it comes to set design and props. And that is a good thing. :) We can just free our minds, think outside the box as much as possible and go nuts on stuff!
For example we have to build a machine gun, future-style, and attach that to a pick up and drive around like maniacs. Those things are fun! Aiming towards a "Mad Max" kind of world but going lite.

I love my passion, to make films. I just needed to step back and realize I have to bring forth all that knowledge I got when I was 15 and once again live my dream.

Here is a vlog from our latest day of filming. Hope you'll enjoy!

Production life

 

Making a film demands a lot of work and effort.
Making this film demanded a little bit extra, since we all got ill. But we managed somehow to make a fantastic filmshoot and got material that weas something out of the ordinary!

I am glad that I have the skills and abilities to make films. Not too many that has the same opportunity as me. And I do feel glad that I have something to do that I love more than anything else.

And I am also gald for all the kind of support I get from everywhere. That makes it even more fun to work with what I am doing.

It is over.... Our shooting period is over, and did we have fun or not!
There is something special about being on set and just see the progress of filming. Kind of sad when it is all over. Kind of hard to realize that all that chaos actually can be a film!
But so many has been so dedicated to this project and has done a wonderful job! We are so amazed of the love and joy we get from people.

We are aiming for the stars, Cannes International Film Festival 2013, and maybe we will reach all the way, maybe not. Only time will tell. But we are sure that our film are good enough for Cannes!

I am just thrilled that this might be my comeback as a cinematographer and director. And if so, I feel confident that I will have much more to do in the future. :)

So much fun!

We had a rehearsal today with our actors Anders Eng and Britta Calamnius, for the short film "Det som göms i snö".
And it was such a joy to hear Anders dialogue for the first time and work with both Anders and Britta to make the dialouge and characters alive! I laughed and giggled like a little child and just felt such a joy inside of me to see the development of the story and are so convinced that this film will be my comeback as a director and filmmaker!

I have the privilege to work with pure talents that has a heart and soul for what they are doing! Who listen to what you want and interpet it right and transform it all so my vision can come true.

I am so happy right now! :) If this film wont be sold on the film market, then something is seriously wrong.... ;)

Anders Eng as Jonas and Britta Calamnius as Agnes

Exhausting...

I do realize why I hate making storyboards for my films... I just can't draw! It is a good thing that I will be the cinematographer of this film and not someone else. I can keep the images in my head and just put up the camera where I want it.

But for the sake of my crew I am up until midnight every night just to finish the storyboards so they know what we are doing. But is exhausting!!!!

http://shar.es/Cr4fk

Winning the lottery...

I guess everyone has a dream of winning the lottery. And then not the little sum of money, but the big jackpot!

I am playing the lottery every week, and has done so for the past few years now. The same numbers, over and over again, but I do believe that one the the jackpot will come! I guess every one wants to win 186 million SEK. (That's the jackpot right now)

What would I do with the money? After all 186 million is a lot of money. I would pay of all my debts, both institutional and private. I would buy me a house here on Gotland with a nice garden so I could just live my life and work with my fruits and vegetables. I would give a lot of money to my sponsorchild in Hungary, through SOS Children Villages. I would save some money to my retirement, that will come in about 35 years... And then, I would most likely have about 177 million left.
Hm... Hard to know what to do.... No, not at all! I would make my films! I would just make my dream projects, and buy equipment for a lot of the money and start a rental company here on Gotland.
I would love to make Gotland a living filmmaking island, and with the jackpot that dream could become reality.

Then I wouldn't need to look for money all over the place. I wouldn't need to use crowdfunding as a way to reach my goal. I wouldn't need to call every company over and over again, asking them if they want to support us in our filmmaking dreams!

But to win the lottery.... That is just a dream I share with every one else... And maybe, some day, I will be that lucky man, fulfilling my dreams....

Until then, I am stuck with using crowdfunding as a way of financing my films....