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Thread: Depression and Giving Up

  1. #1
    Yekhefah
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    Default Depression and Giving Up

    So today's the day. I failed to raise all the money I needed for my short film - I'm still $6000 shy - and now I have to contact my entire cast and crew and my locations and call it all off.

    I can't stop crying long enough to do this.

    I'll never be able to sell a feature project if no one has any inkling what I can do as a director. And I need a short film for that. This project is amazing, funny and clever, and I had the most terrific cast and crew. Even if I find the money later (which is unlikely), the crew will all be on paid work because the slow season will be over. I was set to shoot next week, when no one was working. I had an award-winning cinematographer with the most amazing camera package who was willing to fly out for free just because he loved the script and he's not working next week anyway - and now nothing.

    My investors would get all of my festival winnings, and this project would be going to large festivals where the prizes are $1000-10,000 each, but no one would even look at the proposal I spent three days on. People just hear "short film" and move on. I'll never be able to make that kind of money myself, so I guess I just have to give up completely.

    Fuck it, I might as well just go be a waitress. Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be filmmakers.

    Signed,

    Yet Another Hollywood Washout

  2. #2
    God/dess
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    I dont know what to say but I am sorry about this . Its not an easy road to go down it takes a lot of money and perseverance and I know you have the latter . Wish I could give you a big hug I know that wont make your dream happen but its what I have to offer . Keep your chin -up honey one day you will be doing an interview and talk about the time when you couldn't afford to do a short film .

  3. #3
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Yeah, an interview on Jerry Springer when my teenage daughter is pregnant by all the guys in the trailer park. I have to face up to the fact that every successful indie filmmaker came from a rich family to bankroll those early efforts, and I do not. It's not about talent or ambition in the slightest, it's all money.

    My heart is breaking because I'm facing the death of the only future I've ever wanted, since I was a little child... well, not so much a death as a stillbirth.

    All over six fucking grand, which is pocket change to these assholes!

  4. #4
    God/dess DancerWealth's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Perhaps you're looking for investors in the wrong places Yek. What you need to understand is that you're an artist and you are more concerned with producing something of real quality and content than anything else. You're looking at creating art. The challenge is, most artistic endeavors like this do not make for solid financial investments and so if you are looking for just general financial investors, you're going to have a difficult time because the single reason most investors invest is because of what the return on that investment will provide. It's simply a matter of the math. By saying that they will earn 100% of the revenues produced by winning festivals says that the investment is of extremely high risk. It would be no different than me saying, "I need $1,000 of investment money to buy lottery tickets because, by gosh, I've got a gut feeling I really know the numbers this time." When an investor hears winnings from festivals, they are thinking lottery tickets. While you are of extreme confidence you would win these, for an investor that's just not good enough. In investing, there is no such thing as a "sure thing" and yet there are also elements of risk and the ratio of investment money to risk in this type of project, the way you are pitching it, does not balance out.

    So, my advise is to either look for a grant of some sort that you can use to produce this or find other artists with money who would be willing to risk a complete loss for the sake of another artist producing art. That's probably your best bet here.

    The ORIGINAL Stripper Sales School
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    Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle. ~Abraham Lincoln

  5. #5
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    ^^^ That's pretty much what I was doing.

  6. #6
    God/dess NinaDaisy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    I propose a bunch of us kick in some money to get this going. It's for one of our girls!!!!
    "She has written so well, and marvellously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer...But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers"

    Ernest Hemingway on writer, aviation pioneer and horse trainer Beryl Markham


  7. #7
    Veteran Member TheLioness's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Well this is a shot in the dark but...you know how they have those weird auctions on ebay? I'm sure that if someone is willing to pay 15k for someone to tatoo their company's name on their head then surely you could raise 6k for their name to appear on film? Just a thought. But I'm sure that no matter what, it will happen eventually

  8. #8
    Veteran Member TheLioness's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Quote Originally Posted by NinaDaisy View Post
    I propose a bunch of us kick in some money to get this going. It's for one of our girls!!!!

    I could stand to throw in a few bucks. Not all that she needs but I think that if enough people put in something (and with the ebay thing lol) she could raise enough.

  9. #9
    God/dess Lena's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Quote Originally Posted by TheLioness View Post
    I could stand to throw in a few bucks. Not all that she needs but I think that if enough people put in something (and with the ebay thing lol) she could raise enough.
    Count me in too.



  10. #10
    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Do you have credit you can use? 6k is not THAT tough to make, you could do it in Jan or Feb with two weeks on the road.

    I wouldn't nomally advocate using credit for something like this, but since it's your dream & all, it's probably worth the risk.

    Feature costumes for sale!

  11. #11
    Chicagoeditor
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Quote Originally Posted by scarlett_vancouver View Post
    I wouldn't nomally advocate using credit for something like this, but since it's your dream & all, it's probably worth the risk.
    I agree. I know people trying to start a restaurant who are facing the nearly-impossible need of pulling $60K out of nowhere. Good luck with it, Yek.

  12. #12
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    I already owe almost $8K in credit debt. I can't afford to double it.

    Thanks for the support though, guys. I've worked for so many producers in the past and it sucks to have them all ignore me when all I need is for one of them to send the elevator back down.

  13. #13
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    And BTW, Lena and whoever else wants to see the proposal and consider the project, send me a PM with your email and I'll send it right over!

  14. #14
    Veteran Member TheLioness's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Well I still say you should do the ebay thing. I'm sure we could get a bunch of us to "watch" it, which will make your listing popular. Heck, we could even start the bids for you If someone is willing to pay $9600 for a fortune cookie then I'm sure you could get what you need, especially with our help

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Fortune-Cookie_W...QQcmdZViewItem

  15. #15
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    I don't think I have anything to actually auction on eBay though.

  16. #16
    Veteran Member TheLioness's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    I don't think I have anything to actually auction on eBay though.
    You'd be auctioning off the chance for THEIR name to appear in your movie And right now is the best time, since a lot of rich people need to get rid of some of their money for the upcoming tax season.

  17. #17
    Veteran Member Tara Nicole's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Yek,

    I am sorry to hear about this situation. Please don't give up on your dream though... maybe it's just not the right time now.... keep faith in your talent and try, try again! Someday, somehow it will all fall into place.

    Sending positive thoughts and vibes your way.... TTFN!
    The essential humanity of men can be protected and preserved only where government must answer--not just to the wealthy, not just to those of a particular religion, or a particular race, but to all its people.

    Robert F. Kennedy
    June 6, 1966

  18. #18
    DJ Maimed
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    When is the latest you can receive the money? If you don't mind giving one more pitch I know someone who could easily help.

  19. #19
    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Auction tattooed advertising space on your vag.

    No, I'm serious! It would get on the news & stuff, and it's not really that fucked up...it would be a charming tattoo that you'd love forever if it symbolized something you did to acheive your goals. Just a small one.

    Feature costumes for sale!

  20. #20
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    ^^^ Well, it would be innovative!

    DJ Maimed, I need $4500 this week, $1500 of which I already have, so another $3000... plus another $3000 by Monday. I'd be happy to pitch to anyone who'd be able to help.

    I guess I'm not giving up yet. I've hit the phones and I'm calling everyone who hasn't answered my emails. This is absolutely Shy Person Hell, but whatcha gonna do?

  21. #21
    God/dess Sirona's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Aw hell. I wish I could do something remotely helpful.

    All I can say is don't give up. The arts are a tough gig, it's real hard to get any sort of recognition sometimes.



  22. #22
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Don't give up. There are some excellent ideas here....

    & Sometimes Life presents a desired opportunity at some future juncture down the road....Have faith.

  23. #23
    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    You know....thelioness has a decent idea. I went on ebay, and looked into it, and there are a couple things like this listed. There's one guy/person in particular who is selling credits for an upcoming film. Here's the link:
    http://cgi.ebay.com/Get-your-name-or...QQcmdZViewItem

    From the ebay page:
    Pricelist:
    Special thanks credit: $30
    Associate producer credit: $150
    Executive producer credit: $200
    Company logo on credits: $250

    Sure it's not ideal, but people have bought into it.

    Yekhefah, please do not give up on your dream. Even if you must delay it, don't give up. This sounds like a great project and I wish you success. I unfortunately, do not have a lot of money right now (or ever), but I'd be happy to donate a few bucks to your fund. I know my $20 wouldn't help very much, but it's all I'd be able to do now.

    You've been so helpful to me with some of my issues....I wish I could do more, but I'm quite broke right now.

    Please let me/us know what's going on and what I/we can do to help out. Until then, I'll keep my fingers crossed that DJ Maimed can come through for you, or maybe some other stroke of good luck.

    Edit to add: I just read your latest post about hitting the hpones again. good luck. Keep us posted. If you ebay it, let me know.






    (just click to donate FREE food to those in need...REALLY!)

  24. #24
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    Well... an eBay auction still wouldn't be finished in time for me to hang on to the crew I have now. I'm mostly concerned about losing my cinematographer. He stays pretty busy during the year, because he's got over 30 years of experience and his own HD Steadicam package. His last short won at Cannes a few years ago. And he loves my project so much he's willing to fly across the country to do it for free - I just have to pay his airfare and shipping. But it's one of those "for a limited time only" kinda deals during the off-season!

  25. #25
    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depression and Giving Up

    You can do short auctions on ebay.....(i know, i know.......easier said than done)






    (just click to donate FREE food to those in need...REALLY!)

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