Feature Film - Worth it?

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article contains words and phrases that some people may find offensive. Please do not continue if easily offended)

 

6 years on my filmmaking journey has shown me that the motion picture game, from indie film level all the way up, is a closed playground for the few. And unless you have the money or contacts, chances of getting to have a kick about in that playground is highly unlikely. That is, if you're playing by the rules.

Based on my my current setup, I reckon I could potentially shoot a self contained feature film within 10 days. But the question I always find myself asking is:

Will it be worth it?

Chasing Amy, Tom, Dick and Ahmed

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article contains words and phrases that some people may find offensive. Please do not continue if easily offended)

© successyeti.com

"That mother-fucker STILL hasn't got back to me!"

Good morning, day or evening, inter-peeps. How many times have you torn yourself into little pieces over such words? I'm not just talking about that script you sent over to someone, that actor who liked your idea, that peer who couldn't be more up for it or that producer who was all up in your junk over a project. I'm talking about the many energy vampires we seem to stumble across throughout our filmmaking journey. The "Talkers".

EXT. LONDON - NIGHT

Film noir street choked with fog.  

Planted under a shaft of light -- A SILHOUETTE.  Man, Woman or Beast.  Nobody knows.  Just then, JOE FILM-AKER cuts across the damp, cobbled street.  

Nods on approach, eyes unable to make out the murky figure.

Great vs Undeniable

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article contains words and phrases that some people may find offensive. Please do not continue if easily offended)

I've finally figured it out. The meaning of life... No wait, that's for another time! *Ahem*, on a more serious note:

Over the past few months I've spent some time on movie sets, met up with various people and had interesting chats with fellow peers. One thing I've found repeating to both myself and others is the word 'Undeniable'. As in:

"It has to be undeniable"

What I mean by that is that in order to get the recognition, success and sense of achievement we crave for like suicidal porn addicts, I feel the work we create must be 'Undeniable'. Not good, not great, not amazing... UNDENIABLE.

Here's my definition of the two:

• GREAT - Something you see, feel and experience and then move on.

• UNDENIABLE - Something that gets under your skin and skull fucks you into a submissive state of awe.

As I've said before, there's a shit load of talent out there. Guys'n'Gals that make most of us look like dribbling 3 year olds in terms of the work quality they produce. I watch their films and my loins ache with downright admiration and if I'm truly honest with myself, a little bit of jealousy -- Then I move on. There's no Interest and Interaction. It was great, thanks for the ride, laters. 

What Am I Giving Back?

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article contains words and phrases that some people may find offensive. Please do not continue if easily offended)


I've been thinking a lot lately (at least for the past 18 months) on what it is that makes some creatives such a joy to follow and others, well, meh. I think it boils down to a few of things:

• Their content is informative and useful
• They share their experiences

"We are doing/did this... This is how we're doing/did it... More great resources here (link)... Please ask if you want to know more..."

This to me creates the most powerful tool any creative could wish for - Interest and Interaction. The way I see it is this: The reason why we make something is so we can share it with others, to get feedback and ultimately whether we like it or not, to get their APPROVAL (psychologically speaking, I think this stems back to social stature/hierarchy from our knuckle dragging days).

SWAT - When Opportunity Knocks

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article may contain words and phrases that some people may find offensive. Please do not continue if easily offended)


One thing I've come to realise is that opportunity presents itself in the most subtlest of ways. It doesn't (usually) pop out of thin air and go "Yo, ass face, here I am on a plate ready for you to devour!" A little OTT, but I think you know where I'm coming from.

About a week ago I came across a casting call tweet looking for an Ex US Military person living in London. I'm not an Actor, shit like that doesn't interest me. I could've EASILY scrolled along my timeline BUT, my brother-in-law to be met the criteria. He's not an Actor. I just thought, why the fuck not, maybe he'd be interested. Long story short, he asked asked If I'd help him film something to send over to the casting peeps. Of course I said yes (turns out it was for a major studio movie).

Here's what we came up with. Best to watch first (process and blooper reel below).

I Write American

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article may contain words and phrases that some people may find offensive. Please do not continue if easily offended)

I'm a Cypriot Man who grew up in London, with British values... But I write AMERICAN Scripts.

I don't write Cypriot.
I don't write British.
I write American.

Most of my childhood movies ranged from The Goonies, Back To The Future, Indiana Jones all the way up to Rocky, Pulp Fiction and Se7ven to name but a very, very few. Though I didn't have a clue back then, they've been the predominant backbone of everything I've written and aimed to capture since I left my day job in 2010. Trouble is, when it comes to story and structure, I feel very much at at odds with my homegrown peers who, understandably, embrace storytelling native to this country (UK).

Now how do I say this without sounding like a self indulgent prick...

I believe in a 3 act structure of start, middle and an end with at least two plot points that anchor the story. I enjoy watching/writing films that catch the audience off guard with twists, turns and shock reveals somewhere along it's timeline. The best example I can give is M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense:

That film is the epiphany of "Ho. Lee. Fuck."

Write What You See

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article may contain words and phrases that some people may find offensive. Please do not continue if easily offended)

The thing with click bait is that they very rarely give you the answers to the statements/questions they're posing. I call it the Politician Syndrome aka No Shit, Sherlock! This applies to a lot of filmmaking articles I come across, but a typical screenwriting example would be:

5 Things You Need To Write A Great Story

- Writing software (or pen and paper)
- A story that's worth telling
- Characters we can relate to
- Something bad that happens
- An ending your audience can remember

How you do this is completely up to YOU! At the end of the day, you're the one who's telling the story. It's your voice that counts!

Click this
Click this
Click this
Click this...

No Shit, Sherlock!

I mean, really? Do people really need to be told this stuff? It's like saying you need money to buy a house. Show me the money, mutha fackers!

I'm not sure who said it, but one of the best pieces of screenwriting advise I've personally come across in the diarrhetic bull-shit-sphere known as how not to write, how to write click bait is this:

"Write What You See" 

I Eat Sh*t Pieces For Breakfast

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article may contain words and phrases that some people may find offensive. Please do not continue if easily offended)

A few weekends back I decided to make a spontaneous little sketch. Something that showed a little bit of my personality and the kinda stuff that makes me laugh. So I quickly wrote down some dialogue, setup up the camera and a few hours later I had 'That Awkward Conversation':

A quick and simple scene to flex the creative juices :)

Equipment used:

1 Camera
1 Lens
1 Tripod
1 Rode Mic
1 External recorder