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.

5 Things To Consider Before Quitting Your Day Job

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 was recently contacted by a friend who is seriously considering quitting there day job to pursue a path into filmmaking. They wanted some pointers from someone who was crazy enough to do this --> ME.

Though I don't have the exact answers, here are 5 thoughts I shared with them, and now with you, from my own personal experiences:

1. Know What You Want: 

Sounds simple enough, but it's something you must be sure of before starting your journey. Do you want to be a successful Screenwriter? Director? Cinematographer? Pimp? It's GOT to be specific. Theoretically speaking, it'll be your guiding light in the dark.

Nb: Mine was "I want to make films." In hindsight, this was too much of a broad brush stroke.

Fight Your Demons

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article contains words and phrases that some people may find offensive. If you are easily offended then please do not continue)

Since my last two short film outings (Promised and 30 Seconds 2 Late) in 2012, I haven't really had the energy, or quite frankly, the will to go out there and make another. In my childish arrogance, the 'measured' success bar I'd set for myself had not equaled the work load, or should I say pain load I'd put in. Yes. Pain. Both mental and physical. Mentally getting a project off the ground and physically creating the end result, both arduous tasks for one person alone (That's not even taking into account the social aspect of promoting your work!).

So I blamed a lack of a level playing field, my background, perfectionism, the stars, Mother Teresa and anything else I could come up with. I soon found myself in the darkest corners of a fucked up mind, wrestling gremlins and fighting demons that I manifested. All because the 'measured' success bar I'd set for myself had not... all together now... equaled the work load I'd put in. Very good.

Promised Film Poster #3: Evil Is Just A Perception

And finally, the third and final poster. Hope you've liked them as much as we have :)

Links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK PAGE




----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bulent Ozdemir is a self taught Writer, Director and Filmmaker who left his day job as an insurance broker back in 2010 to pursue a career in film.

website

twitter

instagram

e: bulentfilms[at]gmail.com

Promised Film Poster #2: Evil Is Just A Perception

Here's the SECOND of three Movie posters for Promised. The remaining will be released tomorrow night (September 12th) at 9pm GMT!

Links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK PAGE




----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bulent Ozdemir is a self taught Writer, Director and Filmmaker who left his day job as an insurance broker back in 2010 to pursue a career in film.

website

twitter

instagram

e: bulentfilms[at]gmail.com

Promised Film Poster #1: Evil Is Just A Perception

Delighted to showcase the first of three Movie posters for Promised. The remaining two will be released over the next few nights.

Links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK PAGE



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bulent Ozdemir is a self taught Writer, Director and Filmmaker who left his day job as an insurance broker back in 2010 to pursue a career in film.

website

twitter

instagram

e: bulentfilms[at]gmail.com

30 Seconds 2 Late - Virgin Media Shorts 2012

*** Northern Nights Film Festival 2012 (Official Shortlist) ***

Originally made for the Virigin Media Shorts competition 2012.

Synopsis: 

If you made the mistake of leaving the one you love, would you not run to get them back? Jake must reach Keira before she leaves forever.

Written, Produced, Cinematography, Directed and Edited by: Bulent Ozdemir

Starring:
Kevin Leslie (Jake)

Sammi Elston (Keira)

Makeup and Camera Assistant: 

Annarita Melina

'PROMISED' - A True Collaboration

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir
(Disclaimer: This article contains words and phrases that some people may find offensive. If you are easily offended then please do not continue)

From left to right: Bulent Ozdemir, Remie Purtill-Clarke, Annarita Melina, Alan Stenson & Andrew Dowbiggin

3 out of the 5 people in the above picture are actors. The remaining 2 (Plus the person taking the picture) are crew. We had a shoe string budget for food, a donation that I made personally to the location and balls the size of monkey fists.

But none of the above matters. The reality is that no one really cares about how your film is made or the blood, sweat and tears that goes into the process. It's all about end result. The reason I mention these numbers is because I feel my super small team deserves to be highlighted for their efforts.

The Cast:

Alan Stenson
Andrew Dowbiggin
Remie Purtill-Clarke

Controversy is a Short Script Called 'PROMISED'

Article written by Bulent Ozdemir

(Disclaimer: This article contains words and phrases that some people may find offensive. If you are easily offended then please do not continue)

Photo by: A_Mel5 | Property of Bulent Ozdemir

faith/fāTH/

Noun:

Complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

Faith is a highly sensitive subject matter and one that to this very day causes wars, acts of terrorism and inhumane violence. It also forms the basis of the most controversial short film I will probably ever make - 'PROMISED'

The story is set in a real world environment and touches upon a certain promise one Archangel made to another before the creation of Man. A moment that would change the fate of these two 'brothers' for eternity.

Let me enlighten you a little further with a fictional back story:

SETBACK - Journey from Script to Screen (Pt2)

 Article written by Bulent Ozdemir

(Disclaimer: This article contains words and phrases that some people may find offensive. If you are easily offended then please do not continue)

©Wolf Valley Films 2011

An Idea, a germ of an Idea forms. It lingers. Asks questions. Born out of the beating my brain's taken from the Sci Fi script I'm writing, it grows by itself. Something completely different. Grab a pen. A pad.

Words spew out onto white space and bleed into each other as my hand tries to keep up. Not sure if it's me writing the story or the Pen. It screams across the pages like a crazed dog with a hot pepper shoved up its ass. To take a breath would be an insult.

16th May 2011. 24 hours after the initial Idea the first draft of Set Back is complete. Not a long script by any standards. A mere 5 pages. Still, 4 days later the final draft is in the bag. The slug hits my ears as quickly as the words hit paper:

" A man finds himself locked up & protesting his innocence over the brutal murder of a young female "

And so the Journey begins..