Those avid followers of the episodic serial ‘The Interminable Moon’ will know that things have hotted up as tension builds with a countdown. The plot thus far has the production funding application to NZFC ruled out on a technicality. In an act of heroic stupidity, our protagonist producer (moi) manages to negotiate an extension until 5.00pm Monday 3rd August, by which time a signed-up distribution deal needs to be produced.
Archive for July, 2009
Ticking Clock
Posted in Uncategorized on July 31, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Once More Unto The Breach
Posted in Uncategorized on July 29, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Well a week may be a long time in politics, but it’s an aeon in filmmaking. Without going into the details of how it happened, a conference call with the New Zealand Film Commission yesterday has resulted in us being given a partial reprieve. We now have until 5.00pm Monday to come up with a distribution deal. If we can produce that, then our application will be allowed to go forward to the Board.
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height.”
Making It Happen
Posted in Uncategorized on July 27, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Interesting article about Tom Scott (NZ satirist and cartoonist) in the Sunday papers, in which he talks about his 25 year journey to getting his script made into the feature film Separation City. The film will finally open on August 6th. That’s endurance.
The Long Shadow
Posted in Uncategorized on July 23, 2009| Leave a Comment »
We have a world obsessed with fame and success. The most telling thing about this global disease is that when asked what they want to be famous for, most people haven’t got a clue – they just want to be famous. I translate this as a need to be noticed – to have one’s life recognised as being significant and of value. It’s a particular malady of the highly individualised and materialistic West.
Man on the Moon
Posted in Uncategorized on July 20, 2009| Leave a Comment »
“Well we all shine on, like the moon, and the stars, and the sun…” (John Lennon)
Pressing On
Posted in Uncategorized on July 20, 2009| Leave a Comment »
“Well I’m pressing on,” sang Bob Dylan in his gospel phase. I often find that phrase running through my head as we readjust to the news that the NZFC won’t allow our funding application to go to the board.
NZF*C*-UP
Posted in Uncategorized on July 17, 2009| Leave a Comment »
You might think that a film project which was an adaptation of a NZ novel, entirely set in NZ, starring one of NZ’s leading film actors, supported by an international cast which includes Timothy Spall, James Nesbitt and John Rhys Davies – not to mention award winning director Gillies Mackinnon – might be of interest to NZ’s primary film funding body. A film which has been 7 years in development, which has attracted a conditional offer of $1m from Screen West Midlands in the UK and another $1m in private equity – that sounds like it might be worth a second look.
Race against the Sun
Posted in Uncategorized on July 15, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Around this time last year we were very close to having a UK distributor signed up. They were enthusiastic about the script and the whole project. But because we had a few other irons in the fire, we decided to delay a little – thinking maybe we could play a few off against each other. And then… the UK summer intervened. If not the whole nation, then at least the whole film industry seems to close down from mid-July through to the end of August.
Oh When the Saints…
Posted in Uncategorized on July 13, 2009| Leave a Comment »
There’s been a few things happening in recent days which need solutions, as is the case with pretty much every day in the process of filmmaking. I was feeling a bit gloomy while brooding over a late night whisky with my wife. She put it all in context by recalling the origins of the story of Arthur, and summoning up the names of the saints – those who might be lending their support from the far side of life.
Asking for Millions
Posted in Uncategorized on July 10, 2009| Leave a Comment »
I was recently flicking through a mag while sipping a flat white and trying not to look like a nigel nobody in a trendy cafe, and came across an interview with Matthew Metcalfe – talking about the role of film producer. The article was entitled somewhat whimsically ‘How to Ask for Millions and Get It’. Yeah right, as we say in this part of the world. Makes the job sound like something between a con man and a gigolo. On second thoughts…