Filmmaker to Filmmaker: Continuum Pictures Please a moment of truth. - James Duval
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| James Duval age 8: Continuum Pictures |
I have to admit these last few months have not been easy. It gets easier in some ways when you get to the lot. In most ways though, it gets harder. Things you could do, even productions you could do now have longer lasting consequences. Everyone interprets, versus looks at what is going on. It is always what does it mean. What did that comment mean, What did that meeting in. It becomes difficult even on the independent side to keep it about making movies.Additionally most everyone is "what about me", or worse "what about my project". Why am I not next or included. It is hard to explain to people that it is very much like a grocery store. If you don't have what the investor wants you don't get the investment. The investor chooses the project. Maybe he doesn't want to do a reality show, or a horror movie. Maybe he wants to do faith base. No I can't adjust your project to meet his needs. It has to almost always come pre-adjusted. Most of the time even my own projects are not right for the investor.
Also the scripts are rarely ready, but always thought brilliant by those who bring them. When in reality, they are just chasing a check. I understand this. But in my mind it is the number one reason bad movies get made. I can't do that. Made some bad movies before, always because of someone's ego, You see a "friend" told me "I" am Brilliant or my script is Brilliant. This leads to bad things.
Now egos. Egos are bad. They blind us, they blind us from actually making good things or good decisions. Filmmaking at this level I have been told is managing personalities. Okay that includes my own I believe and yours. Easy to believe everyone is wrong when your telling yourself you are right. If you keep it about getting the movie, you will swallow pride nearly every time in a project.
Ego keeps you from walking across the line and being included. For many people being right is more important than winning. In this case winning is getting your movie made.
I wish I had time for each of my contacts. I really do. As i head into production I find myself surrounded by more and more impatient people, wondering why I don't have time. If you have ever made a movie, you probably understand, I have heard it referred to as being under water, in a bubble. Now currently I am wrapping post on over six films now, distributing them, have for financed with three already scheduled, and more and more of my own producers moving on their projects. Yes I am underwater. I guess that is good. I remember not having a movie. That sucked.
Wish I could do more, and every day I try. I feel like bubble boy with my life and my family all stuck on the other side of this plastic thing that surrounds the film world I work in. It is honestly all I can do some days just not to walk away from the over 100 phone calls I get in a day, the constant charging of both batteries, or worse yet all the emails, IM's texts or other messages.
So from one drowning filmmaker to another filmmaker. You have to take a moment and realize what is really going on. Not just what you want and respect that when you have a friend who is actually doing it, making a movie, the best thing you can do for your career is understand support and be patient and trust.
James Duval
Continuum Pictures
LinkedIn Original Comment: Continuum Pictures Film Group
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