Are you interested in helping to raise the bar of filmmaking in Arizona?

[IFPPHX Admin]

Well, we are and we would like to hear from you.

Where do you think the film community of Arizona is headed? Why do you think there is not more work here?
What are the pros and cons of working here? And, most importantly, what can IFP do to help raise the bar of filmmaking in Arizona??

Email us or respond to this post. Let us know what you are thinking.

[Kate Hoy]

Thank you Daniel!
Along the lines of "encouraging each other to support each other", I am introducing the idea of a community calendar (see http://www.phxfilmcalendar.com/). We can see if there really is a network of filmmakers out there. .. (I know you are there, . . .) . If you have ANY project out for distribution, (film, video, web, television or DVD) get it on the calendar. As long as I am getting feedback, this will be FREE and distributed via on line and hard copies around town. . . .our own TV guide so to speak.

[Daniel Pace]

If by QUALITY in films you mean making "films that audiences really want to see", then money is somewhat of a factor. You can throw a lot of money at garbage and all you get is expensive garbage. Neither I believe you can make good movies by comitee or legislation or "helping" each other or even education (maybe). I don't want sound negative but the reality is that people don't "help" each other for long; maybe a day or two and then they disappear. This idea of "helping each other" is a little bit idealistic and unpredictable, and in my opinion a fantasy; at the end everyone wants money (for good resons), but i do like Kate's idea because it has a practical approach to a complicated problem: "getting the movie to be seen". And that addresses the main real problem, "get the movie out there for an audience to see". Filmmakers will figure out how to make their film one way or another, good or bad, but exposing the film to audiences is key (and no, a film festival is not enough). And then, if films can have some impact with the public it will put in motion other things like investments, money, etc. and now you have a film industry in AZ. In addition, it will push filmmakers to improve the QUALITY of the movies we make, it will incentivate others, etc. Concentrate all energies in getting the movies to be seen and the rest will come, not the other way around. I'm with Kate on this one.

[Kate Hoy]

This is a great discussion. As far as supporting each other, I want to add this: we need to support each other by going to see each others work. By purchasing tickets to see Arizona made movies, by watching locally produced shows, etc. Vote with your dollar whenever you can.
In addition, the Arizona film making community needs to broaden its idea of what film making can be. Too often, we limit ourselves by thinking we need out of state dollars so we can create features. We can create shows that air on local cable television, as well as the web. We can rent out local theaters out and self distribute, and self promote, all the while becoming a more sophisticated film community. In brief, we can build our infrastructure by using creative methods of distribution that don't rely on outsiders.

[Jon Bonnell]

Quality is key, in all areas, but that quality comes with a price tag. Why is there not more work in the state? Because the money doesn't stop here, it moves on. Why are there so many "Shooting a feature, need full crew, sorry no budget, but copy and credit will be provided." posts on Craigslist? Because either 1) They have no other option, or 2) They can get away with it.

If number 2, shame on them and they'll soon realize that even with free labor a film costs money. Lots of it. They may think that they are going for the bargain bin distribution model of flooding foreign markets. That well is running dry, folks. In a big way. Quality is becoming king even there.

So let's focus on number 1.

Infinite Spectrum just recently shot a low budget feature (two this year in fact). We tried to pay as many people as we could.

On the first everyone got paid and a lot came out of my own pocket. Actually, everyone but me got paid (and one or two people that were brought in by others for a day to help out). But we made a lot of friends and all of our "interns" have moved on to working full time in the industry... and getting paid.

The most recent feature was a little ambitious and we needed a lot more crew than on the first and had to dive into the friends and favors bucket. We still paid as many folks as we could afford (and as we approach the final cut are trying to save as much as we can to go back and pay some of the unpaid heroes).

In both cases we have distribution and have gotten lucky.

But we didn't have a choice. It was either make a feature or sit and spin on another short. There's no option there. Move up and out. Just do it...

But this doesn't really answer the first question that IFP posed.

To get real work here and real dollars in the state, Arizona needs to step up and that's not just the government.

Yes, create quality. Don't be looked at as cheap. Be looked at as under produced. Let them see the potential of what you could do with even more funding. So yes, get things right. Get GREAT sound. Get GREAT visuals. Get a GREAT story. etc. And hopefully that gets you noticed and a bigger budget next time. Do not take "so-so" as an option. Even on Star Quest I kept saying "there's good and there's good enough" and our good enough showed we were serious and, if anything, just under produced.

IAOTSE Local 485 needs to open up the ranks a little and get some new blood in there. The argument from the ranks is the same in every state (my brother went through this in New Mexico): "We'll take jobs from qualified union members". The fact is, though, if we don't have qualified crew we can't bring in a film and if we bring in enough films we'll have plenty of work for everyone. The union isn't there for job security, its there to protect your rights.

Locals need to join as well. Outside productions are going to look at our union ranks as part of making that decision, not the scores of non-union crew that might be available and they can't put a number to.

The state needs to incentivise and better than it is now. Drop the caps, drop all the restrictions, etc. The fact is, if they don't spend the money here they can't claim the money so RELAX. Let everyone apply, if they don't shoot its no skin off the state's nose. Add a fee for processing if you think there will be an over abundance of paperwork. Let the truly serious apply. And for god's sake, drop the overall spending cap. Look to our sister state just east of us, they've built a thriving film industry there in just a few years and it's due to the incentives.

What can IFP do? More of what it's doing:

Open a dialog with the state and local production companies
Open a dialog with the state and out of state production companies
Bring all the unions and guilds in this state together for open dialog and planning
Educate, educate, and educate but beyond the amateur (indie doesn't have to mean amateur)

[Steve Briscoe]

Collaboration!!! Support the other guy! Hope he makes it. A rising tide lifts all ships!!!

[Webb Pickersgill]

Right on Steve! Yes, there are people in town, like Paul and yourself, that have already raised the bar. Cowboy Dreams was an exercise in "how to make a QUALITY short film," from story through editing. You guys make AZ look goooood! :)

Just as Steve is speaking about the "beautiful looking" films that have stories that make you say, "what the heck did I just watch?" ... My though was about the many films that I've seen that have great ideas, witty dialog, and motivated acting, that were all ruined by a home camcorder with the onboard microphone.

AZ filmmakers need to collaborate so that we can mix the best of both worlds.

[Steve Briscoe]

I have the utmost respect for Webb as a film maker and just as much for Webb as an individual who is able to see the big picture and what he says is exactly right. I would like to add something that parallels his thoughts. He talks about the QUALITY of our films. The production quality. What he doesn't mention although I know he consders it important is the quality of the SCRIPT and the STORY. I have spent years standing in front of people telling stories. People paid to see me tell stories. I worked on every character and how they looked and spoke and moved and what they felt. I didn't have pictures or special effects or other actors to help me. And I had to keep peoples attention for sometimes more than an hour. I've seen some really well shot films that still fell down because there was no compelling message. I have NEVER seen an ad on Craigslist that says "Passionate film maker looking for a GOOD SCRIPT." We need to be honest about what we do. I am NOT a cinematographer, I am NOT an editor, Let's be willing to say there is something we will trust someone else to do. Take a class and get better at your craft and take a good hard look at what you need help with and find people that can do that. And support them. Look at your story/script and say I love this but then say "Who else wants to see it?" Forget whether it's worth your time - is it worth SOMEONE ELSE'S valuable time? Every single character should give a good actor a reason to say "I WANT TO DO THAT!" We just did a short that was five minutes long. All we could really afford. And out of 8 actors 3 of them spoke. But it was written in such a way that each actor had a moment when they OWN the screen. Of course these are really good actors and with no lines at all they OWN the screen. So when I say get a well written script I don't mean tons of dialog I mean every picture that you describe has a meaning and a purpose and moves the story forward. Yes let's make quality, well shot, well acted pieces but lets build that on the strong foundation of a good script. If you have a great concept don't waste it until the script is right. Tell a good story and you don't even need a camera. Tell a good story and film it well and the rest will follow.

[Webb Pickersgill]

I think we need to concentrate on the Quality of our films. We've shown that we have the passion to make films, and we have a TON of filmmakers here in AZ making films.. but honestly, the part that almost always suffers is the production quality. I see posts on Craigslist daily for "Shooting a feature, need full crew, sorry no budget, but copy and credit will be provided." We are caught in a cycle that we're trying to break free from. We need money to produce quality, but we need to have a proven quality record to help attract the money. How do we break free? Unless you're rich, (in which case, feel free to contact me :) ), the way to break this cycle is to concentrate our efforts on improving the overall quality of everything we do here. IFP helps with this tremendously by bringing in talented and experienced professionals to give workshops and seminars.. GO TO THEM. There are at least 3 film programs here in town: ASU, UAT, SCC. TAKE A CLASS. Do whatever you have to do to bring up our overall quality level, and I know we'll start to see a change.