Director's Weekly Post Production Blog WEEK 118 Saturday February 06th...

I'm now on my way to Spain, to do some writing.

Last week I had a cold that got progressively worse such that I was laid up at the weekend. That didn’t stop me finishing the schedule I had to deliver.

On Wednesday I saw Rhys again. The documentary is down to less than two hours now and I can feel some threads of story are starting to come through. Still he has a lot of work to do as the doc can’t really be longer than an hour and 30 minutes would be optimal.

On the bus back from South London, I called Pete, acutely aware that, thus far, I have spent more time in the cutting room than he has. I couldn’t get through. The next day he called me back and I talked him out of the idea of taking the hard drive back to “do his own cut” until after this cut had been completed. I then asked him to go to the cutting room so he could give his input and help Rhys but he said “I can’t afford it.” I then suggested the idea of Rhys posting him dvds of the cut and him commenting after seeing them which he agreed to do. He also said he would start work on writing his voice over and indeed come up with a name for it.

I will be away for a while now so I really hope that when I get back that the documentary will be finally under an hour or at the worst down to 90 minutes.

On Thursday we had another screening. One combatant nibbled, which is good. The non-combatants were numerous and one, Jack Price, an emerging film-maker who used to do commercials and is now trying to make the transition, said the ultimate compliment; that at times it reminded him of “Stalker”, the forest being like “the zone” and the lake being like “the chamber”. I’d never consciously considered that before but in a way he is completely right.

Afterwards, outside the Blue Posts, Jack told me he had just spent two months putting together a database of all UK Film Industry financiers, distributors, sales agents and production companies.
“Do you know what I found?” he asked.
“A wasteland?”
“Absolutely. There are just ten companies that have the ability to do anything.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that half those ten are effectively Kafka-esque perpetually closed doors. He will find that out soon enough.

Later I felt sad. Not because making films in the UK is a thankless task, but because most people getting into the industry don’t appreciate how thankless. They are like lambs to the slaughter really. At least Jack has his eyes open.

This week we got some more great news. The Phuket Festival selected the film. So that’s two out of seven continents and one of those is impossible. What I really want now is a meaningful European film festival selection,

We are still 1.25 weeks away from completing the film but only 2.5 weeks from completing the documentary.

I’m now In Berlin for the European film market. It couldn’t be more of a contrast from the south of Spain. A complete blizzard is blowing, the snow piled high in the streets.

Spain was nice. It was good to have some time for blue sky thinking. I got back on Wednesday and waded through my e-mails while setting up meetings for Berlin. Unfortunately, I barely had time to look through the new poster designs that Julie had sent me. I will look at them in more detail when I get back.

On Thursday night I saw Abi in a play above a pub in west London called “Stage-fright” which was a pleasant romp if nothing else. She’d just before played Lady McBeth in Suffolk and really is in the flow of doing theatre at the moment. She’s treading the boards with great gusto and really paying her dues.

My flight yesterday morning was at 6.30am so it’s been quite a full on 36 hours. Alex Ross, my old film-making buddy sorted me out with cheap accommodation here. In addition to seeing the non UK-based sales agents that I have been talking to for nearly two years, I have discovered a few new prospects, one of which even specialises in spiritual films!

Tonight is the world premier of “How much does your building weigh, Mr Foster?”, the film I worked on between October 2008 and February 2009. I will take Alex as my guest. The interviews alone were over 100 hours long and that is why it has taken so long to complete, not lack of funds - which was our problem.

Pete called me today. He still hasn’t yet received the DVD of the 2 hour first cut of documentary that Rhys did. I chased Rhys for him and he said the problems have been that his phone was mistakenly disconnected and that he had been waiting for the music. Now both problems are resolved.

No festival invitations this week. I guess I can’t expect them to come every week!!! The Poet never got accepted to one – although I blame that on the Producer – who coincidentally I bumped into today in the Martin Gropius Bau! He started talking to me about the edit of the film. I cut him short. I was in no mood to revisit that old chestnut.

We are still 1.25 weeks away from completing the film but only 2.25 away weeks from completing the documentary.

I’m now In Blackpool after a hectic week.

The screening of “How much does your building weigh, Mr Foster” was gratifying. The majority of the final film is from the shoots we did in the UK and the film is both beautiful and poetic. Alex Ross and I had much fun at the after screening party. The next night, though, this was topped by the Berlinale dinner, the wonderful food and the copious numbers of liquors served afterwards!

On Wednesday, I went to Poland on what turned out to be a bit of a wild goose chase - one of those infernal time wasting exercises I find myself having to do to raise money. While I was there, Jonnie texted to say that DEP had been selected for the Los Angeles Method Fest Film Festival. This is a great tribute to the acting in the film as that is the festivals’ focus. It also looks like this festival will be the film’s world premier as I doubt if any festivals will invite us before the festival’s March start date.

Now we have two festivals in California. It’s quite amazing how the Californians seem to have responded to the film. I thought I’d made a European film – maybe that’s the appeal of it, though. Now what we need is a European festival to come to us.

On Friday I came back to London via Berlin before getting the train up today. I am here to push forward with ACD, what I hope will be my next collaboration with Jonnie. On the train up, Pete Stevenson texted me to say he still hadn’t received the DVD of the documentary first cut from Rhys. I’ve regularly had similar contact for the last week and again chased Rhys.

My hope that, while I was away, Pete and Rhys would push on seems to have not been realised. Anyhow, I will see Rhys next week and hope there has been progress and that it is down to at least 90 minutes.

We are still 1.25 weeks away from completing the film but only 2.25 away weeks from completing the documentary.

After a useful weekend in Blackpool I came back on Monday and got stuck into all the things outstanding for the past couple of weeks. Despite a concerted effort this week, my “to do” list still numbers 27 things.

I spoke to Rhys on Wednesday. I was meant to visit him yesterday but there was too much to do so I postponed till next Tuesday. He told me that he has all the music now and that the film is down to less than 90 minutes. Once it is under an hour that will be reasonable length. I’m not sure if Pete has a copy of the cut yet or if he has given any input. I hope he has.

I spoke to JD Evans also, who said that once the cut is locked it should only take a week or so to sort out any sound problems.

On Thursday we had a very positive screening for sales agents. I think we have another nibble on top of the ones gained in Berlin. My friend, Bill James also attended the screening and loved the film, especially the unravelling of Callum. He saw it as a parable of the differences between French and English culture.

The Method Film Fest made its official announcement this week and I am certain now that this festival will be the world premier of the film. Jonnie has been liaising with them and reportedly they absolutely love the film.

To my sadness, though, I don’t think I will be able to attend. It used to be the case that the British Council provided travel bursaries for British talent invited to international film-festivals. That was the case with Boston Kickout when it went to over 30 festivals. Nowadays the British Council only cater for short films. It is the UK Film Council that “take care” of feature films. The problem seems to be, though, that they only support the film festivals that don’t actually need supporting i.e. the very rich ones!

My understanding is that UniFrance have a fairer policy and thus I hope that Julie will be able to go to the festival and introduce the film. I know she is very keen to do this which is a relief. I think, also, that Rosie Fellner may also be in LA at that time and hopefully she can also attend.

This will be the first time I’ve missed the premier of one of my films. It’s the case purely out of poverty, not choice. Jonnie e-mailed me this week to say that it is ironic that after we’ve done two years of struggling, fighting and stress and that neither of us will get any of the initial glory.

We are still 1.25 weeks away from completing the film but just 2 away weeks from completing the documentary. I imagine that both of these will be achieved in the very near future now.