That Crazy Business of Filmmaking! (1/3) By Eddie Rex

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

That marvellous procedure of making a film is often one that drives me mad! As director I usually find props, location, actors, camera, then edit and distribute the film afterwards. I can always rely on myself, but when it's someone else I often have to wait my turn. Some actors do not turn up because they 'forgot,' others complain when I refute their suggestions, and nothing gets done meaning I have to re book the location.

It's really pathetic and I sometimes feel like an idiot making a stupid film! I remember while filming Personal Services, one actor could not take directions and stopped everyone from working, and then had the cheek to ask me for a lift home. After saying 'no you can fuck off' I was then attacked on set! I am entitled to defend myself and I felt like slamming his head through a window, but I did not. Sometimes I think I have watched Casino Royale too often! Anyway, we did eventually get the film done and against all odds it was premiered at the Hull International Short Film Festival in 2002 and shown on the Hull Screen Cinema. Personal Services (an 11min short) was my first film and it's had nearly 1500 views on myspace.

Following my filmmaking debut I directed The Fart Chronicles, 2003 and The Perfect Woman, all short movies of under 15mins. The Perfect Woman (a comedy about a guy who's introduced to the perfect woman, a blow up love doll) was the most challenging in terms of getting actors, locations and props. There was a slight problem when an actress forgot to turn up, meaning I postponed filming at the Lonsdale community centre but unfortunately they pulled the plug on me.

I booked another centre for filming scenes of Dr.Ludwig von Washout and Victoria, which actually turned out to be the highlight of the film. When production finished I expected a 15 min short film and I had only shot 24 minutes of footage. I always believe a director should visit the location a day prior to filming so your viewpoints are already decided. It's called being efficient and saves time on the day.

However the editing was a nightmare! I was introduced to an editor who kept saying he had an hour free next week, then he was on holiday, etc, and post production took 9 months! Small wonder I bought my own software to avoid this prat, but his mental age was revealed on www.ukscreen.com/screen/221 just after the initial version was uploaded and I believe all publicity is good publicity! We even had filmmaker shooting a documentary on us making a film and he called it Me and Eddie Rex! Fart Chronicles, a comedy about a guy who farts an inflammable gas was premiered at the Meniscus Film Festival in Grimsby 2002, and actually brought the house down! I never expected such a great response.

One disadvantage in filmmaking however is not knowing who's out there. I like working with people I know because we share the same interest and know our capabilities. But working with someone new is always a risk, and that risk can also be an undiscovered diamond! It's a worthy gamble. Nothing ventured, nothing gained is my theory. So I realised the need for a contacts directory.

Continued .... Next Page (2/3)

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