do local indie film scenes really exist?

[miketv]

I came to film through the music scene, where bands form & break up & members are practically interchangeable (as long as there's a vaguely similar vision to work with). After a while you can't go out of the house without seeing somebody involved in the music scene, from sound techs to musicians to door guys to writers for the local press. It's a very active & densely-populated world. Always a project, always something to work on.

Where are these people in the film scene? I've been making movies for about half my life now, & I've never met another serious local filmmaker. I've even had my work in a handful of festivals & started my own festival one year, but I still haven't encountered anything like a "scene". I never run into a dedicated short script writer at a show, for instance, & none of my friends are wasting their lives away trying to be the next David Lynch.....but about half of my friends are wasting their lives away trying to be the next Keith Richards. Where are the local steadicam heroes? Where's the animation crew that's got everybody excited about this weekend's show?


Anyway, that's why I'm here. I keep hearing about film scenes, but I've never actually seen one. Maybe I can meet a local or two. Someone to 'jam with' (so to speak).
My name's Mike...I'm kinda new to Detroit. I write, animate, act & edit, and I'm learning my way around a camera. I'm currently working on 2 screenplays, a music video, an animated short film, a standup comedy routine, & some puppets. I'm not sure yet what the puppets will be used for, but I wouldn't recommend letting your kids watch.

[sonnyboo]

We have two separate film groups the meet at least 3 times a month here in Columbus Ohio. Things like the 48 Hour Film Project area great place to meet like minded people.

[Alcove Audio]

It all depends on what you call a "scene". In the music biz - and I was involved for almost 30 years - is as you described. But you're out every night either playing or checking out other bands (while partying and looking to get laid).

You can sit at home by yourself and watch a film - maybe one or two like-minded friends will join you - and you have to actually pay attention.

You can't just jump into a film crew and "jam" or whip out a new movie in a couple of hours the way you can run into a studio and lay down some tracks.

And a lot of filmmaking needs to be solitary, or at least executed in a relatively calm environment like reading and writing scripts, preproduction, etc.

The whole culture is entirely different. DPs aren't as interested in heading off to a club to show off their new ink as a guitarist. Not many grips can learn three cords and join a film crew 'cause it's cool and they'll meet girls. Directors don't stand on the front of the stage and get panties thrown at them.

The film "scene" is when you head out to meet-and-greets once or twice a month and network, looking for actors and crew members, and commiserating with other fill in the blank (DPs, sound guys, writers, gaffers, etc.) and when you go to screenings, or work on your own or others projects

[IndieBudget]

There is one here in Houston TX..they get together using Meetup.com. Im sure there is something in Motor city, , Try Craigslist too.

[miketv]

Thanks for the feedback,all. I have been using meetup to find other groups....I should probably start looking for filmmakers there, eh? lol


A lot of insight there, AA, but I have to disagree with this part:

Originally Posted by Alcove Audio

You can't just jump into a film crew and "jam" or whip out a new movie in a couple of hours the way you can run into a studio and lay down some tracks.

That's exactly how I started making movies (more years ago than I care to mention). Someone breaks out a camera, someone comes up with a theme, a plot, or a little mise-en-scene, & we go at it. Just jamming. Sometimes the movies sucked, but a lot of times we would come up with really unique approaches to some of the more boring conventions of film-making. And it was always fun & we were always in practice. A 15 minute short could be finished in 2 hrs (plus another 2 hrs for the dual-VCR editing). I guess I just got lucky with that group of friends, maybe...

That's still my intention, though. Most of my work is digital animation & done solo nowadays, but I'm starting to feel that itch to work with cameras & props & people again. And I see no reason why others wouldn't be as interested in jamming as my friends & I were back in the day. I mean seriously....who's making money from movies nowadays, anyway? It's a labor of love, like rock & roll....we do it 'cause we have to....because there's an awesome scene in us that's got to come out, or because the movie we want to see just isn't out there yet.

I'm no-budget producer, so I understand I have a different perspective than most.

[miketv]

Originally Posted by sonnyboo

We have two separate film groups the meet at least 3 times a month here in Columbus Ohio. Things like the 48 Hour Film Project area great place to meet like minded people.

Sonnyboo....your name has been familiar to me for a long time now. I'm originally from SW Ohio (Dayton/Cincy area).By the persistence of your name's presence alone, I'm inclined to believe that you are another serious local filmmaker. You're about 3 hrs from me now....could I maybe I could sit in on a meeting sometime? I'd like to see what sort of "thing" you have going on....maybe I can pick your brain to form my own group up here....

I always look for crews to join on the 48hr competition, but I just don't know where to find them....seems they're usually sewed up by the time the local competition date is announced...

[ItDonnedOnMe]

Originally Posted by miketv

Someone breaks out a camera, someone comes up with a theme, a plot, or a little mise-en-scene, & we go at it. Just jamming. Sometimes the movies sucked, but a lot of times we would come up with really unique approaches to some of the more boring conventions of film-making. And it was always fun & we were always in practice.

As SonnyBoo mentioned - check out the local 48 hour film project & similar timed competitions. They are much closer to what you are describing, and at least in our region (SF bay area) there's a small 'scene' of regular players who participate and do other screenings, etc. We also have a couple other similar local groups I'm aware of. MMTB (movie making throughout the bay - http://moviemakingbay.com) schedules one day 'jam sessions' where people get together at a location, come up with ideas and shoot them in an afternoon, then edit over the next month for a screening & competition. Scary Cow (http://www.scarycow.com) is more of a collective where people get together and develop larger projects, including raising funds and training people. If you don't have something in your area like any of these, maybe it's time to start one!

[knightly]

There's a huge community in MPLS, MN. St. Cloud has lots of groups that compete in competitions in MPLS, we just don't really get together much as so much of our community is an hour and a half away. Our various groups seem to be a bit insular.

[Alcove Audio]

Originally Posted by miketv

That's exactly how I started making movies (more years ago than I care to mention). Someone breaks out a camera, someone comes up with a theme, a plot, or a little mise-en-scene, & we go at it. Just jamming. Sometimes the movies sucked, but a lot of times we would come up with really unique approaches to some of the more boring conventions of film-making. And it was always fun & we were always in practice. A 15 minute short could be finished in 2 hrs (plus another 2 hrs for the dual-VCR editing). I guess I just got lucky with that group of friends, maybe...

Yeah, I get that. I wasn't talking about "amateur" status.

I was part of a stable of musicians with a record company in the late 70's / early 80's. One of their artists would come up with an idea, I would get a call and be at his place an hour later with one or two other guys. Three hours later we would be tracking in a 16 or 24 track studio (anyone remember 2" reel-to-reel?) and be laying down, tracks, one, two or even three songs. Sometimes a few days later I would get called in for overdubs and/or BG vox, and occasionally after that to fly second chair for mixdown. These are songs that wound up on albums (anyone remember vinyl?) and I would hear them on the radio within weeks or months.

Ahhhhhh, those were the days...

[gpforet]

Atlanta is bursting with indie filmmakers. Some good, some trying hard, some posing, but there's alot of good stuff going on, and it doesn't take long to learn who you want to work with, and who you don't. Typically, it's the ones who are doing really good work who throw you the bones of paying gigs. One in particular has consistantly hired me for his commercial work, and in return, when he's working his own projects, all he has to do is call, and if I'm not already booked, I'll block out a weekend or two for him.

[wheatgrinder]

portland Oregon is pretty hopping.. there are few bigish TV shows and I've been to a couple of indie meet ups.. seems like lots of people, they all seem to know each other..

[sonnyboo]

Originally Posted by miketv

Sonnyboo....your name has been familiar to me for a long time now. I'm originally from SW Ohio (Dayton/Cincy area).By the persistence of your name's presence alone, I'm inclined to believe that you are another serious local filmmaker. You're about 3 hrs from me now....could I maybe I could sit in on a meeting sometime? I'd like to see what sort of "thing" you have going on....maybe I can pick your brain to form my own group up here....

Check out www.midohiofilm.com for when meetings are, especially on Facebook. It's kind of a haul and I'm sure there are similar groups of real filmmakers in Detroit. At least one moderator on here is from Detroit and can give guidance.

[p38]

PDX area, any links to these groups?

[wheatgrinder]

filmportland@groups.facebook.com

[iamKING]

Originally Posted by Alcove Audio

It all depends on what you call a "scene". In the music biz - and I was involved for almost 30 years - is as you described. But you're out every night either playing or checking out other bands (while partying and looking to get laid).

You can sit at home by yourself and watch a film - maybe one or two like-minded friends will join you - and you have to actually pay attention.

You can't just jump into a film crew and "jam" or whip out a new movie in a couple of hours the way you can run into a studio and lay down some tracks.

And a lot of filmmaking needs to be solitary, or at least executed in a relatively calm environment like reading and writing scripts, preproduction, etc.

The whole culture is entirely different. DPs aren't as interested in heading off to a club to show off their new ink as a guitarist. Not many grips can learn three cords and join a film crew 'cause it's cool and they'll meet girls. Directors don't stand on the front of the stage and get panties thrown at them.

The film "scene" is when you head out to meet-and-greets once or twice a month and network, looking for actors and crew members, and commiserating with other fill in the blank (DPs, sound guys, writers, gaffers, etc.) and when you go to screenings, or work on your own or others projects

great answer