Single Location Discussion Movie

filmmaker128 · Jul 24, 2013

Hi all,
I need advice about the first feature film that I'm currently planning to shoot. It is a single location movie. It starts like a thriller. Almost everybody liked the beginning. But then it becomes like a discussion movie like Sunset Limited. Do you believe it is a problem? I have interrupted long dialogues with small actions like smoking or escape attempts from the room. I'm a little confused about discussion movies because there are some people claiming that it is uncinematic. But I can't imagine a single location movie with equal dialogues and action. It could be possible if it was on a house, but not possible if there is only 1 single room. I appreciate if you can tell me your opinion about this.
Thank you.

rayw · Jul 24, 2013

What's the demographic of this film's target audience?
%Male
%Female
%Under 25yo
%Over 25yo

What would you say the genre is? Thriller Drama?
How much thriller? How much talkie?

What are some commercially successful films that it's kinda like?

mlesemann · Jul 24, 2013

This movie (w/Ethan Hawke & Uma Thurman) takes place all in one room.
I liked it, but I'm not sure you'd call it commercially successful.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275719/combined

rayw · Jul 24, 2013

Yeah, the talkie aspect reminded me of another EHawke film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381681/?ref_=sr_3 (I like this one, as well.)

While technically commercially successful it kinda... didn't have a wide appeal.
http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beforesunset.htm

Thus - a reiteration of my standard producer-oriented rant: Revenue is unknown but guessable within a range, while expenses (including both production and marketing) are definitely controllable and should be LESS than HALF the expected revenue.

mlesemann · Jul 24, 2013

Yeah, the talkie aspect reminded me of another EHawke film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381681/?ref_=sr_3 (I like this one, as well.)

I liked that too...same director

ShockingMind · Jul 25, 2013

Not seen myself but heard rave reviews of this.. pretty much all in one room...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1692486/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Before Sunset may not have made a bunch of money but it has near cult status and has spawned two sequals.

uhaulforlovers · Jul 25, 2013

The all time classic is 12 Angry Men ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 ).

Study that film. A movie where the characters have a simple objective (a jury decides on guilty/not guilty verdict) but layered with different levels of conflict amongst the characters (jurors). So it becomes a simple objective that is hard to achieve, which creates suspense.

ChimpPhobiaFilms · Jul 25, 2013

ShockingMind said:
Not seen myself but heard rave reviews of this.. pretty much all in one room...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1692486/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Before Sunset may not have made a bunch of money but it has near cult status and has spawned two sequals.

Awesome movie. My favorite film by Polanski

Cracker Funk · Jul 25, 2013

Ryan Reynolds spent an entire movie inside a coffin!

It's all about the writing. Yeah, I think it'll be very difficult for you to pull off, but as others have mentioned in this thread, it can be done!

Best of luck!

time2focus · Jul 25, 2013

filmmaker128 said:
Almost everybody liked the beginning. But then

The underlined is a problem if the general response you are getting is that the beginning is great but then yes, you have a problem. Are the people reading your script a good representative of your target audience? If so, then they are letting you know you have a huge problem. If not, then I would highly suggest getting feedback on the script from someone (better yet, a couple "someones") who are a good representation of your target audience.