Indyfan Film! A response!

Posted by Hannibal King from gatekeeper.astra.com on February 03, 2000 at 09:11:58:

Hey,

I've been seeing a few postings about the possibility of the Forum making a fan film. An idea with some merit, but unfortunately a load of problems attached. I'm not trying to be negative, but as an amateur film maker I can only offer you some advice from my years of this activity.

Money is always a problem. Sure, it's possible to get grants from various public minded bodies and arts groups. However, nobody will give a grant to anyone making an unlicensed version of an established franchise. There's just no point. The film will never be shown as it's a huge breach of copyright. Hence my creation of Hannibal King and not Indiana Jones. The budget for a period piece for fans will probably be more than for a science fiction story. Filming a shot of an old building isn't enough. You need to ensure all modern signs and attachments are gone. Costumes - okay, many of us have Indy style clothes but how many of us have Nazi uniforms, Russian uniforms etc. Especially period ones.

Then we have the logistics of a Indyfan based film. Think of the huge difference in geographical locations between everyone. It's logistically impossible to get everyone together to do it. Geography, economics and lifestyles all come into play.

Okay props are not a problem as someone pointed out. But locations? Indiana Jones traipses through exotic locales and finds ancient lost temples etc. These are recreatable with castles and monuments, but still you're limited to what you can do - even if the forum members raised $50,000 it's still not enough.

Then time wise, it takes a whole shit load of time to film amateur movies. Weekends are just not enougfh and a film can sometimes take years to complete. Now, during this time cast members can become bored or involved in other hobbies or just plain unavailable. Then you have rewrites, recasting whatever.

I'm sorry if I seem so negative, but I'm not trying to be. Film making is a whole load of fun and a very rewarding hobby. I would not hesitate to tell all of you who want to make one to do so. However, perseverence and hard work are all important aspects of this activity. It's not easy and it can be heart breaking and exhausting, but it is fulfilling. However, do it with your friends and neighbours, the forum is too diverse to do it.

Any responses would be very interesting.

THE HANNIBAL KING HOMEPAGE

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Re: Indyfan Film! A response! 007 09:39:57 2/03/2000 (0)

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: Hey,

: I've been seeing a few postings about the possibility of the Forum making a fan film.  An idea with some merit, but unfortunately a load of problems attached.  I'm not trying to be negative, but as an amateur film maker I can only offer you some advice from my years of this activity.

: Money is always a problem.  Sure, it's possible to get grants from various public minded bodies and arts groups.  However, nobody will give a grant to anyone making an unlicensed version of an established franchise.  There's just no point.  The film will never be shown as it's a huge breach of copyright.  Hence my creation of Hannibal King and not Indiana Jones.  The budget for a period piece for fans will probably be more than for a science fiction story.  Filming a shot of an old building isn't enough.  You need to ensure all modern signs and attachments are gone.  Costumes - okay, many of us have Indy style clothes but how many of us have Nazi uniforms, Russian uniforms etc.  Especially period ones.

: Then we have the logistics of a Indyfan based film.  Think of the huge difference in geographical locations between everyone.  It's logistically impossible to get everyone together to do it.  Geography, economics and lifestyles all come into play.

: Okay props are not a problem as someone pointed out.  But locations?  Indiana Jones traipses through exotic locales and finds ancient lost temples etc.  These are recreatable with castles and monuments, but still you're limited to what you can do - even if the forum members raised $50,000 it's still not enough.

: Then time wise, it takes a whole shit load of time to film amateur movies.  Weekends are just not enougfh and a film can sometimes take years to complete.  Now, during this time cast members can become bored or involved in other hobbies or just plain unavailable.  Then you have rewrites, recasting whatever.

: I'm sorry if I seem so negative, but I'm not trying to be.  Film making is a whole load of fun and a very rewarding hobby.  I would not hesitate to tell all of you who want to make one to do so.  However, perseverence and hard work are all important aspects of this activity.  It's not easy and it can be heart breaking and exhausting, but it is fulfilling.  However, do it with your friends and neighbours, the forum is too diverse to do it.

: Any responses would be very interesting.

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