11. April 2009 by admin.

I got one week to get this 16MM/HD project a budget.

Fuck my life.

Chances of that happening are slim to none it seems like.  I’m trying to get a producer but nothing is shaking out right.  I don’t know what I was thinking when I thought to myself that I could raise a budget to shoot something that could actually be worth a damn and could get played at places.  Budget is still really small (under 1,000) but trying to design a bedroom/ family room that look like they were in the 70s is costly and most importantly, using film is too expensive temporarily.  I’ve considered getting a credit card to pay for these things now and then pay it off later but my elders advise me to not do something that stupid.

I think I am really upset because it is a project that is completely managable but no one seems to give a damn.  I have tapped myself out and it seems no one has a business mind state to get things accomplish.  You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to get a phone call or email returned by someone who isn’t profesional.  Maybe I am being old school in my way of thought… Maybe I am too mature for my age when it comes to trying to accomplish goals but when I get a phone call proposing something… I return the mother fuckin phone call or email.

When I go out of my way to make things happen for other people and when I make sure Water Cooler Productions is as business orientated as possible, I get nothing in return.  Not one thing.  I got a web series that I think should show people I am actually worth a damn (and thats something new for me, I can’t tell you how many people I pissed off with KY) and it will do nothing for me.  I tried my hardest to get it advertisement to raise money for the next film.  Nothing.  Not one business is interested in getting a commercial made.  I tried my hardest when assembling a budget and writing a script for the upcoming zombie movie that really isn’t my film.  I get nothing out of it.  I have no desire to make a zombie movie but I do it for David Wagenaar (my DP) because he wants to make one.  I say fine.  Nothing will bloom out of that.  And, the project that is the best written with the most potential (I’m talking about this 16MM/HD project) is going to collect dust because no one can return one fucking phone call or email.  I tell people to help me raise a budget if I can’t find a producer and all I get is one week to figure it out or else the movie isn’t getting made.

For now, fuck it.  I can’t tell you how upset and frustrated I am when I think about this writer putting in her time and dedication to writing something intended for me and me only to shoot it.  She took the time out of her day to meet with me and figure out what I want and she wrote something for me and it won’t even get shot.  It looks completely idiotic on my part because I tell her to write something because I want to make something new and I now look like a fucking clown because I can’t get anyone to help me pull some strings to get shit made.

For whoever is reading this, if you are interested in making a film or starting your own production team, I have one word of advice: Don’t feel the need to be nice.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to be nice so when issues like I am facing arise, I have people to go to so they can help me out for what I have done for them.  You get nothing if you worry about others, make the movies you want to make and find people who are as business orientated as you are.  Find people who will return a phone call or email and find people who will work for you, not be your friend.  I have heard so many times that making a movie is all about collaboration and I am coming to the realization that it is not exactly true.  Of course it takes more than one person to make a movie, I get that.  And I have tried to run my sets giving people certain things.  I’ve let all of my writers be on set and talk to the actors (which is something most directors discourage).  And what do I get?  I get writers who talk shit behind my back and say I don’t know how to run a set.  Well, do you know what?  They are right.  They are absolutely correct, I do not know how to run a set because I let them on set and let them talk to the actors which proves I don’t know how to run a set because I shouldn’t have let them on the set in the first place.  I let everyone behind the camera get a say when it comes to making choices and I let them talk to me about ideas they have, I actually listen.  And I get nothing from that either except for people who feel like I am not “collaborative enough.”  I have worn many hats on set and I am not going to do it anymore.  From now on, I will combine all hats and just run sets in a dictator manor.  I have never had issues with people talking and socializing a bit on set but not anymore.  Hitchcock was well known for running a silent set and although I am far from being the next Hitchcock, I will start implementing his beliefs on sets of my own.  I can’t be nice anymore because it seems like no one knows how to return the favor.

I just checked my email and phone again, and guess what?  No phone calls or emails returned yet.   What a surprise.

-Mac Eldridge

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9. April 2009 by admin.

So right now is a busy time for Water Cooler Productions.

We are wrapping Messiah.

I am busting my ass to begin pre production for the 16MM/HD Project (more info to come)

And I am writing the second draft to a short zombie script I wrote Chemical 12-D (working title).
It is very busy right now.  I didn’t think this 16MM/HD project would pan out as quickly as it has been so it has been go time since last night.  I have already gotten a casting director, a DP, and a script supervisor on board and I am now currently trying to find an art department to make a time period that I need.  Most importantly, I need to find a producer quickly so we can start assembling a budget and preparing everything.  This is a 6 page script I am trying to do but it is a lot to try to get done.  I believe in the project though so I am trying my best to make it all happen as smoothly as possible.

The zombie thing is something very interesting as well.  Robert Sandoval is writing a script as well and we are going to use either his or my script and shoot it around May/June time as well.  For once I am handling two projects at the same time.  Because of this, I may only produce the zombie short and let David Wagenaar make his directoral debut. I gotta see but there is no way I am producing/directing/editing both projects at the same time.  My plate has finally gotten too full and I need help.

Sorry I didn’t blog yesterday, too.  This whole 16MM/HD project started happening yesterday and I got caught up.  I’ll try my hardest to update everyday, but I can’t commit to doing so.

-Mac Eldridge

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7. April 2009 by admin.

There are a lot of directors out there that like to write their own shit.  For whatever reason, they enjoy the process of cranking out a script and seeing it the whole way through the film making process.  I mostly notice how they call themselves “fortunate” enough to do that, which I can see why they see that.  They get to wear more than one hat when making the film and they have complete control over what happens.

Well, for me, I think I am fortunate enough not to write my own shit.

Up until about a year ago I wrote my own short films for a few reasons.  For one, I use to enjoy the writing process to extent.  Maybe it was because I use to write music but I enjoyed the idea of transferring actions from my mind onto paper.  The other reason why I wrote my own shit is because I generally knew what I wanted to make next as a director.  So, as to satisfy my appetite, I wrote a script that I wanted to shoot visually.  If I were in the mood for a film noir, I could write one and not worry about a writer screwing up what I wanted to make.  However, my last four productions have all been from people besides myself.

I first remember watching a special feature either on the Psycho or North by Northwest DVD about Hitchcock and his writing process.  For those who don’t know, Hitchcock didn’t write.  He simply went to his writer(s) and said that he wanted to make a certain film next and then they would write it for him.  I fell in love with that idea and I knew that I had to try it in order to expand my horizons for interpreting a script as a director.  I then asked my now most produced writer Billy Bitterman to write me something for the sake of me directing it.  He was just as new to the process as I was and gave me a somewhat surprised yet “yes I’ll totally do that” type of look.  From that collaboration we made Outside.  It was from that point onward that I decided I much rather just direct than write.

Since directing Outside I have directed 2 Billy Bitterman shorts (KY, Messiah) and 1 Robert Sandoval short (Such As It Ends) and I am in love with the process of taking someone’s artwork and transforming it from the page onto the screen.  I enjoy the process of film making much more than I did than when I once wrote as well.  Now, in the last stages of Messiah I believe that I have taken another step to further expand my comfort zone.  I went to a writer I have never talked to before and asked her to write me something.  And today, around 3 PM, I got that script I requested.

See, both Robert Sandoval and Billy Bitterman got me to where I am.  Not just because they gave me a script to direct for the past 4 shoots, but because they were the ones who had me pursue film.  I can safely say they are the biggest inspirations when it comes to me making films and they are my best friends.  So, I wanted to see what it was like to work with a writer who is not under that “best friends, biggest inspirations” category and see how I thrive in that world.  I think I somewhat lucked out a bit when I found out that my new writer enjoyed  KY and I say that because I am not working with someone who isn’t like me or my friends.

So, I am pumped to work with this writer because I really dig the script and it will be interesting to see how the writer-director relationship works out when the writer and director aren’t best friends.  I had my girl friend read the script tonight and she seemed to dig it as much as I did and thinks it’ll be a new style for me to tackle.  I’ll keep you guys up to date because I have to make sure this production gets off of the ground in the first place.

-Mac Eldridge

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6. April 2009 by admin.

What a weekend means to Water Cooler Productions when there is no filming going on means one thing and one thing only: a slow time for news.  Businesses don’t do much on the weekends and neither does Water Cooler Productions.  Currently, we are waiting on a few businesses to see if we can film a commercial for them in order to get the webisodes out there to the public.  It is an exciting time indeed for Water Cooler Productions, just not on the weekends.  So, to keep myself and readers entertained, I will give out a few ideas for the next few shorts we will be producing.

To start things off, we will not be doing any shorts for a while that exceed 7 minutes.  There are a few reasons for that.  The biggest reason is because we do not have the time to invest into that right now.  Currently, we are writing a feature and we are trying to save a budget to get it done so we do not want to max ourselves out like we did on Messiah.  I am not trashing the project or anything, it just takes a lot to make that big of a movie.  Secondly, we want to make something short enough where we can do a fest run with the piece.  For all of you film makers out there, keep in mind that a fest doesn’t want to accept shorts that are over 10 minutes.  Believe me, I work on a programming board for a film fest and we are told to keep away from shorts over 10 minutes.  The shorter the better.  Think about it, everyone has 5 minutes to watch something, but does everyone have a half hour to waste?  No, no they do not.

So, we are doing two shorts hopefully within the next couple of months.  One is in the horror genre so it is right up our alley.  The other, well, it is something new that could be a waste of time or a complete success.  I’ll keep you guys up to date on what is going on and what is not.

Sorry I do not have much to update on, tomorrow we will probably be getting the word on what commercials are a go and what ones will not work out.  Stay tuned…

-Mac Eldridge

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4. April 2009 by admin.

So,

My resume in building a website is minimal.  And, in minimal, I am being generous.  The Water Cooler Productions website (awatercoolerproduction.com) is the first site I ever “built” (built meaning that I used a template and did some tweaking of my own).  And I am not dumb enough to think it looks great.  It is just about the best I can do because building a website is not my facet of life.  My intention was simply to have a place for people to look at my films in one place.  Well, thank the great God above that Zach Pozulp, a DePaul digital cinema student, saw my site because of a conversation we were having one day and offered me a hand.

And with that, I am proud to announce that awatercoolerproduction.com is getting a serious fucking face lift and getting upgraded!  I have already seen the preliminary designs and my God, do they look so much better than the things that I tried to accomplish.  Its sleak, simple, and business quality that I cannot wait to show around to everyone I know.  Although I am unaware of what will be happening to my blog (that meaning, if it will have its own page on the website itself) I am more than confident that this new website will be for the best.  I hope you all stay tuned (if anybody is in fact out there) to keep up to date with us.

Oh, and I do apologize that I am updating so late, it is anniversary weekend with the wife so I will be running behind on my next few blogs up until Sunday.

-Mac Eldridge

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3. April 2009 by admin.

What a day in Chicago today…

Before I start talking about how much I hate advertisement and can only praise those who work in the field, I have to express my feelings about newly acquired quarterback Jay Cutler.  As one of the biggest Chicago Bear fans in Chicago (and I do mean one of the biggest fans) I cannot be more ecstatic about the leap of faith the Chicago Bears have taken in getting the former disgruntled Denver Bronco quarterback.  Some may say that we gave too much for the 25 year old, pro bowl quarterback, but I cannot help but laugh.  The idea of the NFL draft is to acquire *hopeful* and *promising* young players in anticipation of them becoming franchise starters.  Well, the Bears gave up 2 shots at greatness for one that is already been proven by being voted to the pro bowl at the young age of 25.  The trade of Jay Cutler is a bold move, yes, but it is one that can get my Bears back to the super bowl we once saw in 2006 (and another time in 1985).  Oh, and if I hear anyone bitching about the departure of Kyle Orton, I will rip out your throat :)  Now, onto the fun filled world of advertisement (do you see the sarcasm oozing through your computer screen?).

My alarm seemed to fail me today.  I was set to wake up at 8:30 in hopes of going business to business in the Lake County area in hopes of finding advertisement.  My plan was a modest approach; for $150.00 I would shoot the business a commercial and have it play in front of every webisode of Messiah.  Sounded like a good deal to me.  So, I made 15 copies of the Messiah trailer and handed it out so they could see my work.  Robert Sandoval accompanied me in my pursuit to finding advertisement and thank God he did.  If it were not for him, I would have run the mini-van into on-coming traffic because of how depressing the advertisement world is. 

Out of the roughly 10 businesses we visited, one business seemed incredibly interested in our offer.  The others, well, a few seemed to possibly become something and the others said “no go” to us.  I didn’t keep track on how many businesses turned us down even before hearing my offer (which, I think shows a terrible flaw in that business owner.  If you won’t even listen to a possible opportunity, then you’re running a business blindly and coldly).  I do not know how people who do this for a career live.  Being turned down time after time became tiring after only 4 hours.  I couldn’t imagine what this feels like doing it day to day.  Regardless, I have a few bites that seem to be possibly interested and one bite that seems to be close to certain. 

All in all, a positive day where I learned a few things.  I’ll keep up to date about how this project turns out.  I suppose I can only hope for the best, just like dem Bears.

-Mac Eldridge

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2. April 2009 by admin.

So, I am a huge fan of blogs.

I generally look over a few almost every day.  I cannot quite pin point my love for the medium.  Maybe it is because I know it is an untapped source like the newspaper was a “new thing” when America was discovered.  Maybe I dig on the fact that the general public is relatively unaware of how powerful blogging can become.

Or maybe it is because I love reading about bullshit.

That is correct.  Every blog I keep up with deals nothing with politics or controversial issues in current events.  I enjoy reading the blogs of a chosen few strictly for entertainment value.  I really enjoy reading stories about the film world or what people in the film world are up to.

So I started my own blog for Water Cooler Productions and maybe to also bullshit and tell a few stories here and there.  I will try my hardest to make sure I post regulary regardless of how many (if any) people are reading this.  So, I say this to myself and anyone who might be possibly following this blog from here on out; this is my diary and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do writing it.

-Mac Eldridge

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