Shining the “Light” on a new surreal short film

I finished the first rough draft of the rough outline of the script for “Moonlight Prodigy,” my surreal drama.  I must admit, it’s a complete joy to write an outline for a short film versus writing something for a screenplay.

Looking at my 5-page outline it feels like I already have 1/3 of the script done.  When I’m writing an outline or treatment for a feature script, each page of the treatment must ultimately transform into 10-15 pages of the screenplay.  Now it’s pretty much a one-to-one ratio.

Although the script will probably come in at a tight 8-10 pages, which I hope translates to a 10-minute film, I still need to have all the points, incidents and breaks as are required for a feature. Perhaps they need not be as dramatic or extreme (high risk, high stakes) but they must be present.

If you’re on Facebook, join the film page. I’m not really promoting the project now because the script isn’t even done, but I’ll be testing some social media nuances so hit me up.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moonlight-Prodigy/278430785506250

It looks like I might have time for one last short, “Moonlight Prodigy”

There’s maybe four people on the entire planet whom I have told about my short film idea, “Moonlight Prodigy,” which has been nagging at me for eight years. Today I added one more person to that list.  I told my friend my half-baked idea, we brainstormed and he offered solid insight on how to get successfully accomplish the visceral theme, which borders on the supernatural. We also talked about what would be the “stronger” movie overall, and thus I finally felt like I could accomplish this movie with two main actors, a handful of extras, just three locations and only ten minutes total running time.

As I toss out ideas for this movie a few things stand out. Visually, I think the best way to shoot this short is with DSLR technology or 16MM film. Yeah, you heard me, film.  Don’t get me wrong, I love HD but  1) I’ve never shot in film before and I’m looking forward to it, and,  2) this may very well be the last short film I ever make so it better be done absolutely right.

So, among the other things that are floating around on my plate nowadays, I’ve going to write out a treatment for this project. Once I have the treatment I think I’ll think more about how I’m actually going to make this movie.

I need to make a short film like I need a hole in the head, but…

I need to make a short film like I need another hole in the head, but…there’s this idea that has literally been burning-up my gray matter for the better part of a decade.  In 2002 I went so far as to write a 3-page treatment, which was subsequently lost in one of many computer upgrades.  I’ve made seven short films so my focus is generally feature films, but this particular idea –let us call it Moonlight Prodigy– is more suitable as a feature.

Like my current film project, “Legend of Black Lotus,” “Moonlight Prodigy” is what I call film festival fodder.  It’s the kind of story and concept that programmers eat up.  All of  my previous films have been genre stuff, which I like, but let’s face it who doesn’t want to have  a short film accepted into Sundance or Slamdance based on its  emotional, slice of life theme.

So..while I haven’t yet decided to actually go ahead and make this film, it would be cool to do it now while I am in the throes of pre-production with “Black Lotus”.  There are some things that I am committed to, however. One this is, I’ve decided that my cast will be entirely African American.  While the story isn’t necessarily “Black” per se, I have not yet made a film with predominately and primarily Black people.  Being a Black writer/director has allowed me to submit to certain “Black themed” film festivals, but you’d never guess “Black” when looking at my cast.

But color is just a small part. I’m going to reduce my main cast to just four people and keep the film’s running time under 22 mins. I literally want to wreck people’s emotions for 20 mins, roll credits and then send them on their merry way.  I already know who I’ll ask to shoot it, and this is one film for which I might jump back into the editor’s seat — just for the first cut.

Then of course there’s the thing about raising money and  blah blah blah, which I don’t yet know how I will handle. I need a Greyhound bus for this shoot. Where the EFF do I rent a Greyhound? And casting? Casting should be fun since my main cast is very young (for me).

If I somehow jump into gear and actually write the story down by September 20th (my personal deadline) I might consider taking this challenge on. But if I don’t complete a rough draft by the 30th I will put a pin in this idea, stick it to the  wall and wait until the time is right.