Rediculous idea or genius plan?

August 2, 2005 4:06 AM

GonzoFilmakingFilter: So I am a student filmmaker with a script and actors and a camera and a crew and lights and...

No location!

The original script showed up on blue a few months ago, and I got the rights to film it.

Story takes place in a video store, a five to 5-6 minute exchange between a customer and and a cashier. I've been to every independent video store in town and have been flatly rejected each and every time, either because it will disrupt business too much, or we'd have to get insurance or a thousand differnt things we can't manage because our budget is too small (think really small).

So I have the idea of storming a neighborhood corporate video store (one with two counters). We'd fax ahead a memo on company letterhead from "headquaters." Then we'd show up in a huge hurry and start preparing a set, people bustling everywhere, looking as legit as possible and whatnot. We'd try to shoot the whole thing in 2-3 hours, and get out with out getting arrested. We'd have to edit out the copyrighted logos later, but all I care about right now is getting this thing shot. We could even make a documentary about gonzo filmmaking. I guess my question is: Am I crazy?

I'm in San Diego, if that helps.

posted by FearAndLoathingInLJ to grab bag (14 comments total)

Uh, yes? You think you'll get 2-3 hours? You'll be lucky if you get 2-3 minutes. You can try it, but I really really doubt this will work.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:30 AM on August 2, 2005 [1 favorite]

Will any of the independent stores let you shoot after hours? I was in a short film shot at an independent video store last year, and we just filmed all night.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:44 AM on August 2, 2005

Yes, you are crazy. Do you even have a film permit? You could also try getting clearance from the corporate store, it really isn't that hard. Instead of getting insurance put together a waiver for both of you to sign that states you won't hold them liable for anything that happens while on set. Shooting at night is your best bet. you can always light the place to make it look like day. If you need exterior day shots see if they'll let you come back later for just those shots. Gonzo filmmaking is not a good way to build a respectable reputation.

Did they not teach you these things in film school? We had to know all the ins and outs of releases, clearance and various other paperwork before we were even allowed to look at the equipment.
posted by sciurus at 5:01 AM on August 2, 2005

I'll second the suggestion to try and film during the night. The shutters being stuck closed at the QuickStop in Clerks was added as a plot device because Kevin Smith could only get into the place at night to film.
posted by GreenTentacle at 5:16 AM on August 2, 2005

We literally had the same situation for a PSA contest. We had a good idea for a video store.
It would help if you had someone who is really good with schmoozing or gets along with everyone, and it couldn't hurt to have a friend who works at the store vouch for you.
What really helped our situation was the size of our cast and crew. Four people were to be involved.
If you can whittle our cast/crew down as far as possible, it makes it easier for a business to swallow.
And, since you are a student of presumably a local school, you can ask in such a way that can be read between the lines as "The school insures us" without lying outright.

Also: if you could afford to pay someone overtime at this place for their time, you could have them "oversee" it as you shoot after the store normally closes. Midnight to an hour before the store usually reopens.

Goodluck with this, as ours fell through at the last minute. We had the cast, costumes, location locked, equipment ready...and the gorram director/cameraman decided he didn't have enough time for it the day before it would happen.
posted by blueneurosis at 5:43 AM on August 2, 2005

Heh, another Firefly fan who finds himself saying "gorram".
posted by nicwolff at 7:13 AM on August 2, 2005

I say go for it, if only for the stories.
posted by Espoo2 at 7:21 AM on August 2, 2005

Instead of breaking the law, why not try talking to your local library? They have shelves, they have videos, and if they're anything like my library, they have scanners and cash registers. They're also funded by your tax dollars and pretty open to creative uses of their space.
posted by headspace at 7:38 AM on August 2, 2005

As someone who held up traffic on a major highway for 30 minutes once to get a 30 second shot, I strongly recommend not trying to do this. Even if you go M.O.S., getting the shots right is hard enough when everyone is cooperating. People actively trying to interfere is something you don't need, unless you're more interested in causing a giant scene and less interested in coming away with usable shots.

I second the library suggestion.
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:55 AM on August 2, 2005

So I have the idea of storming a neighborhood corporate video store (one with two counters). We'd fax ahead a memo on company letterhead from "headquaters." Then we'd show up in a huge hurry and start preparing a set, people bustling everywhere, looking as legit as possible and whatnot. We'd try to shoot the whole thing in 2-3 hours, and get out with out getting arrested.

You sure this isn't the script of the movie you're filming? Because if it is, I wanna watch it.
posted by CrunchyFrog at 8:17 AM on August 2, 2005

A friend of mine was in a similar situation (substitutue convenience store for video store). He talked to the owner of an independent store and the guy was all for it, provided they shoot after the store closed and that the movie included an external shot of the store with store's sign. My friend needed to do that anyway as an establishing shot, so it worked out great for everybody. My friend also encouraged everybody involved in the film to buy a couple sodas and snacks from the guy while we were there.
posted by hootch at 10:55 AM on August 2, 2005

Did you try Kensington Video?
posted by exceptinsects at 11:37 AM on August 2, 2005

Yea, er, yer nuts, but have fun trying! Have someone document it!

Less snarky: I once needed a Diner for a shoot and actually found said Diner with an agreeable manager who actually agreed to allow us to setup and use the Diner on an off day for the afternoon.

On the day of said shoot 1) manager wasn't there even though he said he would be, 2) 1 hour into setup, I've got half of the place locked up with huge lights, scrims, etcetera, and a very pissed off owner shows up. That rat fink manager never told the owner!!

Bottom line, I became the producer as well as writer director and spent the next 3 hours oscillating rapidly between all three roles, keeping the owner chilled out all while directing newish actors and newish crew.
It was the best, it was the worst, but I have a point to all this.. :

1) Permits!
2) INSURANCE, come on, million dollar minimum, equip+personal liability, you need it to talk to any realistic store owner
3) A good pitch for the store owner
4) GET THAT !Q#()%#!(*'S AGREEMENT IN WRITING AND CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM!

*pants*..

Ah, memories!
posted by cavalier at 1:25 PM on August 2, 2005

I second the idea about trying to do it during off hours and that the whole "storming Blockbuster" is a bad idea, although I know what you mean about the Insurance thing. However, a couple things to think about:

a) With Insurance, since you're a student filmmaker, check with your school/prof: They might actually have insurance for this particular situation, particularly if they're a film school. Insurance is a big deal, however it is insanely expensive.

b) On that note, if your school does NOT have Insurance, check out your state's film board, they (assuming they're like the Washington State Film Board) may be able to help you find a decent deal, particularly since you're an insanely low-budget/student filmmaker. It might still be too insanely expensive though. Anyway -- the Film Board (if your state has one) IS YOUR FRIEND. They're non-profit and they are there to help and all their services are free. Also, if you're in a big city (assume you are...) go to the State Board first (they probably have an office in your city, either a main or a satellite office); the City Film Board (if it exists) is more for getting permits and suchlike when you're ready to roll. (Also, sometimes permits are REAL CHEAP - in Seattle, they're like, 25 bucks a day (even cheaper if you're a student/indie!) - -- but, sadly, often require insurance. HOWEVER: You only need the permit if you're filming on public property. If you're in private property, either your own or somewhere else, you don't technically need film permits -- although they could help if you're trying to convince a Video Store Proprietor that you're the real deal.)

c) OK, say you can't get Insurance and without Insurance, you can't get either a permit or a proprietor to allow you inside. Why not just fake it? You can probably get a room on your campus (or perhaps your parents/someone on the crew/somethin' has a house with a big room that will work), dress the set, bring in a bunch of videotape boxes/DVD cases, maybe borrow a Cash Register (or, hell, most places are just using straight computers now! -- but if you want a Register, you might check Goodwill, too) from somewhere, and you've got a relatively convincing Video Store. (Depending on your script of course -- this might not work...)

And, of course, if you DO find a video store who's willing to do this without Insurance or whatever, make sure you get it in writing, and be sure to be insanely polite to them. Go in, film as quickly and professionally as you can, and make it look even better than it did when you came in. Basically, this makes it much easier for someone else who comes down the line who might want to use a video store to get that particular one. If you go in there and basically are a total asshole, the next guy who needs it is going to go in there and the video store owner is going to go "Um, No. Get out. I hate you." However, if you're really cool to them, the owner'll be more open. It's just a bit of courtesy, and, well, hey, it's a good policy to Not Be A Jerk anyway.

Also -- you might be able to exchange a plug in the film too; particularly if you're going to screen it anywheere. Just put a thing at the end "We graciously thank Bob's Video Hut, 123 Fake St., for the use of their location and for supporting local filmmakers!" It might not seal the deal, but it couldn't hurt.

So, yeah. (Also, the Library is a good idea too, but that'd probably require a permit -- though, if you go that route, ASK at the (City, this time) Film Office to see about who you'd need to contact: My guess: City, Library System _and_ the Head Librarian at that particular library. Unless you're doing it at your school's library, in which case, you'd probably just need to see if your prof would back you up when you talked to your school's head librarian and you wouldn't need a permit or anything (being on private property and all).

Hope this helps!
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 2:33 PM on August 2, 2005