“The Urgent Phone Call” Will Become A Movie

My script “The Urgent Phone Call” is in the process of becoming a real movie.

How I Came to Write It

A couple years ago I joined the CSIF Older Filmmakers Club (https://csif.org/clubs/).  Last year they put out a challenge to members to write a short (5 to 7 page) script, set in a single location with one or two characters, and focussed on an issue related to older people. I worked on several ideas and completed two scripts in response to the challenge.

The first script was based on an important event in my life. I felt it was a good script and I got positive feedback from people who read it. However, it was too personal for me to share with a broader audience, so I didn’t pursue the project.

The other script, “The Urgent Phone Call,” was based on a phone call I got. The script deals with a challenge that some older people face. Although I know that younger people have also had the same experience. I felt it, too, was a good script. I showed it to several people and took it to a table read hosted by The Older Filmmaker’s Club. The script got positive responses. Nevertheless, I hesitated about going forward with the project.

What Held Me Back

The main reason was that I didn’t feel I was physically up to making the film. Back when I made films like “Line of Taxis” and “My Most Difficult Case,” I was younger and more fit back then. But, the shoots were still a physical challenge for me. While many people who work on a film are in a hurry up and wait mode, I, as the director, had to be going the whole day. I had to be there the day before to set up. I was the first person on set, and the last to leave. I just didn’t think I could do that now.

I Found a Director (or a director found me)

One of the reasons I joined the CSIF Older Filmmakers Club was to find ways to work around my limitations to still make films.

At one of our recent meetings, Sherri Dahl offered to direct the film. After a little hesitation, I agreed. I knew that I would need to curb my inner control freak and let her take the lead.

·         https://www.facebook.com/SherriDahlActress https://www.youtube.com/@Sherridhl https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6189391/

She is a real live wire, unlike myself. She has lined up most of the crew and is working on creating the set and assembling the props.

I sat in with her for the auditions for the main character. That was an interesting experience. I never did auditions for any of my previous films. At the end of the day, I was glad that Sher would be making the decision on who to cast, and not me.

The shoot is planned for August 31. I will likely stop by briefly to see how it looks, but I don’t want to be there for the whole shoot because my presence could undercut the director’s authority.

This post is a mirror from my main blog http://www.dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/blog

$100 Film Festival Film Update – 2011 November 13

My film is closer to completion now. I’ve even given it a title: Contingency. Not really that original, but descriptive none the less.

My original plan was to include some shots of me editing some film on at Steenbeck at the CSIF. They are moving at the end of the month, so the time was tight. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get in touch with the guy I wanted to help me, so I came up with a plan B.

I will used some outcuts from my earlier films. That is one reason I picked the new title. I think this forced improvisation will make for a better film. I pulled out some of my old Line of Taxis files to see what I have that I can use. It looks promising. I documented my more recent films quite well. Some of my older films are not, so I am not sure what I have.

I shot another roll of film with a few more images I wanted and some titles. I wanted to include shots from my earlier Super 8 movies and I don’t have 16mm blowups I can use. I do have digital versions of those films, so I shot short bits of them off the computer screen.

I included two films that I did before the $100 Film Festival. The Smiling Corpse was a film I did back in 1974. In many ways, it was the original inspiration for the Festival. I copied two “cool” shots from the film. I can only include one of them though. The other film I used was Extra Special Care, which I did as a student project at SAIT in 1989. It was another example of the type of film I had in mind for the festival.

While I was at it, I short another short short film I call Somedays I just Can’t Get Started. If it turned out OK, I’ll submit it to the $100 Film Festival too.

I mailed the film to the lab Friday. I have some “Exposed Film” tape that I use to wrap the exposed film, but I couldn’t find it. Until, of course, after I’d gone and used some other tape. I still have quite a lot of tape and I don’t think I will find much use for it now.

This post is a mirror from my main blog http://www.dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/blog