Don't stop for Sandwiches

When I was about 12 years old I joined the scouts.

We were not an especially driven scout troop, or at least we rarely had the chance to go on camping trips together. But, we were tremendously tight as a group of people. 

One year we entered a regional hiking competition. This was the first time we had done anything like this and certainly did not have the opportunity to practise. The older members were put in charge of map reading (we had to orienteer, too. Fancy!) whilst the rest of us just had to make sure we kept up. 

Other teams had hiked before. Not only hiked but won before. We were newcomers and nobody, not even ourselves, thought we would win. But we wanted it. We wanted it so badly. 

As we made our way around the course (18 miles) we got lost a few times, we struggled regularly and there were moments I was not sure I could keep going at the pace of everybody around me. But we helped each other out and just kept saying, it will be worth it to know that we didn't stop.

Every half an hour or so we would pass a team sat down, having sandwiches and a leisurely break. We had sandwiches too but decided to eat them as we walked. 

When we got to the end, nobody was around. We were naturally worried that we were the last to finish. 

Imagine our surprise to discover that we had won, and had won by about 45 minutes!

We were not necessarily the best hikers around. We were certainly not the most experienced and if there is a talent for hiking I couldn't say we had that either. 

But when it came to it, when the going got tough... we didn't stop for sandwiches. We just kept on going, knowing that each and every step was going to take us to the best damn hike we could have done.

Now I am not for a second endorsing starvation as a means for success ;-) Nor that resting and taking breaks to re-charge and reflect are not a vital part of keeping strong. Think of this as a metaphorical tale.

There are lots of people who ‘want it’, lots of people who are good at it but not everybody makes it. 

Sometimes we are taught that talent is a given for success. But not all talented people are successful. What sets people apart are a great many things but I doubt there is any greater factor in success than drive, obsession and determination.

It's the difference between making it a ‘must’ or a ‘should’. There are lots of things we should do but we only take charge and make them happen when we decide that we MUST.

In fact the word ‘decision’ originally meant ‘to cut off from’ – as in to cut yourself off from all other choices. Deciding is a permanent thing rather than a consideration. 

Nobody owes us a favour and independent filmmaking is a fiercely competitive industry. You probably will not get it right first time, there will be ups and downs but the key is to keep moving in the right direction and to ensure you do not, metaphorically speaking, stop.

When we lose momentum, we lose the thread. 

The key to making 'Mouse' happen is that through all of the great moments when it seems like it will all work out beautifully, and all of the tougher times when I worry I might not be successful, I ensure that I keep putting one foot in front of another and keep pushing towards the goal.

As Winston Churchill said;

‘Success is about going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm’.

Something Worth Saying

Crowdfunding, indeed any kind of social media led activity, is  very current. And, like anything current, we can mistakenly see it as being the one and only future, wondering what we did without it. How can anybody watch a 2-D film when we can watch these new fangled 3-D movies where stuff appears to protude out of the screen? That kind of thing.

Often though, after a period of bedding in, these things either die out, or we see that the reason it is so successful is born out of something which is not new at all. That 3-D which seemed so special, is really just an advance on the idea of immersing an audience in a story. When used to advance a narrative it is a viable option, when not, it becomes novelty and unsustainable.

I am reminded of a quote by former Advertising Art Director and co-founder of agency DDB, Bill Bernbach.

"Human nature hasn’t changed for a million years. It won’t even vary for the next million years. Only the superficial things have changed. It’s fashionable to talk about changing man. A communicator must be concerned with unchanging man – what compulsions drive him, what instincts dominate his every action, even though his language too often camouflages what really motivates him. For if you know these things about a man, you can touch him at the core of his being."

People don't change, mediums do. When the TV was first invented, radio was expected to die out quickly etc. The principle that things outside of man are fundamentally changing our instincts and our very nature seems silly to me. Crowdfunding is one of the things which has led to overstated claims that the funding model has changed permanently. When, in truth, it will likely prove to be a fad. It will still exist, I am sure, but will it be so big? Probably not. One thing will stay true though. Just because we are now connected to more people, more quickly then ever before through the use of social media... doesn't mean we have anything good to say. We still need to have something worth saying. A story worth telling. 

Whilst we are trying to fund 'Mouse' we are also supporting other projects which are exciting, innovative and have 'something worth saying'. One such project is The Underwater Realm.

'We are making a series of short films set entirely underwater that will force the world to sit up and take notice. We are attempting something that has never been done before – and we are attempting it with a very small budget.'

I'm excited by that. It is a voice I want to be heard. And we have supported it to help it be heard. As I say, mediums changes and for a time we all get very excited about 'changing man' but man still wants the same things. Compel him, excite him, surprise him and entrance him. I think we are going to do that with 'Mouse' and I am sure that will happen with 'The Underwater Realm'.

Support them here in their last few days. 

To Crowdfund or not to Crowdfund?

Mouse is a new British SciFi short film about a man who finds himself trapped in a giant human experiment where he is only one of a thousand clones of himself.

It is innovative and mysterious but, beyond this, tells an even more intriguing tale of the future.

The future of film financing.

This is the first time I have ever embarked on a crowdfunding campaign and it's already very hard work. Crowdfunding is the principle of gaining a little bit of funding from a lot of people and is born out of the lack of normal funding for Arts projects. Film funding does exist, but there is not a lot to go around (Creative England have tabled no short film funding for 2011/12) and crowdfunding is about being proactive and accessing funds held in your own social networks. It has opened up the possibility for anybody to f*ck the system and take matters into their own hands.
 

 
But is it sustainable? Could I crowdfund a project next year after doing this one? I'd feel uncomfortable about it, unless I had built up new networks, which people do. But when run well it can help put the decision on 'what's worth watching' back in an audiences hands. And it can mean something VERY important, anybody that dislikes the same old recycled rubbish in the cinema can take a proactive step to FUND a new cinematic voice. 

Let's say this is a transitionary step in the funding model. 

Old models had a hierachy which put funding bodies at the top of both the money tree and the 'taste' tree. A few people decided what we all wanted based on personal taste and previous box office success. Is it culturally right? Will it support the community and will it make a solid investment? 

New models do not mean good films are no longer good, they just mean that smaller more niché productions can get funds directly from their audience which they may never have had the opportunity to find before. And those without pedigree can find a trapdoor in to the industry that may not have existed before.

But, as with reality TV shows, this gives an unrealistic view of who can make it. Grabbing a camcorder from Comet and asking your friends for money is an opportunity which now seems available to many, but does not replace the need for a gripping story.

Those that really want it and have tenacity and a vision will find SOME way to get their work seen. And then, over time, they'll learn, they'll hone their craft. That's always been true. Whether it be crowdfunding or some other way, it is less the medium and more the 'need' in the filmmaker. 

For me?  It is about getting back to a love. I found myself with a lot of reasons not to do it and finally reached a point where I realised none of these reasons compared to the one reason I had for wanting to do something. Because I desperately want to affect culture with story. 

I'd love to have your support for Mouse, after 2 days we are way ahead of our targets (we're just short of our first 10% with 66 days still to go) but still have a long way to go and every investment takes us towards the goal of getting an exciting new scifi short film made, and more importantly build audiences and momentum for future productions. 

If you want to get involved, you can fund here or simply share this blog post or the following links.

After all, in the words of Ingrid Koop of Shooting People, Crowdfunding is not just about the money, but the supporters you pick up along the way.

Sponsume

Vimeo

Mouse Short Film Blog

Where are you going?

It's a good question. 

Often we dash headfirst into the world of storytelling with a dream, but never really consider where that dream should take us. What kind of filmmaker are we? What films do we want to make? 

It's a little bit like setting out in the car and not figuring out exactly where you want to go. You will have a nice ride and the mystery can be a thrill but the chances of you ending up where you want to be are limited. 

Knowing your end goal doesn't have to be boring. Nobody is suggesting that you can't adapt, that you can't change your goal once in a while but, certainly, if you find yourself getting lost along the way, knowing your destination can give you the opportunity to change route, rather than simply turning around and limping on home. 

But, as this lovely quote from Filmmaker Magazine suggests, it is not just YOUR end goal, but the end goal you think other people EXPECT you to have that can be a factor in your decisions now. 

"Some of us simply want to exist. We see these new tools and rejoice in the fact that we can make that honest film in our basement or bedroom. Not all of us want careers in the industry, films in Sundance, or scripts waiting at home to be green-lit. As we move forward, I urge everyone to think about your end goal and think of why you truly make films. Not being cynical, I believe that most of us just love to create something that moves us, or teaches others to love, or connects us closer than our world allows as of late."

Take charge, be clear, know what you want and start taking the little actions needed to get there, whether it be Hollywood stardom or a sustainable career telling the kind of stories you believe in, without really needing everybody else to love them too. 

Know what you want, write it down... get clear... then go!

Merry Christmas and a Happy Crowdfunding...

Give the gift of supporting a crowdfunding project this Christmas.

What do you think? It would certainly make our Christmas here at Mouse Towers.  

Over at Crowdfunder, they are certainly keen on it. 

"It might seem a ludicrous idea, however donating to a crowdfunding project can probably be the most thoughtful gift. You could choose to support a charitable project that you know a person is passionate about, invest in a film or other creative form, or even an entrepreneurial or technological project which suits that person's interest. It says much about how well you know that person, the level of affection held for them, and the little rewards that come with the support add a further level of excited anticipation."

It's a tricky one, we're personally a little nervous about asking people for some money to make our dreams come true. But everytime those nerves kick in we remind ourselves it is not begging. Mouse is a project which deserves to be made, it is a great story and the incentives are excellent. A good crowdfunded project is much more than just a great gift, it is a great investment. 

Read the rest of the article here and, hey, for just £10 you can get the download link to Mouse when it is finished and give us a brilliant start to our campaign. Get involved and invest here.

Merry Christmas one and all!