Tags: Comedy, Directors, Filmmaking, Screenwriting, Supergun Projects
When one is looking to make a name and a career in the film industry, the routes and methods are countless, but it can pretty much be agreed upon that creating a quality movie for the resume is better than just a piece of paper from film school. But features are expensive and lengthy, which is where short film comes in. An expertly crafted short film has more chance at getting into film festivals and getting awards than a feature film does… when the terms “no budget” and “microbudget” are applied. It takes WAY less time, and all your energy is spent frantically in short bursts, so the creativity never gets stale. I was almost sick of making shorts a few months ago (it gets taxing), yearning for the jump to features, but I hadn’t written a script that didn’t require a budget.
I’ve pretty much got a good base- I’ve written, directed, produced, acted in and edited in over 6 short films, 2 video-sketch comedy groups (Poke Show and Saveslot), as well as the feature film Macbeth 3000… but all of that I consider the “first learning curve”. I’m still doing sketches, mind you, because they’re fun for the web, so we can build an audience that way and then sell DVDs so we can afford to make movies AS our dayjobs… but sketches aren’t the kind of thing that will get in front of acquisitions people for potential feature film interest.
But the other night, I was listening to the Sunparlour Players, a local band, and I started randomly thinking of this random mushroom farm out in the wilderness of Northern Ontario, and suddenly a whole story popped into my head which I immediately got home and jotted down. I think I’ve finally come up with an idea that makes me want to do a short film again- one that I think I can pull off and make it a fucking classic ordeal at film festivals. I jus’ gotta writes th’ sucker! And well, I might add.
I’m not going to tell it, because it’s really going to require some DEFT writing to pull THIS one off (before getting back to trudging along on my features) and I’m going to need all the liquor I can handle… Light another cigarette, remember all my accumulated knowledge, drink beer, forget all knowledge, begin writing, cigarette, beer, beer, pee, write, pee, delete, beer, beer, beer, beer, sleep… puke.
I wake up in the morning with a hangover, realize my script is shit, and have to summon Hitler-Mario to shred all the printouts with a pair of scissors.
And seriously… is that a spotted shirt, or is he just a hairy motherfucker?
But I’ll give you the title to ponder… well, actually, it’s between two: The Mushroom Man, or The Mushroom Farmer. No relation to Mario, or even Hitler Mario. Which title strikes your fancy?
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