building a team

posted Mar 8th, 2009 View Comments

Pedal * Blog

I’ve been thinking about this for several weeks – and I’ve been hesitant to write about it, hesitant to ask people about it, hesitant to really admit that it’s a problem. But we desperately need help with this film. Not in all areas, but there are goals I have that, it is becoming more and more apparent, will fail if it’s just Amanda and I.

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I can handle the editing. I can handle the writing. I can handle keeping myself on schedule – not that I don’t fall behind, but it’s more a matter of too much to do and too little time (or not enough help).

And because of this I am always falling behind in one area of the project as a whole – I am always falling behind on emails, falling behind on blog post, on vlog updates, on reaching out to new people, on making advances with the script, on encouraging write ups and interviews to get our name out there. The weight of these un-marked to-dos has been growing the further into post-production I get.

DIY screening
An example; we have goals of planning multi-state screening events of 64 Days to build more awareness and practice DIY distribution (for when FToM is released). This is something I could take on myself – the managing of localized people who are helping to book venues, RSVP guest, handle equipment needs, etc. But I could not do this while at the same time writing as much as I need to, and editing the film. So I feel stuck – I know it’s something the project would benefit greatly from, but how do I pull it off without more help? How do we find more help when we have no budget?

I suppose this post is simply a feeler – I’m curious about people’s thoughts on this. What people’s ideas and suggestions are on the possible trade-offs for people joining our team. We have a long road ahead of us… there’s a lot of work left to be done… and it’s a lot to ask of people. Is it crazy to pull outside people into this mess?

View Comments
  • John, been following your blog and your tweets, I have a space in Dallas that I show indie films in and would love to do a showing of the finished film.
  • Hey Aaron - did you mean to say "Mike". You wrote John, I'm guessing you accidentally typed John when looking at the above comment :P

    Anyway, if you did mean me, then thanks for following the blog and our twitter updates. We're going to be announcing a tool soon that will help people sign up if they are interested in doing personal screening events... and that could include a room of 4 friends or a warehouse with 200 people. So keep an eye for that - it's coming very, very soon.
  • Chris at bside should work with you guys. would be neat to partner with us at twitter.com/asthedust too.... so much editing todo!!!
  • Hey Hedge :) Thanks for mentioning Chris - I'll try to get in touch with him. What did you have in mind about partnering up on twitter? We need to sit and talk I think ;)
  • just saying that our projects could tour together . peace
  • ok. i know nothing, nada, zippo about screenings and all that stuff (setting them up and what not). but i'll ask around where i go to school (Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale) from the digital film staff. that's as much as i can say. i don't like making promises so this is as far as i can come 'til i learn more. and i'll get back to you.

    i guess, i'll tell them about your project and float the idea of a screening and see what happens..??? i don't know... mike let me know what's helpful to you. i'm busy as hell, but i'll try what i can at least. i'm not a film person.

    in response to bvp663...i have no ulterior motive. i genuinely want to help...within reason and my time constraints.
  • Ha :) Hey David - you're funny. But thanks so much for asking around on campus about this stuff - you never know, someone there could turn out being a huge help in that area. No promises necessary ;) I think it's awesome you're willing to see what you can find out. Thank you!

    But I also don't want you stressing out over us :) we're hoping to build a team of people that have (most importantly) the time to be involved in a project like this... I'd feel awful about guilting just anyone into loosing sleep over this stuff. You're awesome David - let us know if you run into someone promising in FL.
  • bvp663
    I would like to echo John's comment about how this will translate into a full film. The short vignettes are beautiful and I am very confident that the sense of space, magic, and adventure found in them will be evident in the final full-length film. As far as bringing other people in..

    A few producers I have worked with have a policy of only bringing people in who will work on contract. You pay them and then they're done. They feel that the more people you bring on as volunteers or people you will "pay when you have the money" end up more often than not with an expectation that you owe them something, whether it be free DVDs, product, or a percentage of the film's sales.

    However you guys are stretched with this project and could obviously use the help. In the end, the decision will be up to you. I'd love to be more involved but I only have so much time on my hands with a full-time job and another documentary I'm working on. I'd be happy to be the point of contact in Portland for setting up screenings, but I couldn't be the person to organize the entire remote screenings project.

    Good luck!
  • Hey Brian :) Thanks the comment - I'm very flattered people have so much confidence in the film based off of 64 Days. I hope the lessons we've learned from those episodes aren't lost with the film.

    I've been trying very hard to write the film in a way where if you've seen the 64 Days parts that you'll enjoy certain parts just a little bit more (hopefully).

    Anyway - I can see the possible problems you mention with volunteers... and I've seen that happen before with indie films, but in the end they seem to come out alright. I'd like to avoid any of that drama if possible... but it feels more and more like I don't have a choice :P

    I'm still trying to get the ball rolling with the screening events - and I'm super excited you've been eager to help. I definitely have you in mind! Just trying to prioritize my time on the project. We'll talk soon. Thanks!
  • dan
    JW,

    Are you guys planning on showing anything at the Bike Film Fest?
  • Hey Dan - yea, we submitted to the Bicycle Film Fest' :) but we haven't heard back yet if we made it in. Keep your fingers crossed.
  • john
    I think that you all seem so consumed with this project that you can't appreciate how the vinettes that you have created are very lovely. I do wonder how this can translate into a full on film but wherever it goes I hope you can appreciate your work (although it may well be impossible as you are too close to it). You should definitely look for additional resources to help ease the work and hopefully benefit from the combined energy of multiple new eyes.
  • Hey John :) Thanks - we're both pretty proud and happy with the 64 Days episodes we've released... but we're also very behind on them :P and they are completely separate from the film... so we still have lots left to do.

    I am looking - but I have a feeling I have tons to learn before we'll be able to grow our team smoothly and successfully. Thanks for the comment :)
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