Creative Pirates, Indie Movie Makers, Uncensored Poets and Badass Authors

To be an indie movie maker, uncensored poet or badass author I’ve always felt there had to be a streak of pirate in the creative soul to go for it.

Pirates in history have always taken chances and risked all on their adventures. I feel the same about indie movie makers, uncensored poets and badass authors out there basically sailing the creative seas with no guarantees.

Creative pirates are people that say come hell or high water they are going to pursue their craft to the fullest.

The seas of indie movie making I’m most familiar with. Before you go out pirating make sure your screenplay is tight and fits within in your resources.

Over ambitious screenplays not truly written for an indie movie budget get sunk fast at some point of production. Indie movie producers that try to sail like big budget studio ships usually crash on the rocks.

The best lesson I’ve learned through listening to other indie filmmakers with more experience than me is to write a screenplay within your means.

Sounds simple enough, but in the heat of creative passion all indie movie producers sometimes lose their heads. They want to make a studio budget style film on a tiny budget.

Screenwriters that are able to write for the indie movie scene are golden. Not taking anything away from big name screenwriters that work in the studio system cashing huge checks. Cheers to you for making it!

On the indie cinema sea it doesn’t work that way. A screenwriter needs to able to write within a strict film budget or the ship will sink during production.

It’s hard as a screenwriter to pull back what you want to write. When writing spec screenplays you plan on pitching to major agents and studios let it all go and don’t hold back.

When you’re writing a screenplay for an indie movie you have to be able to write around what you will not have and maximize the resources that the production does have available.

After a locked screenplay is ready it’s up to the indie producer to gently remind the director, cast and entire crew there is no way to do as many takes to cover a scene like what happens in the studio system.

You really have to rock and roll when shooting an indie movie. There is not enough time or money to play Oliver Stone or Spike Lee looking for perfection.

A director on an indie shoot that can’t make up their mind or needs too many takes to cover a scene will sink an indie film budget fast. Indie cinema is not Hollywood.

There is no cash to throw at delays or problems. You have to keep it moving even if that means you didn’t get the perfect shot or coverage.

After an indie film is wrapped the rough waters really are in editing. That is where most indie movie ships sink.

There are really solid movie editors that understand how to cut an indie film. I work with one Tim “Timbo” Beachum and now working with another Wayne “UK Diablo” Daniells.

It’s not a fun job as an indie producer to oversee post on a limited budget because you have to be the bad guy many times.

I got burned money wise early on in my career by a plush post house. I wasn’t on my game and let them get over on me.

I was making the move from an entirely different business to the entertainment business.

Lesson learned. I know the ins and outs of post now sitting through long editing sessions and asking advice from indie producers with more experience than me.

It’s harsh advice, but unless your director understands that an indie movie needs to be cut sooner than later don’t let them in the editing room. If you are your own director and producer learn to balance things.

No movie is going to perfect. Cut it and release it to move on to your next gig. Working with Tim “Timbo” Beachum in Virginia Beach has been cool under the banner of Slice of Americana Films.

We figured out how to work post and get entertainment projects sold worldwide. I know he got pissed at me and me at him, but a friendship was built that is rock solid.

Indie movie makers a tight screenplay written within in your resources with filming on set that keeps moving and post where you need to be the bad cop will keep your ship from sinking.

Poets always amaze me because they create in an area I have no talent for. Two I really dig I follow on Twitter @fumanchucat and @_eroticcandy_

I love the way they put themselves out there with uncensored words. They are creative pirates all the way.

I enjoy screenwriting, directing and producing indie cinema. I also have always wanted to write a novel. I’m a wannabe novelist. I will never call myself a novelist until I finish writing one.

As I work on my first novel based on a screenplay that film financing didn’t work out for I’ve been inspired by three really cool people that finish writing books.

Authors Eden Baylee and George Pappas and Everett Powers have shared great advice with me.

They are creative pirates doing what they love – sharing stories. This is indie filmmaker Sid Kali typing FADE OUT