₦airaland Forum

There are basically two ways to write a movie:
1) Write the script with your heart, until it's complete, then rewrite with your head (Stephen King).
2) Start with a log line, rewrite it, get an outline, rewrite it, write a script, then rewrite it (Hollywood).

Method (2) works pretty well, and I'm sort-of using it. Like most director-types, my power of visual imagination far exceeds my writing ability - but it's not as if I can't write! I've decided not to start writing the script until I can see the entire movie in my head. It's more of a dreaming process than a writing process.

As a fan of the super-hero genre, I can judge my story ideas mostly by myself; I don't need as much feedback as usual. If I can be patient with myself and allow the story to develop in my head, I won't even need a writer. (The parts of the movie I can see in my head are awesome. You must be dying to see it! Just kidding)

The power of imagination. Awesome.

What makes me super heroine different from most is that she's not a fighter. She cannot fly, jump, or defeat giants with karate. She cannot dodge bullets and she's not bulletproof. She has just one offensive ability but its effects are 100% psychological. She can neither kill with her powers or do any lasting physical damage to anyone. Purely mental.

My former story consultant couldn't accept this. He felt her powers were lame and not cinematic. But that's not how I see the movie in my mind, and the 3 other people who have heard various versions of the story don't seem to have a problem with the hero's powers either, although one of them would like to see some stunts. There will be, but:

Why can't my hero fly or dodge bullets? (1) Budget. Psychic powers can be satisfactorily portrayed on a tight budget (2) I think we have too many 'action heroes' who think violence is the solution to every problem.

Intelligence is not the problem. The problem is money. How many of us actually buy original movies?

I've finally decided on a name for the super hero. First name and surname. Her names are unique, easy to pronounce and spell, and the surname suggests 'strength', which is fitting.

I've also named the male sidekick and main antagonists - father, son, and daughter. The first names are from the bible while their surnames are based on colonial names. Simple, short, and universal.

I don't want to give them Nigerian names because I'll be self-distributing the movie internationally even if I can't get international distribution. I hope my actors' accents won't be a problem. Update: ( www.createspace.com )

Oh, and the name of the movie is based on a combination of the super hero's name (e.g. "Spiderman 1, 2, 3", and the current antagonist or his project (e.g. James Bond's "Goldfinger", "Moonraker). Something like this: 'Super Hero 1: The Antagonist'. A hero heroine is only as strong as the opponent or challenge she overcomes!

It's not such a big deal; she's just flirting with you. You're taking it far too seriously.

Just say no and stand by your word. She can't force you, can she?

I'll be producing a feature-length movie about a single, middle-aged super hero with psychic powers [s]developed over decades through the hero's study of 'advanced quantum physics'[/s]. My priorities: story, acting, and budget.

At this point, all I have is the logline, so we have a very long way to go, but the funding is in place. I'll use this thread to keep you guys informed, [s]get some of my wild ideas critiqued, and attract potential collaborators. [/s]

So stay tuned!

Logline?

What are the things you already know?

As far as I know, you can't start a radio station unless you really understand the business, have access to a lot of capital, and have friends in high places so you can get a broadcast license - which will cost a lot of money.

Works for what?

Nice work, mukina2. Please note that mukina2 didn't delete the thread on "what the moderator should do". I did that.

I think the included ending was better than this one.
It was a pretty good action movie with slow parts but a good ending.

The model name and number is very important so we can check reviews on the internet.

i said "not the from Nollywood establishment," didn't i?

We're on the same page then. The question is now, who will be the first to cross the line?

Amazing Grace Nollywood 'outsells' Hollywood Version: well, for 24 hours. Currently the Hollywood version is doing much much much better. By the way, their US distributor is the US is Code Black Entertainment. They might be interested in distributing other high profile Nigerian movies.

sorry to say, but I really don't see it happening in the near future. Not from the Nollywood establishment, anyway.

I disagree. If we focus on competent and original storytelling rather than shooting on film et cetera, it's quite possible.

Indeed!

Don't you have thoughts of your own to add?

Hello,

How do you register a professional name that is not your real name for use in the entertainment industry? Do you register it as a trade mark or do you go for a change of name declaration?

I'm concerned about legal difficulties that may arise. For example, if the name on your passport is Timothy Idibia and the name in the credits is "2Face Idibia", how do you prove that you are "2Face Idibia"?

And how do you pretend others from using the name or posing as you?

Thanks.

You guys don't find the storylines contrived and unrealistic?

however, unless i misunderstood, the vibe i got from Seun's original post was the idea of using CGI to create vehicles, monsters, locations--basically to create the entire world, a la 300.

You misunderstood. I mentioned props, vehicles and monsters.
The one about locations is the green screen topic, and not this one.
I have a book titled "how to create killer action movies on the cheap",
written by a guy who does special effects for big Hollywood movies.
I created this thread because i found the effects created with miniatures
and puppets far more convincing than those created with consumer CGI.

I agree with what grafikdon said. When you linger too long on a computer generated image, you begin to see the flaws. For some reason, I just don't feel comfortable with the idea of delving into the CGI world.

Because black women behave like vindictive drama queens when they are rejected?

Can I marry against my parent's wishes? Every good thing I do is against their wishes, so why not?

[s]Advertising On Nairaland: Please Use Google Adwords[/s]

It seems to be just two of us - for now. Many filmmakers don't even consider International distribution.

Supposing your film is an action/adventure/science fiction/horror film, which requires:

- Vehicles you can't obtain on your budget such as helicopters, space ships, fighter jets, submarines, missiles, ships, et cetera. Should you use scale models of these vehicles and move them with wires or stop motion techniques? Should you buy simple look-alike models or functional models that actually fly and move? Or should you just create them on your computer (CGI) and combine with your live-action footage?

- Interesting non-human creatures such as spiders, insect-like aliens, giant beatles. Do you create them using photorealistic 3D modeling, expensive animatronic models that can be controlled like puppets in real time, or static but photorealistic models controlled using stop motion photography (like the original King Kong)?

In general,should you use the computer for everything or is there a use for scale models and other old-school methods of creating special effects? What's ideal for those of us who don't have millions of dollars to spend on our action/adventure films?

How is what they wear under their clothes any of your business?

Is it realistic for Nigerians to make movies for the rest of the world, not just Nigeria or Africa?

- How do you distribute your movie internationally without world distributors? www.createspace.com

- How do you deal with the strange Nigerian English accent? Subtitles? Speech training for actors?

- How do you create a storyline that travels well? Make action and horror movies, which travel well?