nick bolton aidc net work play presentation the art of perseverance feburary 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Nick Bolton, Director TEN ALPHAS
Tuesday 24th February 2014Australian International Documentary Conference, Adelaide
NET > WORK > PLAY
The creative
The creative
Screen Australia
Number of credits per Producers, Directors and Writers of Australian feature films 1970-2013
WHO # 1 2 3 4 5
Producers 973 68% 14% 7% 4% 7%
Directors 674 66% 15% 9% 4% 6%
Writers 1003 74% 14% 6% 3% 3%
TOTAL 2650 69% 14.3% 7.3% 3.6% 5.3%
Aps slides 2
APS 2012 Key findings
1. 4,000 ‘producers’ which clearly isn’t sustainable in a country the size of Australia
2. A producer is generally very well educated and experienced in other sectors and has generally aware of the notion of psychic income.
3. The lack of interest in financial success was extremely shocking.
4. Most producers self-describe themselves as creative5. A lack of familiarity in legal, financial and technical
requirements.6. A desire to improve their skills
APS Slides 1 – slide 68
The selection policy
By region Australia only
By format Feature & documentary only
By role The Originator
By credit Film in Production or distribution
Industry Expert
40 x 1 hour interviews, most filmed
So can we define Perseverance?
Grit in psychology is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual’s passion for a particular long-term goal or end state coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective.
Source: Wikipedia
But can we measure it?
Types of perseverance in filmmaking
PERSONAL PERSEVERANCE
Physical Perseverance
Mental Perseverance
Relationship Perseverance
Types of perseverance in filmmaking
PERSONAL PERSEVERANCE PROFESSIONAL PERSEVERANCE
Physical Perseverance Intellectual Perseverance
Mental Perseverance Technical Perseverance
Relationship Perseverance Collaborative Perseverance
Leadership Perseverance
Types of perseverance in filmmaking
PERSONAL PERSEVERANCE PROFESSIONAL PERSEVERANCE
Physical Perseverance Intellectual Perseverance
Mental Perseverance Technical Perseverance
Relationship Perseverance Collaborative Perseverance
Leadership Perseverance
FINANCIAL PERSEVERANCE
Opportunity Cost Perseverance
Personal Investment Perseverance
The Funding Search Perseverance
Payback Perseverance
Types of perseverance in filmmaking
PERSONAL PERSEVERANCE PROFESSIONAL PERSEVERANCE
Physical Perseverance Intellectual Perseverance
Mental Perseverance Technical Perseverance
Relationship Perseverance Collaborative Perseverance
Leadership Perseverance
FINANCIAL PERSEVERANCE CREATIVE PERSEVERANCE
Opportunity Cost Perseverance Clear Vision Perseverance
Personal Investment Perseverance Expectations Perseverance
The Funding Search Perseverance
Payback Perseverance
The weaving matrix
Perseverance DEV FUND PRE PROD POST MKTNG DIST
Personal
Professional
Financial
Creative
Show End of the Trailer
The X Factor
John Maynard, Producer
The Bank, Balibo,
I’ve never made anything I hadn’t wanted to make.
That’s the secret. Always want to make it.
Mark GrentellDirector
Backyard Ashes
Love.
I’m always very selective because I know its going to take 5 years out of my life.
Rebecca BarryProducer, Director, Media Stockade
I am a Girl, The Surgery Ship
Sue Maslin Producer, Filmart Media
The Dressmaker
Ideas that matter,
Miscarriage of justice
Missing gaps in history
A social justice theme
Rebecca BarryProducer, Director, Media Stockade
I am a Girl, The Surgery Ship
it has a social impact, to change the way people think, act or feel about the world
Michael BuddDirector
Love of my Life
Horror has a huge online audience. I don’t particularly like horror but it could get revenue.
Key Learnings - Personal Perseverance
Mark GrentellDirector
Backyard Ashes
For the first time in my life, I checked in to a gym and went for 9 months.
Rebecca BarryProducer, Director, Media Stockade
I am a Girl, The Surgery Ship
Sue Maslin Producer, Filmart Media
The Dressmaker
I went on a ten day course, where we had to give up coffee, alcohol, sugar and other stimulants, and learn how to switch off, to learn how to sleep.
Best thing I ever did.
Enzo TedeschiProducer, Distracted Media
The Tunnel, Event Zero, AirLock
My wife and I mutually agreed on me becoming a full time filmmaker as we started ‘The Tunnel’
I cant fuck it up.or she’ll kill me.
Rebecca BarryProducer, Director, Media Stockade
I am a Girl, The Surgery Ship
I was filming all over the world on ‘I am a Girl’ often in war ravaged countriesMy partner and I agreed to speak to each other every single day
Key Learnings – Professional perseverance
Kingston AndersonCEO, Australian Directors Guild
Film is a collaborative art You cannot do it on your own
Enzo TedeschiProducer, Distracted Media
The Tunnel, Event Zero, AirLock
I was so honest with everyone, Look mate, I cant afford you but I love your work, I think you’ll like this project and I think we can do some great work together.
Rebecca BarryProducer, Director, Media Stockade
I am a Girl, The Surgery Ship
Sue Maslin Producer, Filmart Media
The Dressmaker
I take the same approach with my crew, especially Heads of Department, as I do in the auditioning of cast.
They are as, if not more, important.
Mark GrentellDirector
Backyard Ashes
Everyone needs a mentor and everyone needs to be a mentoree.
Key Learnings - Creative perseverance
Marshall CurryWriter / Director, Marshall Curry Productions
Street Fight, Racing Dreams, If a Tree Falls
If you are at a party, and three people tell you are drunk and should go home, then maybe you should go home.
Rebecca BarryProducer, Director, Media Stockade
I am a Girl, The Surgery Ship
Loving your project is the key, but that’s not enough. You need to know it inside out.
David CourtHead of Screen Business, AFTRS
I can see it in someone’s eyes when they are unflinching in their resolve and have an answer to every question.
Key Learnings - Financial Perseverance
Amin PalangiWriter / Director, Palangi Productions
Love Marriage in Kabul
Make sure all your revenue streams are in the film industry such as teaching, even if that does make other peoples drams come true!
Mark GrentellDirector
Backyard Ashes
I reckon I lost $200k in wages by working for free on Backyard Ashes over 5 years
Rebecca BarryProducer, Director, Media Stockade
I am a Girl, The Surgery Ship
Sue Maslin Producer, Filmart Media
The Dressmaker
Always allocate the Opportunity Cost of lost wages on the bottom line as a loan to the company.
Mark GrentellDirector
Backyard Ashes
Momentum gets you the financing.It’s so hard to get but once you have it do NOT ever let it stop.
Rebecca BarryProducer, Director, Media Stockade
I am a Girl, The Surgery Ship
It took years to get funding for ‘I am a Girl’ until gender inequality came to the fore, into the zeitgeist. Sometimes its best to wait for the right time.
David CourtHead of Screen Business, AFTRS
Even if its all signed, it can still fall apart. The deal is only done once the money is in the bank.
The easiest and the hardest
Perseverance DEV FUND PRE PROD POST MKTNG DIST
Easiest 0 0 2 23 6 0 0
Hardest 9 14 0 0 4 2 2
The creative
