If you’re a DIY filmmaker, you’ve probably seen “American Movie.” The documentary focuses on a filmmaker trying to make a short movie against all odds. This award winning feature is not focused on the story of his movie, but the story of his journey making the movie. The hook of a guy in rural Wisconsin with little money doing everything he can to make his movie is remarkable and inspiring. Your focus should be on your film but don’t forget about the story surrounding your film.
Start listing your favorite cult movies and you will find many with a compelling situations and events. Here’s a few that came to mind:
1. El Mariachi – Robert Rodriguez made this amazing movie for about $7,000 and raised this relatively small amount of money by participating in medical experiments.
2. Apocalypse Now - Francis Ford Copolla threw everything he owned into making the film and in the process almost went bankrupt and gave Martin Sheen a heart attack. Watch it all in the great documentary “Hearts of Darkness.”
3. Eraserhead – David Lynch spent three years making this movie by shooting it on weekends.
Do you have any remarkable stories? Blog about it. Do behind-the-scenes interviews. Share your films along with the stories of making your films. People love hearing and reading about it. Hell, the story of our failed attempt to film a haunted house documentary was buzzing like crazy…and we didn’t even have a movie!
Care to share any stories? If so, show some cube in the comments.
