Let's talk a bit about Sprouting Orchids (my first attempt at a feature film) and why it ultimately failed. MERCH: teespring.com/stores/austinmcconnell-merch-store PATREON: patreon.com/austinmcconnell
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Here's something to help you with your next movie, use Dan Harmon's Story Circle, it will help structure your story, and all you'd have to do is figure out how each piece transitions into the next.
I just discovered your channel and I love it! You are crazy talented, and not afraid to try and fail in public which is so inspiring. I've worked as a 1st AD for 7 years on countless productions, very few of the directors I've worked with stand-out as amazing story-tellers to me. You are an amazing storyteller, so please keep making films. Personally, I think the genres that you are a fan of, aren't the genre of stories you're supposed to tell. Honestly, I'm a huge fan. I can't wait to see your name on the big screen one day! If you're ever in the UK and need an awesome AD to help take the load off, hola. :)
I am young and I want to be a filmmaker. I love a load of brilliant filmmakers. My goal is to become one of these people, and maybe inspire another artist. My movies will be crime dramas. And some of them use the theme of love in a weird way. Most characters in my movies will have a complete lack of understanding of what love is. This will theme is a major one including nihilism, violence, and the nature of reality.
Rule number 6, which is actually THE number 1: "Do not make yourself the lead in your movie." The only two who could pull it in the history of cinema were Orson Welles... and Charlie Chaplin.
I'd like to amend a statement you've made to this; Don't make things so you can say you've made them, make things for the sake of making them. Writinga novel so you can say you wrote a novel is an easy way to make yourself hate writing novels. Writing a novel so you can learn have learned how to write novels is a better motivator. Do it for the experience and for the reward of a complete product at the end. Even if it's bad, a bad something isn't nothing.
Your story made me want to help these projects instead to kickstart one of my own. I want (once I believe it is good to invest) to help and collaborate with young projects
So sad but it's valuable. 6th could be the title and graphics (it's hard to make out, unlike that mid 2000's movie poster whereby the tree branches look like a face.
Austin, if you ever got the chance or were feeling up to it, would you try making Sprouting Orchids again? Like attempting to fix all the problems the original film had?
huh i also have been doing 48 hour challenges and honestly they to do hurt but almost every time in the end they come out pretty good and then i can sleep so that's a pretty good plus
Your first reason why your movie failed is everything. Don't even bother mentioning the 4 others. Because if you really have something to say, something deep, something heartfelt, and you put it with talent in a good story, the 4 other reasons are way less of a problem, and you'll be able to overcome them, eventually. They might weaken the final result, but the depth, the heart of your work will still be there. The only advice you can give someone who wants to make a feature is : Use your own experience of life. And if you don't have any, get some, live your life, and then write. Art is not about aliens, it's about human emotions.
honestly, I want to make a short, but I'm terrified, I don't know who I can approach because I don't really want to go to film school. I don't know anyone, or even how to turn to anyone. if anyone has made a short film or is currently making one, how do you get cast or crew? how can I start the production process?
You should recreate sprouting orchids now that you have become more mature in filmmaking. Since you have a big fan base now you could get more money for it most likely. I would love to see a remake because I thought this was a cool concept for a movie
I desperately want to see this movie with director's commentary. "Sprouting Orchids" could live a second life as an instructional tool for film makers. As in, "Hey man, have you seen 'Sprouting Orchids'? It's so awful! I learned a ton!"
Good advice all around, though I don't think a movie needs a moral. It certainly helps to have a theme, but it doesn't need to impart a lesson. Too often, attempts at morals are really heavy-handed and condescending, and I could just do without them.
My wife is my greatest critic. She never fails to tell me if my project is a piece of shit and I love her for it. She is the untrained eye (or ear, because I'm a musician) and the blunt critic. Love her
This video had me in stitches, howling with laughter. For that alone, it was totally worth having your first feature fail. Your candor, contrition, and humility give me faith that you will go on to greater glory!
Congratulations on whatever new film you have taken on!! I'll keep an eye on your channel for information about it as it progresses. If you submit it to a film festival that shows in my area, I'll see about attending. I once dated someone who was an extra in low-budget sci-fi Memento wannabe, and it was... not good. So if I was willing to watch that for her, I'll definitely go see yours, as I have no doubt it will be significantly better than THAT film. ;)
Would you ever consider putting the elements of the film out for your subs to cut into a short film? It might be fun to see how other people handle your art!
Well something that I have learned is that a lot depends on who you know, I mean you will not tell me that the plot of your movie was worst that most of the super hero movies of this days.
Lots of people have yes men. They write something, throw their little hands in the air like they just don't care and declare themselves geniuses. People's egos don't allow them to share with people who will tear it apart. Get some no men. Get some people who hate your guts and want to go camping with you so they can kill you in the woods and let your body float down a river. Become, slight acquaintances with these people, so when the time comes, and you finish something, these are the people who will read it. Your real friends won't, and their opinions usually won't help, but the people who want to see you fail, oh they'll read it. They'll print it out themselves, double spaced so their little red pen can scribble large brushstrokes of vindictive told ya so. And when they give it back to you, assuming they have any ability to break down scripts, you'll know if you have something or not. All the elevator pitch, save the cat, etc etc, it's horse pucky. It's sitting down, realizing it's going to take way more than a first draft, and it's willing to hear someone, to your face tell you it sucks, and what's wrong with it. And they might be wrong, and if they are, you slap that fedora off their head and tell them, but winning over frienemies is the ultimate test on if the script is good or bad. Unless they want to sabotage you by inflating your ego, if so, they are now a yes man, and you need to get a new frienemy. As you get older, you'll realize, spouses, are the ultimate readers. Because they want you to leave the computer alone and mow the flipping grass, so when they tell you to keep on writing. Nice.
funny you bring up Primer, tho. that film also popped in my head after hearing about your experience. seems like Carruth was kinda who you desperately wanted to be
I think he is a pretty creative guy I just think he was disappointed with himself and his shitty attitude towards people who helped him make his film, can't be as bad as that complete ass Troy Duffy though. I hope you live and learn Austin, at least you have the nuts to admit it. Good luck!
I'm not sure all Hollywood movies actually have a story to tell; just a mix of sex and violence and attractive people doing stuff, much like hte last movie they were all in.
Let me save everyone 12 minutes: He tried to make a full length feature film on less than $3,000 along with a tiny crew while staring in and editing it himself. Wow. So it was basically a lack of common sense that caused his failure. He compares his "film" to Resevoir Dogs when Resevoir Dogs had a budget of 1 and a quarter MILLION dollars. Come on man, wth? The true lesson he should have learned was to be realistic.
This is legitimately an ode to everything everyone does throughout their lives. I too am a filmmaking student and I cannot describe how this helped me. Thanks.
What if the movie had succeeded? Would you been still making a video about your mistakes? It is fascinating seeing someone grow due to there mistakes. You would usually think people who say fail more to learn are just trying to motivate, but this video is an evidence that it is not something they just say to motivate you.
Bahaha, you wanted to make "art"? You won't fit in with Hollywood. They make the same stunk stuff except they make it work with a marketing campaign that lures all the dumb masses to it who can appreciate it. You need that.
Austin, your channel often feels like an exercise in professional-grade reflectiveness. It's a highly undervalued skill in adult life, and you're really, really good at it. My interest in the content of your videos aside, I appreciate your maturity in this area. Keep it up.
