Posts Tagged SAICFF
Getting Serious
I had a lot of very great responses to my previous post. Thanks to all who read it and found it encouraging. When I started this blog I hoped it could one day become something that someone could come to every once in a while and be sharpened, and I’m happy to say that day seems to have come. Even if it’s only a few people, it makes the time I spend on this late at night before bed completely worth it. This blog is not just a means of encouraging others but it’s always a way for me to externalize what I far too often internalize. It forces me to out the things I keep in, and work out what it is I’m struggling with day to day.
A recent comment from a friend mentioned how this blog and STANDING FIRM are an example of a more honest portrayal of filmmaking in the Christian market. It seems many present all of the good but very few are willing to bring the reality of this industry to light. Making films is hard. Not only is it hard but it’s extremely taxing on your mind, heart, and emotions. I prefer to be completely open about that with people and if I know for a fact (which I do) that many filmmakers or up and coming filmmakers read this, then I must be honest about the realities of this profession. We need to be careful that our films and art doesn’t become our God, and that we take care of ourselves, but to a degree this kind of industry can take its toll regardless. Producing and completing a film can be fun at times but wow is it a nightmare in a lot of ways. The money is difficult to spend and making it back is always a huge risk. Distribution is a beast that 99% of filmmakers don’t understand and one of the greatest issues is that nobody talks about it. Everyone is so incredibly afraid to share any information that it keeps us all in the dark. I can understand confidentiality to a degree, and I have my own lines drawn for that, but there is much in this industry (the indie Christian market) that is still unknown to most out there.
One thing I hope SAICFF’s Academy can touch on next year is the distribution, because I know a ton about this area now and have gotten some very generous phone calls and emails from the ones who know what they’re talking about. We need someone to stand up there in front of everyone next year and tell all the young 20 somethings and even younger what the realities are. Otherwise (in my opinion) everyone is blindly spending money on their films. It’s easy to tell folks to research their market before they make a film and consider the budget given the likely ROI (return on investment) but studying the market for most doesn’t go any farther than seeing the ranking of some films on ChrsitianCinema.com’s Top 10 list. We need to go farther than that. Everyone always thinks their film is something it’s not or they believe it to be far better than it is. Honesty needs to be key here. Artistic honesty must be present with all of us. We need to be honest about what our film is, how well it turned out (or didn’t).
I understand my view of filmmaking and in particular filmmaking with a message for Christ isn’t looked at the same by everyone. That’s fine, but I present what I write here from my perspective. I’m looking at this calling as a call to action. It’s a ministry for me in many ways, so my idea of “getting serious” is a little different. I’m still cooking up that article on why I’m in the Christian market so you’ll have to wait a bit longer for that but until then there’s an article that came out a while ago from Chris Bueno that articulates some of what I wish to say. Chris used to be apart of Carmel Entertainment, who helped bring Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof to fruition. The article is a more mechanic approach to the idea I’ll be presenting. Mine will be that mixed with a more theological approach.
I need to get on my face before God about this short film for this summer, and whatever feature he might want me to do next (if any). I don’t want something good next time with this short, I want something extraordinary. Something that from the ground up is built to be a winner on all fronts. That’s going to take some serious work, but I’m anxious to get moving again on something. I have the itch! Time to scratch it!
PS. Standing Firm passed 30,000 fans on Facebook earlier today! AMAZING! Eph 3:20-21
Back To Normal
Well SAICFF 2010 is over now and I’m back in NY. I was a bit depressed to be going home, and so was Denise. The community and fellowship experienced that week was contagious, and the thought of going home to my desk wasn’t a fun idea. But, life goes on, and SAICFF 2011 will be here before I know it I’m sure. Also, coming home meant cold weather. It was high 50′s when I left last week and I came home to 30′s. Snow is right around the corner. NY winters are very harsh, and I’m not looking forward to it, especially with driving!
Even so, it was nice getting back into my apartment. Having my own place is awesome and I like it the more I’m here. When I woke up this morning, I had slept for 8 hours. After getting only a few hours of sleep a night all last week, 8 hours was like sleeping for a day. I woke up really energized too like I had slept much longer, probably because my body is used to running on much less. I wonder how well I would actually handle a stressful and taxing shooting schedule on a future feature. Headaches are a constant concern, and I got a few of them while in San Antonio. It’s amazing how instantly irritable I become when I have one, lol. It’s so hard to hide how I’m feeling, especially on my face. I wear my emotions on my cuff a lot of the time, which can be a good and bad thing.
September/October were a killer on the bank account with all the expenses between myself moving, a few personal purchases, and the business. Things are going well though, and STANDING FIRM looks to be turning into something pretty successful on the business side. We still have some ground to cover, but things look really great so far and I’m pleased to report I’m able to finally pay some of the contracted people I had that were involved with the film like my composer and a few investors that helped bring the film to the finish line. To put it into perspective, the expenses between myself and the business in October was the same as what I usually made in a year a few years ago (in gross). So if that puts it into perspective then good. Even with lower cost films, the numbers always seem to come back and bite you and take longer to pay than you think. I’m really dreading taxes this year, because I have a ton of work to do to make sure I can take care of everything properly. Between Federal/State combined, the cost is going to be very high I think and even if I’m doing pretty decent right now with my own contracted work, I expect a good chunk to disappear at the end of the year.
However, God is Blessing since I’ve gotten some great work in the past 2 months and some more this month that should be really great. I had a DVD cover that I did for a film just before I left for San Antonio and two 1-sheets which are advertisements for the product. I’ll also be doing the website for it and a bit of online marketing. I’ve been contacted by a friend to do the new poster for his film, with a theatrical target sometime in 2011. There’s a possibility I could end up reworking that poster into their DVD cover, but it depends on their distribution. Work for Ace Wonder continues as usual with some new things to implement this month if all goes well, and I’m working on another site that’s close to being done for someone else. I hope work can stay semi-consistant like this, that would be fantastic.
For those of you who’re just starting out doing freelance, don’t be discouraged. Word does get around eventually, it just takes a bit of time. Hopefully sometime soon I can put together entire packages for people where I can do posters, dvd covers, dvd menus and authoring, and websites and online promotional items all for one price tag. That would be amazing…I would love doing that! Just gotta find someone with the right budget size. 
Another milestone today as STANDING FIRM reaches 27,000 fans on Facebook, up over 3000 from the beginning of last week. I’m still going to push for that 50,000 mark by the end of the year if I can. I only have 2 months to try and do it, but I think it’s possible! I’m working on an article that includes 10 Tips for Online Facebook Marketing so be on the lookout for that. Hopefully it can help you other filmmakers out there with creating an effective fan page from the ground up.
God is Blessing right now, and STANDING FIRM continues to sell very well wherever it’s available. I just got word today from a friend that called me that he saw the film on the shelf at a Family Christian. That’s the first word I’ve gotten about it actually being in their stores and not just on their site so that’s great. I should have an interview coming out on Examiner.com that was done while I was in San Antonio (short blog post about it here), and I did an on-camera interview for ParablesTV as well which I’m not sure whether or not I’ll see that but it was still fun. An online review site called me today saying how impressed they were with the film and they wanted to help with some web banners. Little by little, word seems to be getting around about this little film! I feel like I’m in the midst of a five loaves and two fish type of story. To God be the Glory for that! It’s amazing what He has accomplished through all of this…
Till next time folks,
Kyle Prohaska
SAICFF 2010 – The Film Festival Day 3
Today was the last day of the festival. STANDING FIRM screened very early at 8:30am at the Municipal Auditorium so I wasn’t very optimistic that many would brave the early morning to be there. I was a bit surprised though at how many turned up. The screening just like the first went very well with everyone enjoying it (based on the comments after and reading the crowd). People have been very gracious throughout the festival as a whole who’ve either seen it already or waited to see it at the festival and enjoyed it.
We had lots of time today to relax a bit more in regards to the schedule so that was enjoyable. Geoffrey Botkin wanted to talk with me since the Academy but we were waiting till the right time and today was it. I met him at his presentation on the other facility and since he had to go do an interview before we had a chance to chat I spoke with his son David for quite a long time. That was probably one of my favorite conversations I had the entire week. We were so similar and the dialog was extremely edifying and encouraging. I look forward if I’m able to getting to know David a bit better as time goes on. Afterwards I was able to talk to Geoffrey and he just wanted to ask some more personal questions like where I live and how I grew up and how I met Denise and some other things. It was very simple light hearted conversation. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous but I think the conversation was good. I’m glad to have had even the little time that I had to share my heart a bit and formally thank him for what he’s been doing the past couple years with the festival.
Afterwards me, Denise, and my parented headed off to lunch. On the way we stopped at the Hyatt because I actually had left my bible at the Academy and wanted to check the lost and found. The lady who had the key wasn’t around so I’ll have to wait and see if I can still get it otherwise I need to buy another ASAP.
Relaxing was the next step after eating before the awards ceremony. I think I needed that. No running around and nowhere to be, just chilling at the hotel for an hour or two. After not too long I got ready and Denise went to her room to get ready and we headed on our way to the closing ceremonies of the festival. Everything was fantastic, and I’m thrilled for all the winners and those who were recognized as runners up. STANDING FIRM didn’t win anything and it wasn’t a finalist but I came into the festival being pretty confident that it would be the case. I know why and I won’t share it here. Lets just say that who I was and some of the things I might have written about in the past, isn’t who I am now and above all I’m just thankful to understand and know that moving forward. STANDING FIRM will always be the stepping stone, particularly from a technical standpoint. Everyone here has been so nice and their sincerity in taking interest in whatever it is I do next is exciting for me. These are a ton of people I respect so to leave after this entire week and feeling a mutual respect is gratifying. There are plenty of individuals here to look up to and to learn from. The people are the real heros of this festival, and the greatest value I think. I’ve never gotten so much support from my peers before. I wish I lived near some of them to collaberate! That’s always a source of frustration, but that’s ok. God has me where he has me right now and there isn’t much more I can do. Who knows what he has down the line, but I have a feeling that after all that transpired this week at the Academy and Festival, it’s going to be something very good.
One thing Geoff brought up while we talked was he mentioned family. I was talking about how the people at the festival were the key to this entire thing, and the networking. He brought up the issue of family. Not just father and mother to children but brothers and sisters in Christ to one another. We’re all one giant family here, whom God has brought together for a common goal of making His name great in the world and magnifying Christ. It’s my prayer for any of you who went this year that you would put Christ first in everything that you do from this point on (if you haven’t already done that). That you would aspire to create films for the Glory of God but not only that but that the stories you tell would be prepared with prayer. It’s easy to get a great idea, get attached, and make it your God instead of Christ. The Lord knows what kind of films we need to be making and we need to be seeking him on those things not just hoping to make great movies. If they aren’t for the Kingdom then what good are they in the grand scheme of things? I look forward to what kind of fruit is produced over the next year and what shows up at next years festival. It’s going to be interesting!
To God Be the Glory for this week and for making it so incredibly memorable, encouraging, and edifying. The 2009 SAICFF was called the greatest week of my life last year, but I think this one definitely tops it. The time spent with Stephen Kendrick and what I learned from him, the great new friends I think I’ve made, the Blessings and comments from folks who saw the film, becoming engaged to my wonderful girlfriend Denise (woo!), and various other things easily help this week top the last Festival/Academy. I’m so looking forward to another, and maybe in future festivals bringing along film #2 to enter, with MUCH IMPROVED this time when it comes to theology (I’m reformed in case that wasn’t clear, lol), cinematography, story structure (big one…biggest one), acting, music, and everything in-between. STANDING FIRM was always intended to be the “Flywheel” of Praise Pictures, and from what I can tell that is absolutely the case. Praise God for that! Don’t miss out, come next year. We’d all love to have you.
Blessings,
Kyle Prohaska
