Filmmakers Forum

Re:In Search Of Filmmaking Advice? Ask Critically-Acclaimed Director Zeke Zelker!

Zeke-

 I am really curious to hear how the internet has affected, both positively and negatively, independent film distribution and marketing since you've been in the buisiness?  Has it leveled the playing field a bit, or has it created a glut of people self-marketing subpar films?  I'm assuming that the idea of online marketing and distribution has come a long ways since you started out.

-Jonathan

Re:In Search Of Filmmaking Advice? Ask Critically-Acclaimed Director Zeke Zelker!

Jonathan,

When I first started the internet was just taking shape, hell my first e-mail account was an AOL account. The internet has helped me a lot with research and starting conversation but there is no substitute for making personal contact via in person or phone. With all of the social networking sites I am spending more and more time building fan base than I am writing which drives me a little nuts. I now write with iphone, internet and e-mail off so I don't lose my train of thought. I need disconnect to write from such a interconnected world. I am only able to do this 10-15 hours a week.

In terms of making money, we are implementing some new ways to make money on our films via the internet that you would not be able to do in more traditional outlets, unless I got a deal where we screened the first half of the film in theaters then cut a deal with HBO where we would screen the second half. (producer friends laughed at this idea, this would need too much distributor cooperation they say, but still love the idea!!!) One of our strategies is making 300% higher return than the industry norm, another is starting to pick up traction as we work with more and more students.

I do feel that all technology has created a glut of mediocre product, everyone needs to revisit what makes a good film. Mind you I have been criticized and censored on my latest film, InSearchOf. I am telling the story unconventionally and we break a lot of rules but this is the film I set out to make and I am very proud of it. People have become media whores, myself included, instead of consuming art or cinema. The internet affects more people more rapidly.

seely:

Zeke-

 I am really curious to hear how the internet has affected, both positively and negatively, independent film distribution and marketing since you've been in the buisiness?  Has it leveled the playing field a bit, or has it created a glut of people self-marketing subpar films?  I'm assuming that the idea of online marketing and distribution has come a long ways since you started out.

-Jonathan

Re:In Search Of Filmmaking Advice? Ask Critically-Acclaimed Director Zeke Zelker!

zekezelker:

Jonathan,

When I first started the internet was just taking shape, hell my first e-mail account was an AOL account. The internet has helped me a lot with research and starting conversation but there is no substitute for making personal contact via in person or phone. With all of the social networking sites I am spending more and more time building fan base than I am writing which drives me a little nuts. I now write with iphone, internet and e-mail off so I don't lose my train of thought. I need disconnect to write from such a interconnected world. I am only able to do this 10-15 hours a week.

In terms of making money, we are implementing some new ways to make money on our films via the internet that you would not be able to do in more traditional outlets, unless I got a deal where we screened the first half of the film in theaters then cut a deal with HBO where we would screen the second half. (producer friends laughed at this idea, this would need too much distributor cooperation they say, but still love the idea!!!) One of our strategies is making 300% higher return than the industry norm, another is starting to pick up traction as we work with more and more students.

I do feel that all technology has created a glut of mediocre product, everyone needs to revisit what makes a good film. Mind you I have been criticized and censored on my latest film, InSearchOf. I am telling the story unconventionally and we break a lot of rules but this is the film I set out to make and I am very proud of it. People have become media whores, myself included, instead of consuming art or cinema. The internet affects more people more rapidly.

Great reply Zeke, and kind of what I expected to hear.  I applaud you for making the film you envisioned, instead of subjecting yourself to the criticism and approval of everyone else.  Really, when Robert Downey Jr. is nominated for an Academy Award for wearing blackface in a cheap comedy, should we really be taking people's opinions very seriously?

I'm right there with you on the AOL email.  My first experiences online were with AOL and CompuServe free trial disks (not discs--they were 3.5" floppy disks).  :-}

Thanks again for the excellent replies... I look forward to some more as people come up with more questions!

Re:In Search Of Filmmaking Advice? Ask Critically-Acclaimed Director Zeke Zelker!

   Hi, Zeke.

   I am the resident pervert here at SPOUT.   Please tell me a bit about your film,  In Search Of .   Did it have a theatrical release (and thus an MPAA rating)?   Are there a lot of sex scenes in this film and how graphic are they?   Was the sex real or "simulated"?   Some good looking female nudity?   How much of a turn on was it for you to film something like this?

   Sorry but somebody had to ask these questions and I guess I am the guy for the job.

                                                                               < GOR >

Re:In Search Of Filmmaking Advice? Ask Critically-Acclaimed Director Zeke Zelker!

Howdy Gor,

We did a test of the film in four markets this past fall and have plans to screen it in more theaters, we do not have an MPAA rating. There is a lot of nudity in the film but no sex, there is a flashback sequence of simulated sex. Yes we have good looking people in the film, more that ended up on the editing room floor. It was not a turn on to shoot the scenes. I was not only directing but also producing and I fly with an AD, but yeah I guess I would not have cast the women if I wasn't attracted to them in some way.

Dr_Gor:

   Hi, Zeke.

   I am the resident pervert here at SPOUT.   Please tell me a bit about your film,  In Search Of .   Did it have a theatrical release (and thus an MPAA rating)?   Are there a lot of sex scenes in this film and how graphic are they?   Was the sex real or "simulated"?   Some good looking female nudity?   How much of a turn on was it for you to film something like this?

   Sorry but somebody had to ask these questions and I guess I am the guy for the job.

                                                                               < GOR >

Re:In Search Of Filmmaking Advice? Ask Critically-Acclaimed Director Zeke Zelker!

zekezelker:

 There is a lot of nudity in the film but no sex, there is a flashback sequence of simulated sex. Yes we have good looking people in the film, more that ended up on the editing room floor.

   Thanks for the prompt reply, Zeke.   The reason I asked about real vs. simulated sex was because many years ago I read about a major mainstream Hollywood production (I can't remember what movie it was) that was rated R and included at least one softcore sex scene.   It was rumored that the actors in this scene were actually having sex and began dating afterwards.   I think this type of thing happens more often than most people think, particularly in low budget B-movies with unknown actors but also in some major studio productions as well.   Do you know anything about this type of activity in the filmmaking world?   As a director, if you were filming a sex scene between two characters, wouldn't you prefer that they were actually having sex rather than just "faking-it" ?   I would think that this would create a more realistic and intense scene on camera.

   I am genuinely curious about this as I have been writing a Horror story, that contains some fairly graphic sex scenes, over the past few years that I hope might be made into a movie some day.

   Thanks!

                                                                                  < GOR >

Re:In Search Of Filmmaking Advice? Ask Critically-Acclaimed Director Zeke Zelker!

I'm sure it happens, I'm sure that it is planned. I feel that we walked a fine line with InSearchOf. I think it would have been easier to market if it was a porn. People have a hard time understanding exactly what it is because its about sex and I have been very open and honest about it. If I would say oh its a porn people would know what to expect, but its not so people are torn which is obvious by what is going on with Hulu right now. The chatter is intersting, http://www.hulu.com/in-search-of. If the script is great I wouldn't shy away from your material. I do believe in realism!

Dr_Gor:

zekezelker:

 There is a lot of nudity in the film but no sex, there is a flashback sequence of simulated sex. Yes we have good looking people in the film, more that ended up on the editing room floor.

   Thanks for the prompt reply, Zeke.   The reason I asked about real vs. simulated sex was because many years ago I read about a major mainstream Hollywood production (I can't remember what movie it was) that was rated R and included at least one softcore sex scene.   It was rumored that the actors in this scene were actually having sex and began dating afterwards.   I think this type of thing happens more often than most people think, particularly in low budget B-movies with unknown actors but also in some major studio productions as well.   Do you know anything about this type of activity in the filmmaking world?   As a director, if you were filming a sex scene between two characters, wouldn't you prefer that they were actually having sex rather than just "faking-it" ?   I would think that this would create a more realistic and intense scene on camera.

   I am genuinely curious about this as I have been writing a Horror story, that contains some fairly graphic sex scenes, over the past few years that I hope might be made into a movie some day.

   Thanks!

                                                                                  < GOR >