Screamplay

House Rules is almost at the end of an extensive rewrite. The entire premise has changed, but the characters have stayed the same, and we've even resurrected one from a previous draft.


Here's a snapshot from the process:

What makes a good project?

"An evening of dramatic innovation" was the name of a showcase recently at the London Chamber of Commerce, where the government's Knowledge Connect programme together with the Central School of Speech & Drama showcased the various projects they had supported over the last few years.


In that context they asked the pertinent question: what makes a good project? As someone who often has to run projects, I thought I would share the pointers since they apply to many things we humans create with each other:

• Measure before and after to see the effect
• Identify why, who, what, where, when, how
• Make it specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound
• Make sure all partners put work in
• Don't lose momentum
• Use the result
• Maintain relationships

So simple, but often when working on creative projects the process becomes so exciting and wild that one loses sight of the simple things that make a good project.

Casting Revealed

Hester Schell from San Francisco was in London this weekend promoting her new book Casting Revealed and hosting a Q&A session for producers, directors and actors. 


It was interesting to note some of the subtle distinctions between working in the UK and in the States - the actor's union seems to be more demanding of producers/directors over there, which may be a good thing.


Here are some interesting tidbits of advice from the seminar - the book is on my desk and I can't vouch for it yet, but Hester seems to be a genuinely passionate collaborator and experienced in independent film.

• Use the internet - nobody does open casting calls anymore.
• There's a myth that "actors are a dime a dozen", but smart directors know actors are worth their weight in gold. You have to find the right one.
• When in doubt, keep on casting.
• Pay attention to how you feel and not what you're thinking - if there's any doubt, call back.
• If you're working on a low-budget film, your shooting schedule will be tight, so check to make sure an actor can take direction and that they understand technical aspects of the craft, ie. make the mark, match the action, frameline and eyeline.
• Have people bring in memorised material to check they can learn lines (and rock up on time!). In the States it is mandatory to send an actor the sides 24 hours before casting.
• Start casting at least 3 - 4 months before before the first day of principal photography.
• Who are the good teachers in your country and where did your actors train?
• When you're interested in an actor, google them, see how they present themselves.

One of my favourite quotes from the day was "when you share the wealth, we all rise up".

If you're interested in learning the nitty gritty of the casting process, you can buy the book here.