I don't believe it takes money to make movies, it takes talent with passion and a dream, but yes, it takes marketing, influential support, and politics to enter, and win competitions. I do not consider myself an artist, but I have many important stories to tell. I must tell those stories and I wish to touch the world with them. Awards and contests are not important to me, but getting important stories out to the world is important. I am not the only person who wants to tell or is telling these types of stories. I want to work with those who have similar goals as myself. There is power in numbers, a power that money cannot control.
The one thing he doesn't discuss, which in my opinion is the biggest challenge in getting a feature film off the ground, is how did he raise the money? No doubt a film with that kind of logistical challenge costs money, no matter how you look at it. It certainly could not have been a no budget film with one location, two actors, etc, etc. Did Ang Lee put up the money? Did Mr. Dorji get a government support? And with the 6 months of rejections from festivals after finishing the film that he mentions, how on earth did he get it up to Oscar status? Did he have an agent or representation like it seems we here in the U.S. have to have? Once again, did Ang Lee get behind it? If so, this brings forth an important fact. Something that seems to be lacking in the US film industry. We aspiring struggling filmmakers here, no matter what age, need some of our established star directors or producers to pay it forward and give us a shot like Ang Lee seems to have done for Mr. Dorji. We can't do it alone.
Hi Karl, I am always looking to connect with talented filmmakers. I understand your comments as I felt that way for many years. That is why I devote so much time and effort to making it easier for up-and-coming filmmakers to be able to make a living in this industry. You have won awards and have received some recognition. I am going to watch "Looking for the Jackalope" and hopefully I can help you in getting your next feature made.
Thank you so much! Feel free to reach out to me directly at kshefelman@gmail.com. Hope you enjoy "Looking for the Jackalope". BTW, I'm actually in the process of re-editing it a bit, especially tightening the first half of the film. Maybe you'll agree. :) Anyway, hope to hear from you either way!
Ted, thank you so much for doing these "5 Questions.” They’ve all been terrific. I really love this quote from the director:
"In Bhutan we say that a rainbow is created is when different causes and conditions come together. Rain drops, sunlight, coming together at a certain angle creating the most beautiful of lights. So vivid, so real, yet so transitory in existence. Yet it is the transitory of its existence, that makes us appreciate the beauty of the rainbow even more. We Bhutanese say that everything in life is like the rainbow, the coming together of causes and conditions to create something real yet so fleeting, and in its transitoriness is where we find true appreciation for life.
I think we artists we must always try and develop an understanding of the transitory nature of everything in life. We also have to develop a wider understanding of how relative time is. Developing these understandings can drastically shape our perspectives on the possibilities of creating. Our mind can become free and limitless, and when that happens, our creations can also become limitless.
Thank you so much! Feel free to reach out to me directly at kshefelman@gmail.com. Hope you enjoy "Looking for the Jackalope". BTW, I'm actually in the process of re-editing it a bit, especially tightening the first half of the film. Maybe you'll agree. :) Anyway, hope to hear from you either way!
I don't believe it takes money to make movies, it takes talent with passion and a dream, but yes, it takes marketing, influential support, and politics to enter, and win competitions. I do not consider myself an artist, but I have many important stories to tell. I must tell those stories and I wish to touch the world with them. Awards and contests are not important to me, but getting important stories out to the world is important. I am not the only person who wants to tell or is telling these types of stories. I want to work with those who have similar goals as myself. There is power in numbers, a power that money cannot control.
The one thing he doesn't discuss, which in my opinion is the biggest challenge in getting a feature film off the ground, is how did he raise the money? No doubt a film with that kind of logistical challenge costs money, no matter how you look at it. It certainly could not have been a no budget film with one location, two actors, etc, etc. Did Ang Lee put up the money? Did Mr. Dorji get a government support? And with the 6 months of rejections from festivals after finishing the film that he mentions, how on earth did he get it up to Oscar status? Did he have an agent or representation like it seems we here in the U.S. have to have? Once again, did Ang Lee get behind it? If so, this brings forth an important fact. Something that seems to be lacking in the US film industry. We aspiring struggling filmmakers here, no matter what age, need some of our established star directors or producers to pay it forward and give us a shot like Ang Lee seems to have done for Mr. Dorji. We can't do it alone.
Hi Karl, I am always looking to connect with talented filmmakers. I understand your comments as I felt that way for many years. That is why I devote so much time and effort to making it easier for up-and-coming filmmakers to be able to make a living in this industry. You have won awards and have received some recognition. I am going to watch "Looking for the Jackalope" and hopefully I can help you in getting your next feature made.
Thank you so much! Feel free to reach out to me directly at kshefelman@gmail.com. Hope you enjoy "Looking for the Jackalope". BTW, I'm actually in the process of re-editing it a bit, especially tightening the first half of the film. Maybe you'll agree. :) Anyway, hope to hear from you either way!
Hi Ted. Just thought to let you and your readers know that AC is screening THE MONK AND THE GUN and a Q&A with Pawo Choyning Dorji on Friday, January 12th at 7pm@Los Feliz 3. Here are details and to RSVP: https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/the-monk-and-the-gun-1-12-24/?mc_cid=5dc802617b&mc_eid=2707194f22
Ted, thank you so much for doing these "5 Questions.” They’ve all been terrific. I really love this quote from the director:
"In Bhutan we say that a rainbow is created is when different causes and conditions come together. Rain drops, sunlight, coming together at a certain angle creating the most beautiful of lights. So vivid, so real, yet so transitory in existence. Yet it is the transitory of its existence, that makes us appreciate the beauty of the rainbow even more. We Bhutanese say that everything in life is like the rainbow, the coming together of causes and conditions to create something real yet so fleeting, and in its transitoriness is where we find true appreciation for life.
I think we artists we must always try and develop an understanding of the transitory nature of everything in life. We also have to develop a wider understanding of how relative time is. Developing these understandings can drastically shape our perspectives on the possibilities of creating. Our mind can become free and limitless, and when that happens, our creations can also become limitless.
A beautiful comment on the artistic process.
Thank you so much! Feel free to reach out to me directly at kshefelman@gmail.com. Hope you enjoy "Looking for the Jackalope". BTW, I'm actually in the process of re-editing it a bit, especially tightening the first half of the film. Maybe you'll agree. :) Anyway, hope to hear from you either way!