I'm Attempting To Make A TV Series

[H18 ENF]

Morning All,

Seeing as Sky has ruined the opportunity of watching any F1 before 2pm I figured I'd come on here and tell you of my plight to write and produce a TV series... especially as the inspiration for it started on this site.

About 12 months ago in the 'Youtube' section somebody posted a link to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eELH0ivexKA - Professor Elemental 'Cup of Brown Joy', I haven't written any comedy or anything for about 3 years prior to that but that character inspired me, so I tracked down Mr Elemental and we agreed that we would shoot a pilot.

The show is called The Chronicles of Professor Elemental and is a comedy which tips it's hat (Or pith helmet) to Sherlock Holmes/Doctor Who but has a resemblence to Flight of The Conchords in terms of layout. We're making 3x10min Episodes which we can use as a 30 minute Pilot to show to prospective broadcasters and commissioners. As with all projects we've created a Faecesbook Page https://www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesOfProfessorE... where we're uploading pictures and competitions etc. Thinking about it I've not uploaded any pictures there but I'm sure one day I will do...

The pilot is being fan funded (as he has quite a few) and I'm amazed to say we've raised over £6000 in just over 2 weeks. Whilst I am the first to agree that £6k is not a huge budget for a TV Pilot it's a damn sight more than I was expecting! If you fancied donating the plight have a search for Crowdfunder on Google and you'll find us on there, not linking to it as that's not the reason for the post.

So we start shooting on the 26th April in Brighton and we're trying to get it all done in a week - including a fairly Epic battle sequence. If you fancy helping in anyway feel free to get in touch, we're doing an awful lot of this on the good will of others! Actually, It has genuinely just occured to me I do need an exotic looking 'British' car to shoot with - if anyone has one going spare that they'd like to donate for a day

Anyway, I'll keep you updated and tell myself that you're all really really interested...

[Simpo Two]

It might have been me who posted the link; I think it's brilliant and I'd love to be involved - and I could lend you my TVR for the shoot - but I'm in Essex so logistics not great.

Good luck with the project!

[anonymous-user]

What sort of help are you looking for?

[toxicated]

Good luck, sounds interesting so please post updates.

+1 to what help do you need? Brighton based too

[H18 ENF]

Oh brilliant, thanks chaps - In terms of helps etc to be honest I'm actually short on the catering side of things (Breakfast & Lunch for Cast and crew for a week - probably about 25 people per day - we can cover cost of products, we need someone to actually come and make it!) and also reprographics. Our Crowdfunder page says that people who donate will get signed copies of scripts and CDs etc. I think so far I've got 90 scripts to send out at least. The script is about 45 pages, not going to be all that cheap if I do it myself! It also probably needs to be packaged nicely etc.

Simpo - TVR would be bloody spot on if we could arrange it!?

[lotus72]

Gosh. That's really very good to get that funding so quickly. I've been filming a Formula 1 documentary myself for the past few years. It's hard work doing it out of your own pocket! Now, please don't pass me off as an amateur, I have worked in television for the last 25 years or so, have worked for the BBC, Formula 1 etc etc.
My website for the programme/video is here : www.lotus72dvd.com
So Ben, how was it with Crowdfunder? The other site I've heard about that does the same sort of thing is Sponsume, any comments on them?
I reckon £5,000 would absolutely complete my programme.

[Roman]

Have a look at Kickstarter. Here is an vaudeville themed act I caught at Edinburgh last year to give you an example of how it works:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sidetracked/ed...

It certainly seems popular in the states and I imagine the Prof E would find a big Steampunk audience there.

I'd certainly prefer an alternative channel (or standalone website) to facebook to keep track of your project.

Please keep us up to date on here too!

[johnfm]

H18 ENF said:

Oh brilliant, thanks chaps - In terms of helps etc to be honest I'm actually short on the catering side of things (Breakfast & Lunch for Cast and crew for a week - probably about 25 people per day - we can cover cost of products, we need someone to actually come and make it!) and also reprographics. Our Crowdfunder page says that people who donate will get signed copies of scripts and CDs etc. I think so far I've got 90 scripts to send out at least. The script is about 45 pages, not going to be all that cheap if I do it myself! It also probably needs to be packaged nicely etc.

Simpo - TVR would be bloody spot on if we could arrange it!?

Re: catering.

If on a budget, you should be on the black. Short film producers are brillinat at this sort of thing. PGTips and places like that will give you tea/coffee supplies if you write to them. Try writing to Pret or Greggs or similar to get some free food. It all adds up.

Though the biggest costs will probably be kit (lighting & sound) and post production - though it depends how you shoot and cut it. Given current camera tech, you need to probably spend more effort on sound recording than lighting tbh. Sound is always the thing that gives away a low budget production.

Good luck!

[H18 ENF]

johnfm said:

Re: catering.

If on a budget, you should be on the black. Short film producers are brillinat at this sort of thing. PGTips and places like that will give you tea/coffee supplies if you write to them. Try writing to Pret or Greggs or similar to get some free food. It all adds up.

Though the biggest costs will probably be kit (lighting & sound) and post production - though it depends how you shoot and cut it. Given current camera tech, you need to probably spend more effort on sound recording than lighting tbh. Sound is always the thing that gives away a low budget production.

Good luck!

RE: The PG tips etc I would think that's a very good idea, getting the time to organise it all is the tricksy bit! I'm getting through most of it but will certainly take you up on those ideas.

Regarding sound - you are spot on, it's the bit that is always a major give away, but so tricky to find a decent sound op, especially one to work on pilots/low budget stuff.

We've got all the kit we want for next to nothing - shooting on EX1s, recording on to a Samurai to get the MBps up to a broadcast standard, as we have had some interest to run the pilot. The olny bit of kit that I'd love to have but haven't managed yet is a Jib and a jib operator. The production values just look so much better with stuff like that. Fortunately I've got an Orbit dolly so that will stack things up a bit.

Hopefully should have all the locations sorted fairly soon aswell, not that they are proving to be that cheap!

[H18 ENF]

Hit a bit of a snag today that generated this post a couple of minutes ago http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Due to a mix up on an email all the locations we had selected are now not affordable and with 4 weeks til we begin to shoot I'm a little bit nervous...

[andrewrob]

H18 ENF said:

Hit a bit of a snag today that generated this post a couple of minutes ago http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Due to a mix up on an email all the locations we had selected are now not affordable and with 4 weeks til we begin to shoot I'm a little bit nervous...

What's the budget for the locations? If nothing I know of one free country mansion that gets used a lot for filming but it doesn't have a roof.

[H18 ENF]

andrewrob said:

What's the budget for the locations? If nothing I know of one free country mansion that gets used a lot for filming but it doesn't have a roof.

We've got a total budget of about a grand if the locations don't require massive amounts of set dressing. Where's the mansion with no roof??

[andrewrob]

H18 ENF said:

andrewrob said:

What's the budget for the locations? If nothing I know of one free country mansion that gets used a lot for filming but it doesn't have a roof.

We've got a total budget of about a grand if the locations don't require massive amounts of set dressing. Where's the mansion with no roof??

Its in Derbyshire, so well north of your original locations but its an impressive place. Owned by National Heritage but I've seen photo shoots there recently so shouldn't be an issue with something like this.

Its called Sutton Scarsdale hall. If you do a search on google you will find interior shots as its quite popular with the ghosty types!

[parakitaMol.]

Have you got enough material to submit a short film entry to this?: http://www.youtube.com/user/yourfilmfestival

Only 2 days left though

[H18 ENF]

parakitaMol. said:

Have you got enough material to submit a short film entry to this?: http://www.youtube.com/user/yourfilmfestival

Only 2 days left though

Would have loved to but I think it may be a bit short notice I'm afriad.

The house with no roof is lovely, but unfortunately I need to do internal shots aswell and they would require an awful lot of dressing - but lovely looking building.

Just wanted to come on and say thanks to all of you who got in touch to help me out. There is a couple of really strong possibilities. Simpo, I know I owe you an email - sorry the weekend has escaped me a little and I need to hear back from a venue on Monday who may be able to offer me all the location I need within about 3 minutes of each other. if that comes to nothing then I will jump immediately on the search for individual locations. Fingers crossed!

One peculiar twist to the last few days is that we may *possibly* have Mitch Benn (The Now Show - Radio 4) guest starring, which would be nice. I'll let you know how it goes.

Hope you're all enjoying your weekends!

[Simpo Two]

H18 ENF said:

Mitch Benn

Wasn't he the pianist in 'Whose line is it anyway'?

[mattdaniels]

Simpo Two said:

H18 ENF said:

Mitch Benn

Wasn't he the pianist in 'Whose line is it anyway'?

You're thinking of Richard Vranch (sp.)

[H18 ENF]

Though I had to Google it to be sure, it's the kind of thing you could imagine he would have done!

[H18 ENF]

Afternoon All!

We believe the Location crisis is over, though it hasn't been 100% confirmed, we have been offered Sponsorship by the National Trust to the tune of 3 NT sites. I won't name them just yet but I can say they are bloomin' marvellous. So thank you to all the people who got involved to help me out, amazing effort thanks!

Unfortunately Simpo's wonderful offer of lending us his rather lovely TVR has fallen through as we are filming on a day that he has pressing commitments so if anyone can think of anywhere we could 'borrow' (For Petrol Money) a lovely 'British' car that would befit a colonial eccentric (The Character - Not Me) I would definitely appreciate an email.

In other news we have had quite a good week, one of the Ex-Head of Props on Doctor Who has agreed to make a large proportion of the more peculiar requirements we need (His site is here if you want to have a gander http://web.me.com/markcordory/Site/Welcome.html) with the remainder being donated by an Independant Steampunk shop called 'The Hab' - (http://www.facebook.com/The.Haberdash) really amazed by the support and reaction this project is getting, really incredible.

Anyway, back soon and thanks!

[Zad]

All I can say is - Splendid! Professor Elemental deserves to be seen by a wider audience and this sounds absolutely perfect. Even better to have a PHer behind it. I wonder if Garlick might be persuaded to lend you his Chim, in return for doing a blog post.