Introduce Yourself : -first feature film- by Daniel Latteo

Welcome and good luck Daniel with your feature film. Don't hop for it just go for it man!

Hi, Daniel! Welcome to Stage32. You can better post your questions in the Filmmaking/Directing lounge. I guess more filmmakers will respond that way. Good luck!

Hi! Welcome!! :-)

Thanks to everyone's valuable suggestions. I know that being my first feature it won't go picture perfect, no matter how well I prepare for it, but the fact is that having had experience directing a few short films where I had to hire a lot of unexperienced and unqualified people as crew for lack of budget, I really wanted to step up to another level for my next project. I wanted to try and secure a solid cast and crew, and do the best possible film, making it go around the Festivals circuit and trying to get recognition from it. Once I have secured a good script and some pre-viz work as Vitaly said, which I think is fundamental, I'm really willing to give it my all. So the next piece of advice I want to ask you is in regard to production and getting the project started.

Should I go Independent, with all the freedom but also all the hassle that come with it? Or should I try and get financial and production backing from a studio (such as Amazon for instance)? Is crowdfunding a solution you would suggest for someone in my situation? I won't go into specifics here but I'm trying to organize two viable stories to scriptwrite and film; one is about Witchcraft and the other is a Supernatural-drama, and I know that neither genre responds too well to a serious lack of resources when you are in the field and shooting. That is why I'm trying to know as much as I can and to prepare in every possible way for this venture.

Thanks in advance I appreciate it.

I agree with Vitaly in regards to going independent Daniel.The only way to learn the process of making a film is by doing it with your own concept and style.That's how you begin to show your ideas and work by trying it, doing it your own way.If you go by selling your project to studios ( it's true that we all dream in some way about that) you will skip learning process and more it's possible to give up an amazing script or project and you going to be left disappointed with few bucks only from it. Don't think to much about how is going to be the movie perceived because everybody starts from somewhere. But its very good start that you try to be perfectionist about making the movie.Fingers crossed for you!

Thank you Robert, that was really Amazing advice. We are thinking alike about the approach to take. Of course that doesn't mean that you won't have to go through some dark zones as an Indipendent, but hey, this is my s--t, and I really wouldn't want any regrets in the end. Still if the opportunity of a studio supporting my project opens up I will not reject it hands down. Of course you have to believe your skills. Of course the only way to learn how to be a filmmaker is to...make films. I've studied for 4 years at The London Film School, but I still felt I learned more in 20 days shooting my first short film out there in the field, under terrible conditions and pressure. And of course there is failure. Sure I know that! I've known about an Italian director E.B. Clucher who bombed in his first two or three films, but he went on to make the world renowned Spaghetti Western "They call me Trinity" and then on to make Bud Spencer and Terence Hill the most successfully known Italian films' duo in the whole world. So I think persistent and brave are also two important words here. Have to be.

Thanks again Robert and any other bit of advice you might have it'd be very welcome.

Daniel