Many thanks to those who volunteered to read the Greyscale first draft. I’m currently waiting to hear back from those that it went out to. I’ve had one immensely helpful reader look at my writing style and showed me ways to be more descriptive in the confines of the lean space of the story. Many thanks to Ola Jordan for this.
As the rest of the readers chime in on what they think of the story, I’ll adapt, rewrite, and then begin the arduous task of procuring locations and actors.
I have the majority of the roles filled, and am waiting to hear from the rest of the potential cast as to their interest in the project. Things are picking up, and every day production gets a little bit closer.
The “First Draft” for Greyscale is complete. It has been heavily, heavily revised about 6-7 times, but I kept getting to the end of the story and make dramatic changes because I’m wasn’t satisfied with the build-up to the conclusion.
Now? I’m happy with how things played out, but want to make the story as good as I can possibly make it. So, what I’m looking for now is 5-7people who are willing to read through about 105 pages (screenplays are notoriously quick reads) and would be willing to give a detailed report on your thoughts on the work (regarding plot, dialog, character development, pacing, etc).
If you are interested, I’ll be looking at who replies and will take the responses into consideration and begin my rewrite.
Thanks!
Please comment here or send all inquiries to DarosFilms AT gmail.com
What: 3-5 min short film for a contest Where: Tulsa, OK and surrounding area Who: Anyone we can get When: March 29th, all day. March 30th, afternoon (if needed) Why: There’s a story to be told and a contest to win
It was recently brought up to me that Dell is having a contest. Deadline is April 4th, and they are wanting 3-5 minute submissions of original work that have to be put together with a few guidelines.
One of the following from each category has to be chosen (and I will bold the options I am choosing): Film Style:
Cinéma-Vérité
Bollywood
Epic Film Noir (surprise, surprise)
French New Wave
Silent Film
Spaghetti Western
Motif: Dystopic Future (a possible alternative)
Innocent Bystander Infected by Aliens (probably not going in the direction you’re expecting)
Loose Cannon
Misfit Lovers
Out of My League
Wacky Sidekick
Song:
Frozen Feet by Tacks, the Boy Disaster
Hospital Rooms Aren’t For Lovers by Bear Colony
Meet Me In The Garden by Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele Naked and Red by Colour Revolt
Saturday People by Luke Temple
They’re Outnumbered by Dignan
After I chose the style and motif, I had a story idea pop into my head. I started looking through all songs, and only one stood out that seemed to fit the style of film I tend to write for. Lo and behold, if you look at the lyrics (mild warning, might offend some) it fit the story perfectly.
I’ll not get into too many details, but I’m thinking a black and white landscape in a world where someone was infected long ago, and it is now pervading through all of us. And those who see it for what it is are labeled as crazy (which is why dystopia is a feasible alternative). Are you with me on this one? I hope so. Add the lyrics from an alternate viewpoint, and I think there’s a very potent message and story to be crafted.
What’s at stake??
Top 3 selections get $5k to make a 20 minute short film, and the winner of that gets $25k. Also, there’s a nice editing machine at stake as well. I haven’t read up on all the rules, but everything gets owned by Dell in the end, so this needs to be original and solely for this purpose.
This evening I’ll begin writing my first draft, but I’m going to need people who are willing to be a part of a day (maybe day and a half) for shooting on March 28th & 29th. This will most likely be based in Tulsa (most likely around downtown Tulsa). So, if you’re available and interested, please let us know at:
darosfilms AT gmail.com (yeah, I’m still leery of spam)
A few months back, several years worth of projects and footage were lost due to a hard drive crash. That, coupled with having moved recently caused for an unfortunate loss of some software CDs and their respective keys. Among those softwares was FinalDraft. But, while all hope is not lost (there are still some boxes that have yet to be searched), a free screenwriting software has tided me over: CeltX.
Aside from being free, it does a lot of the same things as FinalDraft, and the very nice aspect is that you can store your drafts online and pick back up from another computer that has CeltX installed (which has come in handy when working on multiple laptops and my desktop). Another feature is being able to collaborate with other users of CeltX, where all they have to do is download the most recent version, make their changes, and then upload it for the next batch of writing.
So, if you’re on a budget, be sure to check out CeltX. It does all the formatting for you, just be sure you take the time to learn the formatting steps for screenwriting (some google searches, a good book, or a class can teach you this).
While Battlefield is still in production, an idea for a feature length film came up and is now in development. At the moment, the screenplay is 90 pages into first draft version 1.5. Elements keep changing and most of the screenplay has changed almost completely a couple times, so I can’t exactly say it’s reached a second draft yet. It is titled Greyscale, and I’m keeping rather tight-lipped about what it’s subject matter other than a good portion of it will be in black and white (although it probably isn’t news to all of you… I announced this back on The Wandering Factotum a little while back).
If you have an interest in reading/editing the screenplay when the time comes, I will be passing it around for a limited time while I take a hiatus from it and then begin on a full rewrite.
As needs are coming up, they will be posted and there will be constant production updates for Greyscale.
The main project currently in production is one called Battlefield. When completed, it will be a five part series that can either taken as allegory, or taken alone for entertainment purposes. The first chapter is completed, and filming will resume in early April to finish the principle photography.
Welcome to the blog for Daros Films. Here you will be able to keep track of our current and upcoming projects.
Daros Films was formed with the goal to “reclaim.” This was central to the selection of the name, and is central to the goal of the organization. For too long, the beautiful art form of filmmaking has leaned toward something mindless, something purely sensual that does not delve any deeper than mere entertainment. Almost what a Sunday morning comic would be to art, or a limerick would be to well crafted prose. Granted, they are very, very well produced comics and limericks, and make a lot of money in the box offices, but there needs to be a place for something that lasts beyond the final credits.
It should be said that we do not claim to be the answer to this problem. Like a soldier heading off to fight a battle, we are looking to do what we can to better filmmaking. We don’t claim to be the solution, but we would be very remiss if we didn’t do everything we could to bring beauty from our passion for others to enjoy and think about.
We also believe in the Story. The Story is what goes on around us everyday, and through something larger than ourselves, is crafted inexplicably into each of our lives. It is comedy, tragedy, epic, intimate, and everything else we derive our worldviews from. We believe it is the source for our little stories, and since we cannot all share the same experiences, we would like to reflect what parts of the Story we have seen and benefited by for the sake of others.
Be it short or feature length, we will continue to grow and try to hone our craft into something worthwhile. So please, check back with us as we continue on, subscribe to our RSS feed, and if you are interested in partnering with us to tell the stories that we find are worth telling, we would be glad to pull up a chair and listen.
Sincerely,
Those of us in Daros Films
P.S. It is also our goal to be as transparent as possible. The movie isn’t about the credits, and neither is Daros Films. While we may avoid using names, it shouldn’t stop you from contacting us. We’re always on the lookout for people who are more interested in telling stories than making their own name bigger.
About
Daros is a rough interpretation of a Hebrew word that means 'Reclaim.'
The purpose of Daros Films is to reclaim the Story that is being told by showing it in other stories. The purpose is to reclaim the quality of a beautiful artform that has become in some regards, a mindless pastime.