Hello. all! I've just uploaded my arthouse drama screenplay "Motherland" on Stage 32. I have some short films and would like to film this movie as a director. Could you please share your experience or experience of you friends, what is my next steps should be? Do I need a manager or should I search for a producer\production company be myself?
Synopsis: A single transphobic mother, a major in the Russian police, travels to the Netherlands to investigate the death of her transgender refugee daughter and after that bury the remains in the motherland. Steeped in Russian state propaganda, she plunges into the complex and contradictory reality of Europe, only to discover that her daughter had taken her own life. Eventually, in order to go on living herself, she will have to acknowledge her responsibility for her daughter’s death, embark on the path of repentance, and accept her child after death as she was in life.
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Congratulations on finishing your script, Antony Voronov! I think searching for a producer is a good next step. You can search for one in the Browse Members section (www.stage32.com/people?name=&location=&roles=Producer).
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A) This sounds like an amazing story/script!
B) Make sure you have your pitch ready to go. Some writer/directors start the query process with just the script in hand, while others develop a full deck including casting possibilities, comps, a preliminary budget, schedule, research on cast/sales projections, etc. If you intend to direct, I recommend that you even look at producing a scene from the film or a proof of concept to include with the package. Doing this will give a producer a good picture of how you intend to approach this film.
C) I also recommend you do a pass of the script purely with the budget in mind. What can you cut that won't impact the story but will save you on days, locations, day players, meals, etc.
I hope this helps!
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Hi! I think this story has potential if you make it psychological, philosophical. If you tell a story about a mother who finds out that she is responsible for the problems and death of her child. The second problem I see in the plot is why would a mother who hates her daughter investigate her death? It's not logical. Such a mother will bury and forget. She won't even return the body to her homeland. Moreover, the ending turns out to be a banal suicide, not a sophisticated crime.
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Antony Voronov hi there, Antony. Congratulations on finishing this draft of your screenplay.
Next Steps:
Get some of your trusted colleagues to read it and then take their notes to improve the script.
Have your materials ready: pitch deck, distribution prospectus, lookbook/style book.
Search the Stage 32 community for a Producer who has worked with your genre. You can write to the team at success@stage32.com and ask them for help with this.
Here’s wishing you great success. Geoff
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I love this story. I would love to watch it. In terms of next steps its tricky. Like Willem Elzenga 2 it costs money to produce. I would explore what co-production treaties exist between the countries you want to shoot in and find producers on both sides interested in this story. I would also shoot a short proof of concept or engage in pitching in the Stage32 Writers' Room to see what advice you can get. There are also opportunities to pitch to producers here on stage32 from time to time.
Writers' Room:
https://www.stage32.com/writers-room
Pitching Opportunities:
https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/pitch-sessions/Pitch-Alexandra-Hen...
https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/pitch-sessions/Pitch-Colleen-Marsh...
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Thank you Geoff Hall for the structured and thoughtful advice. Really appreciate it.
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Willem Elzenga 2 Luckily, Creative Europe MEDIA programme encourage applications that demonstrate strategies for diversity and inclusion, gender balance, and representativeness. My request was to share the experience. I would be grateful, if you can do it. Negative experiences are also welcome. Thanks in advance.
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Maurice Vaughan Thanks. I will definitely do it!
You're welcome, Antony Voronov. Looking forward to seeing Motherland!
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Michael Fitzer, MFA Thank you for the advice. I think I should be in search of a smaller producer (or hire someone) to make a budget estimate. I never did it for features for the European market.
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@Arthur Charpentier This is the good question about her motivation. ;) The answer - because she loves her daughter. The whole film is built on this internal conflict — who will win, the transphobic policeman or the loving mother? You know, things seem different when you face death, especially if it's the death of the last relative. In my opinion, humans are very illogical creatures. These odd behavioral quirks, dictated by emotions, are what make us human.
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@Arthur Charpentier you are welcome to read the script, if you would like and have time. It is here https://www.stage32.com/loglines/68750 Will be grateful for your notes
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@Anthony, I agree with you. Human beings emotions are complex. Quite layered. It all depends on her degree of transphobia, how much her view on transphobia has changed beneath the surface over time. It might even be a conflict of her rank in the Police Force, their beliefs which she holds firm based on training and her motherly instincts.
The older we get the more some of us simmer and become more understanding. Sometimes we are ashamed to admit we are wrong as we gain more understanding and then, when confronted with death, a finality that removes the possibility of reconciling, it can make us take decisions we normally wouldn't.
Sometimes regret is embedded in not saying something soon enough. When it's too late it surfaces. Emotions we didn't know we had, become apparent.