Like A Rolling Stone...

Pre-Production of the film is well and truly under way. I get excited at this point and I will refer to it as being on the 'Death Ground'. This is a reference to Sun Tzu's, 'Art Of War', a theory with the presupposition that soldiers that are backed up against some kind of geographical feature, have no escape route and therefore fight twice or three times as hard as death is viscerally present. I submit that 'Death Ground' is a psychological phenomenon that goes well beyond the battlefield.

When you begin pre-production of a film, the interior world you have grown accustomed to while writing and imagining your script, suddenly flourishes externally as various different people begin attaching themselves to the project. Ideas from your head begin to be imagined for the screen, with other artists and professionals consulting you to help create physically your vision. This has a rolling stone effect, collecting momentum and the longer it rolls that harder it is to pull out, to change your mind because now other people depend on you and the potential life of the film. There is a very real pressure at your back and you cannot retreat. This becomes 'Death Ground' and you must act or suffer the consequences.

I believe that you can harness this into a powerful and creative force. This works to drive you to keep working, to keep coming up with solutions and pushing yourself to do the best work you possibly can. Our future is at stake, we cannot afford to lose... so we don't.

I have acquired a Producer, my brother who is currently a fourth year Law/Commerce student and will be doing articles in Entertainment Law.

My DOP, Aaron Farrugia, who photographed my previous film will be available, he is currently working on various television projects.

I have spoken to JP Beirout, who did some great sound design on Ray Pangs film, 'BREAK', and will possibly be my sound recordist as well.

Justin Oleyar has suggested interest as Camera Assistant and did a great job on my previous film.

I have my main actor, Tas, who I am already in dialogue with in regards to the script.

I am also trying to track down an Art Director and have had some interest already so that looks promising.

I am currently really fleshing out a detailed treatment, preparing to have to show to Chris on Monday. I have already found lots of things wrong with my first one, which is good to pick up on these weaknesses at such an early stage. I hope to have a first draft ready after my meeting with Chris for the following week, I feel more comfortable discussing a treatment initially then a first draft of a scrip. We'll see how it goes.