In early 2014, I was working as a freelance translator and had returned to university in Paris to prepare for a PhD in either philosophy or international relations.
And then I remembered: I want to be a filmmaker.
So, I decided to make a short film. That short film project originated purely as a passion project, a personal attempt to shift gears away from where I was heading and back onto a path that I never thought I'd lose sight of. Then things got a little out of hand: the short film became a Feature Film and then a Web Series.
During the shoot, someone asked me if I had documented the making of this project. I hadn't. So I decided to write this book. It's still being written as the project is still unfolding.
The premises : why pursue this project in the first place? how do you prepare for it? what risks must you consider?
The preparation of the project: coming up with the idea for the film; why this subject matter? why chose to fictionalize my own life and act in the film?
The shoot: the experience of shooting in the 5 cities, of traveling on a budget, of shooting solo with minimal equipment or with non-professionals; advice and dos-and-don'ts for DIY shooting.
The interviews: how I came to assemble this cast of interviewees and the process of meeting them; a presentation and discussion of their main arguments.
Unexpected events and opportunities along the way (such as meeting French film director James Huth and working on his film "Brice de Nice, 3" with Jean Dujardin).
The artwork and locations in the film : how did I find them? Why these? How to get permission?
The music: finding a composer, constructing the sound track, recording the music, etc.
Post production: the challenges of editing, trying to self-learn sound-mixing and color grading and realizing it's way too hard!
Promoting the project: making a website, social media presence, producing trailers, etc.
Releasing the film and hoping for the best!