Overcoming the Failures

Three attempts at a short film is too much. So some asks, why continue?

Here's what I said, "the more times I fail at this one, the more the reason I should make it happen."

First of all, it's inspired by several true events and the stories. Are. Too. Amazing.

Second, we learn from our mistakes no? I am one mistake less in making this film.

The stories sum up to The Children, a feature crime drama that I finished the screenplay a few months before 9/11.

The first attempt was back in film school. I brought up the ten minute short version of The Children up and renamed it The Moment. It was to be shot in S-VHS.

My lecturer and friends taught that it's too complicated and should attempt something simpler.

The second time was still in film school two years later. I rewrote it and brought the fifteen minute version up for my final year project. It was to be shot on 16mm film.

Here's what they said, "too violent."

The third time was when I got really frustrated. With a small budget of a thousand, I set out to shoot it.

It was to be shot on MiniDV.

It was under a very short time span: most of the crew are enlisted into National Service in two weeks time. The preproduction time was squeezed and rushed. Locations gave a lot of trouble. I didn't even have time to ask for fundings.

While shooting it, I also had a nagging feeling that the script is missing something. After three days of shoot, I pulled the plug before I do anymore damage to the budget and production.

Great.

Enlisted into National Service myself, I took two years to look into the screenplay. After breaking the scenes down and constructing back up, I finally figured it out. I have inserted more back stories and it seems more complete.

This version of The Moment is half an hour. And it's the only true version that is right.

With more time invested in it, we have been making lots of notes, references, research and preparation for this shoot. If the funding is supportive, it will be shot in HD.

Hopefully. Let's keep our fingers crossed. :)

Regards,
JD