"Swallow this!"

I read this great article in Total Film magazine earlier. It was the first in a three part guide as to how to make a film. They're also running a competition that you can send short films in for, with prizes in numerous different categories.

It was all rather basic stuff, but very interesting indeed. It was written by the guys who wrote The Guerilla Filmmaker's Handbook, something that should be my Bible, but is actually something I've only ever had a quick flick through whilst in book stores. I should really change that.

Anyway, the reason I bring all this up because I feel like I've lost sight a little of my original aims when I set out to write this blog. Sure, it's been helpful for me indeed, I've made more progress over the span of the past seven posts than I have in the past seven months. But I'm still not working towards anything in particular, when I really should be.

So I'm going to grab the proverbial bull by the proverbial horns and do proverbial things to it...

By this, of course, I am not referring to any kind of bestiality (no matter how proverbial) and, obviously, am referring to the fact that I intend to enter Total Film's short film competition.

So alright, this could be seen as a bit of cop out, as I intended to be working toward a feature film, and, in all honesty, that is what I would much rather do than make another short. However, writing this blog has opened me up to a lot of truths about myself. What started off as a place where I could publish silly little ramblings has taken on a very psychological edge, for me at least. Because, I'm sure you're thinking, "Okay, he's finally lost it."

And maybe I have. Maybe I have...

Either way, this blog has become very cathartic for me. And I've realised that I need to get some serious practice in as a filmmaker, if I ever want to make it.

Don't believe me? Remind yourself of Alice Still Lives Here.

Good. I'm glad we're on the same page now.

So here I am, now with a clearly defined goal. Of course theres no way that I'm going to have a film finished and ready by the time this blog project is over. But I hope that by the end I'll be able to present you, the nonexistent reader, with a sample of a script.

Also, I'm not completely out of practice, as my video blog, which is nearly finished, was a nice little exercise in editing, as you'll see very soon.

Right now, though, I want to take a few moments to talk about The Evil Dead.

It probably seems dated to most viewers, considering how special effects have come along over the last 25 years, but for fans of cult horror and anyone with an interest in filmmaking, the film remains a classic. It's a truly iconic horror comedy, it's sequel (my favourite) even more so and it made me a die hard Bruce Campbell fan (his books are genius and he lights up any screen he appears on).

But what's most important is the story of how it was made. Sam Raimi was only 19 when he made The Evil Dead, that's as old as I am now, hence my eagerness to get a move on. It's a great lesson in filmmaking, but one that you'll need to find out for yourself. I don't want to dampen the effect by rambling on about it here. Hopefully, it'll strike you in the same way it struck me, that is if you haven't already seen it. And if not, you clearly have had your soul swallowed by a deadite.

Video blog next!

Alsh.