Making a musical 4: The fear sets in

Okay, so now the fear has set in.
The sheer enormity of the scale of what I am trying to achieve has finally hit me, akin to the way the apple hit Newton under that tree so many years ago.
How the devil am I going to pull this off?
I mean, seriously, this is like the hardest thing I've ever conceived of undertaking.

To write a musical is one thing (which is coming along great actually), but then think of the music... the dancing... the acting... the filming... the dedication and time it will take of so many people that I can't afford to pay.

My biggest fear is that I'll push loads of money into this production, and be let down by people who say they're committed, but then flake - which is to be understood. I mean, when you're not getting paid, and someone is taking your time up for like 6 months, it's very easy to turn around and quit.
And that's just it, it's not a short production. It's going to be time consuming -because everyone needs to learn to dance, and the singing needs to be done. And then memorising your lines as well as dances... I mean, imagine how long that will take? 6 months? 8 months?
Who can stay committed for that long, when they're not being paid?

So what do I do?
Does anyone have any words of reassurance for me?
Any film makers out there got any tips?

Making a musical 3: Inspiration strikes again!

It's true, I have been re-inspired to write.
In fact, I spent a lot of my free time on Tuesday writing the screenplay to the musical.
I'm so excited, I really can't wait to finish and start working on composing the music.
I have actually been practising guitar and piano in the run up to creating the music. I've been brushing up on my very limited skills, and also attempting to perfect my sheet music reading ability (which is terrible at the moment).

There is only one more day of filming left on Idle Confusion (the currently film I'm making), and after that, I can focus my free time on editing that and working on the musical.
There's not really much time left to be honest with you. I know I'm not filming until summer 2010, but in that time, I still need to write the music, finish the script, get a cast in excess of 50-80 people!, learn to dance, and raise near enough £5,000-10,000!!!
That's a lot of things to do, and not a lot of time. And let's not forget, I have NO experience of working on anything this big, let alone on a musical! :S

But, on a positive note, I've had a lot of offers of help from people, and I really appreciate this. I'm never short of people to help, so if you can do ANYthing (even having the strength to hold a camera will do). I know I keep asking for help, but I really do need it if this thing is to get off the ground.
I've not even started it properly yet, but I've already plugged in money and a lot of time into this, so I really don't want to see it crash and burn :(

Here's to inspiration!
-Mo

Making a musical 2: Script work

Here I sit, a year and a half before I plan to start filming. I have plenty of time to organise things, the music, the actors, the dancing (oooooh! I have booked dance lessons that start in January and run for 12 weeks! WOOOOOO), etc...
Everything is going to plan...
... Well, almost everything. There is a slight problem.
I have writers block :(
Typical right? All the time in the world, and yet, you can't write a word.
Every line I write, I delete, because it's just dry. I feel like one of those novelists who sit around by candle light, staring at a blank piece of paper in a typewriter, with hundreds of pages scrunched up on the floor around his feet -except there's fluorescent lights in here, and I'm sitting at a Mac... and there's no paper -but you get the picture.

Writing has always been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember... but for as long as I've been passionate about writing, I've also had inspirational problems. It starts off brilliantly, but soon my creativity dies and I'm stuck with unfinished stories and half written plays.
Obviously, that can't happen with the musical, as I've already started plugging money into this, and it's amazing how much of a motivator finance is! lol.
Still though, motivation doesn't equal inspiration.
I know the entire story of the film, I know where I need to go from where I am... the only problem is, I can't get there through words!

So, if you have anything to say that inspirational, please do go ahead and let me know!
Saying that though, writing this blog is inspiring me... but only to write another blog! lol.
HELP ME people!

In other musical related news, I hope I have found another choreographer to work with Marc (you know who you are!), and hopefully some more dancers.
I still need anyone who can dance or even slightly act.
Please do pass this message on to friends, and friends of friends:
If you want to be in a film, and not get paid - but get treated like an actor (dressing room not included), and be a STAR*, then PLEASE get in touch with me ASAP!
I need to audition early next year.
There's a lot of work to be done - vocal coaching, dance coaching, etc...

Thanks all for reading. Please pass it on :D

-Mo

*Star status may or may not be achieved.

Making a musical 1: The diary begins

I've been thinking about making a musical for a while (yes, it is largely due to the influence of High School Musical if you must know), but now, I'm actually doing something about it.
I am on a mission to create a musical by 2010.
But not some terrible looking, dry film where there's just music in the background... no... I'm talking about an full on, all singing, all dancing, cheese laden musical extravaganza.

It's going to be hard, considering I have no experience at directing anything musical or dance-y in nature; nor have I ever directed a feature - so it's all new territory.
I'm also quite a mediocre musician, so that's not going to help when I score the whole thing. Oh yeah, on top of all that, I can't dance either; and as I plan to play a role in the film, that's not really ideal.
But you know what? You can't let something like the lack of skills stand in the way of ambition right?

I would say that the creation of this diary is stage one on the journey to making this musical... but it's not. I've actually already written 3 of the songs, and about 1/3 of the screenplay. So it already is on it's way.
So why make the diary at all? Well, I want some kind of a documentation of the highs and lows of the film making process, but with the feedback of others (hint to comment). Then I can look back one day and reprimand myself for all the time I wasted in my youth trying to make a musical.

But seriously though, this really is a dream of mine, and through this diary, I hope to keep you all informed of the progress.
And, on that note, let me tell you what's currently happening...

The film is to be set in London and filmed in the summer of 2010 (it's not as far as you think, trust me).
Between now and then, I need to finish the screenplay, write all the songs, learn to dance, work on some dance choreography (with my flatmate Marc who is to be choreographer), find a cast, train said cast, find a crew, raise a tonne of money to pay for all of this, and remember to breathe. All of a sudden, 2010 feels far too close.

As I mentioned, the screenplay is coming along nicely, and some of the songs have already been written. I have also found a dance school to enroll in (yes... me... dancing :S ).
The main thing I need are a dedicated cast and crew that don't mind NOT being paid :S
And that's the other reason for the diary - perhaps it can entice some of you to come on board.
If you have acting/singing/dancing/filming/photography/musical/camera experience, and want to get involved, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact me.
Without good, dedicated help, this is NEVER going to happen.

Well, that's all for today I think.
There will be more to come as time goes on and things develop. I'm sure you'll be getting a podcast as some point from myself and perhaps some of the other crew involved.

Keep singing (and dancing) -Mo
p.s. - Did I also mention it needs to be made in the most cost-effective way possible? Because, let's face it... I'm not made of money.