As you're probably too well aware by now, the film is finished! A big fat pat on the back for Callum and myself.
I probably should have been keeping you updated over the last week, but in reality, there really wasn't time. In the two days leading up to the release of the film, I didn't sleep at all, I just sat at the computer hardly recognising when the day shifted to night and back again.
We had a lot of technical problems over the final week of post-production and I hark back to Callum and I sitting on the phone between Ireland and New Zealand and the moment our computers simultaneously crashed as a moment that was too real and too funny to be sad about.
We got there though! We got there.
The film would not have been completed without Callum's tireless work ethic. If you need anything cut, anywhere in the world it seems, he's your man. Visit his website http://dipcreekproductions.com/
As for the film itself, you can view it here www.vimeo.com/ondemand/iceblacks
Sales have actually been unbelievably slow, at which I cannot hide my disappointment, but I have a few theories.
1) All the hundreds of facebook likes, trailer views and shares on twitter show people are excited there is a film about the Ice Blacks, but perhaps not that they're excited about seeing the film.
2) $4 is just too much for people to stomach parting with to watch a movie. Which seems weird based on how much coffee people drink.
I need about 2000 paid views to break even on the project and that doesn't include the thousands of hours myself and everyone else have thrown in for free. While I don't really expect to reach 2000, I still had a worst case scenario in mind and we're well below that figure. I am going to have to take a second job.
While the sales have been poor, the feedback from those who have seen the film has been overwhelmingly positive and Callum and myself are chuffed you have enjoyed our movie so much.
I can't lie and say it was a joy to work on, it was the most difficult project I've ever had, but I am very proud at having completed it. There were many times I nearly gave up or wished I could, so to see it through to the end is like falling over the line of a 5 year long marathon.
There's an enormous list of thank you's in the credits of the film, to all the people who helped, pledged or provided moral support, I thank you. I don't know if I'll ever make another full-length documentary film, but it's kind of cool to think it will out-last me and that we've put a bit of untold New Zealand history out into the world.
Enjoy it and do try to watch it before the Ice Blacks play Australia on April 15th.
I probably should have been keeping you updated over the last week, but in reality, there really wasn't time. In the two days leading up to the release of the film, I didn't sleep at all, I just sat at the computer hardly recognising when the day shifted to night and back again.
We had a lot of technical problems over the final week of post-production and I hark back to Callum and I sitting on the phone between Ireland and New Zealand and the moment our computers simultaneously crashed as a moment that was too real and too funny to be sad about.
We got there though! We got there.
The film would not have been completed without Callum's tireless work ethic. If you need anything cut, anywhere in the world it seems, he's your man. Visit his website http://dipcreekproductions.com/
As for the film itself, you can view it here www.vimeo.com/ondemand/iceblacks
Sales have actually been unbelievably slow, at which I cannot hide my disappointment, but I have a few theories.
1) All the hundreds of facebook likes, trailer views and shares on twitter show people are excited there is a film about the Ice Blacks, but perhaps not that they're excited about seeing the film.
2) $4 is just too much for people to stomach parting with to watch a movie. Which seems weird based on how much coffee people drink.
I need about 2000 paid views to break even on the project and that doesn't include the thousands of hours myself and everyone else have thrown in for free. While I don't really expect to reach 2000, I still had a worst case scenario in mind and we're well below that figure. I am going to have to take a second job.
While the sales have been poor, the feedback from those who have seen the film has been overwhelmingly positive and Callum and myself are chuffed you have enjoyed our movie so much.
I can't lie and say it was a joy to work on, it was the most difficult project I've ever had, but I am very proud at having completed it. There were many times I nearly gave up or wished I could, so to see it through to the end is like falling over the line of a 5 year long marathon.
There's an enormous list of thank you's in the credits of the film, to all the people who helped, pledged or provided moral support, I thank you. I don't know if I'll ever make another full-length documentary film, but it's kind of cool to think it will out-last me and that we've put a bit of untold New Zealand history out into the world.
Enjoy it and do try to watch it before the Ice Blacks play Australia on April 15th.
