Over the last month I have been lucky to be part of The 28 Day Project

Home News Education Miller Time Topigraphic Entertainment Film Making Your First Feature Games Literature 40 Days, Book I Music Kiss My Beat One Born Every Hour The Road to Glastonbury Film and TV Trivia Our Friends from LA Ione Butler Lifestyle Fashion Food and Drink The Wickham Files Health Pregnancy Inspirational Stories The Way to the Street Pick My Brains Sport Football Predictions edco Sports Polls The Fan Zone NHL Specialist Lindsay’s Mind Makeover Travel Travel Blog from Asia Travel Tips with Peter Jarrette Competitions Write for The Student Scoop
Home News Education Miller Time Topigraphic Entertainment Film Making Your First Feature Games Literature 40 Days, Book I Music Kiss My Beat One Born Every Hour The Road to Glastonbury Film and TV Trivia Our Friends from LA Ione Butler Lifestyle Fashion Food and Drink The Wickham Files Health Pregnancy Inspirational Stories The Way to the Street Pick My Brains Sport Football Predictions Sports Polls The Fan Zone NHL Specialist Lindsay’s Mind Makeover Travel Travel Blog from Asia Travel Tips with Peter Jarrette Competitions Write for The Student Scoop
With the long and unsociable hours we work, many times whilst soaked through, the little pay we get, the complete lack of stability and the consequences our career has on our social life, nobody would do this job if they didn t have such a burning desire for their love of film-making itself.
Throughout our entire history, artists have had to suffer: actors were little more than vagabonds, actresses little more than whores, writers and painters starved along with their families (if anybody stood by them) poor and unrecognised. Today, not much has changed and artistic students of all types still live on standard beans-on-toast diets whilst pursuing their big break.
Over the last month I have been lucky to be part of The 28 Day Project – a fantastically constructed challenge to produce a short film within the space of 28 days. Researching initial ideas started edco on 1st February and on the 28th of the month the finished film was shown to all cast, crew and supporters of the project. Being a Kickstarter project, our budget was really tight and therefore didn t suffice for wages. I m the last person to preach unpaid work, but there are projects where the story, the film-makers enthusiasm, and purposes that serve the greater good of our careers, so to speak, are more important than the pay check.
I was only involved in the shoot itself, which took place over two days, but what will always stay with me is the spirit and trust of making something work in what was a completely mad situation, the enthusiasm of the cast and crew, some of whom had been on board for barely 12-hours before showing up on set, and the general kindness of the people involved. Everybody put something into this film be it their story, money, time, locations, expertise, advice, equipment, know-how something .
We all knew it was a crazy undertaking from the offset, but in truth, that was part of the joy. Some might argue there are competitions where filmmakers produce a finished project within 24-hours and I know we didn t exactly reinvent the wheel with this project, but what made it special to me was watching the producers and two actors, who had never produced a film in their lives, going about their duties with boundless energy, open hearts, open minds and an excitement and keenness that reminded me of what making a film is really about. It should be about telling a story you are bursting to tell; about creating a reality that you love or fear, wish for or hate; about a group of people who work together because they do a job that gives them pleasure.
Nobody edco expects every project to be like that. There are too many aspects of film production, too many genres and differing personalities to make everyone happy all the time, but isn t that what we all desire? That the 10, 12, 14 hours we spend on a set, in the office, in the edit are important to us? That we spend most of our waking hours producing something we love and that ultimately others can enjoy?
Victoria Gegenbauer Victoria Gegenbauer is an Austrian-born film-maker who is currently based in London. She works as Script/Continuity Supervisor, Assistant Director edco and Production Manager. Over the last three years she has been part of over 40 projects, including many short films and features. She has worked in Indies such as Who Needs Enemies and Pleasure Island. Her work has taken her to France, Portugal and Kurdistan and given her the opportunity to be part of many fascinating stories. Her projects have also led to an impressive number of online views via social media channels such as Youtube. Whilst studying film, theatre and a spot of history at university the elements she most enjoyed were performing research, strategic thinking, generating ideas and writing. With The Student Scoop, edco she is now very glad to be back at the writing