Studio versus Independent Film the Choice of Horror

Once upon a time independent film was just that, Independent. And in most cases still is.

Usually independent filmmakers would beg, scrimp and borrow to get a vision on screen and it would be shown at a limited to a number of cinema screens. This has forced many independent studios to close or to be snapped up by bigger players. Even though the line has become more blurred between big Studio's and independent ones in terms of look and feel it really isn't a new thing. In the 70's Hollywood simply produced films that looked like indie movies for example, Taxi Driver.

The big players and Hollywood system has adjusted making more changes to appease the movie goer with darker films and fewer happy endings, these have usually been produced under a subsidiarity company. Usually these films are more thought provoking, have a certain visual grit and are not PG friendly. Something that indie films have always lived up to. Also there is a difference between low budget film making and low budget indie films. It's impossible for me to wrap it's all up neatly and it would be pretentious to even think one could fit all the intracity of film making. in a small blog post.

Pot luck with Film festival and showcases aside it is so difficult to get a film on the big screen, especially in the UK.The process of film making is pretty much the same indie-film or not. Those who go blindly into it aways discover there's a process that needs to be followed to achieve the completion of a great film. And don't even get me started on distribution, another minefield of pros and cons. I digress...

Blood Hunger's development is only aided slightly by the novel as a template, it means that research had been carried out, the characters are already broken down, motivations have already been explored etc. It's just makes it slighty easier for an objective screen writer. There's only so much a great glossy photo-shoot and a fantastic neo-noir indie-film Terminus  can help the subject matters adataption. So Blood Hunger is now at a stage where the screen-play is being developed. I'll be posting further updates so you can benefit and learn for our experiences.

Remember novel source material is just that, the screenplay doesn't have to be a true representation of the book. Most writers find this difficult to let go, it's their baby and I can relate to that, however,  I can see that it would be difficult to get everything on screen. I've also never professed to be a great writer, just a decent story teller. (ah the humbling noise of modesty)

Set in the present day I envisage and strive for Blood Hungers adaptation to be a grittier than the book and far removed from the recent popular vampire incarnations; Twilight; Vampire Dairies; True Blood to name a few. For example the flash back 1477 A.D segments have already been stripped out, not only for budget reasons (for it to have a wider investment appeal) but also because the screen play would become too long and possibly have to be trimmed so much it would loose it's impact. Besides dependant on the budget, the detailed 15th chapters could always be revisited. It's a shame they have to be omitted as Europe's and America's 1477 is very different. Most striking is the difference of  London in mid 15th Century to Bram Stoker's 19th century London that is so often portrayed.

So while the screenwriter(s) crack on, I'll be on the hunt for further interested parties in order to deliver you a quality horror thriller. Over and out.