As a script writer for hire and script doctor I’ve been rushed off my feet since the end of 2018. During this time I’ve also been shooting some of the location sequences for my own directorial debut Markham which will be released in 2019.
I’m still working on it now, the special effects and green screen sequences are being shot piece meal when I have spare time between my writing projects – I currently have three big script writing projects on the go for various clients who contacted me looking for help from a UK script consultant.
While directing and editing Markham and supervising the special effects a few things have occurred to me:
- 2019 is a great time to be a low budget filmmaker. The tools and means of production and distribution are now 100% in the hands of low budget filmmakers. Digital tech, and distribution are the future.
- The script, and the ability to write is still key to whether a filmmaker will be a success or not – we might have all the tech and tools now. But if you can’t write – or don’t have access to someone who can write – your feature film will still either not get made, or be rubbish.
- Your audience will be smaller, and more niche than ever before. But having 50,000 people love your film and be engaged with you online – is much more satisfying than being the director of a non-personal Hollywood product/content movie which gets dumped into echoing multiplex theatres.
- Digital is great – but digital and analogue working together is even better. Shooting on film and editing on video – distributing online and marketing through social, Using practical old school effects like Matte Painting alongside digital effects is perfect.
- Giving your film away for free online and sharing your experiences is the best way to build an audience and a career (if you want ‘a career’ as such). The future of everything is free.
- Digital disruption to the industry, to the audience, to filmmakers and to script writers hasn’t really even started yet – wait to see where we are in another 20 years. Cinema as we know it is almost dead, long live cinema…
Matthew Cooper has been a script writer for hire and script doctor for over 20 years. He’s written for most of the UK soaps, including writing award winning episodes of Emmerdale, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs and has been BAFTA shortlisted and Royal Television Society nominated as a script writer. He’s also a leading UK script consultant. You can find some of his broadcast credits on the IMDb. You can get in touch with Matthew on matcoop23@yahoo.co.uk or hire him on Peopleperhour
His directorial debut Markham will be released in 2019.