50kisses (Friday, 07 February 2014 14:20)

David Buick, who is not involved in 50 Kisses, just sent us this message 'Just got an email from the Entertainment Producer at Sky News. They are discussing whether they will be able to attend the 50 Kisses premiere! Let's hope so! It's all very exciting!'

50kisses (Friday, 07 February 2014 14:22)

Under your Hat productions just secured local press for their film in 50 Kisses - read here pic.twitter.com/QVoONx1LPs

Deanna Dewey (Friday, 07 February 2014 14:44)

I would like to see the film in festivals - think it could do well. And it could be released on the internet after the festival circuit has been completed.

50kisses (Friday, 07 February 2014 14:49)

Hi Deanna, so how can you help and make something happen?

Andy Wright (Friday, 07 February 2014 15:04)

As someone who made the long list only, I've promoted "50 Kisses" on my FB page... Seems incredulous that those whose films actually made the final cut aren't plugging their own chances of increasing their success. Personally, I would push for festivals, give it more exposure and a longer life.

Ken Lemm (Friday, 07 February 2014 15:09)

For all those involved in 50 Kisses, this opportunity surpasses so many others available to aspiring (and experienced) filmmakers and screenwriters. I would urge everyone to support the project in any way they can. For example, today I sent a press release to the newspapers here in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta is quickly becoming a magnet for film production and a story like 50 Kisses will be of great interest. I hope all my fellow screenwriters and producers will join me in seeking similar opportunities to promote this unique project.

I'd love to see the film play at upcoming film festivals. In addition to promising to be an exciting film to watch, the story behind the project is one I'm sure would interest aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters. A favorite festival of mine is the Action on Film Festival sponsored by Del Weston and held in Los Angeles/ Pasadena each August. As an alumni screenwriter, I will be honored to contact Del about screening 50 Kisses during the festival.

Lance Nielsen (Friday, 07 February 2014 15:12)

Chris asked me to submit a film for this some time ago, but I was already fully committed to the feature film I am working on right now. However that film, The Journey, was made possible through people I met at the GFM, and like 50 Kisses, it is a collaborative effort made by people with a passion for telling an important story. As we are also crowd funding this film, I ask myself how can we expect the help of others who don't know us, and look to their support, if we ourselves do not give back to similar initiatives? Ask your self how many people have helped you on your own projects and often expect or get very little in return for the time and energy they give you for free. This is why, as an Associate Producer, I am doing everything I can to promote this project. Yes, I do not have a film in 50 Kisses, but I know I will be looking to others to help me in the future who do. I am already sharing content on line all the time and doing whatever I can to promote both the film and the premier, have tickets for myself and my wife, and several of my own production team are going as well. Doing these things doesn't take up an endless amount of time, it just requires dedication for a small amount of time to push and promote, and when we all do that, then it's like an army, its a movement, because us independent film makers, we are a movement who should always look to support and help those who face the same struggles we do, because we know, more than anyone out there how hard this can be. If you don't promote your own material and stand behind it just because the film is a real collaboration then ask yourself how you expect to get along in this industry, because film making is at its heart always about collaboration - Without collaboration there would be no films at all. The making of this film was a collaboration with a cast and crew that numbers into the thousands, the marketing of this film is a collaboration and is being done by a team no where near that size. 50 Kisses is a collaboration of the grandest kind, and it is having a grand premier to back that up next week, organised by the efforts of others to promote your film. It's your film, get involved, get behind your product and get your tickets for the premier before its all sold out. Because you know what? If you're not there on the night, I can promise you, you will look back and regret that you missed another chance to meet more people who will be looking to collaborate with you in the future. The people who have got their tickets already, those are the ones who are willing to do something to help you, those are the givers, those are the collaborators and most of them do not even have a film in the movie. They're collaborators. They're the Film makers I want to help because I know they will also help me. See you on the 13th.

James Newton (Friday, 07 February 2014 15:40)

I like the idea for a festival route. Count me in for French film festivals. Happy to attend Q&A etc.

50kisses (Friday, 07 February 2014 15:49)

That's awesome James - DEAL!

Ryan La Via (Friday, 07 February 2014 15:52)

I for one would love to see '50 Kisses' play in film festivals. There's been too much hard work put in by the thousands of people involved for it not to attempt a festival run. I also applaud those who do not have a credit in this film, but are still doing what they can to help spread the word about it. Thank you! I will do my best to promote and show '50 Kisses' to as many people as possible in Canada.

Elisar Cabrera (Friday, 07 February 2014 15:53)

I don't think it should go straight to youtube unless it will be backed by some marketing money. Interesting I know of a feature film that went the youtube route, they paid for the 30 second ads you get before watching videos but they embedded the entire film. Majority of people who watched the ad actually sat and watched the entire 90 minutes rather than press Skip Ad.

Peter Carruthers (Friday, 07 February 2014 16:15)

Firstly, apologies if I've fallen into the 80% bracket. I can't tell you all how proud I am to not only be in the final film as a writer but also as an actor and filmmaker with 'Never Forget'.
Unfortunately, the release has clashed with probably the busiest time of my life so far. My play 'Hidden' is currently on a national tour, which is fantastic but also exhausting. I had actually programmed the tour to avoid the 14th Feb so I could attend the premiere, (already had the London hotel picked out and the weekend booked off!) only to then find out it was on the 13th instead, which clashes with a performance of my play in Bolton. However, all the rest of the cast and crew have booked tickets and are pushing it with their networks.
I've also been pushing it on my facebook when I get time, but with a play on tour, another commissioned film in pre production and being a father of 2, there's unfortunately only so many hours in the day.
I did manage to get a small mention for the film in the Bolton News this week towards the end of a piece about my play, but not sure how much use it will be to you:
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/leisure/theatre/10991427.Play_comes_out_of_hiding_for_national_tour/
I'll make an extra effort over the next week to push the film. Well done to everyone and I just wish I could share the big day with you all! I trust my colleagues will fill me in on all the excitement!

Stephen Cooper (Friday, 07 February 2014 16:19)

I think the festival route is the way to go. Can always end up on the internet after that. The film is unquie and has something to offer that could make it a good talking point at festivals and I'm sure plenty of them would be happy to include it.

While I do believe myself to be in that 20% promoting the film and do agree with what Chris is getting at I think some of the reason others haven't got behind it now is the sheer length of time 50kisses ended up taking. I remember a lot more people promoting it on twitter and elsewhere the 6 months after the initial stage than I see now. While it would be great to have everyone involved still I think the truth maybe that some people have simply moved on.

Anil Rao (Friday, 07 February 2014 18:26)

Dear fellow 50 Kissers,

Speaking from the heart, it is both unfortunate and disappointing to know, that especially more so, in our current climate, and furthermore evident in what is sold in that abomination that is reality show mentality, that there is an almost celebrated idea that one must either, rideth the coat tails of others, or expect to be carried like a king by joining a process that asks of them first to help themselves.

I see only the same people offering likes on all the 50 Kisses portals offering support and the same people supporting the idea elsewhere.
In defense to this observation, I find the whole idea of shouting about myself to be akin to having ants all over me, growing up with a lot of isolationism to deal with and with the profession of being a filmmaker itself, being one of loneliness as a journey and process it’s a tough one.

And as I find crowd funding to be nothing other than professional begging or selling the Big Issue to help one’s self, I find it is more of a post web generation mindset to be able to do that, and I am too old school, there is also a reserved nature to the British mentality of not allowing to believe you can be better than what you are. I do believe that there are a lot of people trapped by the psychosis of not being able to put forward so easily that aspect of selling themselves, of becoming something greater than what they are.

I have always proclaimed that you earn your respect in this world and that one shouldn’t demand it, it is improper to do so.

With the big movies they hold something that is like a press announcement-conference where people talk about the film and that the environment is suited and tailored better to talk about the work, especially before its premiere and whilst the blog and the other portals on offer allow us to do that, it still is only the audience of ourselves listening, and maybe something like this can be pushed for the next one, it could also be a multi global web based showcase to the press and journalists alike in one centralized moment, where we hear from everyone via webcams globally and the like, about what the process was about and how we all came together to do this.

I have engaged slowly this process of self-promotion throughout the whole 50 Kisses process and pretty much drip fed to people over two years when I was comfortable in myself to do so, to go online and watch my film. I was truly enlightened by the showcasing of support I have gotten thus far and it gave me a different kind of confidence.

I have spent the last few days pretty much shouting about 50 Kisses in any way I can in its run up to the premiere, rather than feeling that I should apologize first for asking someone to support me, which is always the case, in that I always feel that I am bothering people rather than this week, in which the feeling was that I am informing them.

But hey, that is just me, we all have our idiosyncrasies. All that I have said pertains to the idea of how difficult it must be to stand in front of the world and say ``hey look at me`` as a lot of us have not been asked to do that before, the reality is we have done something special, something to… overwhelmingly be proud of... and do you want the world to know about it, well yes and that is the way forward in presenting that, to present it as an achievement and only that, especially with no context of support to hold up your invitations, as a lot of people need this.

However, getting back to the issue at hand, my philosophy is that this is the world we live in today and it is the world of the hustle, and to know that only a handful of people are indeed doing this, is a slight on their involvement not to be involved but carried, it is your film first, and in `your` is the word `our`, so if we don’t come together now in the most pivotal of moments, we all fail.

I am more than willing to do whatever it takes for the film in London and if needs be, go to whichever festival in the world welcomes us, I would be most happy to be an ambassador in that way, however… it is important to do that for the idea to find greater wings, and to create movements that soar beyond just what we have all achieved as thus so far.

The festival route is the way to go first I feel, this whole idea has been about one for all and all for one first and foremost, and we all owe it to Chris whether we are a part of this or not, the respect earned for that opportunity given to us.

So let’s go to work people!

Love Anil :)

Mark (Friday, 07 February 2014 22:15)

If your short film is good then submit it to Festivals, let the world see it for what it is. Stand on stage and talk about how you made it, talk about 50 kisses if you like, talk about how it spurred you to make the film.
If 50kisses the feature film goes to festivals what is it going to do for you and your short film? Is the feature version with the 20 minutes of credits going to be well received with festival going audience who have already sat through three movies that day?
At the end of the movie will they single you out and remember you and your little short or will they just praise the guy who put the feature film together?
You have a greater chance of success and furthering your career on your own than being part of a group of 25 films. Unless of course your film isn't good enough and you are relying on the hype machine that is the soul and the true essence of the 50 kisses project. In which case you're hoping to ride the coat tails of others, but when your film is outshone by the short that follows it, that won't help you either.
The only person that sending 50kisses to festivals will help is Chris, and maybe the 80% realize that?
Also what happened to the original promise, when we entered the competition, that 50 kisses already had distribution?

Nathan Gower (Friday, 07 February 2014 22:17)

Good thoughts, Chris and the rest of you who have commented. One thing I have found difficult to overcome in promoting the film is that I spent some of my social equity too early in the process. When the plans were to release the film in Feb. of 2013, I went into break-neck promotion speed. In addition to getting local press releases and interviews here in the States, I was invited to write a guest blog on a national, widely read blog. People were excited for me (and the film as a whole) and interested in the process, and enthusiasm was tangible.

But then we as a 50 Kisses team hit some bumps in the road -- bumps which were a crucial part of the process and I think were completely unavoidable -- and when the film was delayed . . . and the delayed again, my network of people started viewing the project less seriously and their enthusiasm dwindled.

Though I'm doing everything I can now to build interest again (I am finalizing a local premiere here at a cinema at a major university in my state), I'm finding that many folks in my circle are viewing my Facebook posts and the like with a "haven't-we-already-heard-this-story" skepticism.

All that to say, I am overjoyed to have been part of this process from beginning to end, and I will do what I can in the final days ahead. Thanks once again, Chris, for your tireless work and helpful spirit. As you would say, "onward and upward"!

Rob Burke (Friday, 07 February 2014 22:21)

Hi there! Writer of LOVE here. At one time was planning on attending - but now I am not. Consequently, I have 2 tickets for the premiere that I won't be using - but rather than get a $$$ refund, I'm giving them away for free and hope someone wants them (maybe they can be used as a reward to someone in the 20%?).

Anyways, please get in touch with the 50 Kisses team if you'd like to attend and would like to use the two tickets.

As to the online vs. festival question . . . sounds like testing the festival waters might be a good place to start.

Good luck, enjoy the show and have a GREAT time at the party.

Mark (Friday, 07 February 2014 22:41)

I am one of the 80% whose film made it in to the final 25, and I have no interest in being part of this project after two years of car salesman style hype and broken promises.
I've never been part of any project that claimed to offer so much and actually gave back so little, with so many broken promises along the way.
The original premise was filmmakers from all over the world would compete to make two minute films about kissing that would be joined together to make a feature film called 50 kisses.
We were promised the best 50 films would be chosen and the final film would premiere in London on February 14th 2013 and that distribution was already in the bag.
A deadline was given and we worked our socks off to get the best films we could submitted by that deadline.
The deadline was then moved so that people who hadn't made very good films could make better films - the "competition" we were promised was beginning to show signs of the farce it would become.
Even with all the extra time most of these films were still not good enough, but that's okay, why not let the salesman step forward and spin it in some way. Let's make it 29 films, no hang on, 27, no 26, I know how about 25? - the number doesn't really matter if you can spin it and convince people it's still a unique special project.
Deadlines pass, more and more promises are broken. We will find out whose films made the cut, who are up for the promised awards, next month, or maybe the next. What about people who are planning to come to the premiere? I Only have to drive a few miles, but what about those who have to fly from far away lands? Do they hold off on their own vacation plans just in case? What can they do? Make them wait, then spin it that they are lucky to be part of this incredible project.
Why are only the 25 films that made the cut the only that are up for award consideration in this "competition"? What if one of the films not included had better cinematography or a better acting performance than all the other films, shouldn't those also be considered for the awards?
Do we know that the best 25 films were chosen on merit or just how they fit within the feature? What if three versions of the same script were amazing? Shouldn't all three be included for award consideration even if two versions didn't make the final film?
Do the awards and prizes really exist or are they like the promised distribution deal?
Why does the 50kisses promo poster include prominent images of characters that will only appear in the end credits of the film? Once more it's the kind of misleading advertising I would expect from a dodgy car salesman.
So maybe the 80% are not wrong for ceasing to believe in the hype and the spin and the broken promises. Maybe they've known for a long time that this whole project is not what it's made out to be.
We are constantly being asked to promote something we haven't even seen yet. It's like spreading the word about how amazing McDonalds new burger tastes before anyone has tasted it.
I think the 20% would be better off spending their time creating new art than being part of such a farcical hype machine, that is very unlikely to help their careers in any way.

Ram (Saturday, 08 February 2014 00:00)

To be honest, i'm still a little 'confused' as to what happened when we were shorlisted as to which ones make the final fifty. The goal posts suddenly shifted, right?

Anil (Saturday, 08 February 2014 00:57)

Dear Mark,

with all due respect, I am quite saddened and disappointed to see how you feel come over in this way, and it pains me to say this, but your frustrations being thrown like spears do us as an entity no good,. Furthermore, understanding fully every point you raised, pushing forth the obvious story is just laziness and downright unethical towards the very profession you wish to be part of.

Show me one film made, which is high end or low end that is not without its problems... we have to roll with the punches all the time, not just with films but with life itself every day.

We must be able to overcome to become... I would really like to see you shepherd together, with no money, a volunteering micro staff and only a love of the craft of filmmaking itself, an opportunity to accomplish what the 50 Kisses team has worked tirelessly in order, to deliver and finally put on, the good show, which in a weeks’ time finds its goal achieved.

Yet rather than say, the process had had its ups and downs and we’ve made it across the finish line, rather than be real with the setbacks and be proud of making possible what is impossible to many, you would rather stand on some soapbox and concentrate on the problems as opposed to showcasing solutions.

Perhaps if you showed just a little more perspective respect for your fellow filmmakers and yourself too, rather than openly display a passionately led disdain towards us all, for an opportunity of hope put before you, you would come to realise that it is in no way a lost cause or some used car salesman attitude as you put it. This me, me, me attitude, that is all I am feeling here in your assessment overall.

As I said at the start of this post, I heard everything you said and you know what... you are right to question and raise things, but there is a way to do it as a gentleman, and this is not it.

A lot of bumps yes, a lot of time passing agreed, but if we did not wake up to confront them, if we did not persevere to overcome them, rather than choose to have our resolve deteriorate in front of us, then we would never get there at all would we... a lot of the films made were not even delivered on time, a lot of technical issues with things as simple as sound, codecs, variations of quality…

Chris could have jumped up on here and picked the hell out of everyone’s lack of knowing what they are doing, he could have done what you have chosen to do above so easily, but it is just not his way, he tirelessly lives to give and it is rather insulting to have bear witness to you speaking this way, where is the respect and the appreciation?

Now, here is the thing Mark... news bulletin... you’ve made it, we’ve made it, we have all got there, we have won, do you know how many people want to be part of filmmaking and quit at the first hurdle... I say… be part of this process as an accomplishment, because otherwise it is just hopelessness rather than being hopeful, that you choose and wish to stand for, and we got to be better than that… or what is the point?

Peace be with you.
Anil :)

Mark (Saturday, 08 February 2014 04:07)

Ram - yes the goal posts shifted more than once, but that's ok - apparently.

Anil - All I did was ask a few questions and defend the 80% who Chris decided to attack in this post. If you're a believer, good for you. I just have an annoying tendency to ask questions, and after two years of being told one thing, promised another, and given something totally different, I didn't think Chris had any right to criticize us for anything.
Also, I can not see how the Festival idea will help any of us who worked on the short films. Separately our films stand or fall on their own merits, together what are they? Maybe you can explain to me how the festival circuit will benefit us individually?

Mark Morris (Saturday, 08 February 2014 09:16)

I think there should have been a cast and crew premiere online before any public release because what we signed up for has changed so radically and to dispel fears of foul play like why multiple versions of the same film Why and in particular my film never made it when it was an original story with no competition that stuck to the time allowed. Maybe this is a commercial reality but not one most of us are familiar with IE whose agenda here. I feel saddened by those new and with little money whose efforts appear to be squashed by a what the thing offered. Of course I cant be sure of any of this because I haven't seen the film and I don't feel like paying and supporting something I may not feel comfortable with. Although I appreciate by showing cast and crews online this may have a serious effect on the premiere but I feel if the film was justified and right those who have seen it will be even more happier to attend the premiere. I understand the promised distribution may have fallen through although we were not informed. I understand waiting until valentines day although without distribution and a plan to release to festivals there wasn't a point. I understand the directors vision should be followed However there are 50 directors. I told a lot of people my film would be released in cinemas and got my back patted I feel kind of embarrassed and stupid now and have had to tell people that we wont. I also feel like I personally have lost some credibility because I really fell for this. Maybe tough love works both ways.

Deanna Dewey (Saturday, 08 February 2014 10:27)

I think it was brave thing for Chris and the 50 Kisses team to take on. It was a new idea. A crowd sourced film. Like any new idea there were bound to be unseen problems. The films were all so varied so I always wondered how on earth they were going to be able to edit a coherent film that people other than family and friends would ever want to watch. But by the amount of interest, by no mean feat they have carried it off. I directed 2 of the films (which were not chosen - in fact neither of the scripts feature in the film). I did crew on one which was chosen 'Love'. But for me it was all about being given the motivation to make films - I'm not in it for any hand clapping and back patting - I want to make films. 50 Kisses gave me motivation - and the opportunity to meet even more like minded who I will be working with again in the future. The process may have have been flawed but Chris and team put their heads above the parapet to try something new and untried and now some people are taking shots. Personally, I applaud the effort and would be happy to attend festivals and do anything I can to help.

50kisses (Saturday, 08 February 2014 11:51)

Hi Ram - the films were announced some time ago and the whole community was emailed too

http://www.50kissesfilm.com/2014/01/10/50-kisses-final-films-revealed/

50kisses (Saturday, 08 February 2014 11:59)

Mark Morris, come to the premiere and see the film on the big screen. Be part of it. Happy to spend as long as it takes chatting with you so you can see the logic of all choices.

50kisses (Saturday, 08 February 2014 12:50)

Chris Jones responding on behalf of 50 Kisses...

Dear Mark – first off I can’t be sure which Mark you are, but I am guessing it’s Mark from ‘Unbearable’? So, yes, you are right. The goal posts shifted many times. Deadlines came and went. New ‘rules’ or guides often appeared after the fact.

I am sorry about these changes, they were never made lightly nor without reasons, and often in consultation with the community. We have strived to be as open as possible throughout and listen to opinions before moving forward.

The challenges we faced cannot be underestimated. Anyone directly involved can testify to this. There was a lot ‘we didn’t know that we didn’t know’. Not an excuse, merely a perspective. As I have always said, it’s not that shit happens, it’s how we deal with it that matters. And I did the best I could.

So I will deal with your points. You mention ‘broken promises…’

I accept we failed to deliver repeatedly on many things. This project evolved at every stage. Again, there was much we didn’t know that we didn’t know. I will explain later in this message why these things happened.

‘Car salesman’. Yes, I am enthusiastic. Yes I am pushy. If that lands with you as ‘car salesman’, I get it. Remove the word ‘car’ and replace with ‘film’. If the community wants someone who does not scream and shout about 50 Kisses, I guess I am the wrong person. I am sorry if you feel I have promoted too much or too hard. I feel I and everyone else should continue to shout about 50 Kisses and do more. I invite you to participate in that game too.

You said… ‘We were promised the best 50 films would be chosen and the final film would premiere in London on February 14th 2013 and that distribution was already in the bag.’

So right off the bat, only 46 films were produced, so the idea of 50 Kisses was now already gone. We only had 46. Further, there were some that were a good effort, but not distributable. None of us expected four scripts to remain unproduced.

The deadline was extended to offer filmmakers the chance to improve their work. No additional films were accepted at this point. We chose this as we wanted all the films, yours included to be better. I am a little hazy about this but if your film was Unbearable, I do recall having a chat with someone from your team about a possible reshoot to improve the film? I may of course be wrong about this as my memory is hazy, and of course it may have been a different Unbearable I offered advice to.

So it really came down to this. Extend the deadline so filmmakers could improve their entries, again with no other films being accepted, OR accept films as they were. I chose to extend the deadline as I wanted a film at the end we could all be proud of. I accept you disagree with this.

You said ‘The deadline was then moved so that people who hadn't made very good films could make better films’. No-one made a better film, they just re-edited their existing film, maybe did a pickup shoot or remixed the sound. No-one entered a new film.

So why did the deadlines slip initially?

Judy, who is my right hand woman, got the call as we were entering final post on the film, that her mum had cancer. Sadly, in less than two months, she passed away.

The knock on effect made it impossible for us to make the initial deadline that was locked into Valentines.

And so we took it on the chin, reflected that we would have more time to improve the final film, and release later that year. That was the plan. Release some time in the Summer and lose the Valentines connection.

Then within a month or so, I got the call that my mum had breast cancer and I was going to need to spend a great deal of time helping her. Luckily, late last year and after six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy she was given the all clear.

I chose not to share these two personal problems with the community.

Then it became clear that Valentines 2014 would be the obvious release date. And so we locked in and that’s what we are doing.

So the Premiere is in fact a cunning public release designed to get on the radar of the distribution business so that hopefully, someone at Ch4 or the BBC might say – ‘hang on, what’s that 50 Kisses thing? That film took more on that screen than most films, even the Hollywood releases that weekend, get them on the phone’.

We MUST sell tickets through the box office as that is the only figure being tracked by Nilsen – and when we sell out on the 13th that will create a spike that the film industry should notice. And then take a closer look.

CONTINUES IN NEXT POST...

50kisses (Saturday, 08 February 2014 12:51)

CONTINUING FROM LAST POST...

We have worked hard with distributor David Wilkinson on this plan in order that we platform for the filmmakers and writers. His first question to me was ‘Why are you doing this?’ and my answer was ‘To platform the talent who made the film, the initiative of the LSF and to deliver on what we promised.’ I will invite him to comment on this thread. He will confirm that we have been discussing distribution plans for 50 Kisses for nearly two years now.

And for those who came to the free London based 50 Kisses marketing training day were privy to the plans we had made, plans that needed to be kept secret for reasons that will be apparent at the premiere. Those 50 or so people also got to feel the passion, enthusiasm and scale of the project before us, and engaged with it. I wish you had been there as I am certain it would have fired you up again.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I never give up. I won’t give up on 50 Kisses, the filmmakers or the writers. Shit will happen. This is life. And shit really did happen this time. Shit I had no chance of seeing coming.

And I won’t give up on you either. I invite you again to be part of something amazing and come to the 50 Kisses premiere. You will only find enthusiasms, love and passion for film, each other and amazing possibilities. And bring your cast and crew too. Don’t lose heart now, at this the final hurdle.

Chris Jones
50KissesFilm.com

Judy Goldberg (Saturday, 08 February 2014 13:46)

I am part of the 50 Kisses team. I have worked next to Chris for the last 5 years. We don’t always agree and quite often my role is to be the realist who reigns Chris back in when he’s shooting for the stars. For Chris nothing is impossible and while I applaud that mentality, the producer in me has a responsibility to keep my director focused. So when the idea of 50 Kisses came shooting out of his mouth that Wednesday 2 years ago, I did what I do, I tried to reign him in. We had so much going on at the time that it just wasn’t ‘realistic’ or ‘practical’ that we take on anything else, especially something of this magnitude. We fought like filmmaker cats and dogs but this was one I was never going to win. A few phone calls later we had a core crew of readers enrolled and later that afternoon Chris had the bare bones of a website created. That’s all it took. I didn’t stand a chance!

Over the next two years I dipped in and out of the project, happy to be pulled hither and thither on other things. All the time with 50 Kisses ticking away in the background, evolving, stalling, breathing, existing. We hit obsticles, major ones, things that we couldn’t have anticipated that Wednesday afternoon. So goalposts were moved. Always with consultation with the crowd. Everyone being given the opportunity to be part of the process they’d signed up for.

Promises were broken, with integrity always but broken nonetheless. So now you have a choice to make and there is still time for you to make it, in 5 days time it will be too late. You can choose to stop trying to make Chris wrong and focus your energy instead on the very real possibility that exists in this moment right now.

For those who have concerns about not having seen the final film, worried about the quality of the other films and the potential embarrassment of being associated with something that might not be up to your own standards. What I can tell you is that I was as skeptical as you. Up until 3 days ago I had only seen maybe 3 of the shorts, some better than others (in my opinion only). How the hell is this going to make sense? 25 different stories, how do we move seamlessly from a zombie movie to a WWII story to a love story featuring live action teddy bears? Its gonna be a mess right? Wrong! I sat in the Genesis as they cranked it up and I was absolutely engrossed! The editors have done an amazing job, Chris’ choices about the running order are bang on. It works as feature and as a showcase for the individuals, each film standing out in it’s own right.

Two days earlier we invited a journalist to attend the final DCP run through. This was not someone we’d consider a ‘soft’ or ‘friendly’ journalist, not part of any of our inner circles. He came out of the screening saying “The film far exceeded my expectations”. He is a regular contributer to The Times and The Guardian. Suffice it to say, if you’re still worried about the quality of the other films – get over it, focus instead on the opportunity that exists right now.

People are coming to this Premiere – I know because I’m inviting them. Important industry people, agents, producers, production companies. These are people that we’ve gotten to know through the LSF and at least 3 of them are family members, all of them in the business working on big budget, high quality films you and I pay to see in the cinema. Three days ago I would have invited them with reservations, today I’m glad and proud that I did and I’m excited for them to see the product of my (and all your) labours. These are important people in your industry. They are people who may well want to talk to you after watching your film. You should be there.

And if you can’t be there because you’re not free on Feb 13th 2014. No point moaning about how you were free on Feb 14th 2013 but we changed the date so ‘fuck you’. How is that going to further your career? How is that going to get you a conversation with the agent who really liked your film at the Premiere?

And if you can’t be there because you physically can’t be there, then be here now. Be present in this ‘buzz’ that’s happening. Participate in the 50 Kisses game that’s being played for the next 5 days. Those people that are coming, the industry people who are on the look out for talent, I’m not inviting all of them, some of them are coming to us. They’ve heard about us. We’re on the radar. They want to come to see this thing that everyone is talking about.

And it’s just going to get bigger. For the next 5 days this thing is going to grow and grow because 20% of us aren’t going to stop shouting about it.

So here’s the thing, do you want to be in a room full of engaged industry people who want to talk to you about your movie and your career? Or do you want to be home alone in your room pissed off at Chris because he shifted the goalposts two years ago?

Mark Morris (Saturday, 08 February 2014 14:08)

When I made Boxes I had just lost my Nan in March and my Mum in April Both cornerstones and the bedrock of my life. They were two of three people on this earth who ever loved me unconditionally. Boxes felt like it was picked for me and came from the heart so a massive disappointment when it didn't get picked.
Chris. You read my feature film screenplay personally and then talk to me about how we are going to get it produced... Deal?

Gabriella Apicella (Saturday, 08 February 2014 14:41)

Wow Chris and Judy - what exceptionally detailed and heartfelt responses to the criticism: your genuine honesty and passion is always an inspiration, and I feel honoured to know you and to be part of this endeavour!

To Mark - you may not feel you want to contribute any of your time to promotion. However by taking time to respond so negatively, and with a level of cynicism of one who clearly feels this project is now not worthy of your participation, demonstrates attributes that I imagine would make other future collaborators hesitate about working with you. The whole process has been entirely transparent - we've been updated all along, and free advice, training, support has been given freely by the team throughout. Of course things were going to change along the way. As you should be well aware as a filmmaker, and as mentioned above, things always change during the process - that is the nature of filmmaking. And in this case, this has NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE! How on earth could all the different changes that needed to be made be anticipated? Even major blockbusters get their release dates changed - that is not unusual.

It is extremely sad that within the 80% who are choosing not to enjoy this latest exciting step of the journey, there are those who actually want to spoil the ride altogether! You ask what we (the 20%) may get out of promoting this project - we don't know yet, that's not why we're doing it! But we're having fun, and the possibilities are enormous, so we're shooting for the stars!

I would like to ask you what exactly it is you get by projecting your negativity upon 50 Kisses? It isn't doing you any favours, and in the words of many an old etiquette teacher, "If you haven't got anything nice to say, best not to say anything." - the real value in that being that your words say more about you, than what you are commenting on.... So my advice to you would be to either join in, or keep schtum!

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!! Will be a blast!

p.s. Mark Morris - why would you put such an unrealistic expectation on Chris re your screenplay? Why don't you come to the premiere, network like crazy and pitch your project yourself - that's the real world or screenwriting - not silly ultimatums!

Maureen Hascoet (Saturday, 08 February 2014 15:23)

Hi Mark - and eveybody! My name is Maureen. I made the entry for 'Enough' that features in the final cut. I sort of have 2 hats on as I also work on the LSF with Chris & Judy, joining their rowdy crew 10 months ago. Even then, I will admit I fell into the 80% and waited for the 'top' to make it happen... until Chris' wake up call of: this is YOUR premiere, and I started treating it like the whole film was mine. That is because at the heart of 50 Kisses, is a community project. The competition is merely a channel to make it happen. Mark, you want a competition that promises your film on the big screen, I suggest you enter Virgin Media Shorts. The odds are less generous but the goal posts are set in stone and you get what you're promised.

But with 50 Kisses, you're in the wrong game! A community project is much more organic, and especially with someone like Chris, I like to see it as operating under the motto 'aim for the Moon, if you miss, you'll end up in the stars'. And on Feb 13th, that's exactly where I will be.

You're resisting the community aspect of the project. What about your own community? Your cast? Your crew? Do they know your collaborative film made the final cut and will be shown to 500 people in London? Natalia Tena, who granted doesn't need the press is coming - for a film she spent 4 hours shooting with me, 18 months ago. Simeon Willis who I cast in the male lead for 'Enough' is working his contacts like crazy because he understands the value of them seeing his name on the big screen. My Latvian producer who hired the sound editor for the film got us the cover story of Latvian equivalent of Time out. They make me look so good and I'm so proud and grateful to Chris & the 50Kisses team for creating the space for this to exist for me, for us.
You only know the names of the directors who won Virgin Media Shorts. If that's what you're after, go play that game. But don't come here and explain how 50 Kisses got it wrong. If anyone's a travesty here, I don't think it's Chris.

Lance Nielsen (Saturday, 08 February 2014 15:31)

Dear Mark,

I can appreciate your frustration as a fellow film maker, and I am fully aware how difficult it can be as a passionate creative not to let powerful personal cornerstones in your own life impact into your professional one, and sometimes, like it has been for me on more than one occasion, it can shape your work as well as your responses in any given situation at any given time.

Without making any assumptions, I know the loss of anyone close to you is very hard. I was involved in a feature film back in 2008 that had all the money in place and more was on the way, we cast it, shot a trailer to show our investors and were good to go. We made a great many promises to so many people and what could go wrong? The crash of 2008, that's what and then everything else you can think of. I get back from the night we shot the trailer only to get a phone call telling me my mother has cancer and she has 6 weeks to three months to live and there is nothing they can do. So I think 'God, I have to make this film, let's go go go...' we all know the importance of creating great work and achieving mile stones while our parents are alive, it means a great deal to us, we want to see that look on their face, like a bride wants her father to walk her down the aisle and when his might not happen this is a very difficult thing to face. With a week of being told this news, the money for our film begins to evaporate (It was all coming from the city) and boom, there was no film and try as I might, I could not get it funded again. My friend Angela tells me not to worry, she wants help writing her biography, she has lost her own Mum and she becomes my rock, 1st of March my Mum dies, 20th march my aunt dies. You would have thought that would have been it, except it wasn't and in July of that year Angela is in hospital, this woman I now realise I am in love with, is dying right in front of me and there is nothing I can do about it. It's like a scene from something I would write, except the surreal thing is, I am living it, I am in that scene. There is nothing I can do. She dies on the Friday, a call from Denmark on the Sunday, my Dads twin brother has died, suddenly. Of all my family that leaves my Dad only, rotting away in an old people's home. On the advice of a stranger I go to Greece for a week, never been there before, had no idea what I was doing or why I was there, but I went, and I am sure it saved my life.

Mark, I am sharing all this with you, because these events, truly awful as they are (and my father died in 2010, choked on this food in the nursing home) are now what drive me, not just as a film maker, but to be a better individual, to reach out and to help people whenever I can, in whatever way I can. So I am doing that to you right now, as a fellow filmmaker, because I believe in this community. This is what lights a fire in me to make a difference not just in my work, but in those I meet around me. I’m too much for some people, not everyone is always going to like you, so just be yourself and move along. If they’re on the ride with you great, if not, fine too.

Now, you might think Chris and me are best mates, but the truth is we're not. We might have known each other a fairly long time but we don't get to ever hang out as mates because we are fairly busy, but it is our love of film and support for independent film that connects us. Chris is a human being, he makes mistakes, that's another thing he and I have in common, but it was he, who when I called him to ask him about book printing recommendation said 'What are you doing this weekend?' I told him I had been out of the business for two years and wasn't going back in, that I had recently quit the film industry and wouldn't be returning, I had responsibilities to make a living, had got engaged and felt obliged to support my soon to be wife in other ways... and besides I was broke and couldn't afford to attend any workshop anyway. Now Chris and I hadn't even spoken in probably around two years or so at this time, and the gap before that was even longer. But he said, forget the fee, just come along you might get re-energised and I did.
As a result of that weekend, let me tell you something. I have written 4 scripts since then, and am half way through making one of them. Shot a short, worked on three others for other people I met there, made loads of new friends, over ten of them were all at my wedding. This all came about as the result of one phone call, but I made it happen from there, I went to the weekend not even knowing what I was doing there.
(continued...)

Lance Nielsen (Saturday, 08 February 2014 15:32)

Continued from above...

The process for 50 Kisses has been a bit of a mess. In from the outside looking in, I can see that, and from the inside, there probably is no escape. All the life rafts were stolen ages ago. The process for making my feature, trust me, has been a bigger one, and still we are going forward, somehow. Sometimes I want to strangle Chris. The phrase 'It was Chris Jones who got me into this mess and he isn't even here tonight' (Insert appropriate word instead of 'here' in this sentence) is said so frequently my wife says it should be adopted as a Production Meeting swear word, and my wife hasn't even met him yet. (No escape, she's coming next week)

Mark, I understand you're disappointment and while it is GUTTING for you that your film didn't get picked, you still were motivated to make it, and that in itself is surely a good thing. Every project you make you learn from, just like every day on set you never stop learning as you work with different people and face different problems with different personalities. It is not an easy business, just as running a festival or a project like 50 Kisses seems easy on the surface, but when dependent on so many moving parts and people is something so rarely achievable.

Mark, find me on facebook, send me a request, I will happily add you. Find me at the premier, I will happily speak to you. If your film didn't make it this time, go out, make an even better one because you know you can.

My bread and butter is reading screenplays for people, that's my day job. You send me yours and I will read it for free and give you some notes, and see if it's as good as it can be. I can't make it for you, but that much I will gladly do. I am making this offer to you, because I know somewhere down the line, someone will make it back to me when I need it the most. The last person who did that when I needed it the most was Chris, and he wasn't getting anything out of it, except me being a pain in his arse even since (not in a sexual way, but Chris if you’re willing to put money into my film, I will consider it)

Fuzzy Jones (Saturday, 08 February 2014 15:38)

Yes definitely festivals! :)

Phil Peel (Saturday, 08 February 2014 15:49)

To Mark

I wrote a script for 50 Kisses.
It didn't get chosen.

I worked on two films from 50 Kisses.
...far better scripts than mine
Neither are showing in the final Film.

Neither would have been made without the inspiration of the 50 Kisses initiative, but I met and worked with the most wonderful people, who will remain friends. The 50 Kisses challenge reinvigorated me as a film maker.

The decision to allow filmmakers to re-edit gave me the opportunity to get feedback from the many filmmakers online who were prepared to offer advice. For me this has been unique. I learnt sooo much from the this process ...and I've been making films a long time.

So I'm publicising and going to the premiere. I won't see our short films. But I will be able to share the experience with hundreds of other filmmakers of watching our 50 KISSES film. ...and celebrate the extraordinary adventure started by Chris, Judy & the team.

So thank you all at 50K

Phil

P.S. both the 50Kisses films I worked on have been shown at International festivals.

Leilani (Saturday, 08 February 2014 16:00)

It seems to me reading this as someone who's not involved in 50 Kisses (other than giving some of my time & attention to promote it for those who were) that the only way people truly suffer from any unfulfilled promise is when they refuse to fulfill their own.

Truly no film stands alone, each film is judged in time against the other films produced in it's generation. Here in 50 Kisses is a body of work produced within the same period under the same loose umbrella. Does your work stand proud within the ensemble? Do you?

Sue Whitting (Saturday, 08 February 2014 16:03)

I wrote and produced Love Letters which did not make the final cut. Even so, I think this a unique project offering unique opportunities so I have continued my involvement promoting 50 Kisses on FB, local radio stations and in local press. Interviewers, and others I have told about it, are really interested and 50 Kisses has definitely created quite a buzz!

Evan Marlowe (Saturday, 08 February 2014 16:16)

I think the issue of the past has been covered above well, so I don't feel the need to give my views on it. Stuff happened, Chris dealt with it, now we're back on track. I've promoted not just 50 Kisses on my page, but the films of others I was in competition with, because I love film and filmmakers, and believe it's important to spread the word when you find talent out there.
As for the second point, going the festival route requires a few answers. It may end up extremely expensive, so who will pay for it? At 50-70$ a pop with early registration, I could shoulder easily $1000 in submission fees, then add on travel, hotel, time off work, etc. It isn't realistic of me to commit to saying "I'll take on the U.S." or even "I'll take on California."
How will the presence in festivals greatly enhance whatever the end goal is? I assume the ultimate goal is VOD and DVD distribution? Will the time, money and energy put into a festival run make this goal happen sooner/more reliably? Or is the goal just to raise public awareness? Since I'm not privy to the distribution plans, I can't offer an informed opinion here.

Diana Juhr-DeBenedetti (Saturday, 08 February 2014 16:33)

I like the idea of a festival route. I'm happy to help with applying to festivals and possibly providing funds as well when needed for entry fees.

Michael W. Penny (Saturday, 08 February 2014 17:18)

Sadly I've been one of the non-engaged filmmakers recently. As simple as it is to say, real life has gotten in the way (something that has been discussed significantly above).

Our team was lucky enough to be selected as one of the films shown in full, and this 50K project deserves our time to promote it however we can. It's a novel idea that hadn't been tried or tested before, and sure there were hiccups along the way, but that's not a reason to ignore everything the film HAS accomplished.

Unfortunately as we are Canadian, we cannot attend the premiere with all of you next week, but please know that the team of "Priceless" (Rick Skyler, Alex Wood, Craig Wood, and I, along with our cast and crews) are very proud of the accomplishments, no matter how small them may seem to some, of everything this film has stood for. Good art takes time, and having a Valentine's premiere a year late is infinitely better than no premiere at all.

Now I must run... I'm late on submitting some Facebook marketing I should have taken care of weeks ago!

Mark Morris (Saturday, 08 February 2014 18:14)

Anil Rao
Thank you Anil I'm glad to hear you have a proper version of boxes in hand.
Gabriella Apicella
QUOTE
p.s. Mark Morris - why would you put such an unrealistic expectation on Chris re your screenplay? Why don't you come to the premiere, network like crazy and pitch your project yourself - that's the real world or screenwriting - not silly ultimatums!
----------------------------
Because that's what making a film is.. Unrealistic. If every film is a minor miracle then being unrealistic is par for the course. What is unrealistic is networking at an after show party with a failed film that is in the credits.
Why would asking Chris to read my screenplay and talk about producing it be unrealistic Unless you are saying the love only goes one way?
Okay before this deteriorates into assassinating my character I would just like to say good luck with the film and I hope you all get rewarded for your work. Don't worry. I'll be alright. Somehow I'll find my way and a tight cast and crew with the jolly roger tied to the flagpole.;)

Kingsley (Saturday, 08 February 2014 18:43)

Festivals is definitely the way forward! Best way to get it seen by many but specifically by professionals and the industry, the people who need to see it in order for all of the emerging talent involved to be recognised in a professional capacity! Would certainly be willing to get stuck in in helping it get on the festival circuit.

Nidhi Gupta (Saturday, 08 February 2014 23:08)

I would love to see the film on the festival circuit. I have been trying to promote it as much as possible - already several friends are coming along to support it. If we do not help each other, how can we be expected to help ourselves?

Kerry Marlowe (Saturday, 08 February 2014 23:20)

Everyone knows that making a film whether short or long is a big accomplishment. 50kisses promised to have a theatrical release of the film and that is exactly what it is doing. In London and with a red carpet. The main intention is being fulfilled the distribution is secondary. Films take years to complete. My personal features have taken 2 years from wrap to screen, so am well aware that it can take that long to put together and release. Let alone put a bunch of shorts together and make a cohesive film.

I admire Chris for tackling this challenge as it gives people a theatrical release under their hats. Good on the resume. Plus filmmaking we do because we love it and enjoy the graft. If people are in it for the fame and fortune then that's their adgenda.

Don't be in the 80% it take 5 mins to tweet or post on Facebook. Goodness knows we are all glued to the thing.

Cheers for having us Chris and we look forward to doing it all again.

David Nicholas Wilkinson (Sunday, 09 February 2014 00:35)

I have indeed been involved in 50 KISSES for well over two years and am in fact an Executive Producer.

For 16 years I have only distributed British & Irish films/ co-productions. No other UK distribution company has made such a strong commitment to British films. More than any other UK distribution company we have released a greater number of films by first time filmmakers as a percentage of our over all output.

I instantly liked the concept of 50 KISSES. I had distributed PARIS VU PAR…. in the UK. This was a similar compilation film directed by amongst other Eric Rohmer, Claude Chabrol and Jean-Luc Godard made when most of the directors were unknown.

I have spent a great part of my life giving new filmmakers a chance when no one else would. I have helped some 200 first time producers directors, writers etc. I was also a consultant for a company who invested over £1 million of development funding in new writers, directors, producers. I loved the idea of 50 KISSES and like everyone else wanted it to work as it was the kind of chance no one else was offering to emerging filmmakers.

The trouble I had was that Chris Jones said to me that all the filmmakers would own their own individual films and that they would be licensed only for usage in 50 KISSES . All distributors need to control all rights for a myriad of reasons. One is that you cant have a feature film out on release if a part of that film is online for free. I have to agree with exhibitors to a 14 week cinema window.

The other stipulation was that it had to come as near as possible to the 14th February. This is always an over crowed month with the top BAFTA and Oscar nominated films playing well in the 4 Friday slots of that month along with all the Indy films wanting to snap up cinemas in a very lucrative period. With over 10,000 plus brand new features coming out every year UK cinemas are at saturation point with 740 new release a year. It is tougher now than it has ever been to release films.

If I could have released the film in August I might have had greater support. For various reasons the exhibitors did not think that 50 KISSES warranted a valuable February slot. Few compilation films have ever worked from an exhibitors point of view which was a major problem for me.

If we had a system like there is in France then 50 KISSES would be going into many cinemas, it would screen on at least one TV channel and most likely more. However our politicians of every party do not want to help the British film industry in this simple way. They did in the 1930’s-1950’s. Sadly not anymore.

It is extremely tough in the current climate to distribute low budget films with no names and not made by established filmmakers. Peter Buckingham said when he was head of distribution at the UK Film Council said that over 50% of all British feature films made from 1997-2005 were not released in the UK cinema. I had a film starring Ewan McGregor, Pete Postlethwaite, Richard E Grant and Greta Scacchi, OK it was not a great film but it was not a dog. Even though it cost $12 million I could not get any cinema to take it so I had to release it straight to DVD.

Because I was unable to secure a wider release I have agreed to work for nothing and to allow it to be screened online for no money straight away.

I have a lot of high profile industry people – producers, executives etc tracking the film.

Remember no one forced anyone to make these films. Some of the filmmakers will have long careers in the film industry other wont make it beyond this one film. The film industry is hugely overcrowded. Every year far, far more people want to enter it than there are jobs. Some of the most talented people I have ever worked with are no longer in the business. Some very mediocre talents are now at the top. Often there is no rhyme or reason to success and failure in films. If you want fairness go and work in a church.

Baz (Sunday, 09 February 2014 02:36)

I can't believe this post! We've all got f**king demons, get over them. Regardless of situations this is an opportunity. We're in a moment whereby we should be shouting from the roof tops "we are here, come and see us", not at each other?!

The whole industry is a bloody rollercoaster with no rhyme, reason as to who does what, why, where or when! I do hope David N Wilkinsons last paragraph draws closure.

In answer to the original question thread - festivals would be a good route to explore.

Terry hicks (Sunday, 09 February 2014 04:19)

Very Interesting to read these posts...
First I want to say congrats to all who made this a reality! Although my script wasn't selected I have been following the process to the "finish". And now I am looking forward to showcasing the film next Thursday in two different venues in two different New Mexico cities. I was going for a state-wide participation but alas the theaters couldn't wait for me to get the downloadable links....

I know with more lead time I could get the support to show it in our various theaters that support our vibrant indie film community across New Mexico... that in addition to festivals... would be my vote... albeit from the sidelines!

Allison (Sunday, 09 February 2014 07:30)

I worked as crew on a couple of the shorts that didn't make the selection, and have followed this adventure from the start. I actually agree with a lot of what Mark said, or to be more accurate some of the questions he asked. Especially concerning the films that were not selected being ignored for awards consideration???
Also, what's with these people above stating how they've been friends with Chris for years and their films are in the final 25. It raises some questions about the legitimacy of the selection process.
As for the Festival circuit, I can't see how it will help any of the individual film makers, possibly some of the actors, it could be great exposure for them, so I guess that's something. :)

50kisses (Sunday, 09 February 2014 09:18)

Hi Allison, Chris Jones here.

So to be transparent, yes I do know a few of the people in the final 25 films. Why? Because I know many people in the emerging film sector here in the UK and abroad. I wrote a book called the Guerilla Filmmakers Handbook and run masterclasses on the subject, as well as the London Screenwriters Festival.

And people who meet me, know I am a friendly kind of guy and I maintain relationships, even tenuously, and encourage everyone to have a go.

Also, people who know me, also know I work hard, very hard to deliver on what I set out to do.

So those people REALLY worked hard to get selected - Kerry Finlayson in the USA contributed £50 to a short I made a few years ago and saw what I did with it in an attempt to win the Oscar for best short film. When 50 Kisses came around, she and her small team in LA made I think three or maybe four films. One was exceptional and got selected. Is she a friend? Well we are Facebook friends, sure. In fact its entirely possible you know me too Allison, we may be FB friends too.

So it's not a mystery really that the guy who wrote that book and who has been very active in this area, kind of knows a few of the people in the final film. It would be a mystery if I did not.

To be clear, I 'know' less than 20% of the final filmmakers and only one of the 50 screenwriters.

As for the judging, we could not get the judges to commit to watching 25 films. It was hard enough getting 10, so we shortlisted. Anyone else who has run a process like this will tell you that there is always a shortlist, we were just transparent about it.

Finally, it's always helpful when people leave full names and also refer to the films they worked on so we can all go to look at the films and make out own minds up about their work too.

Stephen Cooper (Sunday, 09 February 2014 10:57)

While i think some important issues and concerns have been raised here and maybe this is a conversation that some film makers and maybe writers needed to have i'm not sure this is the time so close to the premiere.

Without sitting on the fence (i'm totally sitting on the fence) I do agree with parts of what mark is saying and agree with a lot of Chris's answers. I think what we've had at times is simply a lack of communication and maybe that's something we can ALL look to address if Chris runs a similar competition and everyone enters.

For the time being I think we should all enjoy the premiere and the amazing spectacle its likely to be and if there are any more grievances after the film maybe if everyone is willing set something up where we can all have a discussion about whats gone incredibly right and what could be worked on.

Stephen Cooper (Writer of The Moment)

Peter Carruthers (Sunday, 09 February 2014 11:22)

Don't let the few negative comments get you down, Chris :)
What you've achieved is already fantastic and that's before I even see the film.
After reading Judy Goldberg's comment, I can tell that (like me) you're one of life's dreamers, the eternal optimist. I always start every project with a belief that it will be as amazing as I could possibly imagine and the 50 Kisses project has really helped to justify that belief for me.
When I heard about the competition from a friend, I only had one short film under my belt as a writer. Luckily, that film had been more successful than I could ever have imagined, but there was a part of me that wondered how much the script had to do with it. So, having both my entries in the long list and then being one of the 50 winning writers was a huge confidence boost.
The 50 Kisses project has given me lots of fantastic encouragement since then too; all the fantastic feedback I received on the script, having my film made by teams in London and Brazil, making a version of the film myself as an actor and producer and obviously the recent great news that our version of the film is one of the 25 to feature in full in the movie!
Perhaps the biggest thing I have to thank you for though, is that it enabled me to connect with my new great friend Devon Avery, LA based director of a fantastic version of Practice Makes Perfect.
Devon's version was one of the best entries I watched, so the fact that it didn't make it into the feature must mean that the quality of the winning 25 shorts are all right up there!
Devon and I are now working on an exciting feature project and I'm set to head out to LA very soon. This simply wouldn't have happened if you had 'listened to reason' and left the 50 Kisses project in your crazy ideas book! So for this more than anything, thank you.
The prospect that the 50 Kisses movie could be a success and that I will have the chance to connect with more agents, casting directors, etc is merely a fantastic bonus on top of what I've already learnt and experienced over the last 2 years. I hope you finally get the plaudits and back slaps that your monumental efforts so richly deserve.
Gutted I can't be at the premiere, but as soon as I'm off stage on Thursday evening I'll be straight on the phone to the rest of my crew to find out how it's going.
Keep smiling and dreaming.
Pete

Rebecca S. (Sunday, 09 February 2014 21:21)

Hang on! I thought the Practice Makes Perfect chosen for the final 25 was Devon Avery's???
I was at the London Screenwriters Festival in 2012 and Chris played the film to show everyone how amazing 50kisses was going to be, plus the little girl from it is in the centre of the poster???
What's going on, Chris?
If you showcased the film back in 2012 after you had seen all the other entries, then surely if there was a better version of this film, you would have shown that one instead? Or is the better version you've chosen, one that came in after the deadline?
And why is the little girl from a film not chosen in the center of your advertising poster?
I think someone mentioned it before but it seems like false advertising.
All that aside, I love what you've done with 50 kisses and I'm looking forward to the premiere next week.

50kisses (Sunday, 09 February 2014 23:35)

The film shown at the opening of LSF 2012 was an example of entries. Judging had not even begun let alone ended at that point. And remember, all films are included in 50 Kisses during the end roller - that little girl IS featured twice in the final version.

The film chosen was sent in on time but the filmmakers had requested it not be shown online or publicly. And so we showed Devons film, which is awesome, as you say, as an example as to how good some of the entries had been.

As for the poster, false advertising is laying it on thick, even if she were not in the film. Take a look at most film posters, trailers, tag lines... I think 95% of movies would be guilty of false advertising if this logic were applied.

50kisses (Sunday, 09 February 2014 23:37)

Final comments now as I close this thread - 50 Kisses is premiering in four days and myself and the team are going to spend every waking hour promoting, planning and executing. I ask that EVERYONE do their bit too. You can get tickets for the London Premiere at www.50KissesFilm.com/Premiere
See you on the red carpet.
Chris Jones