The how to make a road movie in Eastern Europe with FilmTiki (by Lukas Palm)

A filmmaker is always looking for a good story to tell. Some of the best stories just happen in daily life and even fictional stories are based on the storyteller’s various life experiences. These experiences are kind of an “idea pool”, which a filmmaker can work with and use to tell a good story in his movie. However, what is a filmmaker looking for? Is it a strained relationship between a couple, a quirk of a person or just a simple conflict? In some filmmaker books or seminars, they tell you about what you need to make a good movie. Well, but what is that?

Do you know the feeling when you think there is nothing to tell and then you take a closer look and something fascinating emerges? Something changed; something is placed into a different situation, a different environment. I have been studying Communication and Cultural Management with some friends (who also happen to play in a jazz band) for two years now. Almost every week my friends play a gig. I love watching them play, but so far I hadn't felt the urge to grab my camera and shoot a movie about them. But then suddenly: something changed. They decided to tour Eastern Europe. Even though they are professional musicians they had decided to study politics, culture or economics after high school. Their dreams are the same dreams any musician going on tour would have. It might also be a filmmaker’s dream come true.

I didn’t want to study communication and cultural management in the first place. I was eager to study filmmaking. My only concern was that, with 20 years of age, I did not have an “idea pool” to tell a story. If you do not know anything, what can you tell? ;-) It seems like I just found a story worth telling, and it will unfold every day in front of my eyes: The Zeppelin Orchestra on tour.

The idea is to document the whole experience: everybody can join and follow the tour online. A team of six students will document the band member’s private moments, challenges and achievements - and of course their concerts. We will write in our blog, show you pictures and produce a road movie. Together with three other students, I am in charge of the film production. Here, in the FilmTiki blog, I will post the stories about the making of the road movie: the development of the storyline, the technical challenges, behind the scenes pictures and videos, and many more.  FilmTiki supports us with their knowledge and social media tools to create a community and promote our project. I will inform you how it works out for our road movie. And of course I will tell you all the things during production that make a filmmaker go crazy. It all starts now!!! Enjoy the stories and join us on facebook or follow us on twitter.

Next time: crowdfunding and the making of the intro bus film.