so let me make sure I understand you, and please I am not trying to sound like a jerk.... but try to see it from the perspective of a disabled guy who can only dream of being where you are right now.... you have almost 1.5 MILLION subs, with sponsored videos and you need us to chip in money for you to have another $125k to produce this movie have I got that about right?
@@CarlosGraOca depends who you mean by "they". The people who ultimately made the choice or the people who wanted our boi to do this. The former wont, the latter probably feel kinda bad.
@@TheDragonSeeker I mean, thats a good guess, I wouldnt say anything with such confidence though... Either way, the people that interacted with him are likely genuine. They knew him, talked to him, shared jokes with him, thats pretty legit empathy. They probably wanted to work with him... the higher ups who had no such relations just said "Meeeh, I'll let you know later" then "Ehhh, cancel it." The people he talked to probably could only tell their boss that they thought he was good and that it would be a success.
He made a movie. It stunk He wrote a book. It was awful He held a workshop, nobody came He got called by Hollywood. It fell apart This guy can't catch a break
J.k Rowling was rejected for YEARS with her Harry potter book. Look at het now shes a billionaire. Never ever give up on your dreams. If you have the pation you will make it. Eventually someone gonna Say yes.
@@5115pandabear Yea, but what she wrote was really good though. She had desire, AND talent. Also, it only took a HER year to find a publisher and twelve rejections, which is actually not bad at all for a first book, if you go off this channel. I'll take it when I'm ready to submit. She also lived off the state while writing it. Maybe all of England should have gotten there cut? Lol! 🤔 (not really)
@@Reggie2000 well all im saying is that its never too late to make it. And i thing that guy is super talented. And yeah maybe his first movie sucked and the book failed but he has some amazing talent in 3d animation and graphics. I believe in him 💪😊
man, this really hurts in a way. getting your hopes extremely high and losing this project probably devastated you at first but i’m so happy to see that you’re over it now and even understand you don’t need this. you have a great platform here & i’m wishing you good luck with it!
One time in the summer of 2012 I had gotten a call at Target regarding an application and I was thrilled because I was in need of a job immediately and they later said "HAHA WERE JUST KIDDING FUCK YOU"
I wonder if that was planned or if he filmed it five different ways not being sure which one is the best one and combined them in edit , both sound like him
@@ThatCreeNative1 Or make it so it could run on a margin bigger or smaller. Scallable ideas are better suited for outside partners. You can actually show them working
I feel like i owe you an apology. During this time where shit was going chaotic you released a video that i commented on stating that it seemed like you ran out of material based on the content released. After hearing everything you were going through and how emotionally challenging your life has been i feel like it was rude and definitely gave me a rude awakening to what goes on in the other side. The worst part is you actually responded back "OK" which showed you actually read my childish comment. So as one grown ass man to another, I'm sorry for that, and hope your doing better and have a great year ahead in your projects. Bro HUG*
D Logic this comment shows that you are a “big” man xD Having the courage to apologise for your mistakes also shows that you’ve got a lot of respect for Austin xD Have my (rare) like 😜
This man used an alt account to praise his own horrid and disgustingly cringeworthy UA-cam comment but didn’t think to talk like a different person. Congratulations Cewkaurai Zok’Aerrus, you dim witted bastard.
My dad was a Screenwriter, and I watched this exact process happen at least 20 times growing up. The thing you missed, that may still not have worked, was to get an agent to represent you. That agent shops your idea until you, at the very least, get a retainer. In order to get that, you try to shop it as many people as you can, at the same time, so that someone gets scared enough to put some skin in the game. We lived off of retainers for years. Nothing got made, but it was all paid for, in part, repeatedly. My dad's dead, and there's a huge box of outdated scripts in my basement. A box of unfulfilled dreams. For every star on the Hollywood walk of fame, there are 10,000 faded names on gravestones. EDIT: Correction, it's not called a retainer, it's called an "option".
@@gangswagster His favorite never got made... it was a story about Marlowe being the actual Shakespeare, and Queen Elizabeth having been assassinated when she was a young girl, and the royal staff finding a young boy who looked like her, castrating him, and teaching him to be queen (hence never marrying and always wearing high collars to hide adam's apple).He was known more for songwriting. He wrote Nina Simone's "Poppies". But, I watched him go through what Austin went through dozens of times.
David Bleecher First of all, I’m sorry your dad and your family had to go through that time and again. Second, your experience shows that nothing ever fundamentally changes. The real problem here is the balance of power. It is perennially uneven in this type of situation. At least your dad got paid for the options, which Austin has not.
@@fleetskipper1810 It's cool, I appreciate the sympathy, though. If I ever tried to sell a script, I know exactly what to expect, so I'll never get my hopes up until money is in hand. If you're not actively counting money, you're not actually making a project.
This has always been one of my biggest fears, that my back pocket idea, the ultimate goal I have in life, will be taken away by some big studio that ran out of ideas and scrambles to find other people's idea without paying for it. The worst fear is if they do it terribly.
@@somebody7130 It's always easier said than done, resources, time, the privilege to be able to drop everything and actually pursue a dream like that, not everyone has that
Don’t worry, a studio will never take a full idea/concept without paying for it. The risk of getting sued is so large, they don’t even open mail containing free ideas.
@@joelmulder not in Indonesia, that's for sure. Corporate, hell even the government side of things will take it from unfamous/unknown person with creative ideas and steal it without paying them. They will only started paying when things got viraled in social medias when they got caught stealing the idea. It was so fucked up.
To me, this is a horror story. I'm currently waiting for an important response from a network. Nothing as big as what happened to you, but this is a bigger opportunity that I ever thought I would have. And I'm petrified. I keep thinking about what is the worst that could happen... And then I watched your video. Thank you for sharing this experience, may we never get too carried away!
Here’s my pitch: A movie about Sprouting Orchids. But the movie is about the making of the movie. It’s a movie, about you, making a movie. it’s the “I made a movie, it sucked” video, but as a movie. Austin, the stories you tell about going after your dreams capture the unspoken existential dread of being a twentysomething and the courage and heart that it takes two swallow your fear and break the mold. It’s the message that has kept me coming back to you. It speaks to that part of a young man’s heart that desires to be more. Title: “I Made A Movie.” Or don’t, because I’ll still watch literally anything else can you direct. Hang in there man. We’re all excited to see how high you fly.
I have a back pocket idea. An artistic animated short film built around the soundtrack. I don't have the resources or skills to do it, but maybe one day
I thought of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are so many spin-offs being worked on for Disney+, that my brain just assumed Austin was talking about one of them.
Give your wife a big hug for supporting you. Spend some meaningful time with her more often. After you both recover from this stress continue in the way you laid out in the last minutes of this video.
@@derpwadder Magically, I actually know the reference - used it earlier tonight, in fact. It's from the Street Fighter movie, should get a clip by searching "street fighter for me it was tuesday"
Austin - you're probably not gonna see this, but I'm gonna write it, just in case. I work too in a creative field and have found watching your channel to be an immensely rewarding, thought-provoking, and most honestly REAL experience. I just feel you, I feel the pain and the disappointment and the downs and the lows and everything you're going through resonates through me in the deepest ways. I'm only 24 but I feel like I've been through and ups and downs in life in a way you most honestly embody in these videos. I have no idea where to go next with my life, no idea on how to share my passions and my dreams, no idea how to not feel empty and devoid of meaning everyday because my real interests are hard to reach, no one to talk to who understands how we feel. I've been following your channel for about two years, and it's one of the only places I feel understood, and honestly? Represented. I honestly want to wish you all the best and express my deepest desires for you to succeed and find joy in your craft. Honestly, given your massive UA-cam outreach it would seem as though simply creating things the way you do now, but on a personal note and a much larger scale, would be what bring the big studios to the table. Make them come to you. All the best.
Gal Granot I only have these words of advice for you. Purpose is a sweater that you have to sow yourself. Some people try around, while others just knew how to knit. Either way, if you feel empty, then I would give you the advice to fill that hole with things like hobbies, family, or cooking. But whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of luck. Sincerely, a random stranger.
For the back pain, there is this procedure called "spine removal" it solves all of your problems. Although you do become a slug and the insult of being "spineless" receives a new meaning, it is still worth it.
17:30 nailed it. UA-camr here, just finished my degree in journalism. After my internship at a tv show I came to the same conclusion. Subbed, keep up the awesome work!
So they organize these "pitches" with various creators, write/record all your ideas and then tell you "i'm sorry, we've decided to go with something different". Hollywood and it's great vulture practices for ya.
You ever watch Bojack Horseman? As someone who's worked on the rigging for two different productions now I can tell you it's not far off. They basically just spit ball ideas all the time and hope for the best.
@Archie TM On what grounds tho? I'm not from US, but I know some local law. If there's no paper trail or recordings of these calls how do your prove they took place? Even if they did, the subject voluntarily had shared these ideas for free. Maybe you'll enlighten me on this matter (no sarcasm intended)
@Archie TM My brother as a teenager sent a pitch to Nintendo on how a Super Smash Bros or Ocarina of Time port would work on a DS. He understandably got sent back a "we are not interested in making x at this time". Years later, OoT3D was released, and it does look and function pretty much the same as my brother's pitch. I imagine that if he would've had a lawyer behind him, he might've had more to stand on, but I don't think you can just claim something is yours in the eye of a major company.
I look at Hollywood in the same lens as Shark Tank. They take the intellectual property brain storm love child of someone who has put a lot of their time and investment (money and passion) only to exploit it to a larger audience.... We can all come up with great ideas at times...but is everyone's pockets the same when it comes to defending a patent? Seems like a machine where some look at it as their big break...and sometimes it leads to a big break in the wrong ways...(heart break) We are created by a Creative God and while being made in His image....sometimes we end up getting distracted by the trappings of life. (Those powers and principalities) Why fight to get into the stuff that will ultimately hurt you? Failure is a good teacher... But JESUS?? Much better! 😇😎
Dude, I had a very similar experience. I'm here to create, not sit in meetings for 3 years. An EP literally said "This is definitely going to get the green light" instead, the whole ordeal ended in a "soft pass". If I ever do a pitch again it will be made to go online first. My priority is creating and sharing, not meetings.
"We have an indie startup studio that greenlights stuff like this all the time"... uh... Are you talking about 20th Century Fox & Fox Searchlight? Given the Fox purchase by Disney. That would make a lot since because when Disney comes in sees the project on paper and cancels it on the spot. It makes sense to me. Anyone else has any other ideas?
The only other studios that own franchises that could release on both theaters and streaming are Marvel and Lucasfilm... although maybe it was a pitch idea for the WB platform they're working on
Man, every video of your’s I’ve watched, I’ve loved. Even the “sub-par” ones. My girl has lyme’s which has caused her heart and circulation problems. She uses an oxygen concentrator. Sometimes, when she’s herxing really bad, there’s nothing she can do but lay on the couch and take the pain. In those times, we’ve watched your videos. They/you made us laugh and made time pass faster. For this, I am grateful, my friend.👌
Seeing you cry broke my heart. Go at your pace, man. I hold nothing but admiration for you because you share the hard stuff with us. I'm sorry it didn't work out, keep your head up. Peace ✌🏻
I remember finding your channel back in 2017 with, "i made a movie. it stunk." and then found this pop up on my home screen today, it's nice to see you, again. I'm sorry you dealt with such overwhelming stress. I'm happy you got to taste the excitement of traditional media, it's unfortunate it didn't work out for you. I am glad it led you into a serendipitous state where you're able to make passion projects again. I'm looking forward to seeing more from you soon.
To me, it feels like you were used. They bounce ideas off of you akin to a consultant, and fed upon your creation, both of which are independent positions of employment which requires compensation for. Energy exchange, you put creation in, you should be able to feed yourself. At least you have this platform to reflect upon this, and hopefully people find use of it in their own lives. Good to see ya again!
That's exactly what it sounds like. Proper representation probably would've avoided this or at least provided him with a check. Working with studios without legal representation or iron clad legal documents usually leads to this.
He could honestly bill hem for consulting. For 3ish meeings, he could maybe get like $3k. Not much, but at least he gets something out of it. Most large companies will pay almost every "consulting" fee because they do/use the service so often.
This is the most inspiring UA-cam channel! Between this video and the video (can't remember what it's called) but where Austin was going to give a lecture and no one showed, these videos help me to put things in perspective. Thanks Austin! Good stuff!
I feel your pain dude. Reminds me of my Google interviews where they flew me out multiple times before they chewed me up and spit me out. All smiles and promising demonstrations of interest. Then, nada. I now work another job that pays similar to what they would have and actually works on some of their projects. My dream is to work on one of their facilities and Squidward laugh so hard knowing I still succeeded and they lost out on dedicated talent. I trust you will do the same! Hold on there my dude.
@@twenty-fifth420 i know its a bit harsh but its not the 1st time i saw this type of videos , its like a UA-camr customs at this point , its the same story beat by beat ending in almost all the times with a statement that said ''i will now do only the things that makes me happy , am gonna focus on the important stuff " or something .
@@walkerb117 yeah that is exactly my problem with this , he is telling us that he wont go back into these kind of projects yet he keep the names a secret its like he still want to work with them , and giving the opportunity again he will 1000% redo it making this seem like every UA-cam apology out there
When a video rant about yourself has zero dislikes, this is one of the most sincere videos i've ever watched in my life. I've felt exactly how you feel for similar reasons. Cheers from a fellow filmmaker
I've been through this process myself many times, where things seem like they may happen but they fall apart at the final hurdle. Usually because people lose interest or the person who can really say "yes" didn't say it. I've learned not to hang your hopes on "talk" because there's a lot of smoke blowing in Hollywood. And there is no sure thing until you've signed a contract and the check has cleared in your bank account. Anything outside that is "talk". I'm fortunate to have had one indie feature made, one studio feature I've been paid for and in pre-production, and another indie feature in "talks". You gotta roll with the punches and don't wait on people. Keep pushing your other projects and stick to your main plan.
I’m realizing that this channel/Austin’s life is kinda like How I Met Your Mother but for artistic endeavors instead of girlfriends. You’ll find what you’re looking for!
I've spent 8 months composing music for 1 project that fell through the day I went to deliver my first drafts & 5 months on another project that didn't quite go how I was told it would....It hurts...I really feel for you Austin.
You gave them your artistic license and they ran with it. That's the danger of sharing your intellectual property with corporations without having agreements in place.
Felt like something about your channel was off last year though I still watched and liked your content. Could not put my finger on what was different, maybe it was this. Wonder how many talented people with great ideas get this kind of run around from studios, year in and year out. Anyway, love your openness and hope this year brings you plenty of inspiration and energy to put into new projects. And time to relax and enjoy your time off as well. We all need to unwind.
Wait a second, so you mean to tell me that even when you're half assing it, you are still making quality content? Because I really enjoyed the videos from last year.
Really?? I felt the quality and topics went super bad and bland. Plus he was very negative whenever he would talk in general. It was so bad, I thought he had deaths in the family.....
bro, am gonna tell you something just to cheer you up. you didnt waste your time. you made connections, you poked their attention, maybe they are not interested in that project but they already know you and that means that they might be more open about a future different project you may have. dont give up man!
These Hollywood bureaucrats he was dealing with were milking him for free ideas with no intention of having him direct the movie. Happens with screenwriters and filmmakers all the time. The only solution is to be independent.
So glad to see you're still excited to make projects after being yanked around by a big studio like that. I 100% agree with you that we don't need a giant studio to make the things we want. Just this past year my friends and I finished shooting our first feature film. I can't even begin to count how many people told us that we couldn't make our movie without studio funding or that we wouldn't ever make it out of preproduction. That didn't stop us though. We pooled our resources together and made the damn thing ourselves. Creating a giant project without the backing of a big studio was definitely challenging, but I'm glad we did it on our own terms. We had full creative control and we were able to execute our vision with having to deal with any stupid Hollywood bureaucracy. I am excited to say that our film is being edited as we speak and will be released by the end of 2020! We're going to submit it to film festivals and also show it at our local cinemas. The movie is called She The Creator.
This frustrating story reminds me how I wanted to write a novel about a small dream study experiment gone wrong (using AI to collect data from people's dreams and then predict future based on the information, and accidentally discovering that their very experimental dream booster device corrupted reality itself and erased someone from existence, so that only one person remembers and now has to navigate both reality and dreams to get the erased person back; also maybe adding some romantic touches and conflicts). That was before Inception was a thing. I wrote first chapters and then I couldn't find enough time and gave up. Still not sure, if the idea is any good.
Bro, that sounds frickin cool Falling in love with someone that does not exist in the fabric of reality and saving them from not existing in time itself sounds like an awesome idea
@@scratchsoft2347 Actually I got somewhat inspired by "The Lathe of Heaven" by Ursula Le Guin (there have been two film adaptations), and also by my own lucid dreams. I thought that my idea of collecting and analyzing dreams was something new, but a few years ago there was a new TV series about a company collecting dreams of their test subjects to find out some hidden secrets (although that one was more fantasy than sci-fi). So, as always - when you think you created something new, somebody else somehow picks up the idea. Maybe we have a collective unconscious after all :D
I see a future TED-Talk in this :D At least it reminded me about a TED-talk that I heard. It was about failure (if you want to call it that) and what you can learn from it. Anyway: You have earned all the sympathy points by talking to openly about it. I wish you all the best :)
That's what I think too. When he said he doesnt even like the franchise it was like "Oh, so its the other yearly fanchise that has been doing spin offs, Fast & Furious"
I thought it was WB and something DC related. WB releases a DC film every year or so plus they now have their own streaming service now ( I think) plus it would make sense when he says he doesn't like this movie franchise anyway if referring to the DCEU.
From what I understand this happens constantly in Hollywood - you really aren’t making it until it’s all contracted out and you’re currently working on it
After watching An Evening With Kevin Smith and hearing Kevin Smith's story about how Hollywood jerked him around for ideas on a new Superman movie (it was basically a proto-“Man of Steel”), even AFTER he had made multiple nationally successful films, it's starting to paint a picture. I suspect that Hollywood sees creativity as a (nearly) free resource - at least, when it comes from people whose show business leverage is less than their personal desire to create. Great ideas are a dime a dozen to them - they're only interested in landing ideas that will multiply their investment exponentially. It's like a gambler who is trying figure out the formula to win millions, but in the most boring and low-risk way possible. You're right, Austin. The internet has its flaws, but when it comes to creative endeavors, it's a helluva lot more interesting than the way major studios work. Also, this may be colored by hearing Kevin Smith's story, but I suspect it was DC Films that approached you to contribute to a superhero spinoff. Just a guess. I'm aware that I will probably never know for sure.
Radien “Comes from people whose show business leverage is less than their desire to create. “ You have perfectly expressed the inherent problem with interactions between creative people and the deep pockets that have no regard for the creative people. Their only regard is for profit.
I had something like this happen on a dream job once. It sucks when you get right to the cusp and then...nothing. But it sounds like your time wasn't actually wasted. Sounds like you made a good impression on studio folks, hopefully they'll remember you for the next thing.
Your story has given me so much advice on how to work as a filmmaker. I’m currently working on a very important project for me and I haven’t worked on is nearly as much as I’d like, and your experiences have given me the motivation to work harder to bring this project to life.
Why they typed up the minutes of the meeting instead of just recording it - because then they have a hard copy straightaway, instead of someone typing it up later. Source: me, a shorthand typist.
@@thegoodguy4443 No, its because they want to have the text and if they record it then it'll have to be written down later anyways-- its a lot easier to skim through a text document than it is through a audio recording, since a recording is sound arranged across time (which we experience 1 second per second) and text is arranged across two dimensional space (which we perceive from an external and grander scale).
As a writer, I totally get the starry-eyed reaction to large corporations with huge budgets and massive audiences. You don't have to like the industry, but damn, the reach, the budgets, the networking, and the possibilities. Your content last year wasn't your star content, but that's all right. This entire process, no matter how deflating, wasn't a waste of time. Just because Draft 1 is shit doesn't mean the process of creating it was. Now you know what doesn't work, and Draft 2 will be better. In the end, your back pocket idea was given new life. I'm confident that it'll be worth it.
You didn’t waste your time. It was just a growth catalyst dressed like a dead-end. You had an important experience that yielded valuable perspective. May it pay you many future dividends. Glad you kept going.
Austin you are so spot on. 10 years ago I got out of being a location sound recordist as it’s just a complete sh&t fight for working for little money and empty promises. . Equipment is cheap and high quality (blackmagic) sound is easy to achieve to a high level. Good on you for following your own pathway
I really like how you effortlessly manipulate what are effectively disjointed shots to make a cohesive story and use visual language to convey your emotions, its super cool as compared to a lot of UA-camrs.
14:42 yeah, now that is the most relatable thing I've ever seen on this channel. Doesn't matter what you do, You'll work very hard, and sometimes you expect a reward, or a promotion... but hey no one saw how hard you worked. Keep it for you.
Your positivity is beyond anything that I have seen. I have learnt more from your failures than any other successful person's story. It just gave me hope to go on with my life. I will obviously stumble in my way but I have to overcome it. You just taught me to understand my failures.
Austin: *I am done with traditional media* Disney: Actually, Austin we recognize your talent and we’re going to give you that 7 figure budget. Austin: *I am making a movie guys*
So much respect for you and your transparency. You have no idea how many people can relate to these struggles and your honesty is so admirable. Keep going you have A MILLION people supporting you. You have everything you need to be a success and that’s clear to all of us.
Austin -- You have inspired me time and time again, and I can honestly say that if I ever become a big filmmaker, I'll attribute it to the encouragement and wisdom provided by you and other UA-camrs. On my own, I frequently struggle with motivational issues, but thanks to people like you who do so much good work so well online, I feel confident that I can get through the process. Thanks to you, Film Riot, DSLR guide, and many others, I know that I'm going to have rough times, and that I'll only ever get to the good times by plowing through the rough ones first. I'm in preproduction for my first-ever "real" short film right now, and I just want to say that it's (at least partially) your fault it's happening. Whether or not the film turns out, I'll learn from it, and my next one will be better, and eventually I'll be making things that other people like to watch. So yeah, just wanted to say thanks. You the man. Wishing you a great 2020 and hoping you won't have to deal with any awful burnout/stress-y situations again.
It would probably be really hard to keep the structure of the pitch/presentation whilst removing any identifiable information or links to the movie franchise or studio in question, especially as he said it was a spin-off from an existing franchise; people interested in movies and movie making would recognise the origin pretty quickly (therefore breaking the NDA) and people subscribed to this channel are likely to fall under this umbrella. It's a shame this information is blocked, but I think this video gives us a good insight as to what happened and where he wants to go from here.
I feel like he's modern Van Gogh. Talented but unappreceated, like every vlog is a beautifull master piece and heart warming. The world is nuts I guess!
@@4imee198 no Austin ain't no van Gogh's he's just a good youtube content creator he takes his film making skills and puts in his videos but his limited skills are what hold him back from being bigger
I actually avoided watching this video for three years because I thought it would be too depressing for me, having gone through a somewhat similar experience. Having now seen it though, I found it pretty cathartic. It especially helps that you're currently doing a big project that you're actually enthusiastic about even if it may not make as much money, instead of a big studio project based on something you don't really like! I think a lot of creators could learn something from this video really, studios can chew you up and spit you out, in many cases, doing something you have actual control over is preferable.
This might seem a little empty coming from a random internet gal, but I'm proud of you! I really appreciate your honesty and openness, and wish you the best for the upcoming year!
This past summer, you uploaded one of my favorite videos, Voicemails from Strangers. You didn't slack off on the channel last year, I don't think you wasted time with Hollywood. It's a learning experience. Really appreciate your channel Austin. :)
"And I said oh," *Austin throws the big IDEA paper away, cuts to him holding the small one.* "Let me tell ya all about it." I died laughing a little bit inside at that.
Austin, I got more out of this video, about the struggle to succeed, about the emotional toll that it exacts and ultimately about the seemingly bottomless wellspring of hope that filmmakers have to have to survive this path than I have in the entire time I've been in this business. You have no one to apologize to, Brother. As the Mandalorian would tell you, "This is the way." I just completed a short film passion project that took me over 9 years to finish to be my calling card to get me my dream job and here I sit... and Hollywood ain't callin'. The struggle is real but I'm told persistence is the key to success. Keep fighting the good fight and don't give up.
Despite what we learn in life, we periodically find ourselves making old mistakes and reminding ourselves of old lessons learned. This is normal, healthy and nothing to beat ourselves up about. Learning is not linear.
Man this was tough to watch. I've gotten the run around before on projects but this is magnitudes above anything I've even dreamed of. I can't even imagine how much turmoil this whole thing caused. At least as a part time creator I can rely on the stability of an office job but holy cow you were fully invested in this. Thank you for sharing your experience this is very eye opening and a good lesson. Shoot for the stars but always keep an eye on the ground. Always looking forward to the next one Austin :)
Hi there. I'm finally making a movie, and I need your help: bit.ly/GOATLAS
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so let me make sure I understand you, and please I am not trying to sound like a jerk.... but try to see it from the perspective of a disabled guy who can only dream of being where you are right now.... you have almost 1.5 MILLION subs, with sponsored videos and you need us to chip in money for you to have another $125k to produce this movie have I got that about right?
@@X-Posed23 1.5 million doesnt earn as much a you think
@@jinnjaninja well, then get a job
@@X-Posed23 beginning to understand why they call u salty
2017: I Made A Movie. It Stunk
2020: I Tried To Make A Movie. It didn’t happen.
2023: I Made A Movie.
Trust me, it’ll happen one day
i definitely want to see it❤️❤️
Harshvardhan Grover oh I’m not referencing me I’m referencing Austin.
Harshvardhan Grover he made a video in 2017 called I made a movie it stunk
I so hope that's what's going to happen!
Now that's a good trilogy
And now I've realized later that these Hollywood people will end up seeing this video and they'll wonder, "huh."
No they won’t. They won’t bat an eye.
@@CarlosGraOca depends who you mean by "they". The people who ultimately made the choice or the people who wanted our boi to do this.
The former wont, the latter probably feel kinda bad.
Someone involved will definitely watch to make sure he didn't break NDA.
@@TheDragonSeeker How do you figure?
@@TheDragonSeeker I mean, thats a good guess, I wouldnt say anything with such confidence though...
Either way, the people that interacted with him are likely genuine. They knew him, talked to him, shared jokes with him, thats pretty legit empathy. They probably wanted to work with him... the higher ups who had no such relations just said "Meeeh, I'll let you know later" then "Ehhh, cancel it." The people he talked to probably could only tell their boss that they thought he was good and that it would be a success.
He made a movie. It stunk
He wrote a book. It was awful
He held a workshop, nobody came
He got called by Hollywood. It fell apart
This guy can't catch a break
Going off what you wrote, maybe his desire is greater then his talent.
J.k Rowling was rejected for YEARS with her Harry potter book.
Look at het now shes a billionaire.
Never ever give up on your dreams. If you have the pation you will make it. Eventually someone gonna Say yes.
@@5115pandabear Yea, but what she wrote was really good though. She had desire, AND talent.
Also, it only took a HER year to find a publisher and twelve rejections, which is actually not bad at all for a first book, if you go off this channel. I'll take it when I'm ready to submit.
She also lived off the state while writing it. Maybe all of England should have gotten there cut? Lol! 🤔 (not really)
@@Reggie2000 well all im saying is that its never too late to make it. And i thing that guy is super talented. And yeah maybe his first movie sucked and the book failed but he has some amazing talent in 3d animation and graphics. I believe in him 💪😊
@@5115pandabear Sorry if it sounded like I'm rooting against him or something, because im not. I too hope he gets everything he wants in life. 😁
man, this really hurts in a way. getting your hopes extremely high and losing this project probably devastated you at first but i’m so happy to see that you’re over it now and even understand you don’t need this. you have a great platform here & i’m wishing you good luck with it!
True
Lmao okay bud.
This is this like the other youtuber basically homeless
One time in the summer of 2012 I had gotten a call at Target regarding an application and I was thrilled because I was in need of a job immediately and they later said "HAHA WERE JUST KIDDING FUCK YOU"
THIS
Austin legit filmed the same video five times in five different locations just so he can cut between sentences.
totally immersive too!
It's a really good tatic
It keeps getting your focus back
I wonder if that was planned or if he filmed it five different ways not being sure which one is the best one and combined them in edit , both sound like him
I M M E R S I O N
@@munjee2 it was probably storyboarded or something like that
I can't begin to articulate just how relatable this is.
Right?!?! Love your channel too, by the way.
Hey hey, look who it is
Crossing my fingers fir a collab one day
Love your channel man
@@ThatCreeNative1 Or make it so it could run on a margin bigger or smaller.
Scallable ideas are better suited for outside partners. You can actually show them working
I was really expecting chapter two to be titled "I got ahead of myself"
Lol
Hey, me too
Ben Fan no. Yep! Same here.
Confirmed: The Asylum wanted Austin to help create Sharknado: Into the Shark-Verse
Lmao
Lol
It this real?
@@albertazca7922 no lol
@@albertazca7922 SHARKNADO 2 BABYYYY
"I give this guy a seven-figure amount and he just goes, "no problem, I can get you that"
It's Netflix.
Thank you for calling Netflix, you're greenlit.
13:41 seems like paramount hmmm🤔🤔
@@Zacuree in that case the project maybe could've been a quiet place spinoff?
If it's netflix they would've made the first season off whatever he was pitching and cancel it 5 days after release.
@@Zacuree I think it sounds like "20th Century Fox" but I could be wrong
Austin no pls stop teleporting around every sentence you'll rearrange ur molecules too much
Every time he teleports it costs the taxpayers 10 million dollars.
I feel like i owe you an apology. During this time where shit was going chaotic you released a video that i commented on stating that it seemed like you ran out of material based on the content released. After hearing everything you were going through and how emotionally challenging your life has been i feel like it was rude and definitely gave me a rude awakening to what goes on in the other side. The worst part is you actually responded back "OK" which showed you actually read my childish comment. So as one grown ass man to another, I'm sorry for that, and hope your doing better and have a great year ahead in your projects. Bro HUG*
D Logic this comment shows that you are a “big” man xD Having the courage to apologise for your mistakes also shows that you’ve got a lot of respect for Austin xD Have my (rare) like 😜
Hey there, Cewkaurai Zok'Aerrus.
That was cringe! Delete your comment immediately.
Thank you.
I also thought the content was getting a bit shit as well. The backstory to it makes sense now.
This man used an alt account to praise his own horrid and disgustingly cringeworthy UA-cam comment but didn’t think to talk like a different person. Congratulations Cewkaurai Zok’Aerrus, you dim witted bastard.
We got em bois
We should form a support group called "Holly Wouldn't". If any of us ever says "Yes" to Hollywood, the rest of us stage an intervention.
I'd join a group like this.
But some people would really love to work in Hollywood. Myself included lol.
@@TechnoBacon then do not join the gröup
@@patxs I figured it meant all of Austin's subscribers.
Who is Holly Wood and why did she call you
vAqeii who is the master of debating and why is he always touching himself
@Da_lil_people I always was seeking the king of fish stories, the Master Baiter.
Holly would if she could.
Watch the vido u dumbass you'll find out for youself! Dtts
Because we are tighter than bark on a tree
Studio: "We MUST hire the man who killed LonelyGirl15"
Seems a little harsh when you put it like that
@@glumbortango7182 it's a reference to one of his older videos
@@justraad I was aware
@@justraad which video??
@@darkside4566 the one which literally is called "did I kill LonelyGirl15"
I love how whenever I get a UA-cam Recommended video from this guy, it's always some bad news lol.
@Imperator yeah...
@Imperator give him a break, he might make a feature film with the revenue someday xD
We dont know if this story is true but it's entertaining
Conman
Lmfao. That’s fucked. Man.
Who is this Hollywood and why did they slide into your dms only to ghost you?
Universal
WHOS SOULJA BOY? AND WHAT IN THE HECK IS THAT DANCE?
Connor notyerbidness 420 likes
@@chillbro7823 430 actually. Sorry
or Warner Brothers.. but Universal's makes sense
My dad was a Screenwriter, and I watched this exact process happen at least 20 times growing up. The thing you missed, that may still not have worked, was to get an agent to represent you. That agent shops your idea until you, at the very least, get a retainer. In order to get that, you try to shop it as many people as you can, at the same time, so that someone gets scared enough to put some skin in the game. We lived off of retainers for years. Nothing got made, but it was all paid for, in part, repeatedly. My dad's dead, and there's a huge box of outdated scripts in my basement. A box of unfulfilled dreams. For every star on the Hollywood walk of fame, there are 10,000 faded names on gravestones.
EDIT: Correction, it's not called a retainer, it's called an "option".
What's your favourite work? Did anything big ever get made?
@@gangswagster His favorite never got made... it was a story about Marlowe being the actual Shakespeare, and Queen Elizabeth having been assassinated when she was a young girl, and the royal staff finding a young boy who looked like her, castrating him, and teaching him to be queen (hence never marrying and always wearing high collars to hide adam's apple).He was known more for songwriting. He wrote Nina Simone's "Poppies". But, I watched him go through what Austin went through dozens of times.
Thanks for sharing that. It something to keep on mind.
David Bleecher First of all, I’m sorry your dad and your family had to go through that time and again. Second, your experience shows that nothing ever fundamentally changes. The real problem here is the balance of power. It is perennially uneven in this type of situation. At least your dad got paid for the options, which Austin has not.
@@fleetskipper1810 It's cool, I appreciate the sympathy, though. If I ever tried to sell a script, I know exactly what to expect, so I'll never get my hopes up until money is in hand. If you're not actively counting money, you're not actually making a project.
I firmly believe that this is the story of how Austin McConnell almost directed Morbius movie
That actually makes sense.
You should make this video into a movie called “The Back Pocket”
That is honestly a great idea
Even if it was a short film it would be great
Yeah! I didn't know that expression and it's a great concept to build a story on !
This.
Echoing the neat idea sentiment but also... he'd probably have to be vague or twisty about the details. What with the NDAs, he mentioned.
you might not have been able to make a hollywood movie, but you have atleast gained over 1 million subs by just being wholesome, interesting and funny
yes yes true
Agree🤗
Ye
This has always been one of my biggest fears, that my back pocket idea, the ultimate goal I have in life, will be taken away by some big studio that ran out of ideas and scrambles to find other people's idea without paying for it.
The worst fear is if they do it terribly.
That's why you have to become a director and screenwriter so you can make your back pocket idea into a masterpiece.
@@somebody7130 It's always easier said than done, resources, time, the privilege to be able to drop everything and actually pursue a dream like that, not everyone has that
Zakito true
Don’t worry, a studio will never take a full idea/concept without paying for it. The risk of getting sued is so large, they don’t even open mail containing free ideas.
@@joelmulder not in Indonesia, that's for sure. Corporate, hell even the government side of things will take it from unfamous/unknown person with creative ideas and steal it without paying them.
They will only started paying when things got viraled in social medias when they got caught stealing the idea.
It was so fucked up.
To me, this is a horror story. I'm currently waiting for an important response from a network. Nothing as big as what happened to you, but this is a bigger opportunity that I ever thought I would have. And I'm petrified. I keep thinking about what is the worst that could happen... And then I watched your video.
Thank you for sharing this experience, may we never get too carried away!
I hope your project turns out ok.
Fingers crossed for you and keep us updated!
Sò Corsi good luck
Keep us posted
Good luck!
Good luck!
It sounds like you learned something... and that is never a waste of time.
Ey 69 noice
True
Tyrone Deise well an entire year? I’d still be upset
Enderking absolutely
Except when you spend an unnecessary extra amount of time learning the lesson.
Here’s my pitch:
A movie about Sprouting Orchids.
But the movie is about the making of the movie. It’s a movie, about you, making a movie. it’s the “I made a movie, it sucked” video, but as a movie.
Austin, the stories you tell about going after your dreams capture the unspoken existential dread of being a twentysomething and the courage and heart that it takes two swallow your fear and break the mold. It’s the message that has kept me coming back to you. It speaks to that part of a young man’s heart that desires to be more.
Title: “I Made A Movie.”
Or don’t, because I’ll still watch literally anything else can you direct. Hang in there man. We’re all excited to see how high you fly.
like "the disaster artist"
@@Michael-sh9ci only better because Austin.
Ned Hesser I’m sorry nothing’s better than the disaster artist
Ned I genuinely, legit like your pitch. Will you collab with me?
@@saadamansayyed Say when
Austin: **explains the backpocket thing**
Me: **looks sadly at my backetpocket idea** One day. ONE DAY!!
My back pocket idea is chicken fajitas, you want some?
@@petartedONE hell yes
Petarded No thanks.
I have a back pocket idea. An artistic animated short film built around the soundtrack. I don't have the resources or skills to do it, but maybe one day
Dragon Fire My backetpocket idea is about a book with these dragon..things. It’s basically Harry Potter mixed with some anime games.
When he said he didn't even really like the franchise that the project was based on, my mind immediately jumped to the Fast and the Furious
Same.
I thought of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are so many spin-offs being worked on for Disney+, that my brain just assumed Austin was talking about one of them.
Or sony
I thought Jurassic park
Maybe Hobbs and Shaw?
Dude! I have the exact same story! Sorry you had to go through that. It was definitely a bummer for me
Jeez, I think I learn more from your failed projects then I think I would learn from a successful one.
Ze Bouncy Cow Theo That’s how the past works. You can either learn from it, or be hurt by it.
Mistakes are usually easier to learn from than successes
True
@@puppybytes mainly because you know where things went wrong. if it succeeded you wont care about its shortcomings
100%, you don't learn anything when its all smooth sailing.
Give your wife a big hug for supporting you. Spend some meaningful time with her more often. After you both recover from this stress continue in the way you laid out in the last minutes of this video.
"To you the conference call was the biggest moment in your life, but to me it was Tuesday."
That's so true, it's painful.
Where is that from
@@derpwadder Magically, I actually know the reference - used it earlier tonight, in fact. It's from the Street Fighter movie, should get a clip by searching "street fighter for me it was tuesday"
Berylliosis thanks!
Austin - you're probably not gonna see this, but I'm gonna write it, just in case.
I work too in a creative field and have found watching your channel to be an immensely rewarding, thought-provoking, and most honestly REAL experience. I just feel you, I feel the pain and the disappointment and the downs and the lows and everything you're going through resonates through me in the deepest ways. I'm only 24 but I feel like I've been through and ups and downs in life in a way you most honestly embody in these videos.
I have no idea where to go next with my life, no idea on how to share my passions and my dreams, no idea how to not feel empty and devoid of meaning everyday because my real interests are hard to reach, no one to talk to who understands how we feel. I've been following your channel for about two years, and it's one of the only places I feel understood, and honestly? Represented.
I honestly want to wish you all the best and express my deepest desires for you to succeed and find joy in your craft. Honestly, given your massive UA-cam outreach it would seem as though simply creating things the way you do now, but on a personal note and a much larger scale, would be what bring the big studios to the table. Make them come to you.
All the best.
👍👍👍
loved it.
Gal Granot
I only have these words of advice for you.
Purpose is a sweater that you have to sow yourself. Some people try around, while others just knew how to knit. Either way, if you feel empty, then I would give you the advice to fill that hole with things like hobbies, family, or cooking. But whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of luck.
Sincerely, a random stranger.
@@theggfloupin4084 Exurbia?
Ultra Linguistics
What do you mean exurbia, my friend?
For the back pain, there is this procedure called "spine removal" it solves all of your problems. Although you do become a slug and the insult of being "spineless" receives a new meaning, it is still worth it.
17:30 nailed it. UA-camr here, just finished my degree in journalism. After my internship at a tv show I came to the same conclusion. Subbed, keep up the awesome work!
@shaun luke F off man
@shaun luke well he did say in his comment he is.
@@magicjello4633 he deserves it lol reaction channels ain’t good lol
@shaun luke no dood... it was TOTALLY called for.
@shaun luke unfortunately, yes.
I really appreciate how open and frank you are. It’s refreshing.
So they organize these "pitches" with various creators, write/record all your ideas and then tell you "i'm sorry, we've decided to go with something different". Hollywood and it's great vulture practices for ya.
You ever watch Bojack Horseman? As someone who's worked on the rigging for two different productions now I can tell you it's not far off. They basically just spit ball ideas all the time and hope for the best.
@Archie TM On what grounds tho? I'm not from US, but I know some local law. If there's no paper trail or recordings of these calls how do your prove they took place? Even if they did, the subject voluntarily had shared these ideas for free. Maybe you'll enlighten me on this matter (no sarcasm intended)
@Archie TM My brother as a teenager sent a pitch to Nintendo on how a Super Smash Bros or Ocarina of Time port would work on a DS. He understandably got sent back a "we are not interested in making x at this time". Years later, OoT3D was released, and it does look and function pretty much the same as my brother's pitch. I imagine that if he would've had a lawyer behind him, he might've had more to stand on, but I don't think you can just claim something is yours in the eye of a major company.
I look at Hollywood in the same lens as Shark Tank. They take the intellectual property brain storm love child of someone who has put a lot of their time and investment (money and passion) only to exploit it to a larger audience....
We can all come up with great ideas at times...but is everyone's pockets the same when it comes to defending a patent?
Seems like a machine where some look at it as their big break...and sometimes it leads to a big break in the wrong ways...(heart break)
We are created by a Creative God and while being made in His image....sometimes we end up getting distracted by the trappings of life. (Those powers and principalities)
Why fight to get into the stuff that will ultimately hurt you?
Failure is a good teacher... But JESUS?? Much better! 😇😎
@Archie TM you can't copyright ideas, unfortunately. There are tons of stories of writers having their ideas stolen. Michael Swaim, for example.
Dude, I had a very similar experience. I'm here to create, not sit in meetings for 3 years. An EP literally said "This is definitely going to get the green light" instead, the whole ordeal ended in a "soft pass".
If I ever do a pitch again it will be made to go online first. My priority is creating and sharing, not meetings.
Seedlings!
"We'll get back to you in a week." Is business talk for "Nah fam"
That is exactly what I was thinking ... but at one time they said "Get back to you in a MONTH"
"We have an indie startup studio that greenlights stuff like this all the time"... uh... Are you talking about 20th Century Fox & Fox Searchlight?
Given the Fox purchase by Disney. That would make a lot since because when Disney comes in sees the project on paper and cancels it on the spot.
It makes sense to me. Anyone else has any other ideas?
The only other studios that own franchises that could release on both theaters and streaming are Marvel and Lucasfilm... although maybe it was a pitch idea for the WB platform they're working on
@@Shalalacls the first thing that popped into my head was the Mandalorian, but you're probably right
@@ExplodingWaffle101 but then Mandalorian wouldn't make sense, because Austin is actually a fan of Star Wars.
@@JPWDW1971 Maybe he just doesn't like the new ones
@YumYumDelish was thinking of lucasfilm. The spinoff was probably Obi wan or something else star wars
Man, every video of your’s I’ve watched, I’ve loved. Even the “sub-par” ones. My girl has lyme’s which has caused her heart and circulation problems. She uses an oxygen concentrator. Sometimes, when she’s herxing really bad, there’s nothing she can do but lay on the couch and take the pain. In those times, we’ve watched your videos. They/you made us laugh and made time pass faster. For this, I am grateful, my friend.👌
I hope she's doing okay! Especially in these times. ❤
Hope she is okay
Hope she’s okay
Unnecessary backstory
I pray for her healing in Jesus name, amen!
Its like what the old saying meant:
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
Don't count chickens before they are hatched
Hollywood you piece of shi-
Seeing you cry broke my heart.
Go at your pace, man. I hold nothing but admiration for you because you share the hard stuff with us. I'm sorry it didn't work out, keep your head up. Peace ✌🏻
I remember finding your channel back in 2017 with, "i made a movie. it stunk." and then found this pop up on my home screen today, it's nice to see you, again. I'm sorry you dealt with such overwhelming stress. I'm happy you got to taste the excitement of traditional media, it's unfortunate it didn't work out for you. I am glad it led you into a serendipitous state where you're able to make passion projects again. I'm looking forward to seeing more from you soon.
in a shocking turn of events, a video about how a thing austin tried was a failure
lol
Hahaha, really not that original for this channel.
@@austinmcconnell the fact your turning these failures into content is amazing :)
Lmao
@Laverne Blaszczyk and mix in some vodka and share it with the rest of us.
Really starting to sound like he was approached to do a Disney+ Original.
I thought it was about star wars lol
Well he said it was something that comes out yearly though
@@hauler-hx6gw yes, star wars
But he likes Star Wars
Doubt it's marvel , probably a smaller scale franchise
To me, it feels like you were used. They bounce ideas off of you akin to a consultant, and fed upon your creation, both of which are independent positions of employment which requires compensation for. Energy exchange, you put creation in, you should be able to feed yourself. At least you have this platform to reflect upon this, and hopefully people find use of it in their own lives. Good to see ya again!
That's exactly what it sounds like. Proper representation probably would've avoided this or at least provided him with a check. Working with studios without legal representation or iron clad legal documents usually leads to this.
He could honestly bill hem for consulting. For 3ish meeings, he could maybe get like $3k. Not much, but at least he gets something out of it. Most large companies will pay almost every "consulting" fee because they do/use the service so often.
This is the most inspiring UA-cam channel! Between this video and the video (can't remember what it's called) but where Austin was going to give a lecture and no one showed, these videos help me to put things in perspective. Thanks Austin! Good stuff!
I feel your pain dude. Reminds me of my Google interviews where they flew me out multiple times before they chewed me up and spit me out. All smiles and promising demonstrations of interest. Then, nada. I now work another job that pays similar to what they would have and actually works on some of their projects. My dream is to work on one of their facilities and Squidward laugh so hard knowing I still succeeded and they lost out on dedicated talent. I trust you will do the same! Hold on there my dude.
Fun fact: Your "I made a movie, and it stunk" video, is my favourite UA-cam video of all time. I watch it every 6 months, I love it.
5 Star Idiot Productions *looks on calandre* “oh look, it’s that time again”
Only every 6 months?
Confirmed: Austin was going to helm the Sister Act cinematic universe.
i dont believe a thing he said in this video because he didn't want to drop any names
@@RED01SEA Okay that is totally rational to believe even the entire story is BS. But come on, the entire video?
@@twenty-fifth420 i know its a bit harsh but its not the 1st time i saw this type of videos , its like a UA-camr customs at this point , its the same story beat by beat ending in almost all the times with a statement that said ''i will now do only the things that makes me happy , am gonna focus on the important stuff " or something .
BLUE FIRE they can come after Austin for telling which studio and people it was. Giving away the project is even worse.
@@walkerb117 yeah that is exactly my problem with this , he is telling us that he wont go back into these kind of projects yet he keep the names a secret its like he still want to work with them , and giving the opportunity again he will 1000% redo it making this seem like every UA-cam apology out there
When a video rant about yourself has zero dislikes, this is one of the most sincere videos i've ever watched in my life. I've felt exactly how you feel for similar reasons. Cheers from a fellow filmmaker
As someone who wants to be a screenwriter in the near future, this is genuinely a great example of how Hollywood is a lie, Thank You so much
yea same
I've been through this process myself many times, where things seem like they may happen but they fall apart at the final hurdle. Usually because people lose interest or the person who can really say "yes" didn't say it. I've learned not to hang your hopes on "talk" because there's a lot of smoke blowing in Hollywood. And there is no sure thing until you've signed a contract and the check has cleared in your bank account. Anything outside that is "talk". I'm fortunate to have had one indie feature made, one studio feature I've been paid for and in pre-production, and another indie feature in "talks". You gotta roll with the punches and don't wait on people. Keep pushing your other projects and stick to your main plan.
I’m realizing that this channel/Austin’s life is kinda like How I Met Your Mother but for artistic endeavors instead of girlfriends. You’ll find what you’re looking for!
Sensory Detail Apt simile!
I've spent 8 months composing music for 1 project that fell through the day I went to deliver my first drafts & 5 months on another project that didn't quite go how I was told it would....It hurts...I really feel for you Austin.
I think someone needs to put a down payment before committing to something
Gonna give u a sub for your dedication, always keep creating 💜
@@HunterPanoch Thank you Hunter. Subscribed to your channel as well. I look forward to checking out your work!
@@lonelyseaproductions2337 thanks that means the world! I'm traveling Europe later this year and planning to make some cool travel content then 😁
You gave them your artistic license and they ran with it. That's the danger of sharing your intellectual property with corporations without having agreements in place.
Felt like something about your channel was off last year though I still watched and liked your content. Could not put my finger on what was different, maybe it was this.
Wonder how many talented people with great ideas get this kind of run around from studios, year in and year out.
Anyway, love your openness and hope this year brings you plenty of inspiration and energy to put into new projects. And time to relax and enjoy your time off as well. We all need to unwind.
Incoming who is holly wood jokes
you commented it *after* on of those blew up.
Some dude astute observation
There's literally one of those right below you lol
Rainbow Vader you want a scholarship to Harvard my guy?
President Holly wood?
I don’t think I’ve seen an Internet person be this transparent before. Not like this.
Wait a second, so you mean to tell me that even when you're half assing it, you are still making quality content? Because I really enjoyed the videos from last year.
Really?? I felt the quality and topics went super bad and bland. Plus he was very negative whenever he would talk in general. It was so bad, I thought he had deaths in the family.....
SAME!!!! Austin has japanese standars of quality lol
I don't think saying, "your half ass video is still good" is a good idea in anyway.
bro, am gonna tell you something just to cheer you up. you didnt waste your time. you made connections, you poked their attention, maybe they are not interested in that project but they already know you and that means that they might be more open about a future different project you may have. dont give up man!
These Hollywood bureaucrats he was dealing with were milking him for free ideas with no intention of having him direct the movie. Happens with screenwriters and filmmakers all the time. The only solution is to be independent.
You need a playlist called "Failure collection" for that kind of video. This is a healthy approach and it should not get lost in the mass of videos.
Seconded!
So glad to see you're still excited to make projects after being yanked around by a big studio like that.
I 100% agree with you that we don't need a giant studio to make the things we want. Just this past year my friends and I finished shooting our first feature film. I can't even begin to count how many people told us that we couldn't make our movie without studio funding or that we wouldn't ever make it out of preproduction. That didn't stop us though. We pooled our resources together and made the damn thing ourselves.
Creating a giant project without the backing of a big studio was definitely challenging, but I'm glad we did it on our own terms. We had full creative control and we were able to execute our vision with having to deal with any stupid Hollywood bureaucracy.
I am excited to say that our film is being edited as we speak and will be released by the end of 2020! We're going to submit it to film festivals and also show it at our local cinemas. The movie is called She The Creator.
This frustrating story reminds me how I wanted to write a novel about a small dream study experiment gone wrong (using AI to collect data from people's dreams and then predict future based on the information, and accidentally discovering that their very experimental dream booster device corrupted reality itself and erased someone from existence, so that only one person remembers and now has to navigate both reality and dreams to get the erased person back; also maybe adding some romantic touches and conflicts). That was before Inception was a thing. I wrote first chapters and then I couldn't find enough time and gave up. Still not sure, if the idea is any good.
It is bro go ahead please
camelCased dont give out yur idea publically someone might steal
@@narutosheep1239 Actually I would like a skilled writer to steal this idea and write an awesome novel, so I can later enjoy reading it :D
Bro, that sounds frickin cool
Falling in love with someone that does not exist in the fabric of reality and saving them from not existing in time itself sounds like an awesome idea
@@scratchsoft2347 Actually I got somewhat inspired by "The Lathe of Heaven" by Ursula Le Guin (there have been two film adaptations), and also by my own lucid dreams. I thought that my idea of collecting and analyzing dreams was something new, but a few years ago there was a new TV series about a company collecting dreams of their test subjects to find out some hidden secrets (although that one was more fantasy than sci-fi). So, as always - when you think you created something new, somebody else somehow picks up the idea. Maybe we have a collective unconscious after all :D
I see a future TED-Talk in this :D At least it reminded me about a TED-talk that I heard. It was about failure (if you want to call it that) and what you can learn from it.
Anyway: You have earned all the sympathy points by talking to openly about it. I wish you all the best :)
Yearly Blockbusters?
I don't know why, but my first thought was Fast and The Furious
That's what I think too. When he said he doesnt even like the franchise it was like "Oh, so its the other yearly fanchise that has been doing spin offs, Fast & Furious"
@@wright96d Universal has Focus features
honestly i thought it was maybe Disney/Marvel and it was a spin-off of a character from Guardians of the Galaxy
I thought it was WB and something DC related. WB releases a DC film every year or so plus they now have their own streaming service now ( I think) plus it would make sense when he says he doesn't like this movie franchise anyway if referring to the DCEU.
dragonman800 Man Austin was about to make Hobbs and Shaw 2 :(
From what I understand this happens constantly in Hollywood - you really aren’t making it until it’s all contracted out and you’re currently working on it
After watching An Evening With Kevin Smith and hearing Kevin Smith's story about how Hollywood jerked him around for ideas on a new Superman movie (it was basically a proto-“Man of Steel”), even AFTER he had made multiple nationally successful films, it's starting to paint a picture.
I suspect that Hollywood sees creativity as a (nearly) free resource - at least, when it comes from people whose show business leverage is less than their personal desire to create.
Great ideas are a dime a dozen to them - they're only interested in landing ideas that will multiply their investment exponentially. It's like a gambler who is trying figure out the formula to win millions, but in the most boring and low-risk way possible.
You're right, Austin. The internet has its flaws, but when it comes to creative endeavors, it's a helluva lot more interesting than the way major studios work.
Also, this may be colored by hearing Kevin Smith's story, but I suspect it was DC Films that approached you to contribute to a superhero spinoff. Just a guess. I'm aware that I will probably never know for sure.
Radien “Comes from people whose show business leverage is less than their desire to create. “
You have perfectly expressed the inherent problem with interactions between creative people and the deep pockets that have no regard for the creative people. Their only regard is for profit.
I had something like this happen on a dream job once. It sucks when you get right to the cusp and then...nothing.
But it sounds like your time wasn't actually wasted. Sounds like you made a good impression on studio folks, hopefully they'll remember you for the next thing.
Your story has given me so much advice on how to work as a filmmaker. I’m currently working on a very important project for me and I haven’t worked on is nearly as much as I’d like, and your experiences have given me the motivation to work harder to bring this project to life.
Why they typed up the minutes of the meeting instead of just recording it - because then they have a hard copy straightaway, instead of someone typing it up later. Source: me, a shorthand typist.
Are you saying that if they write it than it will them who created that idea ?
@@thegoodguy4443 No, its because they want to have the text and if they record it then it'll have to be written down later anyways-- its a lot easier to skim through a text document than it is through a audio recording, since a recording is sound arranged across time (which we experience 1 second per second) and text is arranged across two dimensional space (which we perceive from an external and grander scale).
Interesting
This video is probably better than whatever movie they went with.
The movie they went with was 365 Days.
@@Biring1 was it actually?
@@jolkm8133 Just kidding. Would be hilarious tho
As a writer, I totally get the starry-eyed reaction to large corporations with huge budgets and massive audiences. You don't have to like the industry, but damn, the reach, the budgets, the networking, and the possibilities.
Your content last year wasn't your star content, but that's all right. This entire process, no matter how deflating, wasn't a waste of time. Just because Draft 1 is shit doesn't mean the process of creating it was. Now you know what doesn't work, and Draft 2 will be better. In the end, your back pocket idea was given new life. I'm confident that it'll be worth it.
You didn’t waste your time. It was just a growth catalyst dressed like a dead-end. You had an important experience that yielded valuable perspective. May it pay you many future dividends. Glad you kept going.
I love that--"a growth catalyst dressed as a dead end. " That's a fantastic way to say it. I might have to borrow that.
You should've called this: "I almost made a movie. It stunk."
Austin you are so spot on. 10 years ago I got out of being a location sound recordist as it’s just a complete sh&t fight for working for little money and empty promises. . Equipment is cheap and high quality (blackmagic) sound is easy to achieve to a high level. Good on you for following your own pathway
I really like how you effortlessly manipulate what are effectively disjointed shots to make a cohesive story and use visual language to convey your emotions, its super cool as compared to a lot of UA-camrs.
I frickin love this channel because every single video is so different and interesting
14:42 yeah, now that is the most relatable thing I've ever seen on this channel. Doesn't matter what you do, You'll work very hard, and sometimes you expect a reward, or a promotion... but hey no one saw how hard you worked. Keep it for you.
Your positivity is beyond anything that I have seen. I have learnt more from your failures than any other successful person's story. It just gave me hope to go on with my life. I will obviously stumble in my way but I have to overcome it. You just taught me to understand my failures.
Austin: *I am done with traditional media*
Disney: Actually, Austin we recognize your talent and we’re going to give you that 7 figure budget.
Austin: *I am making a movie guys*
Aiden Hall Disney?
@@hi-cz8zd thats what i thougth too, disneys plan is literally doing spin offs of star wars on disney plus
I thought it was Marvel
Aiden Hall that’s crazy we have the same last name and like the same music
Silver Fox marvel is owned by disney
I love the way you tell your stories Austin. You always keep me engaged until the end.
So much respect for you and your transparency. You have no idea how many people can relate to these struggles and your honesty is so admirable. Keep going you have A MILLION people supporting you. You have everything you need to be a success and that’s clear to all of us.
Just realized, Austin is like Jakey Nakey's stoic Dad
H O L Y S H I T
I hate this, but at the same time. Yes
Nakey Jakey*
Holy shit
@Real Donald Trump who is phil and why is he throwing piss?
Austin -- You have inspired me time and time again, and I can honestly say that if I ever become a big filmmaker, I'll attribute it to the encouragement and wisdom provided by you and other UA-camrs. On my own, I frequently struggle with motivational issues, but thanks to people like you who do so much good work so well online, I feel confident that I can get through the process. Thanks to you, Film Riot, DSLR guide, and many others, I know that I'm going to have rough times, and that I'll only ever get to the good times by plowing through the rough ones first. I'm in preproduction for my first-ever "real" short film right now, and I just want to say that it's (at least partially) your fault it's happening. Whether or not the film turns out, I'll learn from it, and my next one will be better, and eventually I'll be making things that other people like to watch. So yeah, just wanted to say thanks. You the man. Wishing you a great 2020 and hoping you won't have to deal with any awful burnout/stress-y situations again.
5:33 Is there any hope of that "comprehensive pitch" video ever ending up on your channel, or will it be forever locked away by an NDA?
This would be great to see even if he swapped all the sensitive information and just shed the structure really
that would be cool
It would probably be really hard to keep the structure of the pitch/presentation whilst removing any identifiable information or links to the movie franchise or studio in question, especially as he said it was a spin-off from an existing franchise; people interested in movies and movie making would recognise the origin pretty quickly (therefore breaking the NDA) and people subscribed to this channel are likely to fall under this umbrella. It's a shame this information is blocked, but I think this video gives us a good insight as to what happened and where he wants to go from here.
This ship sailed. You turned a "missed opportunity" into a 20min movie That shared the lesson. Good turnaround!
I feel like he's modern Van Gogh. Talented but unappreceated, like every vlog is a beautifull master piece and heart warming. The world is nuts I guess!
@@4imee198 no Austin ain't no van Gogh's he's just a good youtube content creator he takes his film making skills and puts in his videos but his limited skills are what hold him back from being bigger
I actually avoided watching this video for three years because I thought it would be too depressing for me, having gone through a somewhat similar experience. Having now seen it though, I found it pretty cathartic. It especially helps that you're currently doing a big project that you're actually enthusiastic about even if it may not make as much money, instead of a big studio project based on something you don't really like! I think a lot of creators could learn something from this video really, studios can chew you up and spit you out, in many cases, doing something you have actual control over is preferable.
This actually is so dissapointing it hurts
This might seem a little empty coming from a random internet gal, but I'm proud of you! I really appreciate your honesty and openness, and wish you the best for the upcoming year!
14:14 the sarcastic laugh/sigh and how you looked out the window. That made me feel so many emotions, mainly hurt.
This past summer, you uploaded one of my favorite videos, Voicemails from Strangers. You didn't slack off on the channel last year, I don't think you wasted time with Hollywood. It's a learning experience. Really appreciate your channel Austin. :)
"And I said oh," *Austin throws the big IDEA paper away, cuts to him holding the small one.* "Let me tell ya all about it."
I died laughing a little bit inside at that.
Austin, I got more out of this video, about the struggle to succeed, about the emotional toll that it exacts and ultimately about the seemingly bottomless wellspring of hope that filmmakers have to have to survive this path than I have in the entire time I've been in this business. You have no one to apologize to, Brother. As the Mandalorian would tell you, "This is the way." I just completed a short film passion project that took me over 9 years to finish to be my calling card to get me my dream job and here I sit... and Hollywood ain't callin'. The struggle is real but I'm told persistence is the key to success. Keep fighting the good fight and don't give up.
I just watched your QUICK SUITORS Short Film. I subbed.
Tardis Thank you kindly! I hope you enjoyed it! Take care!
Despite what we learn in life, we periodically find ourselves making old mistakes and reminding ourselves of old lessons learned. This is normal, healthy and nothing to beat ourselves up about. Learning is not linear.
"Seeing your book made into a movie is like seeing your oxen turned into bullion cubes." - John LeCarre
Man this was tough to watch. I've gotten the run around before on projects but this is magnitudes above anything I've even dreamed of. I can't even imagine how much turmoil this whole thing caused. At least as a part time creator I can rely on the stability of an office job but holy cow you were fully invested in this.
Thank you for sharing your experience this is very eye opening and a good lesson. Shoot for the stars but always keep an eye on the ground. Always looking forward to the next one Austin :)
Austin, your OG audience called...we want you back 💕
Keep strong, keep moving, keep creating, keep being yourself & we'll keep standing by you!🤙🤙