Green to Make the Scene

Roebot Online.

As anyone will tell you in the world, it takes money to get anywhere (save for your stoop, or the street). Hollywood however doesn't just need money, it demands money. The industry revolves around the Jacksons and the Franklins (quick, who is on those bills?), and you need both to get anywhere worth mentioning. There is no way to make a film for nothing, that's the sad truth.

The Red...the most expensive camera to exist.
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 The moment you buy a camera, or even pay for a camera phone, you have officially invested money in your career as a film maker, no ifs ans or buts about it. As much as I would love to have a story where I just happen to stumble by a Canon 5D Mark II, with an 84GB SD Card and a Macbook Pro preloaded with Final Cut Studio X, that just won't happen (a guy can dream though right?). So what is someone like you supposed to do? Someone who wants to create but cannot afford all the wonderful amenities that would come with being super rich.? Easy, balance money.

You just gotta find that balance.
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 I know a lot of people have trouble with that, I did when I was younger (that's why my DVD collection is over 300 strong). Here are some helpful tips I can give you when it comes to trying to balance money about.

Wall Street teaches you how to properly get money.
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Instead of eating out all the time, buy the ingredients you want to eat what you were going when you went out. You'll be able to make that meal four times over! When it comes to an editing program there are a lot online that are free/a small amount that do pretty well. At the moment I use AVS4You which was free, it gets the job done (not Final Cut obviously). Don't buy a camera that's over $1,000 unless you plan on having that with you AT ALL TIMES! (I have a friend who has a $4,000 camera that he barely uses) You need to make sure the money you invest in trying to make your films look good, is something you can use on a daily basis.

When it boils down to it, money sucks. You can either buy everything you want (because you're Billy Gates) or you struggle to make ends meet. Sure there is that comfort level, but you don't want to spend a whole lot because you're worried about being knocked down a bracket. The thing is, don't worry about that comfort level. My mantra is "Money comes and money goes." Spend like you mean it, but do spend wisely.

Couldn't have said it better myself
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The fact of the matter is money can't buy you happiness, your dreams make you happy. It just sucks that they kind of need one another. Damn you money, you green conniving bitch.

Roebot Offline.

What's the 'Bot 'Bout?

Roebot Online.

So what am I all about? Am I here to amuse you? Like a clown? How am I funny? (sorry I'm just a simple Goodfella at heart, kudos if you get the obvious reference gang) As I've realized I haven't told you guys what the purpose of Roebot Films (blogs anyway, and I guess the company). Roebot Films is actually derived from my former co-company Android+Roebot Films, that fell apart so I rescued my name and brought it back for my own personal company. What I hope to do is eventually make features, who doesn't want to make the big Hollywood films? (well maybe you guys don't, chances are you want to teach, or be a doctor, you know something worthwhile) But I need to start somewhere and this is my plank to walk from.

When I created short films in the past (2 out of the 3 got recognized) I realized that I actually do possess some form of talent in this specific field. So I got to thinking, why don't I just do it all on my own and hopefully, one day some Warner Bros. (or Focus Features, my favorite) Executive will walk up to me and say "MAKE ME A MOVIE!"

I will work for you...I swear it
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And that will all be because of the work I do with Roebot Films. However, what is the point of the blog? Why does it matter what I'm doing? I could tell you guys about it on Facebook or Twitter (don't have an actual FB page yet, so hold your horses, but Twitter in case you oh so curious people were wondering is @Roebotfilms (real original right?)) all the things I'm doing, what shorts I'm shooting and where. So once again I ask you WHY THE BLOG?! (It's rhetorical of course, but if you really want to try and answer that for me you're more than welcome to).

I was told to create this blog, not by my girlfriend, not by my friends, not even my mother told me to do this (she told me to buy a domain name, once again that's getting a bit far ahead of where I am right now) Instead it was told to me by a marketing executive from a company I've never heard of. Why did I listen? Who was this random woman trying to give me advice on breaking into the industry? Because she was having lunch with a director (don't worry I was waiting on their table, not just some random guy creeping on their conversation). Mind you he wasn't Tarantino or Scorsese, but he was still a director (in fact he even wore a hat that said that and a Paramount jacket) and that's all the proof I needed.

She told me "Get yourself a following, social media, blog, anything! Get yourself that audience, so when it's time for you to join the ranks you have your army all set to go."

The "Roebot" Army...get it?
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I was so blown away by this (secretly I hope she reads this blog and remembers the blonde, overweight waiter at BJ's) that I knew I had to do it. Also the fact that on my business card it says this blog post (I was handing them out even before a single post on here existed) so that's another good reason. So that's it, that's why this blog exists, because this woman said I needed an army. But how can I keep troop morale up? By giving you reasons to read. So here is a quick layout of how this blog is going to work:

ROEBOT'S WEEKLY LINE-UP
So this will be a daily blog, so expect something new and exciting to fill your bain hole every single day (unless stated otherwise)
Monday: Nothing or just a daily blog post.
Tuesday: Nothing or just a daily blog post.
Wednesday: Production updates (i.e photos, posters, stories, catching you up on what I'm up to so you're in the know.)
Thursday: Nothing or just a daily blog post.
Friday: Film Friday, where I talk about certain movies that have inspired me, and their creators.
Saturday: Nothing or just a daily blog post.
and Sunday: Nothing or just a daily blog post.
 END ROEBOT'S WEEKLY LINE-UP

So as you can see, it's nothing major. Just two things you can look out for. I'll give you guys a reason to come back honestly. I just want you all to have as much enjoyment reading and commenting as I will writing these blogs.
After all it keeps my brain active and an active brain is better than an inactive one(because you'd be dead).
Roebot Offline.

The Art of being a SELL OUT!

Roebot Online.

Who in this world doesn't sell out in some way, shape or form? You cave to what other people like so that you too will be part of the 'it' crowd (not the British sit com). In fact the only reason I'm doing this blog post to begin with is because someone told me it was a good idea, I sold out to this! How dare I!?! I am the scum of the Earth for doing this! AWFUL, TERRIBLE, LOSER! Sorry I channeled what other people might say about Sell Outs (a sell out by definition is "anyone who sacrifices artistic integrity in an effort to become more successful and popular"). The fact of the matter is selling out is what makes you money. Can you say with confidence that you have never done anything to compromise your artistic vision (or your commercial/physical vision at all?). I'll admit it, I have. With 'Answer' if you read the last blog post, I gave up what my original idea was in order to be more appealing (it didn't work!). But sometimes it's an absolute necessity to make ends meet, by any means necessary.

I was once friends with an aspiring filmmaker (to be honest I don't know where he is now but I can tell you this...he's not in Hollywood). His dream was to create art-house films, along the same vein as "Tree of Life" and "Blue Valentine". That's not a bad thing, but for someone who has barely any schooling, lack of any really great equipment, and a primitive knowledge of how to actually make a film, I would have to say it's a bit too far of a dream. When I told him this, Mr. W (his name will be anonymous for the sake of his safety) grew very frustrated with me. Saying that my mentality of film-making (which is make your money first, then create your masterpieces) was wrong because it was selling out to (wait for it) THE MAN! OH NO! Not the MAN! I've always hated him since my rebellious days as a young rogue. Just kidding, if I didn't love the MAN, I wouldn't be typing this on my iPAD while checking FACEBOOK on my iPHONE. (the caps are meant to show the man's influence). Anyway, how else are you going to get anywhere if you aren't willing to accept help from...the MAN!

I have no problem with being called a sell-out, the only time I would is if people call me that when it is not true! For example if someone calls me a liar (which I'll admit I do have a wee bit of a problem with) when I'm not lying, I get quite heated. But when it's very obvious that I am embodying what they just named me, then I'll admit to it. Why lie to yourself about who you are at your core? There is no point to it. Regardless, selling out as it where, is not a bad thing. People need to get their legs up somewhere. One of my former Youtube friends (SMP Films) would freak out about being called a sell-out. He would go bananas if anyone accused him of such a thing, but to be honest their claims were well rooted. Considering a majority of the videos he did were sponsored by something, and he seemed to create a plot around that specific object then yes he is a sell-out. But Mr. Williams I have to say this, THAT IS NOT A BAD THING!

It is in everyone's basic nature to survive and some must by selling out. To be honest Roebot Films stands not a chance at this point. With 'Titan' only at 35 views over 2 days, and Nerdgasm (a podcast-esque show designed specifically for nerds) being a shot in the dark, I realize that I have to sell-out. That is why Roebot Films next "short film" (quotes because it's not really) will be about my rather obese cat Poe. This is a production blog after all so I have to let you know what I'm up to. It's a fake trailer called "Cats" and it will be a parody on the a-typical Hollywood trailer. With overly dramatic music, obscure camera angles and movements it will be a joke, and little poke at the industry I so adore. But why about my cat? Why not do it with people. If people wanted to watch people all the time Youtube would be a dying brand. What draws people to the internet? Is it to check your e-mail? Maybe update Foursquare with you checking into your kitchen? NO! It's fluffy, cute kitties (icanhazcheeseburger) that make you people absolutely giddy. And I'll be selling out by catering to what the masses want

Do I have qualms about selling out? Not really, sure I would love for people to praise 'Titan', I would love for people to see that I can be a great filmmaker, but I need to do some things first.
Like being a big, fat, corporate sell-out.

Roebot offline.

See? INSTANT MONEY!
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