GONE FISHING/READY TO SET HOOK

Enterprising director devises clever plan to snare the blockbuster catch he has been pursing for a lifetime.

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It’s a truism: people often make short films as calling cards. As little gems to show off what they can do as filmmakers, as directors, writers, actors, music composers, whatever.

But seldom has this cinematic "calling card" been approached as methodically as in the case of this new short Gone Fishing.

Of course, one would expect nothing less, given that the director behind the project is Chris Jones, author of the defining insight into indie movie business, The Guerilla Filmmaker's Handbook, and himself the maker of several successful feature films, including the chilling Urban Ghost Story.

Despite his achievements so far, Jones happily confesses to one major frustration: "While having come tantalisingly close several times, I have yet to achieve the success that I have dared to dream of and to tirelessly work towards, A BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE!"

Hearing this lament, one can easily imagine Jones as the fishman waiting patiently on the bank of a lake, hour after hour, year after year, trying to figure out how to hook that big monster that he knows is out there and that could haul in. If only he could hook it!

And now Jones may have the secret, the bait that he has so long needed (bit like the steak on the hook, above).

He believes he already has the blockbuster script, called Rocketboy, a family film about first love between two young outsiders.

The story follows Connor, a boy who spends his time with his grandfather, building rockets, as they plan to be the first Scotsmen to reach space.

Then along comes a writer and his daughter, Becky, who is paper white and is only seen at night.

In time Connor meets Becky in the twilight, to discover that she has a genetic disorder making her hyper sensitive to light, and they embark upon a journey to adulthood, first love, and space.

Is this the Big one? Obviously it has potential, even great potential. Perhaps it could be an ET for our times.

And the budget is in the $20 million area to ensure it has the A-list cast and high quality production values that can make it a must see film.

But in order to realise his dream, Jones had to have the right bait to land this giant and he has solved this problem by making Gone Fishing, a story tonally similar to Rocketboy, about a young boy and old man dealing with death, through their shared love of fishing.

Gone Fishing is in the can now, after the usual indie filmmaking tribulations, including an insect invasion that neasrly hospitalised Jones.

Indeed, the short screened to considerable acclaim in Cannes this year.

So Jones knows he is now ready to land the big one and he is earnestly out there, waiting for the his fishing line to quiver, waiting for the solid bite.

Meanwhile the trailer for Gone Fishing is here.

Posted June 17, 2008.