OTTfilms | Bringing Filmmakers Together

Two writers, tired and stressed, attempt to meet a very tight deadline. Their task - to write the next hot script. Their problem - they are quickly running out of time. The desperate men jump between genre and style, plots and character arcs, as they struggle to find that elusive idea. As paper and time begin to run out, so too do the few ideas that they have. Will they meet that deadline or will they crack?

Producer's Notes

The Deadline is the film noir style story of a writer’s exertion to produce a screenplay under the pressures of his hard-to-please producer and the looming morning deadline.

In January 2006 OTTfilms hosted a screening event of members' films at the Pleon building in Edgeware road. To help tie the night of films together, a series of vignettes were produced that also marked the first ever OTT production. All of this was achieved within two weeks of the screening date.

It was decided to try and involve as many members as possible in the idea generation, decision process and production of the film. The whole group was given the brief to think up as many short, punchy stories as possible that could be broken up and told over a series of bite-sized chapters on the night. The final idea was decided by consensus. The aim was to use these chapters to "book-end" sections of films and help unify the eclectic collection of submissions.

deadline 4

The chosen idea followed two budding script writers as they desperately try to help each other finish a workable script within their time-limit -- whatever the genre! This idea appealed as it could easily be split into separate chapters by each genre the writers attempt. Each chapter could also act as an introduction to the short films that followed. Filming took place over one long, smoky day in Acton with all cast, crew, props and equipment sourced entirely though OTTfilms. Everyone involved performed gallantly on the day. The final piece was played to a packed house on the screening night and is an important film, not only because it was the first OTT Film, but because it proves the OTTfilms ethos works!