NoDak Films brings 21st Century filmmaking online - Part 1

NoDak Films is bringing a new filmmaking investment model to North Dakota.

Nodakfilms.com

Traditionally, when a person thinks about using the web to find a movie, it’s normally for show times. Generally people turn to Youtube or the movie’s official web site to get previews and to see if the movie is up their alley. So what happens when a producer decides to flip that all on its ear and grab you from the beginning? What happens when you make the movie?

NoDak Films calls itself the 21st Century approach to movie-making. ‘You don't need Hollywood to develop, produce, distribute and earn a profit on a great movie. You can do that by yourself.’

Specifically focusing on casting, directing, producing and overall creating a film in the state of North Dakota, NoDak Films is 'North Dakota advertisements under the guise of great movies that can appeal to an audience outside of North Dakota.'

Nathan Anderson, the progenitor of this project, grew up in a small town called Plaza, North Dakota. He moved to Fargo when he turned 18 and attended college at Minnesota State University Moorhead. After school he ended up in California where writing called him back to North Dakota again and again.
‘What I discovered is that North Dakota got in my soul and NoDak Films is a representation of my attachment to the place I grew up. I always fancied myself as an artist type and I wrote a script for our first movie 'Last Summer For Boys', which actually began as a novel.’

Anderson’s web site acts as a portal for his movie business with casting North Dakota actors being a huge task. ‘When someone visits my website, they are essentially stepping into my office.’

One of the first ‘out of the ordinary’ approaches Anderson took to film making was a statewide casting call, which began in February of 2010. ‘I made all the casting information available on our website including the roles we needed, the ages, gender, script segment, and any general information pertaining to the Casting Call.’

The first stop was Ray, North Dakota and after nearly 400 auditions he closed the booth in Fargo, North Dakota.

Talent was varied, but one memorable encounter included a man of endless voices. ‘There was a gentlemen who read for the role, I gave him my $100 contribution model pitch and then he began a 5 minute dialogue with me using various voice imitations from Donald Duck to John Wayne. Eventually I had him audition for a voice-over part I want in a scene from the movie.’

Production for NoDak’s ‘Last Summer For Boys’ is slated for summer of this year. Nathan classifies the film as a drama. Casting for main roles in the film is closed but anyone can be an extra by contributing to the film.

To get involved in NoDak Films you can visit their web site or become a fan on their Facebook page. Consider investing in their $100 contribution model and become an extra in a movie today!

Part two and Part three of our NoDak article series will focus on NoDak’s unique approach to funding its first film.

For more great reading on local movie making, check out the Minneapolis Filmmaking Industry Examiner!

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