Shooting a short... With all of you?

[Generic Skinhead]

Right, first off well done all who contributed. Getting it done does count for something. I'll have to be honest in my assesment.

It will sound brutal but its coming from the right place.

The acting/dialogue was terrible. Really, really uncomfortably bad, the lead guy in particular. Lines like "forgot my keys" were so on the nose and so woefully delivered that I had to fight myself to watch till the end.

Visually it does the job, but there is nothing particularly interesting going on, either in lighting or composition.

The sound was really bad in terms of peaking- this may be the fault of encoding. However some of the audio cuts were very harsh.

I didn't like the picture editing either- way too much time spent on doors opening/slamming, none spent close in on the actors.

From a narrative point, I also have to ask if there was a punchline. What was the point? The lead characters transformation from weedy underling to man of action is jarring and happens for no apparent reason.

The only thing I found interesting was the homeless girl, but there is little or no time spent on her character at all.

Sorry that this sounds really harsh...but I spend a lot of my time at fests watching shorts and this wouldn't have a hope of getting in.

Better luck next time I guess.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 11, 2006 06:18 PM: Message edited by: Generic Skinhead ]</font>

[Kev Owens]

First off guys, well done to everyone for gettting this film finished, I remember being here a long time ago when someone first came up with the idea of people from here getting together and making something. It was almost as much of an experiment as it was a filmmaking experience.

I disagree slightly with Generic Skinhead, I think it's more to do with the script rather than the performances that's led to wooden and clunky moments. Was the script written by a team? It seems so. I guess my question is- what's the point of this film? For me, it has absolutely nothing to it- no substance. Almost like big brother style CCTV footage of a flat for 10 minutes.

I thought that it was technically sound, although the compression is very poor. Shot direction was okay and I thought the actors were okay, but they didn't have much to go on and seemed to have little direction.

Anyway, I sound like a bit of a bastard now. All round, good effort and congrats on getting the thing finished!

[Generic Skinhead]

A really good actor can find a way to deliver a bad line IMO.

[Kev Owens]

True- but can a good actor transform a poor script into a good film? No in my opinion.

And where the script is concerned- it's the narrative rather than the dialogue that my criticism is firmly aimed.

[Generic Skinhead]

Originally posted by Kev O.:
True- but can a good actor transform a poor script into a good film? No in my opinion.

And where the script is concerned- it's the narrative rather than the dialogue that my criticism is firmly aimed.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah you're right...but this logic runs in circles because a bad script is compounded by bad acting. That's where a director needs to sense the clunkiness on the day and try an improv or maybe cut some of the dialogue altogether.

The performance in the protagonists first meeting with the homeless girl kills the film before it even begins...if the script is locked and actor is below par it's really up to the director to try and pull something out of his...sleeve.

Anyway I'm just rambling now.

Suffice to say, acting, direction and script could have used some work.

[eccleshallteam]

Hi guys , i'm really new to this forum so ripp me all you want but i thought that the film was terrible. i mean come on, what the hell were you thinking - that kind of scenario is something you would do at a drama lesson in school. I believe this occured becasue many people worked on it. Follow Robert Rodriguez's footsteps and do it on your own. It was just so not exciting , i mean i really couldn't care less about the characters in that. There was not style in it.
Don't give any of that 'I'd like to see you do better' crap , cos that was awful.
I suggest you read 'Rebel without a crew' and follow his advice. Throw all of your knowledge away of how a film should be made and try to do something original.
Toby

[Matty2phatty]

Originally posted by TobyD:
I suggest you read 'Rebel without a crew' and follow his advice.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I suggest you be wary of books that offer no practical advice and tell little white lies about the actual production of a film, and basically serve simply as a filmmakers motivational book.

[Chance1234]

finally got the link to work as well,

as one of the people who worked on it ,

Accept the lighting criticism, as the DOP i lit it clean, also if anything i think its a good example of using work lamps which were the primary light source.

Make up i thought was superb, but then again i did that :-)

Script, the only thing i would say, is everyone had the chance to co-operate there if you scroll back through this topic. So i would defend it , on the basis you had your chance to contribute way back.

Is it going to change the world ? no, is it a great piece of filmmaking ? no. Is it something i want on my showreel ? no.

Is it a case of a few people actually getting of their arses and doing something from this board as a collective ? Yes

and thats where the merit belongs.


Chance,

Ps. Assryix, one of these days please spell my name bloody right!!!

[eccleshallteam]

You can ripp Robert Rodriguez all you want , but he's the one making more money than all of us put together. Did any of you actually see Sin City? This guy knows what he is talking about.
Watch your film again - it is not original , it is not creative , it is not stylish. If his book does nothing more than inspire film makers to be creative then his job is done.
Toby

[Nigel]

Great job guys...

I finally got it to work.

I am going to Mirror Kev on this one. It just didn't get me going.

It was stiff...The camera was poor, lighting was not to hot either. On the flip side it takes a hell of a lot to put it all together and get it done and when I am back in Limey-Land hopefully I can buy the crew a round.

As for "Shithead without a crew"--It will do nothing but spread more lies and shit about how to make a movie. You already made one save your money.

Good Luck