I did enjoy that, very good.
The Hard Sell
A short I wrote, produced by UK Film Council. Take a look (the buffering seems a bit slow though)
I did enjoy that, very good.
Cheers.
That was like The Shawshank Redemption in an office!
Very good Kev, the ending was a little ambiguous but that's what I liked about it.
I couldn't get it to play properly on mine.
It was running at about 1 frame every 10 seconds.
My computer sucks.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Quite possibly the greatest comment anyone could ever give the film!That was like The Shawshank Redemption in an office!
Phil, sorry you can't get it to play, it doesn't even seem to let you buffer the whole thing either!
Very polished looking but falls over in the way the character arc is paced. It feels like he blows his top too quickly.
An excellent example of the way we buy a characters internal world, his motivations and response to situations is "phone booth". Obviously phone booth is a larger canvas with a more interesting, thriller based story, which has more space to tell the tale- it just makes me wonder whether trying to cram a character piece of this sort into six and a half minutes (this may well be the length of time a cold call of this sort lasts, but was it ever feasible that this story would work without some more inspired writing and directing?) when it should be allowed to unfurl at its own pace shows bad judgement on the part of the writer and the Film Council. I know they have exacting standards as many of my stories i've sent have falled at the first hedge.
Also in my opinion there are far more interesting stories to tell and characters to buy than that of a dithering and procrastinating "gapper" who should be back at "uni" with his student chums. Who will find this character sympathetic? In fact it would have been more satisfying for the audience at large who resent people like your smart assed lead character to have turned the screw rather than make his life seem more aspirational. Know your audience my friend.
Out of interest, how much did it cost to make this? It would be interesting to see what some of the other would-be's on the board think they could do with their rightful share of film council money. I think you'd get a short of this quality from every member on this forum for a fraction of the cost and manpower.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">True this isn't about illiterate lesbos, ethnic minorities or disabled people but I have to agree with Phils logic on this matter and call a lump of coal a lump of coal."I have seen a few shorts from other film-makers I know personally, both local and national.
However, the majority of shorts I've seen on TV, places like Channel 4's The Shooting Gallery.
But to be honest, I didn't like most of the shorts I've seen to date.
For every one gem there's about 10 lumps of coal.
What makes MY blood boil is the fact that if you want any sort of funding to make a short, you need to fulfil a set of political agenda.
If you want to make a film about the homeless, about disabled people, about ethnic minoritys or illiterate lesbians, then funding bodies seem to want to throw money at you. But if you just want to tell a decent, slightly original story (i.e. the sort of things we make here at STF Towers ) then basically, you're on your own.
Do you think we've had got funding for Video Daze 2? Doubt it somehow..."
Philip Swale on "Shorts" (taken from previous hostboard discussion)
Alan, thanks for taking the time to write that response, obviously you have issues over the film council. Perhaps so much so that shitting on my film makes you feel a little better about it.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If the people on the this board didn't enter this initiative then how do they deserve a 'rightful share'? The plain fact is that most people are content to piss and moan about the shit the being made without ever doing a fucking thing. These people should try getting up off their fat, spotty arses, and doing something rather than sniping at people who take the initiative.It would be interesting to see what some of the other would-be's on the board think they could do with their rightful share of film council money.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There's always a more interesting story!Also in my opinion there are far more interesting stories to tell and characters to buy than that of a dithering and procrastinating "gapper" who should be back at "uni" with his student chums. Who will find this character sympathetic? In fact it would have been more satisfying for the audience at large who resent people like your smart assed lead character to have turned the screw rather than make his life seem more aspirational. Know your audience my friend.
The fact he is supposed to be at Uni is only a clue to the fact that he has ambition, he is stuck in a crap, mundane job that he hates, but money and habit has held him there. You don't mention the old guy who 'frees' him.
Further, I really wouldn't fancy writing a film that shit on the stereotype student image to serve those that never went and tend to resent them (especially being a graduate myself). It's been done a million times, it's too easy and I personally can't see anyone interested in watching that film, bar you. As for knowing the audience, lots of people like the film, and I'm not intending to please everyone so I think I guaged the audience quite well.
So Alan, fair enough you don't like my film, but I resent you taking a shot at the budget and saying "I could do better than you with less!". What a fucking childish attitiude! You can certainly talk the talk...
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">And for every person that says "I could make a short of this quality for a fraction of the cost and manpower" there's about 1000 people full of shit.For every one gem there's about 10 lumps of coal.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Interesting.I know they have exacting standards as many of my stories i've sent have falled at the first hedge.
Well, the budget was ?7k. The majority of which was paid to the cast and crew who are all industry pro's, as well as the equipment hire. I'm aware money pushes up production quality and nothing else, and I'm very, very comfortable with that fact. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]
To be completely honest, I really wish I hadn't bothered to respond to Alan's post, he didn't deserve it.
Only now as I'm getting a little older am I getting used to people critisizing my work. If it's constructive then great, sometimes it's worthwhile, sometimes it isn't- but the main fact to come to terms with is that people have their opinions. Alan didn't like the film, fair enough, I'll still sleep at night- but the rest of his comments are complete...
Ah fuck it, who cares?
Good luck with your future work Alan. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]
This is the reason I stopped making films, Kev...
First off, can you guys please not quote me without permission in a debate that I haven't entered into??
Also, Alan, if you must quote me, at least get my fucking name right.
I haven't seen the film, but my instincts are to side with Kevin.
Yes, it's true that I don't actually like most short films, but I will ALWAYS respect the guy who goes out and makes one.
Most people sit on the couch, get fat and never do anything worthwhile with their lives. I admire anyone who can just summon up the energy to even go out and create something, anything.
Alan, your comments were asinine and ignorant. Unless you've gone out and made your own short film, I suggest shutting the fuck up. Criticism is one thing, but to suggest you can do better without anything to back this up with is just retarded.
I have issues with funding organisations, yes - I belive they have certain agenda and criteria to satisfy that keeps a lot of film-makers out of the loop. I don't know the background behind this scheme, but if money was granted without certain aesthetic conditions attached, then great.
For every one person who sticks their neck out, at least a hundred will try and chop it off.
"Who will find this character sympathetic?"
BTW, I love this comment. Why does a character have to be sympathetic? Or likeable? I don't write characters like that - shit, I go out of my way to make my characters as unendearing as possible...
I got out of the game because of idiotic responses like this. I don't think I'll bother getting back into it.
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