One thing that needs to be realized, and I've been there, done that is that for a demo reel, that indeed IS what normally happens.

You don't have much money to spend, and most of what you do is for trade. You find some unknown talent---from local acting schools, or friends, or sometimes through agencies you can get lucky. But unfortunately in most cases you gotta take what you can get.

I think the guy was alright, the only thing I didn't like was the "kiss" the Hottie was doing--looked more like a frown before she opened her eyes-or maybe she's one of those lousy kissers and that's why he was more drawn to the MINI.

I'll be making my own 2cent post in a second.

Richard

 

OK, maybe not tilting, but maybe panning down would be the better term? I'm not much of a film terminology guy.

Uh...mmmm....I'm not sure I could be of that much help. I think I just got lucky with my comment. But thanks for the props, man.

I've not been up the Apache Trail yet. So maybe I'll have to swing out there soon.

 

First off great job FLKMKR. I come from the production business and know how difficult it is to pull off something that looks high budget on a shoe string--of course I'm making that assumption of you as well.

Technical:
Great job on the lighting, exposure levels, contrast, sound track choice and editing! It doesn't have a hint of "video". Of course it's harder to tell in the smaller QT movie, but from what I can tell it looks great. I'm familiar with the DVX-100a. The crane and dolly moves were executed very well. I laughed at the "well placed" branch at the beginning. I don't see a single extended branch anywhere on that street. Of course, I know "why" you did it--crane shots need foreground in order to convey the sense of motion. Still it was done well.

The next transition--person revealing camera wasn't as convincing to me. Again, we're on a deserted street, not a person in sight, and out of nowhere you have someone walking by to reveal the MINI in the next shot? I can appreciate this technique, but I would have preferred it to be something solid like the post the guy is sitting next to. The problem is that if you watch it frame by frame, the moving object is curved at the top and they seem to take forever to move across the frame. This technique works well when you have lots of people or objects in the frame. This is used all the time on TV and in films and of course it doesn't always make sense, but it happens fast enough that you don't realize it. I think what bugged me about this scene is that person takes too long to do the reveal and the MINI just zips into frame.

I loved the slow motion you did on the "hottie". The Phoebe Cates shot of Fast Times.

Having watched this clip a number of times, I don't think the talent is that bad, nor is the last shot something that doesn't fit. I like seeing her feet at the curb, and watching the MINI drive off into the "sunset".

I think my quips have more to do with editing, and even that is relatively minor. I love what you did, and great job!

Would you might sharing some more details about your shoot?

How big was your crew?
How long did it take you to shoot?
What kind of lighting control did you use on the guy at the steps?
What crane/jib did you use?

Thanks!

Richard

 

Thanks everybody for the interest and feedback! I am taking everything to heart...believe me. To me criticism is good as long as it's constructive. the only thing I don't like is when criticism goes from criticism to ******* people out like saying somebody is a "reject from a Mentos commercial" instead of just saying you didn't like the acting. However, the Mentos thing is funny and I get the point you're trying to make, so it's all good.

Keep it coming because I appreciate the community here.

Your assumption is correct. A little over a thousand dollars, because we paid people and had to hire the car.
That's funny, you spotted the Branchasaurus We're still laughing about that. We talked about exactly the fact that it didn't fit, but it looked good. That was even a brown and crusty branch to boot.
I kind of see what you're saying. The shot is actually a dolly out from behind the back of the guy, but it may play a bit awkward and it may be as you say the car then zipping into frame that makes it feel funny. Again, good things were learned doing this and this kind of talk helps out.
That was obviously intentional and Fast Times came up as well

Having watched this clip a number of times, I don't think the talent is that bad, nor is the last shot something that doesn't fit. I like seeing her feet at the curb, and watching the MINI drive off into the "sunset".

She's got talented feet.
Thank you for the long and thoughtful post. It's always good to hear "good job" rather than "you suck".
Well we had a few people running around the set and craft services and such, but as far as technical crew we ended up light. We had a DP who ended up not being able bring the camera crew so we used two PA's as grips and a future investor as our crew. So we had a crew of four people to shoot the thing.
One day. We got a two hour delay and so we shot from about 10am until 4 pm when it switched from perfectly sunny day to light sprinkles.
An 8x8 with plastic sheeting. Indie all the way
We have a Cobra Crane 2 Plus. This was our first time using any of the equipment, but even without balancing it properly the Cobra was awesome.

 

That's cool! I've got a Mega Crane which was the precursor to the Cobra Crane. The inventor of that product, Eric Ortlieb is a buddy of mine. I'll have to forward your clip so he knows what people are using his tools for. :smile:

Actually if we had seen this earlier, he would have loved to shown it off at a local user group meeting last week where the focus was on cranes and jibs.

Anyhow, great job on the demo--esp. for $1K! If I wasn't told, I would have thought it was something that MINIUSA had produced for a lot more.

Btw, I love simple ideas executed very well. No need for an elaborate location or props. Just a door step and a curb. LOL.

Richard

 

I missed this one LOL. We didn't think to audtion for the pucker-up portion and Blanche just couldn't get her lips to pucker any more than that. Oh well, she still looks great and despite what anybody says I'm a fan of hers because she's also a very cool person....even if she can't pucker up properly.

 

 

I don't know anything about filmmaking, but as a consumer, I thought it was great.

 

Filmmaking be damned

Thanks for the input, I think all different views are going to have their valid points, but gut feeling accounts for a whole lot....wow, I sound like a politician.

thanks again everybody!!!

Jason

 

After looking at this some more, I think I see something else that's weird, or maybe an explanation for why I felt this way in the first place. You said it was a dolly out from the back of the guy, but what I see is motion from the guy as it dollies--shoulder movement I guess and in the next shot--the Med Shot from the front, you see him going from a sitting position to then getting up. I would think that if he were moving in the previous shot, he would be continuing to move in this front shot, and not moving from a resting position. heh heh, details, details. Again, I know why you would want to show the scene from him sitting up and moving--it's all in the timing--and doesn't necessarily need to make sense from a continuity point.

Also did you desaturate the shot of the guy as he gets up to the "bad kissing" hottie? That would be SCENE #7. On my monitor it looks a bit grey, almost Saving Private Ryanish. I would assume this was to bring a sharper difference to the slow motion hottie in the next shot. Not a criticism, just curious!

Richard

 

¡Avispón Verde is in complete agreemnt with El Diablito Rojo!

Very cool

 

Richard my response to this some how got lost so I can't remember what I said, but it was something about you being like me in the fact that you're going to take something and run it over and over in your head It's usually what I do, but when it comes to my own work I tend to get to a point where I have to stop or drive myself insane. I'm still going over how many things were wrong with my first feature....6 years ago. I'll have to go back and watch the shots you're talking about in the editing room, but for now I'd better get some work done so that I can get back behind the camera.
No, we didn't desaturate on purpose, it was actually to do with the weather changing pretty quickly and I don't think that the DP made adjustments. We're tyring to find somebody to come in and give us more in depth teachings on the way of Final Cut Pro and then we might go back and play with the color correction or maybe even magic bullet to see what we can do. Then again we just really need the time. We ended up doing a 48 hour film challenge right after the commercial and we're still dealing with all of that. Crazy times.

Thanks again for caring enough to dig into what we've done.


Edited by OctaneGuy for legibility

 

Thanks very much, but I would add a dirty Martini to that combination.

 

I really enjoyed watching this video. I like the song, the camera angles, the tree branch, the girl and the Cooper. Looks, to this novice, very professional. Good job and thank you for sharing.

 

Well BIG THUMGS up again! I'll stop watching your video now so YOU can get back to work.

 

Sorry, the Mentos comment wasn't meant to dog out your talent's acting. It was my FEEBLE attempt at articulating how poorly she did her job in that cut.

I'll try again. Instead of getting the feeling that she was coming back to make-up with the guy, I get lost in her bad pucker followed by her "awe-shucks, he went for the car again, that knuckle-head" (i.e. Mentos) look she gives when he passes. I didn't buy it.

I'm sure she's a fine actor and could have pulled it off, just not in that cut.

Also, unfortunately, not all criticism can or will be constructive. I don't know you, or what you've had to deal with in the past, but my experience in a similar industry (the advertising end, not film production), shows that clients can be anything BUT constructive with their criticism – especially, when they're dumping $$$$$$$$$$ on a 30 second spot and a ton more on their media buy. They think their money gives them the right to question your work, especially if you want them to hire you based on a spec reel. I've learned to deal with it and filter what they say into a way to make me happy with the creative and them happy with their product.

Again, I'm sorry about the unintentional dog. Maybe I just see things too much through "client eyes", lately.

 

Hey DICKDAVID, thanks for the appology, but you know there's no reason for it. I understood what you were saying all along I was just trying to make a light point without sounding combative. I guess I look at most things as being my fault rather than actors and such, because if I'm unable to get what I want then I'm ultimately responsible not matter what.

I really appreciate the criticism and I get what people are saying about the client side and such and will definitely add all this to my list of things to continue learning.

My first impulse is to default to the fact that we had no money, people didn't do what they said they can do and we were using all new equipment and crew, but in the end nobody really cares about that and it's whether or not the product can stand up for itself and I think it does for the most part, but there are some obvious isssues with it that you and others have pointed out. The good news is that not everybody sees the flaws the same as those of us on the production end.

Keep the criticism and comments coming, I really, really appreciate it.

I'm learning a whole lot.

Best regards,

jason

 

I was actually impressed by the actress. I loved that little confused face thing she did... very well executed.

Not a criticism or feedback really, just a comment.. I was actually expecting the guy to walk up to the Cooper and either walk along the length of it, running his hand down the side ("feeling its curves" ) or to kiss it... just becase the lady went in for a kiss and he bypassed her. I don't know. I thought it would be a good contrast... doesn't kiss the girl, but does kiss the car. Then again, I've hugged my MINI before, so just ignore the crazy talk

Loved it. Still do... I watched it again (and again)

 

Thanks for the feedback. I like your idea a lot. I had planned more shots of the car, but actually didn't see it your way originally but it's a great idea. the pacing works well like it is, but I'm sure we could have fit it in nicely.

Maybe BMW/MINI will take notice and hire Big Brain Pictures to make the commercial for them and I can steal....I mean incorporate other peoples ideas.

I'm a director so I have my own strong ideas on how to do things, but I'm not controlling enough to not want to listen to other collaborative, great ideas. the only thing that makes me sad is that once I'm done with something and sitting in the comfort of the editing room I start to get more ideas...after it's too late. But hey, there's always incorporating new ideas into future projects and hopefully it will make me a better director and help our company as a whole to grow.

Thanks again everybody,

jason

 

A more 'real' model would have worked better, and went with the guy charactor...this one looks more at home in other industries...and she shouldn't use the same outfit in more than one video

EDIT by DiD

We do what we can to maintain "Work Safe" environment on NAM, therefore the pictures have been turned into links. You may not want to view these images if you are at your place of work or are easily offended.

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http://www.ballboy.net/sample_vids/blanche_384x288.rm

 

For the record the reason to use Blanche is that she was so "un real" it's the irony of the concept. I don't know that the "other industries" comment is all about, but she's a real sweet person for what it's worth.

the same outfit was my call as a director, sorry if you didn't like it.

best regards,

Jason

 

Actually, I couldn't tell if kaelaria was trying to be funny or was really suggesting you use a different model?

In any case, for those in the industry, they know that just cause you look you are hot, doesn't mean you can act or convey emotion convincingly on screen.

My comments about the "bad kissing hottie" weren't to reflect anything bad on the director or the talent, but rather suggesting a few more takes probably could have helped--but isn't always possible due to timing and other factors. In fact, if you check out the picture of Blanche sitting on the MINI at Flkmkr's website, I think she looks amazing and just as hot as the girls in the picture you posted!

Just my 2 cents.

Oh and I LOVED the outfit Jason! :smile: , she squeezed into it reallllly nicely.

Hmm, after re-reading that post-what does he mean the outfit shouldn't be used in more than 1 video??

Richard

 

It's just the concept of a stripper getting off work coming home to joe-average - it just doesn't work...the surprise is lost becuse you never really expect them to kiss in the first place - it looks more like she might be picking up his big-brother or something...

By more 'real' I mean more normal hot - not full-on hooker/stripper. Softer hair, less pouty/bitchy expression...that kind of thing. Something that would make you belive they were together in the first place.

 

YES!

 

click on the video link to one of her other shoots I posted and you'll find out