"Basement Story" - wcs

[wcs]

http://www.thepcompany.com/images/basement/basement-1.jpg

Added 2/19:

Since the fest is almost over, here are a bunch of random details if anyone's interested:

There were three of us working on the short: Me (William), Alex, and Libby. I found Libby via a Craiglist ad three weeks before the deadline. She'd done a fairly large amount of theater work before this. Alex was a friend from work who had no previous film experience, but was an excellent couchpusher, sushi-getter, and camera monitor when I had to be on camera as Cedrick. If Libby hadn't been so easy to work with, and Alex hadn't been so willing to help, the short just wouldn't have been made.

The shoot took place a week before the deadline, and took 10 hours.

Screenplay:
Was going for something really simple. My last short was described as unfocused with poor camera work and editing. In it the audience had trouble really connecting with any of the characters, which was a death knell. I decided to try to make a more polished-looking short without too much cinematic noise where the story was straightforward for the time limitation. It took me a month and a half to put together the script.

I knew going in that the daydream might be seen as a cheat, which is why I tried to spend as little time in the real world as possible at the beginning. My thoughts were that the less the audience feels like they have to rewrite the narrative canon, the less they'll hate you for using the technique. The last moments, when the real world interrupts her daydream, were there to draw out the reveal and try to make it more tragic and pallatable. I wanted to link the real her and the daydream her as strongly as possible, so the audience didn't feel like this was a different character.

The tv show Ed used this technique during it's dream episode Captain Lucidity.

Workflow:
Shot HDV on an HV-20 with homemade-ish 35mm adapter - EE-A focusing screen
Had issues with the vibration blurring the image for some shots
Captured with HDV Split
Inverse Telecine with HDVPulldown
Flipped/Converted to 720x480 Huffyuv lossless avi's with HDVPulldown
Edited in Adobe Premiere Pro
After approximate picture lock, audio was rendered from APP, cleaned up in Adobe Audition (noise sampling/reduction), and then re-imported as a new audio track in Premiere Pro.
Rendered back to Huffyuv
Converted to mp4/aac in SUPER

Lighting:
Primarily used two rented Lowel Omnilights with Router Speed Controls as dimmers.
Most coloring was done on set (blue/orange gels).
Used shower curtain for minor softening at times.
One scene used a Reveal 100watt in a scoop wrapped in cinefoil as an accent.
The couch rimlight is a 2x44 studio Coollight
Tried to use the window as the primary motivated light source
Had to use the hall light during the final sequence.

Audio:
Oktava mc012 on tripod boomed overhead.
Used an Art TubeMP USB as the phantom/preamp, run into the hv20 with a 1/4" to 1/8" cable (right channel only).
Electrical noise floor wasn't really an isssue, though room noise was an issue as you can probably hear.
Almost all the off-camera Cedrick lines were ADR'ed a week later in my closet.

Score:
Scoring was done in Cakewalk using an M-Audio keystation with a sampled grand piano.

Random bits:
Didn't notice the video camera/shadow in the bathroom scene until sunday evening. I'm guessing that the reviewer might have counted that as the camera, since the official one was an old pentax SLR silhouetted on the table in the living room, and I was sure I'd get quizzed on it. The latest render removes the camera and all bathroom shadows.

The thanks at the end are for Robert, the owner of the location, and J.K. aka P!Body, who I should have given an editor's credit since his notes caused me to rework on the whole edit.

If anyone has any other questions, feel free to ask.

[Mark Harris]

wow, this fest has to hold some kind of record for last minute entries! Welcome!

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Interesting title.

[P!body]

Welcome to the fest. Ole WCS and I were unofficially competing early on, then we both sort of managed to procrastinate a bit. But we got them done in time.

It's a shame we may never find out who's short is better (according to scoring). I hear they handle rankings and stuff differently now. We sort of had a personal bet on the matter. I wonder if there is a way that we'd be able to find out. Maybe.

Best of luck, Will.

[Danielleus]

Good luck with the entry.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

It's a shame we may never find out who's short is better (according to scoring). I hear they handle rankings and stuff differently now. We sort of had a personal bet on the matter. I wonder if there is a way that we'd be able to find out. Maybe.

Best of luck, Will.Sure. Put up a general poll in the LoveFest forum and we can all vote after listening to them. Give it a time limit as well.

Mike

[wcs]

Sounds like a good idea. I think we might just find a panel of children to watch both our films and decide which is more likely to make them want to buy Sugar-Coated Crispy Bits.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Sounds like a good idea. I think we might just find a panel of children to watch both our films and decide which is more likely to make them want to buy Sugar-Coated Crispy Bits.
LOL! :grin:

[Ted Arabian]

Well, Hell... Welcome to the party!

[kurtmo]

This was unique. I liked the way you told this story – primarily one person perspective. I think it would be tough to have just one set and one person talking to a wall and keep things interesting, but you did a nice job of keeping the shots moving to keep the viewer engaged.
The audio needed some work. It was hard to hear at times. I felt that the tie together at the end could have been stronger.

[MDCFILMS]

I learned some things from watching your film. Thanks

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Damn! That was really good.

You got me on that one. The story within this one is strong.
I really enjoyed it.

Technically it wasn't as strong as a lot of the others, but your story made up for it.
I'll get back to you with more later.

Mike

[Kholi]

I wanna ask, before I comment, are there shots missing? Still workin' on a cut?

[wcs]

Nope. There's only one scene cut from the short, and it's likely staying on the floor because I realized it didn't say anything.

It's an imperfect beast, kholi, but I think it says what can be said with the footage I shot, so feel free to lay into the version as if it were something you paid to watch.

--edit--
I'll also add... ominous much? ;-)

[Chris Messineo]

I thought this was really interesting, but I'm afraid I was a little confused by the ending.

Technically, there were some great shots - I particularly loved the lighting coming through the blinds. All the images look a little scrunched (from left to right) though.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery of it, I just wish the ending had felt more satisfying, but that might be my fault for being to dumb to follow it.

[Ted Arabian]

I am very confused. I enjoyed this film on many levels but am completely lost.

There is some wonderful shots here... the window blinds (profile shot of the woman) was my favorite. Another was seeing her still shadow against the wall.

The music was perfect for the tone of this film. And speaking of the tone, I thought that you did a great job keeping the film's pace up. Especially with the intended "slow" pace.

The shot of her at the window left me very confused... in one shot her lips don't move, as if to suggest inner dialogue but in the other shot, her lips move!

I really don't know what to think here. As much as I liked what was taking place, I am so confused that it is unsettling.

I probably should hold off reviewing until I watch a second time. I am obviously missing something.

Thanks for sharing your work!

-Ted

[Ted Arabian]

Hi again. I watched your film again because it begged me to! I must say that I really like your approach in this film. There is so much meaning without beating us over the head with it. Well done!

I did have some comments that I forgot to post earlier and I would like to share them...

One, I really wanted to hear footsteps going up and down the stairs to the basement. Just the sound. I think that would have been so cool. You could almost make a "character" out of the steps. They could be heavy or light... to convey what the guy is feeling and going through.

Two, I wanted to see the door being tried to be forced open... only to be blocked by the couch, leaving the guy defeated.

Really interesting film. You have something very unique here that is beautiful in it's quiet somber.

Congrats and again, thanks for the film!

-Ted

[Kholi]

Nope. There's only one scene cut from the short, and it's likely staying on the floor because I realized it didn't say anything.

It's an imperfect beast, kholi, but I think it says what can be said with the footage I shot, so feel free to lay into the version as if it were something you paid to watch.

--edit--
I'll also add... ominous much? ;-)

Oh, trust me I know all to well about it. =P nothin's perfect.

I ask because there's a lot of disjointed space for me which brought me out again and again. Like black in-between cuts, the lack of a second person at the beginning (I know that it was choice, somehow it felt like missing material though.)

I TOTALLY get what you were going after. I actually like the idea of all one person's POV, it simply felt like a bit was missing from foley, inserts, etc.

There's a pretty good idea going on here. I think, perhaps, taking the exact same content and revisiting it without the pressure of time and festival exhibition would garner some serious attention. It's unique and it has something to say.

[wcs]

I appreciate all the feedback, and I definitely see what you guys are saying (except for MDC... were you just trying not to tell me it sucked?). Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment.

I do see that some light foley would help (footsteps, door handle), so I might go back and add some of that.

I pondered writing more about my intentions, and I might closer to the end of voting, but for now I'll just say thanks and end with a question.

What did you guys think of the lead actress's performance?

[Brian Parker]

I enjoyed your film. It was an interesting concept and one that I don't feel like I've seen a lot. I liked the starkness of the whole thing. It was well paced and didn't drag. My only issue is that I appreciate the fact that the guy's voice was muffled through the door but it caused me to miss a little of his dialogue. Maybe he could of managed to crack the door a bit and some of his voice could have escaped, although still muffled. Great job throughout.

[Mark Harris]

I liked this story a lot. I generally am not a big bastard about technical things, but in this case, really good, professional sound would have made this about 1000 times better. I say that because good sound would have give me a much more intimate connection with her and what was happening.

Also, sorry I keep coming back to this over and over again in so many shorts, but I think the music hurt more than it helped here. It was just kind of overbearing and did not really seem connected to what was happening in the story. It was making it harder to concentrate on the words.

But nice story, I liked the story a lot.

[Ted Arabian]

What did you guys think of the lead actress's performance?
You know, I totally forgot to comment on that, didn't I?

I thought that she gave a very believable and sincere performance. She must be pretty seasoned. It is a lot to ask of an actor to hold the scene and command the screen on their own. I know... I was blessed with an actress with the same talent level.

She did great!

-Ted

[wcs]

It was just kind of overbearing and did not really seem connected to what was happening in the story. It was making it harder to concentrate on the words.

There are two moments where I would agree the music was a little detached (the second and third music cues). They were written around 4pm Sunday, and I didn't love them but I thought it needed them. I left them in because I thought it'd be too uneven to go so long without music. When the next purposeful cue came in (the window scene), people might be pulled out. Might have been wrong.

Thanks for the criticism.

[Blaine]

I want so much to say something about this movie but for the life of me, I can't right now. After watching it twice, I had to go back and read what others have said. I've got to say, I feel a little dumb right now as others seem to understand what's going on and I'm just not getting it. UNLESS, that whole basement thing was just going on in her head and the knocking we hear is him interrupting her wish (dream) to get him more in touch with his feelings through her "movie challenge."

On the lighter side, I can only imagine what hell that must have been to sit through:
The English Patient, Steel Magnolias, Bridges of Madison County, Terms of Endearment, Out of Africa, Beaches, Moonstruck, Mermaids, Sense and Sensibility, AND Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood back-to-back. That would have broken the strongest man. :eek:

[wcs]

Blaine,
Oh wow, you must think she is a sadist! I don't think anyone could survive that sequence with their mind intact.

And I see now what people meant by the story being confusing. I didn't know that people weren't getting the ending.

Nevertheless you're correct, and I give everyone permission to return and express their disappointment now if they need to.

[wcs]

All the images look a little scrunched (from left to right) though.

Just a comment on this. There's something odd going on depending on the player. I realized a minute ago that some players don't respect the aspect ratio override, so it'll sometimes show up at 3:2 instead of 16:9.

I'll make a mental note, square pixels are safer than 1.2

[wcs]

I'm not usually a bumper, but this will be my last post in this thread unless anyone has any questions or further comments. I wanted to note that I've updated the first post with a detailed description of how the short was made.

I'd like to thank everyone who's commented. The prizes are nice, but the criticisms are the real heart of what makes these fest worth entering. The last short I'd made was two years ago for Sci-Fest, and I went back and reread those comments a couple times before making this entry.

[Ted Arabian]

....The last short I'd made was two years ago for Sci-Fest, and I went back and reread those comments a couple times before making this entry.

Did you feel that you improved in areas that you received criticism on? I wasn't "alive" when Sci-fest took place so I didn't see your film.

I do love the whole process of making the film, sharing it, receiving the critique and implementing the lessons learned.

I am curious in what areas you grew and bettered your craft.

-Ted

[wcs]

I think mostly it was that a scene can have beauty on it's own, but it also must consciously contribute to the movie as a whole. It has to say something important about the character or advance the plot, or the audience will lose faith in your abilities as a storyteller.

(edit: Just want to note that I highly recommend David Mamet's On Directing Film - he expounds upon this idea and many other screenwriting questions in that book)

Here's one of the SciFest posts that summarized the main failings of that short:

Unfortunately, it's rather hard to follow because more time is spent on those meditations than on demonstrating the story's through-line. It's also very difficult to invest in, because there isn't a character who's likable enough to care for....

Again, the dialogue certainly has a style, and there was a lot of thought put into it, but a little more clarity/time spent in the simple details of storytelling would even out the experience.

In my last short I basically bludgeoned them with the plot points without any sense of restraint or pacing. I thought I was just making something more 'arty' or 'intelligent', but in reality I was just making something sloppy. I don't think I got it completely right this time, but if I got two minutes right in this one I improved.

My goal was saying as much as possible with as little as possible - and saying only what needed to be said, and no more. My incessant need to make a joke popped its head in, but otherwise I was trying to play it simple with the story, lighting, editing, dialogue, framing, music.

Based on the replies I think there's still work to be done, though. Audio and cinematography (especially coverage) are still big weaknesses of mine, and based on the responses people still didn't get engaged as much as I'd hoped.

[Bryce A]

Hey. Didn't find the story to be all that confusing. I'll agree with some of the other comments about the music and the sound. Also, I think the lighting could be a bit more distinct. I found it to be a bit muddy at parts. It's kinda hard when working almost exclusively with tans, brown, and whites. I think that and some color correction will make a big difference on your next project. Oh, and I thought the actress did a subtle and suitable job with her performance. Good entry!

[Ted Arabian]

Thanks for sharing that! Seriously.


... It has to say something important about the character or advance the plot, or the audience will lose faith in your abilities as a storyteller.

Storytelling seems to be one of the most difficult things about filmmaking.

I know that I fall in love with shots and want to use them... even if it doesn't propel the story line. This is a great lesson that you are sharing.

I feel that you achieved in what you set forth to do. You focused on your story and telling it. And you did so with little action and words. Bravo.

There are always things to work on... that's why we are here and not at Sundance!

Good luck on your future projects! I really enjoyed your work here.

Best,

Ted

[mentatDUKE]

This was an interesting film. The female lead was pretty engaging. I found her character unique also. I mean what kind of person would force a DVD marathon on their significant other to prove a point? She's a talented actress.

Cool twist at the end. Nice one.

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

Some nice writing here. I was pretty hooked by the end.

:beer: