The Farewell - Benjamin Eck & Andrew Brinkhaus

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

The Farewell.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/InvisionProductions/Poster_FINALweb.jpg

3.16.08
Being shot on the HVX with a Letus Extreme.


crew
Directed By.............................Benjamin Eck
Director of Photography.........Andrew Brinkhaus
1st Assistant Director............Freddie Stevens
2nd Assistant Director...........Chelsea Ornelas

1st Assistant Camera............Matt Adams
2nd Assistant Camera...........Kevin Griffin
Key Grip/Gaffer......................Tim Martin

Sound Mixer...........................Ben Kostelnik
Boom Operator......................Louis Tavarez
Music Composed By...............Justin R. Durban




starring

Vincent Farrell
http://a942.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/78/l_3ec03e953752551d4005baa088f3abbd.jpg

Joanne Spracklen
http://a429.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/50/l_48826ce098f74ca0b20c558671dbfd3c.jpg

[Blaine]

Going for the hotest babe in TimeFest? Joanne is sizzzzzzzzzzzzzzlin' :Drogar-Love(DBG):

[ZFarms Productions]

Nice, lookin' forward to it Andrew

[beneck2004]

thanks for posting this sir. shoooo tahh!!!!!

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Will be shooting this Sunday all day. One location, with a Kessler Crane, and a Chapman Pee-Wee dolly. :happy:

[Tomas Riuka]

Can't wait to see!

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Thanks Tom, we can't wait to shoot!

[maestro1d]

Will be shooting this Sunday all day. One location, with a Kessler Crane, and a Chapman Pee-Wee dolly. :happy:
Hey Andrew! Glad I could be of help to you guys- interested in seeing what you come up with tomorrow.

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Shooting is done!

We had an incredible day, and I feel great about the project. Big things ahead.

[Ted Arabian]

Wow! That's great. I wish that I had 3 months for post production!

Post grabs when you can! (I know you have them! :D )

-Ted

[tmnt]

Can't wait for this. And also, I completely agree with Blaine.

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

poster added.

[maestro1d]

Nice job with the shoot yesterday- You and Ben had a good team with you, and the set had a nice pro vibe and flow to it. Your dolly guys did a good job with that clunky Chapman in a tight space.

Only saw those few setups before I had to run, but Joanne was great. Missed the other actor's stuff, but I look forward to his work when the short comes out.

I'm glad I could help you guys out with the Kessler Crane and the other gear. Just saw the poster, it looks great- very noir.

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

As requested, a few grabs, with just a slight correction in Photoshop. The room is illuminated by a candle in the story.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/InvisionProductions/JoanneMLS_EDIT.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/InvisionProductions/JoanneCU_EDIT.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/InvisionProductions/VinceCU_EDIT.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/InvisionProductions/JoanneMCU_EDIT.jpg

[jasonthewho]

Great screen grabs! I'm so jealous.

[Matt Sconce]

AHHH! The coolness factor is overwhelming! Looks great!!!!!

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Thanks guys.

SPREAD THE WORD!

[Edgen]

Sweet!! Looking forward to seeing your film and working with you guys. :)

/j

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Definitely. Thanks again for working with us. It will be a magnificent end product!

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Cut sent to Justin for music. Now the magic begins!

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Excellent look to your grabs, sir.

I have screen grabs that look amazing...too bad they're stuck in my head....

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Update-

We got the music back from Justin yesterday....Brilliant. I can't believe we are this far along already!

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

new grabs coming soon, with the final mask and color grading.

[Ted Arabian]

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/InvisionProductions/Poster_FINALweb.jpg

Wow, Andrew! Nice poster! I really like this. :thumbsup:

[Ted Arabian]

Whoa! Just catching up on your thread. I can't believe that you are so far along! What are you going to do for the next 2 1/2 months????

Nice looking grads, btw.

-Ted

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Thanks Ted!

Yeah, we are done. Now comes the infamous hurry up and wait. However, we will be looking at other festivals and contests we can get this thing into. We'll see what happens!

[Ted Arabian]

I cannot believe that you are at "hurry up and wait!" Did yo start this project after they announce the fest? Or did you have this in the works already?

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

We were talking about the project, but the director already had the script. The film was produced and shot in about 2 weeks.

We were actually making a joke about whether we were the first ones to send our material to Justin for composing or not.

[Tim Martin]

Hey Andrew, the poster looks good as well as the stills. Can't wait to see the final outcome.

[Edgen]

We were actually making a joke about whether we were the first ones to send our material to Justin for composing or not.

Ha!! Yup, you guys were the first. *shew*

It's better to get it sooner than waiting the last minute. Hopefull the rest of the films I'm scoring will follow suite. :)

/j

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Edit is locked, and the file is just sitting there now...waiting...till...June. :beer:

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Ready and waiting.

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Uploaded and verified! See you guys in the Fest, and thanks for all the kind words. We have all appreciated it.

[Simon Höfer]

Congrats!

[justin ewart]

Not bad at all. I liked the acting and the cinematography.

*SPOILERS*

I think it's a really solid piece but I would have liked it better if the gun didn't work for her... If he had known she would probably try to do that and he only put in one bullet for himself... It would have shown the depth of understanding the characters had for each other... Just a thought. Overall the acting and look of the piece were strong and carried the story.

[ZFarms Productions]

another nicely shot film, Andrew. Great job. Lighting was fantastic.

SPOILERS

I agree with Justin that maybe the gun should have only had one bullet for him, but I can see what you guys were going for the way you shot.

END SPOILERS

Nice job overall. Can't wait to see more from you!

[Drew Ott]

Very well shot Andrew. Good work.

I had some trouble connecting to the characters and feeling their pain. Maybe it's because there wasn't enough backstory. I'm not sure. Something about it caused me to not particularly care for them.

The acting was good. It was very close to "excellent" but I thought maybe they were too vulnerable from the start. The guy's face also seemed overly covered in tears.

My comments may sound negative, but I really liked it. One of my favorites so far.

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Thanks for the notes so far! The director Ben is checking in on this thread, and he definitely appreciates all the comments as well.

About the tears, that is actually rain, it is storming outside during the film. If you listen closely, you can hear the thunder in the BG.

[bosindy]

heavy.
i really liked the acting in this. they both seemed really present in their roles. nice work.

[Drew Ott]

About the tears, that is actually rain, it is storming outside during the film. If you listen closely, you can hear the thunder in the BG.

Oh, well then I really like that decision.

[Brandon Rice]

Wow... good work...

classic story, with a different twist...

Good job!

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Thanks Brandon!

At this point the biggest struggle is making sure people see it. I'm sure that only a few people are watching all the entries.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

In my top 10 great job guys!

Rogan

[pauly_the_hitman]

That was slightly predictable for me and a little more action would have made it a much better short for me. The performances were dead bang on and the lighting was intoxicating. Over all good job.

[Postmaster]

Thanks Brandon!

At this point the biggest struggle is making sure people see it. I'm sure that only a few people are watching all the entries.

I saw em all and yours is in my personal top 5.

Frank

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Good to hear. Thanks guys again guys!

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Very good performances here. Simple story yet very effective.
Shot very nicely as well. I think I missed the watch/clock shot?

The mood you created was very captivating.

Now, if everyone who made a movie took the time to comment nobody would feel left out.

Cheers,

Mike

[Blaine]

This was a descent film, if somewhat overwrought. It might have helped to know more about what set everything in motion. Not knowing made it hard for me to sympathize with either character. The pacing in the middle seemed to drag a bit and toward the end, I was hoping she'd shoot herself, too...and sure enough. A good old fashion tragedy.

I thought you did a good job on the lighting. It fit the piece and mood. It was shot well, but in the end I just wasn't given enough information to care about these two people.

[ZazaCast]

I have to agree with Blaine's comments...I needed to know more about what set this off (and it would have to be BIG for such emotions).

FYI... I'm watching them all and leaving comments (although some movies don't have a thread for comments? Come on people!)

Very good effort.

[Matt Sconce]

I also wanted to care about these two. I felt there was not enought old to us or shown to us to help us understand. The acting was GREAT though. Congrats on making this film. It was a great tragedy that just needed a bit more character development in my opinion.

[Gary Sconce]

I had a hard time with this one, having had to 'clean these up'. That shows the realism of the film. I hate suicide, it is such a waste. You evoked feeling in me. Nice.

If the couple had such a depth of feeling that they agreed the other was everything, wouldn't that commonality and deep emotion have pulled them together or at least caused one of them to tell someone of the other's plans? (See, I am still trying to save them!)

You did a good job on the theatrical realism of the suicides, but the gases actually blow the whole top of the heads clear off, doing more damage than the bullet exit wound by a huge amount. You couldn't have known that.

Well done! :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

[Susanne G.]

I adore this one. I forgot to breathe during I watched the film. The actors convinced me completely. Fantastic work. Thank you so much for done it and a big compliment!

Susanne

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Thanks all around the table!

[AmyO]

Very emotional and moving piece. Gorgeous cinematography. The color on this added to the mood nicely. Great work by all involved! :)

[Duff]

Hmm, am I the only one that was confused by this? She's in the room, talking to him. Then she picks up a camera and plays it back, during which we're shown another camera that is recording? Then she sees on the tape him committing suicide, after which he's dead in the room with her. What am I missing that this makes no sense to me?

Regardless, your lead actress's performance is very convincing. Err, not that I would know from firsthand experience or anything!! Technical aspects are all sound. You should export a cropped rather than letter-boxed final version -- I'm watching these fullscreen on a widescreen monitor, so I had the sides of my screen letterboxed since it was exported as a 4x3 composition.

Well done, I just wish I knew what I'm missing.

[jasonthewho]

I'm confused like Duff.

But great lighting, sound, and performances.

I agree with Justin that the gun shouldn't have worked. Or she decided not to do it. I just hate watching someone slowly pull a gun to their head and pull the trigger. I've already seen Romeo and Juliet.

Liked seeing the scene of them having fun in the park. Reminded me of Cloverfield, which I love. Maybe something else on the tape could reveal some more of the backstory.

Loved the frame for the story of the candle being lit, and then blown out by the wind at the end.

How did you do the lighting?

This was a very clean, technically flawless production. Congrats!

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

STORY SPOILER

Hey guys, the way that time is related here is that in the beginning it seems they are in the room together, having a conversation. However, if you listen closely, you notice that neither of their questions are ever answered. They are only asking the questions, or stating facts. This is because once she picks up the camera and sees the contents of the tape, it is apparent that they were never in the room at the same time. She then realizes he has done the same thing she was about to do, all along she has been talking to a camera of her own! But where did he go? When she reveals his body under the sheet where he fell, she cannot take the pain and executes the old Romeo & Juliet ending.

[Horncastle]

Heavy going, but beautifully made. Great cinematography and very convincing acting - so much so that I had a hard time watching it a second time. I'm glad I did though because I picked up more than I did the first time round which, however, only served to confuse me. There's obviously a whole time warp thing going on when she sees him shoot himself in the videocamera and then there he is lying dead beside her. Intriguing. I really liked the tracking shot which moved behind something when she shot herself.
Cheers
Jason

[Mark Harris]

Right, I understood it about the cameras.

I was impressed with this. I would like to see a larger res version after the fest maybe. I thought the lighting was really well done but think the compression takes a little away. Let me know if you can give out a larger version later.

The actors were really fantastic, I thought. How did you cast them?

I didn't really connect with the story. Which is not to say it was not good, but it's nearly impossible for me to imagine killing myself over a woman. I know that sounds harsh, but that whole notion just doesn't connect with me.

I'm not even sure how much that actually happens. I mean, I'm sure it does, but I have known three people now who have committed suicide, and in retrospect the reasons seemed long simmering, and vaster than something like this. I get the romeo and juliet bit, but I dunno. Maybe I am full of it on this. One guy we think had to do with his wife, but more in that he had left her for some bartender and then later realized how much he fucked his whole life up in that. But even still, that is purely speculation on our part.

I am rambling now. But I guess that is good. It got me thinking.

I guess the only critique I would offer of the story, was that the beginning seemed long to me. At about 2 min, I felt like things were on the verge of self-indulgence with the actors, through no fault of their own, but because they didn't seem to have anything to do and we weren't being given any new information. So there reached a point in there where it nothing was really happening.

I liked the reveal with the camera, showing that he was in fact pre-recorded. That was handled very very nicely.

But I guess I was spacially confused, because how could she not have seen that body before? I mean when she came into the room?

[Geoff_R]

Good story.. ( a little confusing but I went along with it) Great acting by both characters.. Great cinematography.. Fav shot would be the track left as she shoots herself.. but overall, all your shots had consistency in solid comp, lighting and motivation. Nice work, Andrew. Definitely one of the best I've seen so far in the fest.

[Brandon Rice]

Andrew...

top 5 dude.

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Thanks guys!

[totitefilms]

Woa, I'm impressed. Your movie is one of the best in this fest. I'd nominate the girl for the best actress award :thumbsup:

[Danielleus]

Hey Andrew,

Just caught the flick. Really really enjoyed it. Lighting, camera, acting are all amazing. Editing was superb and I liked the transition from really time to video camera stuff. I love this story.

I think more of my concerns mirror Geoff and Mark's here. Except I'm a sucker for R & J and love this kind of thing (sorry, none of my friends have committed suicide so it's hard for me to be against this. I still think this is one of the more romantic things you can do (which sounds terrible. But it depends in what light it's done in)).

For my money, I also found this very confusing at times. I concur with Mark in that there's no reason for her not to see the body, or the other camera. And believe me, I'm like the king of suspending my disbelief so long as you can feel the director is doing justice to his idea. But with a film this raw and grounded in reality, it's those little things that, for me, tear a piece like this apart. I liked the way you pulled it off, for the most part, but I think this hiccup really proves to be more of a drawback then it might initally seem.

I really like the duality of what their doing and I love the idea that one person is in there, making the tape because he's hurt and the other is doing so because she knows she hurt him. I like that. Romantic fatalism is so underrated these days.

I dig your piece alot and found it great. I just wish the confusion was a little clearer because it really hurts this piece, I think. More so then one would probably intially think it would.

Can't wait to see more from you. Wonderful work on this one.

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Thanks a lot, I see where your coming from. The director and I tried to conceal those items in the darkness, but the set we were working with was much smaller than we expected, so we didn't have as much room to space out the body from the girl, or the couch.

[Danielleus]

Hey Andrew,

I understand. Still, great film. Glad you shared. I really enjoyed it.

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Thanks!

[miamivideo]

Very good short, I like the way it was shot. Good luck

[Gohanto]

SPOILER

Excellent work and very powerful. Both are very good actors. Cinematography and make-up where both outstanding here as well. One of my favorites overall.

Just curious though, but did you have the off-camera actor bounce lines back and forth so make their performances easier?

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Yes, Ben did have the off screen actor there to feed off.

This was the quietest set I have ever worked on, all the crew members were very professional in helping the actors stay in character and in mood, as they basically had to be crying the whole day.

Even in between setups, people were whispering for gear and requests, and my gaffer and I would walk off the set to discuss the lighting for the next shot, and I would come back on before shooting and silently take readings and make adjustments.

...Shooting was almost too smooth, though I guess that is something to be proud of after all!

[Andrew Brinkhaus]

Well, I guess we weren't in peoples top 5 or 10 after all, but congrats to all that made it to round 2, it's been fun.

[Drew Ott]

I still loved your film man.

Keep it up. Are you going to enter next fest?

[Postmaster]

You where one of my 5 10Star films.
I´m sorry that you did not made it.

Frank

[totitefilms]

Your movie is definitely in my top 5.