View Full Version : "Almost Number One" a Bob Zimmerman film
Ok I'm going to try and get a film in year at this late hour. I've got some of the video shot and more on monday I hope. After I dropped "The Okinawa Letters" from the fest I really wanted to put something in the Lossfest. I'm going to try anyway.
stinkpot
02-14-2009, 07:39 PM
Hope to see something. Good luck Zim.
:beer:
Lawsuit_Boy
02-15-2009, 11:21 AM
I hope you get something turned in, Zim. Goodluck!
one actor is all there will be. My son did the guitar track yesterday.
Rodney V. Smith
02-17-2009, 04:13 PM
Welcome back Zim.
Ok a week later and I'm done. Some editing to adjust, maybe. I couldn't get an actor lined up in time so I just did it. I won't say much about it. We are only a couple of weeks away from watching the Lossfest films.....I can't wait.
Rodney V. Smith
02-20-2009, 10:30 PM
One more locked and done. SWEET!
Just some touch up work and the DVX Leader .
Rodney V. Smith
03-03-2009, 10:22 AM
Zim! you made it!
You too. It was kind of short notice but I go one done.
Zim! you made it!
Michael Anthony Horrigan
03-04-2009, 09:24 AM
Good luck in the Fest, Zim.
Eric Meisner
03-04-2009, 10:11 AM
Cool, Good luck.
Zak Forsman
03-10-2009, 12:16 AM
bob. mr. zim. i watched this little gem of a movie and really enjoyed it. the tone of the music and the narrator's voice (you?) was warm and welcoming and so i just sat back and listened with a smile on my face. i have no reason to nitpick and technical stuff because the content really won me over in its simplicity. thanks.
Yes Zak that is me. I had this idea at the last minute and couldn't get a actor in time. I'm glad you like it. Thanks
lordambrai
03-10-2009, 06:57 AM
Sonofagun, I was hoping to hear the song... freaking twist ending.
Lovely locations, love the doc feel to it all, overall *thumbs up
wesley
03-10-2009, 07:25 AM
the volume was really for this one, maybe it was something on my end. But anyways i liked the way you chose to shoot and edit this story it made it interesting all way the way through. good luck in the fest.
Michael Anthony Horrigan
03-10-2009, 07:29 AM
Zim, you already know I enjoyed this one.
It came off extremely natural and the story was very well told. No real nitpicks here either as the visuals went well with the story. I liked the fact that when I first watched it I didn't know where it was going and I enjoyed the ride.
Nice work.
MAH
warau
03-10-2009, 07:41 AM
I liked it visually but had a problem hearing everything well enough to really enjoy it.
Thanks guys. Yes I'm going to really focus on sound. It is so important.
OdulMovies
03-10-2009, 07:57 AM
Hey ZIM,
I am so glad you came up with this idea this year! Always nice working together with you.
Some how I smell we could end up in the top 10 this year. If this isn't art I don't what is...
Your Partner in crime ...Odul
Chris Messineo
03-10-2009, 08:32 AM
I liked this a lot.
It had a nice comfortable pace to it. I really dug the narration and especially the way it was shot. There was something very clever and effective about shooting the actual FCP timeline. It worked.
I also liked how you didn't use the whole six minutes. You had a small story to tell and you told it effectively. This was really quite charming.
Well done.
Thanks Chris,,,,I thought about going longer but the point was made and I thought after a while it could get boring,,,
Richard J. Johnson
03-10-2009, 09:18 AM
Very cool film Zim. Good editing and it was good to see the DVX in capable hands.
seductivepuppy
03-10-2009, 10:37 AM
i liked seeing stuff inside the nle. some nice shots too. though the sound was pretty low. nice work!
MrKilloran
03-10-2009, 11:08 AM
It was nice, tightly-woven and charming with its documentary style.
ramsaur
03-10-2009, 12:17 PM
I want to comment on this but the sound needed to be fixed. I might come back later and comment. Get me some headphones.
Lawsuit_Boy
03-10-2009, 01:02 PM
Nice job on this one, Zim. It's very basic, minute, and sincere, but at the same time, it expresses a wealth of concerns music fans as well as musicians have about music. Music is such a complex thread of human creation with endless amounts of inspiration, heartache, pain, misery, love, elation, confusion, etc. It describes the full range of human emotion and beyond. I find this to be a hopeful and inspiring piece, portraying seemingly unrelated items that do indeed relate to one man, the music man. But it's also gloomy in the fact that all of the environmental stimulus becomes too great and a potentially great song is lost.
There isn't anything I can truly critique except for changing of aspect ratios occasionally. It's a simply story with a simple presentation, and I doubt you were trying to put some piece of Oscar bait together.
In general, just a nice piece. Good job, Zim. :beer:
Blaine
03-10-2009, 01:15 PM
With this short, your growth as a filmmaker is evident. This is by far your best effort. I found it to be entertaining and engaging. I had to stay with it to see where you were going.
I like the personal feel of it.
Noel Evans
03-10-2009, 03:24 PM
This was one of those pieces where you end up feeling connected to it. Thats hard to do. I really enjoyed the flow and feel.
If I was to make a small suggestion, it would have been to have some more shots in the edit, when hes talking about the guy seeing trains, trucks etc. Keep the images moving.
Nicely done.
Will Clegg
03-10-2009, 07:20 PM
This wasn't really my cup of tea - mostly because I just didn't connect to the guitarist at all, and I wanted to. However, I really like the way you did it so simply, and it looked great.
I might have to watch this one again.
singleframe
03-11-2009, 04:07 AM
i liked the organic feel of it. simplistic. informal.
people said they liked the use of the FCP timeline shot -- i actually don't. i see Photo Booth and FCP behind it, and kept thinking Apple...just a bit distracting (but that's prob just me -- i've been sitting in front of FCP for maaany looong nights the last few weeks). might have been a different way to shoot that.
do like the use of the DVX and how good you made it look.
Thanks for all the really nice comments on the film. After I dropped the Okinawa Letters I was out of the Lossfest. I really wanted to do something and at the last minute I had this idea. It all worked out good and a big thanks to Ludo van der Hout for being part of this again.
CLockman
03-11-2009, 02:22 PM
Interesting idea. I like stuff outside the box. Meh
Spear670
03-11-2009, 07:59 PM
Very simply crafted, but from the people I've talked to you really managed to make some people care about the character and story. Some not so much, but personally I enjoyed it.
orchidsofwrath
03-11-2009, 09:47 PM
i guess my only crit is the "song" that was "thousands of different inspirations hitting him at once" should have been something a little deeper/diverse than a few simple cord comps in 4/4 like every other bubblegum pop song on the planet. not a bad film though. cool idea.
SMarston
03-11-2009, 10:13 PM
This is exactly what an idependent film should look like, good job.
Brian Parker
03-12-2009, 12:51 AM
Good job bringing something different. Your film was well-paced, natural, and intimate. No pretense. I'm not sure if I'm making sense but what I'm trying to say is that there was a sincere honesty to your piece that made it enjoyable.
Technically, I liked the bright vivid shots and the whole fabric of middle America aesthetic was conveyed well. As some said, the sound was a little low but I just cranked my speakers and sat back. Glad you decided to make this.
Again those are some really nice comments on my film. I guess the stress I went through to come up with a idea paid off!!!
Those are the only cords I know!!! I told my son the guitar player how I wanted them played and he of course did it better. But if my first song I write is like "every other bubblegum pop song on the planet" I might have a shot as a songwriter!!! This may be the best review yet! LOL
i guess my only crit is the "song" that was "thousands of different inspirations hitting him at once" should have been something a little deeper/diverse than a few simple cord comps in 4/4 like every other bubblegum pop song on the planet. not a bad film though. cool idea.
Sprocketboy
03-12-2009, 06:59 AM
Zim, this is a refreshing change in pace to the other films. It really stands out on its own. I wouldn't change a thing except perhaps add some practical sound effects (trains, trucks, etc.) to rim shot the humorous moments, not that the whole thing isn't funny. It is! Great job, man.
Thanks I'm really glad you like it and see the funny side to this film.
Zim, this is a refreshing change in pace to the other films. It really stands out on its own. I wouldn't change a thing except perhaps add some practical sound effects (trains, trucks, etc.) to rim shot the humorous moments, not that the whole thing isn't funny. It is! Great job, man.
OdulMovies
03-12-2009, 08:30 PM
Hey buddy,
I am reading all these nice comments and it made my day!
jasonthewho
03-13-2009, 07:34 AM
I really liked this Zim! I got a little nervous when you said all the similarities between our films, but it's true that they are also quite different.
I liked the way you expressed all the ideas the songwriter had going through his head. Some of those images were beautiful. I think if you had edited some of this a little tighter and faster, it would have worked even better.
I liked the way you were a part of this film in a very meta-theatrical way.
One thing I wish is that you had stuck to one aspect ratio. That took me out of the film a little.
Things We've Learned From Lossfest: Forgetting a song is a sad thing.
Good work! Glad you got an entry in.
Lawsuit_Boy
03-13-2009, 07:48 AM
Just watched it again, Zim. And enjoyed it just as much the second time. :thumbsup:
Thanks jason, I'm going to try and fix that aspect ratio and the make the sound louder.
I almost put a moral to the story on at the end but didn't, but it is: Write it down. Put it on tape.
I really liked this Zim! I got a little nervous when you said all the similarities between our films, but it's true that they are also quite different.
I liked the way you expressed all the ideas the songwriter had going through his head. Some of those images were beautiful. I think if you had edited some of this a little tighter and faster, it would have worked even better.
I liked the way you were a part of this film in a very meta-theatrical way.
One thing I wish is that you had stuck to one aspect ratio. That took me out of the film a little.
Things We've Learned From Lossfest: Forgetting a song is a sad thing.
Good work! Glad you got an entry in.
Thanks again. I'm glad that it was good enough to enjoy and be watched second time, that really means a lot to me and how my filmmaking is coming along.
Just watched it again, Zim. And enjoyed it just as much the second time. :thumbsup:
streetraces
03-13-2009, 11:36 AM
So far my favorite... It was bleak but it conveyed the loss.
That really means a lot. I can't thank you enough
So far my favorite... It was bleak but it conveyed the loss.
Drew Ott
03-15-2009, 12:13 PM
Favorite thing about the film: I like the kind of loss you chose and how you broke away from traditional narrative style filmmaking.
What would have made me like the film more: This is a tiny thing, but at the end on the shot of the guitarist trying to play the song, I can see an American Eagle logo, and this doesn't seem like the kind of thing the guy described would be wearing.
Favorite shot: I liked the whole montage of things that the songwriter sees.
Cool film. Good work.
Thanks Drew,,,,You know I just noticed that Logo the other day,,,,I never even caught that one.
John LaBonney
03-16-2009, 04:13 PM
I agree with Chris M. that this film had a very comfortable feel to it. It was an interesting juxtaposition of images. I liked the shots of the narrator in the editor, that was a pretty unique idea. I did think that we returned to the guitar shot a little too frequently, and maybe if there had been some more angles on the guitar it might have been a little more interesting.
But it's an interesting film; one of the things I enjoy about these fests is that you get to watch so many unique ideas and points of view from filmmakers, stuff I never would have thought of done in really storytelling ways, and this movie stands out in that way.
Thanks very much, I enjoyed watching it very much.
Thanks John,,,,I agree with you about this fest too. So many different films that come out of one theme. I have trouble thinking of one idea!!
This was really a spur of the moment idea I had after I pulled my other film. But it all came together in the short time I had left and the response has been really good. Thanks again.
timbook2
03-16-2009, 04:53 PM
somewhat dry but funny......didnt we all lose some great song someday ?
has a nice sort of homemade feel to it and the dryness still makes me smile, of all the humurous entries this one is one of the better ones!!
:thumbup:
Thanks Timbook2. I really didn't want to make a sad story and as sad as forgetting the best song you ever wrote is I did want it to have a funny side to the film. Thanks again.
OdulMovies
03-16-2009, 08:03 PM
Still laughin here
nice film. real original look to it and liked the montage. some cool shots in there of things. had a silly flashback to naked gun when frank sees a pair of those cement mounds you show and he says , " everything i see reminds me of her..." , forgive my ramblings and cinematic tourettes... anyway, i liked your film.
Norm Sanders
03-17-2009, 01:23 AM
It's LATE, but I made a commitment to watch, rate, and comment on all the films before nights end. At this point, I've only got time to watch & rate, so I'm simply letting you know I've done so for yours.
If you'd like a specific review of your film, please just PM me to catch my attention, and I'd be glad to come back here & post a review. :)
Luis_
03-20-2009, 08:34 AM
I did not like it.
I did not like it.
Not at all?
I've worked on the sound and other stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEVZDPEpXBc
Blaine
03-20-2009, 01:29 PM
I've gone back and revisited this entry as well as your earlier efforts. You handled this style of filmmaking, using a documentary style approach, much better than the earlier standard narrative approach. It seemed to give you a voice. I'd love to see you develop this style of filmmaking even further.
Thanks Blaine. The Okinawa Letters was going to be a doc and still will be. Just a lot longer than 6 minutes. So I have been in that frame of mind when I made Almost #1. I still have a lot to learn and thanks for the kind words..
Chad_from_Chad
03-23-2009, 02:14 AM
Different, some of the narration seemed forced. But again, I like outside the box, it helps keep interest for the duration. It's amazing how even short films can feel like "return of the king". Nice little flick.