Are you happy with your entry?

[Postmaster]

Are you happy with your entry?

Now that most of you guys wraped,
I wonder how satisfied you are with your entry?

I mean, does it look like your expected?
Where you able to get the "inner vision" banned on tape or p2 or whatever?
Did you forget to shoot scenes in the heat of the moment or miss anything (and pulling your hair now)?
Did you mess something totaly up cause your plain stupid or run out of time?

I have to admit I messed up a lot (and again - learned a lot).
We shot yesterday from 1300 hrs to about 2200 hrs.
So one afternoon for everything.

Of course everything took about twice as long as expected.
So I had to skip 3 minor scenes - wich sucks.

Had no time to practice with my new crane and got some pretty wierd footage that I have to cmouflage no with other edits - sucks again.

The crane moves in my head did not work in reality.

On the other hand I got some stunning pictures and the performance of my lead actress was absolutly mind-boggling .

I put my attention on better lighting this time, and that also worked out better than I thought.

How about your films?

Frank

[Richard J. Johnson]

Good Thread. I am pretty happy with "The Puppeteer" It came out pretty good considering all that went wrong. (made a thread about it) I still made mistakes and I am learning more and more on every shoot. I know that I need a monitor for focusing and need to pay Ultra close attention to it. And a follow focus is simply a must have.

My second film is barley watchable, but I'm gonna post it anyway so I can some input from the members here. Focus and audio are what was lacking on this one.

So overall I'm happy they are done, but unhappy that I'm not quite there yet in terms of being a filmmaker. But that will come in time. These 2 films are only my 3rd and 4th attempt at narrative filmmaking.

[Morox]

It's my first short film. The ideas in my head aren't half as good as what I shot. It was my first time using a 35mm adapter and my lighting skills are basically non-existent. I want to do a reshoot for a scene but might have to use what I have since I'm running out of time. As a result, my film will be pretty mediocre. What I am proud of us that I will have my first completed project and will take what I have learned and apply it to my next film.

[Richard J. Johnson]

It's my first short film. The ideas in my head aren't half as good as what I shot. It was my first time using a 35mm adapter and my lighting skills are basically non-existent. I want to do a reshoot for a scene but might have to use what I have since I'm running out of time. As a result, my film will be pretty mediocre. What I am proud of us that I will have my first completed project and will take what I have learned and apply it to my next film.


Congrats on that one. This is my second.

[Postmaster]

Same here, second narrative.

Frank

[Zim]

Yes I'm pretty happy with this film. It is my four DVX fest I think. I had a idea early on but I knew I could do it so at the last minute I came up with this new idea.

[Zak Forsman]

I'm happy with mine. We had no issues on set. Didn't have to drop scenes or shots to make the day. Even wrapped half an hour early.

of course we are editing now and going thru the "jesus god what are people going to think" phase where your confidence plummets and you fantasize about a way to bow out gracefully so no one sees what you've done.

the only thing I'm not happy about is everyone knows this entry as ELOQUENT GRAFFITI and it is part of that story universe but the actual title of this short is "model/photographer" and serves as a prelude to the ELOQUENT GRAFFITI feature. having the two titles attached to it is confusing and I don't know how to remedy it.

[Morox]

Congrats on that one. This is my second.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to The Puppeteer. Good luck!

[rfox]

...unhappy that I'm not quite there yet in terms of being a filmmaker. But that will come in time.

That's my feeling, too. There's always some amazing-looking work on these DVXUSER fests, so the bar is there and is set quite high. It really gives one something to work towards.

I am reasonably happy with my entry; it seems like I can get a shot or two that looks just like I want it, and if only I could string together enough good shots, I would be happier with the end result. Sounds a little like my golf game.....

[Richard J. Johnson]

I'm happy with mine. We had no issues on set. Didn't have to drop scenes or shots to make the day. Even wrapped half an hour early.

of course we are editing now and going thru the "jesus god what are people going to think" phase where your confidence plummets and you fantasize about a way to bow out gracefully so no one sees what you've done.

I think you'll be fine. I have never seen any of your films but they seem to well liked across the board. And you have some idea what you doing. A lot of us just think we do.:Drogar-Dum(DBG):

[Mark Harris]

Yeah, happy so far.

[ZazaCast]

If you're happy with your own film... you did something wrong.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Yeah, happy so far.


If you're happy with your own film... you did something wrong.:huh:




We'll see about that! :Drogar-Love(DBG):

:grin:

[chriscurl]

Well, I'm not done but I am pretty sure what i will think. All I will see is the mistakes in my movie, but that is just what I do. I am happy with much I learned through the process, this is my first dvxfest entry and my first production that wasn't in 48 hours, as well as first time editing and I feel much smarter here at the end of this process then I did at the beginning. I am very happy with some parts of what we did and I know my mistakes on others so hopefully I won't make them again. Most of all, I feel confident that my next entry will be much better in every aspect, and that is what I am most excited about.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

I'm happy with this film, because I went into it not doing anything and just let the minds flow with ideas, and didn't say no to anyone. and just shot everything, and made it all work. Thus equals something from my warped mind. We had the mindset of we only get one shot. What we get is what we got. and we stayed true to that through out the day. this is probably the cheapest movie made on dvxuser. using the cheapest camera ($258 on Amazon) No other equipment. (granted i used the first 15 seconds of a HVX...but majority of the film was on the Panasonic Lumix camera. So I was happy about not having to pay anything for this film! The Score fits the movie perfectly (Thanks Damian)

Hope you guys are happy with it :d

rOGAN

[Rodney V. Smith]

FALLING UP: It was too big a concept for this festival, especially all of the things I wanted to accomplish with it. Over all I'm happy with the edit that I have, but I had to drop so many good scenes and transitions that the movie is almost a completely different animal. Yesterday hearing Damian's score reinvigorated my passion for the story. Now after making a couple of adjustments and locking the sound down, I am about 90% happy with it. Which is as close as I'll ever come to complete.

KEEPER OF THE LOST: I'm very happy with what we did on Keeper, and I can't wait to see what you guys think of it. There were some shots I wasn't entirely happy with, but we got them and they work in context with the movie. Lots of work on post-production here and it was well worth it.

Over all, great experience this fest and I spent a heck of a lot more time in pre-production than I ever have done before. Even for the features I worked on.

[Richard J. Johnson]

Puck, You changed composers? Glad to see you got them both knocked out. Now when can we upload these suckers?

[Sprocketboy]

I'm not sure how I feel about my entry. Two orthodontists from Harvard wrote the screenplay. I swallowed the screenplay and regurgitated a pile of evil. It could be a pile of something else. It certainly disturbs my wife. She left me because of it.

I'm lying about that last part. :)

[Lawsuit_Boy]

There are things that I would really like to adjust, reshoot, or just re-organize, but when it's all said and done, I'm satisfied. I'm much more satisfied with everyone who participated in the project (especially my actors) than with myself, but that melts away eventually. A few weeks later, I'll look at the project, with flaws in plain sight, and tell myself that it's fine.

:thumbsup:

[Richard J. Johnson]

Just think of the other things we could be doing. No matter the flaws, mistakes, or the fact some one almost always just be a little better than you, the other options are all bad for me.

[Richard J. Johnson]

Yeah, happy so far.

Yeah, but you're dope.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Puck, You changed composers? Glad to see you got them both knocked out. Now when can we upload these suckers?

Yeah, Francesco's schedule changed suddenly, so as great as he was I had to find someone else. Thankfully Damian helped me out. That will be 4 projects we've worked on together now...

[warau]

With a few caveats,
first time narrative film,
first time using 35mm adapter,
first time working with Japanese actors,
...yeah, it could be worse!

But I learned a boatload and am really looking forward to the next film.

[Morox]

Also, my only real goal is that someone will hopefully see what I have made, looked past some of the flaws and hopefully sees some potential inside of me and will anticipate what I will come up with next. I don't think any prize can be more rewarding than something like this. I just want to make films and entertain.

[MrKilloran]

My film isn't as bad as I built it up to be but thats not to say its good.

[Geoff_R]

I'm happy in some ways yet unsatisfied in others... I think much of it boils down to resources, working with essentially no budget is difficult and I'm just not going to get the time nor equipment I need to get what I'm seeing in my head. There's always trading, always sacrificing from the imagination, but I guess I get frustrated when I feel like I'm sacrificing too much at times. I'm also probably the toughest critic on my own work. I've let myself down a few times, that's common, but I've yet to surprise myself, not once; to be honest, I've yet to even meet the standards I want to hit. I'm still seeing mistakes, many of them...and thankfully I'm still seeing how to fix them. The day I get stuck on that is the day I'll start to worry.

I've always looked at the work I admire and felt that in some way, I'd have to do better if I were to ever make it. I watch movies like 'The Thin Red Line' and say to myself, "now that's a real world war two movie..." granted, they have money and resources but I don't think that's any excuse. I still have much to learn and this project reminded me of that yet again. And sometimes you overcome one mountain only to realize there's now three more in front of you.

I'm still waiting for that one particular piece, the one where I get exactly what I envision. I think maybe that's the only way I could ever be truly happy with a film of mine. Maybe it's because I'm an extremist and a perfectionist. Perhaps I'm destined to be unsatisfied to a degree... That thought troubles me yet simultaneously comforts me since it means my work will never be done and my learning never complete.

This isn't meant to take anything away from my crew or cast. They are working under the me, the director, under my guidance, their efforts capped by my abilities... This is a strict, personal vendetta against myself.

On a more positive note... this is the film I'm most happy with to date, of all my films :) Hopefully that counts for something...

[kevinkshah]

I'm not sure it's for everyone, but i'm pretty happy with it. it's exactly how i imagined it, and would have intended it (even though it was created with a lot of improvisation and spontaneity). It's really simple...

[Lawsuit_Boy]

I watch movies like 'The Thin Red Line' and say to myself, "now that's a real world war two movie..." .

I'm also a Malick fan...a HUGE fan, haha. I'm sure your film will be quite good. I know I look forward to seeing it. We're all our own worst enemies in criticism, and most feel that's the way it should be. How else would we continue to progress? We've all just got to learn and remember breathing techniques, tea, perhaps yoga and some meditative cd's, and then we'll find balance. *meditates* :)

[Eric Meisner]

When answering a question like this, "Are you happy with your film?" I can't help, but quote David Mamet " You basically make the film three times...you write it, direct it, and edit it." Each one those stages you make certain amount compromises. The goal is set out to make a certain type of movie, but, film is more organic then that, and you have to adapt.

[Rodney V. Smith]

adapt or die.

Mamet was right and everyone should take that quote into consideration.

It may look great on the page, but once you get to location and have to deal with the actual space and do blocking in the scene and around equipment.... it changes. Actors lend their voices and their interpretations and then throughout the curse of the day, you;re tweaking here and tweakign there to make the scene work. Then you get to editing.. and you realise: this part doesn;t make sense.. let me just move it around...

its madness! sheer madness!

I think I need some more coffee....

[seductivepuppy]

i am quite happy with the work in our film. though i have NO idea how others will gauge it.

but i love the process. seeing things go through writing to shooting to the final edit is a complete joy. i don't see it as a series of compromises. i see it as a continued evolution of a product finding it's true voice that myself and others created. i live for this stuff.

[Lawsuit_Boy]

i am quite happy with the work in our film. though i have NO idea how others will gauge it.

but i love the process. seeing things go through writing to shooting to the final edit is a complete joy. i don't see it as a series of compromises. i see it as a continued evolution of a product finding it's true voice that myself and others created. i live for this stuff.

I'm also smitten by such a process. Truly wonderful.

Also, I watched Refrained on your youtube page. I really enjoyed it! Strong performances. Looking forward to your entry in this fest.

[hoz]

for me its simple. did it happen at all?

it is the coolest thing in the world to come home after finishing a shoot. to think that a few hours before i had nothing. now i have the hard work of several people who trusted me to go somewhere different ( in my current flick's world - completely different ).

as for whether i am happy with my film... yeah, i am! are there things i wish to change? SURE!!!!

[singleframe]

I am just happy that we finished our project -- unfortunately, we have to cut it down to 6 min. we worked on this for some time now and it's a story that i've never seen before.

[Marlon Ladd]

I'm happy in some ways yet unsatisfied in others... I think much of it boils down to resources, working with essentially no budget is difficult and I'm just not going to get the time nor equipment I need to get what I'm seeing in my head. There's always trading, always sacrificing from the imagination, but I guess I get frustrated when I feel like I'm sacrificing too much at times. I'm also probably the toughest critic on my own work. I've let myself down a few times, that's common, but I've yet to surprise myself, not once; to be honest, I've yet to even meet the standards I want to hit. I'm still seeing mistakes, many of them...and thankfully I'm still seeing how to fix them. The day I get stuck on that is the day I'll start to worry.

I've always looked at the work I admire and felt that in some way, I'd have to do better if I were to ever make it. I watch movies like 'The Thin Red Line' and say to myself, "now that's a real world war two movie..." granted, they have money and resources but I don't think that's any excuse. I still have much to learn and this project reminded me of that yet again. And sometimes you overcome one mountain only to realize there's now three more in front of you.

I'm still waiting for that one particular piece, the one where I get exactly what I envision. I think maybe that's the only way I could ever be truly happy with a film of mine. Maybe it's because I'm an extremist and a perfectionist. Perhaps I'm destined to be unsatisfied to a degree... That thought troubles me yet simultaneously comforts me since it means my work will never be done and my learning never complete.

This isn't meant to take anything away from my crew or cast. They are working under the me, the director, under my guidance, their efforts capped by my abilities... This is a strict, personal vendetta against myself.

On a more positive note... this is the film I'm most happy with to date, of all my films :) Hopefully that counts for something...
Geoff, I've seen your work, man, and you're really good! The film with the couple that starts off with the guy running (robbed a bank) because his girl ends up with a terminal disease? That was a great film - loved the action, because those are the types of films I like to do. So, I'm a fan and I'm sure this film will be awesome as well. Will we as filmmakers ever have all the resources and pieces we would want? Probably not, so we just go with what we have and have access to. That's what makes us "indie" and what makes us what I consider, Artists.

I plan on entering this fest. if I can get my film finished and edited the way I want it. My last shoot was yesterday and it could not have been worse as far as the weather goes. It was supposed to be sunny and 62 degrees, but it was more like 40 with a 25 mph wind. Ridiculous!! That's Oklahoma weather for you, but, we got through it (with no useable audio) and from what I've seen so far the footage looks pretty good. I was determined not to rush on this shoot, because I did too much of that on the last one, but alas, there's never enough time and I had to rush several shots anyway. As a director I've looked at footage before and thought it was great until I had to put it together (edited the footage) and discovered there was not enough coverage or there was a really great shot that I had to cut, because it didn't fit.

So, basically I think my shots are fine, but won't know until the last edit is done or when somebody objective can tell me it sucks or not.

[Richard J. Johnson]

Note to self and others: Never attempt to go hanheld with an adapter, no follow focus, and no shoulder mount while shooting subjects that move around a lot.

Hangman was a tough one. I'm not too happy with but some parts of it are cool.

[armisiano]

I'm quite happy with it. It really is almost exactly what I saw in my mind when I first thought it up. I'm very happy that I didn't compromise ANYTHING on this project. I was an insistent pain in the a$$ every step of the way. :)

[Noel Evans]

I dont see how any of you people entering could not be happy.

Forst off, you found the time and people to shoot a script, thats an achievement in itself. Secondly, you all put yourselves out there for other forum members to critique your piece, good, bad or ugly - that takes guts.

[tedynecula]

I'm happy with my film but I am happier because of more things.
First of all I discovered you all! And I met Alex Whitmer, that is much for me because he writes very well and it is other style then Romanian scriptwriting. Hope I will have him in the future

Second, is the first time that I'm entering a fest.

When I was preparing shooting I realised that I have to work this film as an American one. That means movements of camera, good sound....

Actors were very good!!! Romanita "LaDiva" (as Karla), my university colleague was very excited when i proposed her to act this character. Alex said "she is realy as I imagined her"!

And Alice (as Annalise) also did a wonderful job at only 9 yr old.

As every of us I learned a lot from this project. Let's give you an example. Second day of shooting (and the last). 9 PM, late in evening, we are shooting the final scene. Alice is so tired and she want to play the piano from the big living room in our set. I have to repeat with her and to make her retain and feel ger lines. Alice takes her page and goes at piano. She play her lins, singing them on piano sounds... In less then 2 minutes she learned perfectly the text. This impressed me how working with actor is important for shooting day and make him feel good in what he is doing.

So yes, calculating the (all kinds of) investments, for 2 days of shooting, I am happy with my film.

Thanks all my collaborators

[Morox]

Welp, I never got to re-shoot the scenes I wanted. It's going to take some heavy editing to get past that point. As long as it's watchable and comprehensible, I am okay with it. For my next film however, hopefully I will have everything I want.

[Chris Messineo]

I am happy with my entry. Although, I am also nervous. I have been a member here for over 5 years, but this is my first fest entry and I feel like I am sending my kid off to school for the first time.

[Will Clegg]

This is my 20th film, but my first dvxfest entry. I'm cautiously optimistic.

[ramsaur]

My 2nd time entering dvx fest. Last one was a last minute thing and rushed it. Wasn't very satisfied. This year.... Extremely satisfied! Even pulling off two films :)

[Morox]

Uploading as I type this. Better late than never!

Oh man it turned into a mess. Nothing like last second rush editing. I was skeptical to upload since I am a tad bit embarrassed with how it turned out. Oh well though. I was not able to re-shoot what I wanted and if I did, I think I would have been a lot more satisfied. I am looking forward to the constructive criticism more than anything though! Good luck everyone.

[singleframe]

Uploading as I type this. Better late than never!

Oh man it turned into a mess. Nothing like last second rush editing. I was skeptical to upload since I am a tad bit embarrassed with how it turned out. Oh well though. I was not able to re-shoot what I wanted and if I did, I think I would have been a lot more satisfied. I am looking forward to the constructive criticism more than anything though! Good luck everyone.

yeah, i'm with you somewhat...more on the post-side of things though.

last minute rush on music for me -- thought i had things covered with my composer, oh well, stuff happens.

mainly i'm just glum because we had to cut out massive chunks of the story and i'm not sure if our message will come across as planned. an enire intro landed on the cutting room floor. there just wasn't room for it -- it was all or none. hence, the story just dives right in. we have tons more footage so whatever happens, we will go forth and put a larger piece together; might even get a feature out of it. we'll have to see.

i'm curious if we're the only documentary style submission in this fest....

good luck all! and congrats for putting a project together...it's a lot more than many people are doing out there.

[Zak Forsman]

i guess i'm a little bummed i couldnt work more actors into this one. would have liked to incorporate MARION KERR and DUSTY SORG's characters. but i guess that's what feature is for.

[Postmaster]

Strange thing happenes. The more I look at my film, the more I don´t like it.

I mean, not that I don´t realy like what I see, but it somehow "weares out" and dont has that emotional impact anymore.

....and yeah, my mistakes came in foreground much more any time I watch it.

Is it just me, or does one just got "used" to it too much after seeing it ober and over.

Frank

[Zak Forsman]

the impact definitely fades for me. to the extent that I doubt ANYONE will be able to connect with the film.

[Postmaster]

Sounds familiar.

Phew, so it`s not just me.

Frank

[Brian Parker]

My film changed so many times from what it was originally intended to be. The concept I actually shot didn't even come to me until a few weeks ago. It started out as a drama but now I guess it could almost be a little experimental. It's a little off the wall and weird but I had fun. It actually became somewhat personal. I didn't take it too seriously but yet I worked pretty hard on it. Just glad to be finished but I have to say, as a light film project, I'm happy with it.

[kyrre]

Just finished uploading my entry. Was up all night grading and mixing. To be honest I'm just sick of the whole project right now.

[orchidsofwrath]

Just finished uploading my entry. Was up all night grading and mixing. To be honest I'm just sick of the whole project right now.

Same story with me. This film was my best work to date for sure... but I still am not satisfied. Had we actually shot all the scenes I had planned I might have been but at this point I just don't think my film will stick out. I have no doubt next one will me worlds better as has been each film of mine.

[kevinkshah]

can't wait to see both of your films, despite the feelings. I'm happy with mine, just sad about the compression & how it's going to sound over people's laptop speakers. I purposely did some things in the mix for laptop speakers. we'll see...


Same story with me. This film was my best work to date for sure... but I still am not satisfied. Had we actually shot all the scenes I had planned I might have been but at this point I just don't think my film will stick out. I have no doubt next one will me worlds better as has been each film of mine.

[orchidsofwrath]

I'm happy with mine, just sad about the compression & how it's going to sound over people's laptop speakers. I purposely did some things in the mix for laptop speakers.

That was a good idea. Theres nothing thats more annoying than when I make a really cool song with good production and i send it to someone and they listen with laptop speakers!

If its any consolation... I will be watching your movie with a pair of studiophile DX4 monitors!

[Nick_Lee]

I'm not going to say anything specific so I don't sway anyone into liking or disliking the short more than they actually do, but after watching it six thousand five hundred and ninety six times I'd say i hate this thing forever and ever, and if I ever had to watch it again I would undoubtedly vomit.

having to edit for hours and hours is terrible...i bet feature editors just look down when they're at premieres haha.

with that said...I think I'm very dissatisfied with my short...but hopefully it's like when you eat too much of the same delicious ice cream ;)

watch sparingly guys. haha.

[orchidsofwrath]

I don't think editing and seeing something over and over is so bad. Its still fun to take a big step back in the end and watch is as a contiguous movie. Its only bad when your acting in it... It sucks to see youself act thousands of times. Thats why I never act in my own films anymore.

[Nick_Lee]

I don't think editing and seeing something over and over is so bad. Its still fun to take a big step back in the end and watch is as a contiguous movie. Its only bad when your acting in it... It sucks to see youself act thousands of times. Thats why I never act in my own films anymore.

you're right. I stepped back and watched without trying to critique or nitpick and I did enjoy it.

[JCVR]

I wish I had an extra day, but i'm really happy with mine. It's just tough when you get so close to a project and watch it hundreds of times. Regaining perspective is tough.

[orchidsofwrath]

It's just tough when you get so close to a project and watch it hundreds of times. Regaining perspective is tough.

For sure. Any art is like that. You just get numb to your own work. Thats why we all need a place like DVXuser to get crit from other film makers!