The cookie jar

[chstick]

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/22934/1255850444.jpg

I'm in.

[Chris_Keaton]

Ok, that was my idea! :grin: Welcome to the party.

[Nitsuj]

Cookie monster!!!! Run!!! This looks fun.

[The_Happy_Haole]

Poster looks good my Oahu friend. Looking forward to seeing your film. Good luck.

[The_Happy_Haole]

What's up chstick? Status on your film?

[chstick]

99% in the can. Post has begun. A couple pickup shots tonight. A weekend of post work, then upload.

Looking good so far, very pleased.

[chstick]

uploaded!

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Congrats!

[ramsaur]

In the poster is there suppose to be a red streak on the cookie jar's reflection? or is that just something on the wood?

[chstick]

Good. Think subtle. subtle. shhhhhh

[Matt Harris]

i saw that reflection too, i like subtle. good job.

[EditPhish]

I did NOT see it coming that the kid would turn out to be the monster... not at all... so huge props for inventiveness! I like to be surprised :)

Seems you had some sound issues... everything seemed really "hot", if you know what I mean. I could hear hiss in the dialogue. I wasn't crazy about what I assume you were using as an exterior wind sound effect (it just sounded like noise to me).

Overall though, I enjoyed your entry and it scored it higher than quite a few! Vampires seemed a popular option in this fest, but yours was unique!

[Pocusproductions]

Love the hallway shots! The turning into a monster effect was great too!

[Charli]

The twist was completely unexpected so I like that but I do not understand the significance of the cookie jar or why it was titled such?

If you're trying to show the kid was hungry I think there would have been better ways to do so as to not name the story, "cookie jar."

It was definitely a twist, good job.

[slimchrisp]

Turned out really great man. And the gimp was the most brilliant method actor I've ever seen. I'm just sayin. :evil:

[Chris_Keaton]

Nice film. It really seemed like you put care and effort into the story. Sure it was the old getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar, but the twist was satisfying. I might be alone here, but this rated high on my favorite list. Good job.

[Hardcore]

Good movie, I really enjoyed it and I didnt expect the twist at all. Good acting by everyone, and I liked your shots.

But am I the only one perplexed with the blue? Or am I the only one who sees it?
Everyone was blue, and the blood was blue, not really a problem but I was wondering if it had any significance at all.

[Zim]

Good film and a good ending

[Edgen]

cool short! I definitely didn't see the kid coming.

looking forward to your next entry!

/j

[MrFluffy]

Nicly done. I wasnt expecting the ending which made a refreshing change.

[Geoff_R]

like the title. works well with the concept. didn't see that twist coming... I thought it'd be the mother... nice work on that. I like the simplicity here, it's quick to the point and wraps up clean. Overall, good story telling. My only qualm would deal with the performances which were a little dry for my taste.

Thanks for sharing.

[lordambrai]

How do I like my burger? WELL DONE! Err... corny... anyhoo.

I liked this! The hallway shots were really well done. Nice camera moves, and everything went with the feel of the story. I also liked the mom, she had this weird unsettling feel to her from the start that made me feel that something was amiss. Creepy... still good job sir!

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Great opening shot! Not sure I would have followed it with such a close up. Might have went with some wide interior shots first. No matter.
The hallway dolly stuff was great even if there was a little wobble. The tension in the first scene as he reaches for the door was great.

Didn't see the ending/twist coming either.
Nice little gem in the fest.

Well done,

MAH

[xxrotinivol2]

While I kinda saw it coming, I thought you did a great job on spinning expectations for the vampire genre. The dolly shots in the hallway, and the way you treated the climactic scene visually, were all very cool.

Thanks for submitting. Definitely a good one.

[Horncastle]

Nice little story with a good twist. Not quite sure what the white sheet was in the background of the room. Maybe it's normally there? but it does look a bit odd in the film. I mention this because elsewhere you have a nice attention to detail - I liked the bird and the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". The boys face turning monster looked great - simple but effective. Good job, thanks.

[chstick]

Thank you everyone for your comments.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to comment until now and I only have a minute.

On October 20, my best friend and business partner, Henry "Hank" MacCaslin, passed away. I didn't think I'd be able to submit this piece, but thanks to Zac Heileson's help, we made it through post. Zac also was uncredited for the VFX work.

I am currently dealing with the very difficult task(s) in the wake of Hank's passing. This is a first for me and if anyone has gone through this then you know how difficult it is.

I really want to address each comment, but won't be able to do so for a few days. Also, I want very badly to view the entries....but that will also be a few days.

I am very pleased to see so many positive comments and we couldn't be more proud of our film.

Again, thank you for the comments.

Chris

[TMerry]

So Sorry for your loss :-(

Surprised there are way more comments on your film yet. Here's mine:
Cool flick, caught me by total surprise. Great version of the AE demon face, I've seen a lot and that one rocked!! Nice build of the tension. The only thing that bothered me was the mother said "never to go in there", but the food was for the next day so maybe if she just said "I told you not to go in there". Not sure why he'd need a batt since he's such a crazed monster, but that led us to a good shift in perspective.
Strong Beg. mid. and end

Well Done :-)

[EditPhish]

So sorry for your loss... you're in our thoughts!

[Marlon Ladd]

Sorry for you loss. We will keep you in our prayers.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Sorry to hear dude. Hang in there.

[Mark Harris]

Nice work building tension and flipping expectations. Being monsterfest, I looked for the twist, but then you effectively kept me off guard, so I was like: "wait, am I right?"

Scary, creepy atmosphere. Second film to actually give me a scare.

I'd be curious to see a version without the music being so heavy handed and sound effects. There was nothing wrong with them per se, and that kind of music might be the obvious choice, but I would love to see it with maybe none and minimal sound effects and atmospherics.

Good work.

[Dauntless]

I liked the story, and the special effects on the kid when he transformed into the monster.... Also there where plenty of nice shots.

[ramsaur]

So why is this film called The Cookie Jar? I watched it twice and all I want to say is he ate a cookie and became a vampire...or just showing the fact that he was hungry. The vampire effect on the kid was cool, did not see that coming!

[chstick]

I did NOT see it coming that the kid would turn out to be the monster... not at all... so huge props for inventiveness! I like to be surprised :)

Seems you had some sound issues... everything seemed really "hot", if you know what I mean. I could hear hiss in the dialogue. I wasn't crazy about what I assume you were using as an exterior wind sound effect (it just sounded like noise to me).

Overall though, I enjoyed your entry and it scored it higher than quite a few! Vampires seemed a popular option in this fest, but yours was unique!

How about a SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!

you know, in the rare cases that someone reads the thread before they watch. I heard that has happened.

[chstick]

Love the hallway shots! The turning into a monster effect was great too!

Thank you.

[chstick]

Turned out really great man. And the gimp was the most brilliant method actor I've ever seen. I'm just sayin. :evil:

Yea man, the GIMP was dope!!!! Best actor nod fo' sho'

[chstick]

Nice film. It really seemed like you put care and effort into the story. Sure it was the old getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar, but the twist was satisfying. I might be alone here, but this rated high on my favorite list. Good job.

(Elvis voice) Thank you, thank yu very muuch.

[chstick]

But am I the only one perplexed with the blue? Or am I the only one who sees it?
Everyone was blue, and the blood was blue, not really a problem but I was wondering if it had any significance at all.

Did it make you sad? Why so blue?

We colored the background a slight teal, however, all the skin tones are spot on and should be fine. So, it could be possible that you are seeing a slight teal.....but blue, no. Might be time to color-calibrate your monitor.

[Darkline]

This was a lorra fun!

[chstick]

Great opening shot! Not sure I would have followed it with such a close up. Might have went with some wide interior shots first. No matter.

We kind of went a little Mamet-esque to open here.
Wide/establishing shots are certainly the bread and butter of many a film, and are key to setting up just about any scene. As we know, they serve many purposes....chiefly, number one, so the viewer/audience doesn't become disoriented. We purposely held tight as long as we could to open to heighten the suspense. We wanted to retain the mystery for as long as we could, and I'd like to believe that this works here.

I have enjoyed the films that you have entered into these DVXfests and I find you to be a very good filmmaker. My opinion simply differs here.

[Sprocketboy]

Nice bait and switch trick with the cookie jar. The lighting is fine, especially in the hallway. The acting was amplified a tad too high but good enough to deliver the satisfying punchline of the story.


SPOILER ALERT! WATCH MOVIE FIRST!

I understand there is a limited time to set up the logic your vampire lore is following. It was hard for me to accept the fact that a vampire is going to bed at night like a normal child. But, who cares... its a fun, well-executed story.

[ZazaCast]

Really good job & great concept for a short. It was an enjoyable watch. Yes, there were a few things, as stated above, but overall I really liked this film.

Sprocketboy caught my biggest nitpick...why would a vamp sleep at night?

Congrats to all!

[chstick]

Sprocketboy caught my biggest nitpick...why would a vamp sleep at night?



Who's to say the kid's a vamp? He could be a Pac-Man monster, just like his dad on his shirt..... or maybe his condition is the result of eating yellow snow. God, so, anyone who eats blood from the neck area is automatically a vampire?!? ....you guys watch too many movies...ha ha

Also, I used your Zazacast indi-slider for the hallway pushes. Thanks for that!

[Sprocketboy]

Who's to say the kid's a vamp? He could be a Pac-Man monster, just like his dad on his shirt..... or maybe his condition is the result of eating yellow snow. God, so, anyone who eats blood from the neck area is automatically a vampire?!? ....you guys watch too many movies...ha ha

The kid did look more like a snake. Funny looking vampire. :laugh:

[Marlon Ladd]

I liked this film. It was very compelling and suspenseful and kept me engaged. You had some really good cinematography in here as well as a good story and some good acting. What more can you ask for? Nice work! Kudos!

[lawriejaffa]

Yep my old grandmother was so strict that the very same suspense music used to play in my head when i was going down the hall into the cupboard... (there i found my grandad tied up but they were just having fun so...)

So on that note! An innovative twist against expectation, competently acted, nicely shot - with a few outstanding shots. (You just have to love the feed on the hall floor shots)

Peculiar but perfectly acceptable demon face morph (rargh) a kind of vampiric snake man (now if he could shoot marshmallows out his eyes - pink aaaand white ones) I'd be really impressed!

Good use of sound, and overall a very complete, rounded, little monstrous expectation that makes for a very strong short film!

My only main criticism would be the use of the child actor to produce your films titles and end credits *ahem* they really detract from the professionalism of the rest of the film, and id suggest (as im sure you will) changing them for the -post festival version.

The tribute at the end - with rock music, and for this type of film seems strangely misplaced?

In anycase an overal sterling effort and an enjoyable dark surprise!

[chstick]

In anycase an overal sterling effort and an enjoyable dark surprise!

Thank you.