"Just Over The Hill"

[avery]

wrote it and directed it. heres the link.

http://films.goldbullet.com/movies/joth.mp4

(thanks to nick louie for putting it up)

[avery]

someone gonna reply? thoughts? anything?

[MattC]

I can't believe you shot this on an XL2. Is there a less compressed version?

[avery]

you cant believe i shot it on an xl2? as in bad quality or good? i was gonna put it up with higher quality but it would of been a pain to download.

[avery]

theres more after the film too, outtakes, and a trailer.

[MattC]

Maybe it's 'cause I'm on a Mac but the compression seems awful?

[yuppers]

was it shot progressivly or interlaced...looks interlaced maybe becasue of the compression problems (i am using a PC). Not to offend you but you need to work on a lot of things. As it is, You didnt need to use an xl2 to shoot this. The audio isnt really done well and way to typical. The acting was obviously bad but thats just something thats hard to help in ametuer film making. way 2 many zooms. Even when it could have worked like the first person shots of the sniper guy it just felt wrong. play with the shallow depth of field that is available with the XL2 and your cuts need to be tighter and quicker. sound effects are obviously way off and to the actual type of guns they are using and you need to use after effects or soemthing get some flashes to go with the gunshots. Based on the age of the actors i am guessing you are still very young, I think it is decnt work for someone your age if i am correct but if you want to improve learn your camera better and learn more about photography like DOF framing, apertures, focal lengths etc. keep posting..

[avery]

yeah, i have problems cuz im 14. i dont know how to set up shots yet or do any settins for each shot. if you can tell me how it would be much appreciated. yeah, thequality is crappy cuz of the compression. o and i only had an hour to shoot this so yeah.

[avery]

its my second film, and yeah i dont know much about editing, nor do i know much about setting up shots. dont you usually depend on the dp to do that?

[avery]

oh yeah and thanks yuppers for giving me advice, i love to be critized by you people, way outta my leauge.

[J.R. Hudson]

avery?

Feel free not to make post after post after post. Think about what you wan't to say and then post' if you need to add something; use the edit function.

[yuppers]

one peice of advice is that video is a closeup medium dont be afraid to get 2 close not everything has to be shown. dont frame everything centered, try putting subject to teh side and balancing the other side with something. the shallower the depth of field the more depth appears in teh pciture giving it more of a theatrical feeling. you can get shallow depth of feild using a few methods whihc you should google to learn more about but quickly they are wide apertures (low numbers), longer focal lengths (zoomed to telephoto rather than to wide) and bigger CCD size (cant really change the cd size on an XL2 but you can pruchase a 35mm adapter if you are willing. The XL2 is a great camera to learn on but you wont ge amazing results unles you really know how to use it. when i was 14 i was getting started with a digital 8 and used it for a long time before i got a new camera. There is a lot to be learnt even from crappy consumer cameras. It can teach you how crucuail lighting and by comparing the diffrences to a professional camera you will be able to see what professional equuipment allows you to do and why things look more professional than others. Learn your camera, practice composition and edit edit edit.

[HDCinema25]

avery,
Couple of things, try not to use the zoom too much. Using it way too many times usually screams "Amateur!" Like Yuppers said, use close ups. Like that beginning scene where one of the guys gets shot and the guy that was with him yells out "Private. Private!" A close up on his face as he tries to revive him so we can see his expressions. Even a close up on the dead private's face would be good too. Did you edit this with FCP? Premiere?

Kev

[HDCinema25]

Forgot one thing about editing, be careful of jump cuts. Like the one in the very beginning when the two guys fall into the ditch, it looked kind of odd to me.

Kev

[Zac Henke]

"Dude, let's make a movie with our airsoft guns."
"Okay."
"And tell Chris to bring his pellet gun. It looks so real."


Ah the memories.

[avery]

LeSeulGiraffe, the snipers name is chris, and we did tell him to bring his pellet gun that looked real. lol. well thanks for all the comments guys, yeah i got the whole zoom thing down and am understanding the close ups to show emotion. thank you very much. oh and HDCinema i did this on iMovie HD.

[STORYTELLER32]

Oh come on guys, cut him some slack. He was obviously just taking a shot with the camera and getting his feet wet in film making for the first time. Avery, you'll learn more from your mistakes than you will from your successes. Congrats on taking the plunge.

I'm not going to discuss the techincals because it would take too long to type it all out. But you should look into a book on lighting for film. And sound is of course a biggy. It's just as important as the visuals.

A couple of tips for you in general for your next one:

First and foremost, try and work out your story before you start shooting. The story is your foundation and if it doesn't work, you'll lose your audience.

When shooting, get more coverage of your scenes. I'll give you an example:
When you had the two soldiers lying against the hill taking cover, you should look to shoot that same scene several times but from different angles and distances from the actors (or subject). This is called coverage.

The common way to get coverage of a scene is to first start with a master shot (usually full figure, but could be as close from the knees up). Then shoot that same scene again in a medium shot (taken from the waste up). Then shoot that same scene as a close up (basically a head shot).

In the end, you'll have more freedom to edit with in post production (not to mention better performances to edit from). Angles and distance from the subject coupled with composition conveys emotional impact one way or another. The kind of impact you want to convey in your story should dictate your framing choices on set.

Hope this helps and keep it up. Wish I had started this when I was 14! :thumbsup:

[Weston]

Feel free not to make post after post after post
- John Hudson--

Haha.....from the man with over 12,000 posts...


I'm just joking John :) ....when you post its always something useful and informative.

[avery]

thanks a lot STORYTELLER ill be sure to keep all of your guyses tips in mind for my next film, what should i do about the lighting i mean for outdoors do i have to do presets. oh yeah and would it be okay if i started a thread about my next film displaying my shot list so you guys can help out? well i know it would be okay but i mean would you guys post?

[STORYTELLER32]

I don't know enough about the XL2 settings to advise you there. But I do know it has less to do with settings and more to do with positioning your actors based on where your lightsource is coming from.

Hold your fist up in the air and use it to judge where your highlights and shadows are placed on the day you're shooting. Keep an eye on the amount of time it's taking to cover your scenes as well because the sun does move and if you spend too long on one scene, you might have mismatched lighting when you cut it together.

Hope this helps.

[avery]

thanks again storryteller, much help

[Trunks4200]

You know, just getting out there and trying keeps you a step ahead. Plus to have the guts to post something says alot too. Just keep shooting and eventually you'll get to where you want to be. At least your having fun doing it, right?

[avery]

yep, lots of fun i mean i see the work you guys post then im really eager to go out and film. but i wanted to get advice from you guys before i went out again.

[AshG]

The XL series is not a good one to cut your teeth on. If you really want 24P I would get a DVX instead, the built in scene files are good starters and the camera has limitless potential while still approachable by an amateur.


ash =o)

[Tibby]

Avery,

You seem a little young. So I'll try to give you some helpful advice. The DP doesn't choose the set ups. He can suggest, but he doesn't choose. It is the directors job to choose the set ups. He is in charge. The director is the captain of the ship. He should be knowledgable about all aspects of filmaking to some degree (even editing), and especially the shot set ups.

It's good that you are out there shooting films, keep on shooting. There's nothing like learning by doing, but you also need to read up on more of the technical aspects of film production.

Don't stop making movies with your friends. Get some books take some classes. Watch movies, examine how shots work, and how shots go together.

Your films will only get better. The next one will always be better than the last.

[avery]

thanks tibby, im doin a film for sci-fest. i have a pretty good idea. well ash i would get the dvx but my dad wont let me sell my xl2 and get a dvx, hed be really pissed cuz he helped me a lot to get the xl. plus i think the xl2 and the dvx kinda are the same, (with the right presets on the xl)

[MattC]

Avery,

Dude I didn't realize you were 14, good job! Yes, you should definitely post your next script and shot list. PM me when you do and I and I'm sure others will offer some help. You can also visit my sight and download an XL2 setup sheet to help manage your settings: http://www.birthofthecool.com/preproduction.html. There are a few others forms, including a storyboard form that you might find useful as well. Also, once we look at the script, I'm sure Ash and I would be glad to help you with some settings that might be better for you. Since you're editing in iMovie you don't have much in the way of color correction (I don't think) so I think it will be important that you get the look you want in-camera.

Also, do a search of this forum for books and see some of what's been recommended - you can learn so much from a few books, many of which are available at any large chain.

Keep shooting!

Matt

[Norm Sanders]

Since everything else has already been covered, my only addition would be the following:

Next time, put black electrical tape over the ends of the guns ... our star had visible orange at the end of his gun, showing us it's a fake.

Also, make sure your lens is ALWAYS clean. It was distracting to see debri on the lens in several of the shots ... yes, it's dirty out, but keep it clean in between takes.

Otherwise, great job for your first try AND not to mention being 14.