"Signal Decay" -- Shaun Patrick/Stewbottum/Wilder Works

[Shaun Patrick]

"Signal Decay" -- Dentistry is a science. Just ask your dentist.
----

Enjoy.

[ProfD]

Guys...that was hilarious. Completely original...loved it. We also went for the comedy side of things.

Cool!

[Shaun Patrick]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it.

[Brandon Rice]

REALLY REALLY Liked this one! The set was a bit off... felt like a house converted to a dentist office. But, other than that, I loved this one. HAHA! Loved the alternate universe thing. Overall hillarious piece, one of the most fun to watch I've seen! Props!

[Shaun Patrick]

REALLY REALLY Liked this one! The set was a bit off... felt like a house converted to a dentist office. But, other than that, I loved this one. HAHA! Loved the alternate universe thing. Overall hillarious piece, one of the most fun to watch I've seen! Props!

Thanks for the comment. It's an actual dentist's office.

[Brandon Rice]

Thanks for the comment. It's an actual dentist's office.

Well in that case, I didn't say anything... ;) Well, I guess all dentist's office's aren't like the one I go to... Anyway, loved the film man, and it's in my short list for sure!:cool:

[Blaine]

So that's the kind of nightmares a dentist has! Hahahaha. Loved the "sterile" lighting of the dentist's office.

[Karl151k]

The tooth prop was amazing! Please tell me that was not someones real tooth.

[Shaun Patrick]

The tooth prop was amazing! Please tell me that was not someones real tooth.

Yeah, we were lucky enough to work with a dentist on the props (the digital X-ray and the wired tooth) and the tooth is real. I guess dentists keep pulled teeth for their collections.

[janzie]

i liked it...i could watch your actors in feature length, cause they´re just hilarious...it´s either great directing, comedian talent or too much pot...also liked the test /split screen scene...too many tv stations here in austria work with splitscreens, sell it as "the-cool-24-style" and just can´t handle it and it sucks, but yours worked really well...

really cool flick

[Shaun Patrick]

Glad you liked it, janzie. I wish I could take the credit on the directing side in terms of the acting but I think we're just really lucky to be good friends with some great actors.

[abraham]

Yeah! This was hilarious. Some great lines in yours -- I'm particularly fond of anyone using "gangbusters" in a script.

Some sweet x-rays too.

--evan

[Kaz]

You guys obviously had some fun making this. It was pretty damn funny and original. The acting was a tiny bit off at times but overall very good. I loved the X-ray pic and enjoyed the film very much. Thanks for making it!

BTW: A bunch of people in my family are dental assistants and all their dental offices do look like this one.

[Shawn Murphy]

Great look, funny, and some pretty good acting, this is in my top 5 for sure!

..and I'm getting close to the bottom of the list.

[Shaun Patrick]

thanks for the kind words. Glad you guys enjoyed it.

[BrianV]

favorite sequence is the split-screen business. been a fan of split-screen but haven't found motivation in anything i've done so far.

[Shaun Patrick]

Thanks BrianV...I've always wanted to use it in something too and we found the split screen sequence was more effective (and shorter) than a straight cutting montage. It's a little flashy but I think it works for this piece.

[BrianV]

Thanks BrianV...I've always wanted to use it in something too and we found the split screen sequence was more effective (and shorter) than a straight cutting montage. It's a little flashy but I think it works for this piece.

Movies can be flashy :-D Alot of people forget that. Editing, split screen, etc are the sort of things you find only in film/video... unique from any other art forms.

If you can do it, and motive it... USE it :)

Word! ;)

[Shaun Patrick]

Yeah, movies can totally be flashy. The tricky part is finding motivation story wise.

[WilderWorks]

I was originally against the "dance of the split screens," but as it got refined and reduced, it finally got to the point where it was giving the audience more information, more efficiently (in less time, that is), and I was finally sold on the dance. Point being, if this kind of stuff doesn't get a lot of arguing in the editing room, someone's being a weenie.

It is my policy to put a smile at the end of every post I make. :)

[THX-1138]

Shaun,

Obviously high marks on the split screne section. I was hoping somebody would go there, and you exicuted it perfectly.

Also nice crane shot in the shower!

Filmmaking elements were all top notch so I'll just mention the thing that hit me a little funny or that I need some more clarification.

I did'nt get the outlet in his stomach? Please explain. I got everything else but that went over my head.

Great to see a cleaver - non alien - non computer - non future - sci-fi short.

Thanks for making it.

Kip Kubin

[Norm Sanders]

Another winner from the guys who gave us BRAINS! in the Zombie Fest. This is no exception with regards to a quality production that still makes us laugh.

There are other gag films that have been entered, but to me, this beats them all in the gag category because of the production level involved.

Great camera work, lighting, set, props, etc .... and FUNNY! As far as story/script/dialogue goes, it felt lacking just a TAD, but might be expected for a humerous film ... also the acting may have not quite always been spot on, but again, is allowable for the feel of the film.

I hate to say this, but with your team's abilities & consistant production value, if you were to do something serious you could take a run at first, more than likely ... meaning, while I think everyone will always enjoy & look forward to your films, they'll never take the top prize, as those tend to go towards the more serious/dramatic entries.

Same thing goes for the Oscars ... comedies almost never win (or are even nominated) ... it's typically the dramatic/serious entries that get the recognition. Not always fair, but the way it tends to happen.

So in my humble opinion, if you guys just love what you're doing, keep doing it because it works VERY well. But if you'd like a stab at the prizes, try for something serious/profound.

Hope that's helpful, and doesn't come off as ragging or a slam. Really, REALLY enjoyed this film.

[EditPhish]

Being that I just had a tooth pulled two weeks ago, this one hit a little close to home -- LOL ;)

"Could be your uvula.. .not sure" -- funny stuff!

The look of the film was GREAT... perfect color and contrast, nice cinematography/framing... great editing. All top-notch.

Story was very funny -- I like the whole alternate dimension aspect where the patient is the dentist and the dentist is the patient.

The blood and tooth looked great... funny that the tooth was real LOL, hope it wasn't one of mine :p

Overall great job... funny and well executed. Thanks for sharing it, I enjoyed it a lot (even though I HATE the dentist, but don't we all?)

[Shaun Patrick]

The blood and tooth looked great... funny that the tooth was real LOL, hope it wasn't one of mine :p

Thanks for the comments. It could be your tooth--especially if you've had one pulled in the Tri-State Area in the last couple of months.

[Shaun Patrick]

Another winner from the guys who gave us BRAINS! in the Zombie Fest. This is no exception with regards to a quality production that still makes us laugh.

There are other gag films that have been entered, but to me, this beats them all in the gag category because of the production level involved.

Great camera work, lighting, set, props, etc .... and FUNNY! As far as story/script/dialogue goes, it felt lacking just a TAD, but might be expected for a humerous film ... also the acting may have not quite always been spot on, but again, is allowable for the feel of the film.

I'm glad you dug the film, man. We definitely wanted to do something a little more complex than BRAINS!! this time around and I'm really happy with how it turned out on all levels.


I hate to say this, but with your team's abilities & consistant production value, if you were to do something serious you could take a run at first, more than likely ... meaning, while I think everyone will always enjoy & look forward to your films, they'll never take the top prize, as those tend to go towards the more serious/dramatic entries.

Same thing goes for the Oscars ... comedies almost never win (or are even nominated) ... it's typically the dramatic/serious entries that get the recognition. Not always fair, but the way it tends to happen.

So in my humble opinion, if you guys just love what you're doing, keep doing it because it works VERY well. But if you'd like a stab at the prizes, try for something serious/profound.

I agree with you on the comedic shorts not being taken very seriously. It's kind of a shame because I feel two of the strongest films in the competition are comedies--"A Brief Case" (definitly an outright comedy) and "The ODD Squad" (a film with a lot of comedic moments and a great ironic/retro style). It will be interesting to see where they finish in all of this.

You're right though serious films get all of the recognition (I think Annie Hall was the last comedy to win Best Picture) but, I think, on some level comedies are harder to pull off.

As for a serious entry next time--we'll see what the genre is....

Anyway, thanks for the comments. You've always been good about giving solid reviews/feedback (both here and the Zombiefest). Your film is coming up next on my "to view and then review" list.

[abraham]

In contrast to what Envision says, I feel that the reason so many of these films aren't working, is because they take themselves way too seriously. Many actors are acting too hard, and many special effects aren't fitting with the looks of some of the lesser talked up movies.
And I'm finding that in six minutes it is next to impossible to feel for a character from whom all you've recieved is a voiceover and a photon torpedo.
The three I feel really matched their tones with their movies, without taking the viewer out of it with unmatched special effects, or inexperienced acting, I have to say first are the two ever popular movies: Similo, and We Are Not Alone, but also The Sequence, which more people should be commenting on.

I say thank god you made a comedy, because it was a break from a lot of the attempts to be serious. and whether or not you win, you definitely were in my top 3 because your movie was successful.

I feel like based on your Brains! movie, you know you don't really want to make a serious genre movie like these. Do you hear what I'm saying? Your dialogue says it all.

And I know for me, with actors all roughly around the same age, it becomes difficult to branch out and get into it.

[Shaun Patrick]

In contrast to what Envision says, I feel that the reason so many of these films aren't working, is because they take themselves way too seriously. Many actors are acting too hard, and many special effects aren't fitting with the looks of some of the lesser talked up movies.
And I'm finding that in six minutes it is next to impossible to feel for a character from whom all you've recieved is a voiceover and a photon torpedo.
The three I feel really matched their tones with their movies, without taking the viewer out of it with unmatched special effects, or inexperienced acting, I have to say first are the two ever popular movies: Similo, and We Are Not Alone, but also The Sequence, which more people should be commenting on.

You make a good point. In all honesty, "A Brief Case" is one of the only films that I've seen so far that really works as a short film from start to finish. 99% of the films in the fest are just too big for six minutes and that includes the really popular films like "Similo", "We Are Not Alone", "CPU" and "The ODD Squad". They're all well put together and they look great but because of the scope of the ideas involved something suffers--usually character development and especially a middle act. Unfortunately, good storytelling usually takes a back seat to visuals or a gimmick in the majority of the short films that I've seen both here and on the festival circuit.


say thank god you made a comedy, because it was a break from a lot of the attempts to be serious. and whether or not you win, you definitely were in my top 3 because your movie was successful.

That's a great compliment coming from someone involved with "A Brief Case", which is my favorite in the fest thus far. I'm really glad you dug ours.


I feel like based on your Brains! movie, you know you don't really want to make a serious genre movie like these. Do you hear what I'm saying? Your dialogue says it all.

And I know for me, with actors all roughly around the same age, it becomes difficult to branch out and get into it.

Agreed

[Shaun Patrick]

booya.

[WilderWorks]

You criticized an out of focus shot in another film, and yet have one in your own! Defend yourself, sir! :)

[Shaun Patrick]

The shot in "Signal Decay" is different as the shot starts out of focus. It's more of a stylistic flourish than an outright change in POV.

[WilderWorks]

Is that Gabe Mckee the same Gabe Mckee that wrote "Pink Beams from the God in the Gutter: The Science Fictional Religion of Philip K Dick," available from Amazon.com and other fine retailers? :huh:

[Shaun Patrick]

No, I think it's the gabe mckee who hates shameless self-promotion...not sure.

[WilderWorks]

Oh. I'm afraid I don't know that Gabe Mckee. The Gabe Mckee I know, who wrote that book, is all about self-promotion. In fact, every e-mail he sends has a link to the page in the footer. And he even has recently added:

Forthcoming:
The Gospel According to Science Fiction: Forging the Faith of the Future

The Gabe Mckee in the film is probably a much cooler guy than the one I know, who's kind of lame.

[Shaun Patrick]

You must be thinking of the Gabe Mckee from Windsor, CT. The Gabe Mckee in the movie is from East Windsor, CT. Easy mistake to make.

[WilderWorks]

Is that X-ray of the skull CGI? :D

[Shaun Patrick]

You mean this X-ray?

http://www.misplacedplanet.com/signaldecay/new/xray1.jpg

[WilderWorks]

Yeah, that one.

[Shaun Patrick]

Gabe Mckee is Dr. Granger...

http://www.misplacedplanet.com/signaldecay/new/gabe.jpg

Karl Moore is Peter Plug Tooth...

http://www.misplacedplanet.com/signaldecay/new/karl.jpg

Emma is a cute dog...

http://www.misplacedplanet.com/signaldecay/new/dog.jpg

[Shaun Patrick]

You mean this X-ray?

http://www.misplacedplanet.com/signaldecay/new/xray1.jpg

It's not CG...I just happen to know a guy who knows a guy who runs medical tests on broke, struggling actors in NYC.

[conrad_johnson]

Very clever. I liked the hokey acting - it suited the story and the look well.

I liked the original approach to a sci-fi story. And dentist stories creep everyone out - how did you think of it?

The outlet thing lost me. Ditto for the doctor/patient reversal - maybe I'll have to watch again.

Overall, looked pretty good. I liked the lighting effects in front of the x-ray (did add light to that shot, or was that the natural light from the x-ray) and sound effects were good throughout.

[Z B Brox]

I enjoyed this, it was very well put together. Leads had a great comic chemistry. I admit, it got a little more abstract than I tend to like (Confession: I was never a huge Kids in the Hall fan.) but the dental analysis sequence was classic.

[Shaun Patrick]

Overall, looked pretty good. I liked the lighting effects in front of the x-ray (did add light to that shot, or was that the natural light from the x-ray) and sound effects were good throughout.

When you see the actors during the X-ray sequence, we had to fake the X-ray light by using two daylight balanced flourescent banks.

Glad you enjoyed it.

[Shaun Patrick]

(Confession: I was never a huge Kids in the Hall fan.) but the dental analysis sequence was classic.

Yeah the X-ray analysis scene is the one scene that was left untouched after the first rough cut. The acting and cutting is just spot on, in my opinion. A lot of the credit has to go to Gabe Mckee (the dentist)...his acting definitely makes that scene.

Kids in the Hall (at least the short films they made) is pretty illustrative of our comedic sensibilities. Thanks for the comments!!!

[iSTy]

Picture quality was good.
This was good in a weird sort of way, not (in my book) winning material, (although I don't think many of them are). I do think this is one of the less insane ones.
Although I do have to visit the dentist alot myself so found it extra special.

[Shaun Patrick]

I do think this is one of the less insane ones.


What does that mean? Just curious.

[iSTy]

I think I must've been watching a batch of films which just didn't appear to make sense to me, and this one did.

[Shaun Patrick]

I see. You should watch ours backwards. It won't make a lick of sense.

Seriously, though, thanks for watching and posting some comments.

[TheMacB]

shaun your film was f-ing hilarious. i think its the only one that made me laugh out loud. i had you tied for #1 with The Sequence. awesome job!

[Shaun Patrick]

Thanks, dude. Glad you enjoyed it.

[mixtape86]

where can i download/watch this flick

[WilderWorks]

For now, try a "save target" of this link:

Click here. (http://hvx200.com/scifest/stewbottum-Michael_Pierce-Signal_Decay.wmv)

Which is:]http://hvx200.com/scifest/stewbottum-Michael_Pierce-Signal_Decay.wmv

This weekend, it will be available at www.misplacedplanet.com. I'll post on this thread when I have the exact link.

[WilderWorks]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the website for Signal Decay is pretty much finished. All except the photo gallery. Check it out:

http://www.misplacedplanet.com/signaldecay

[Shaun Patrick]

kudos on the site design...

[WilderWorks]

Thank you, sir. And now, after much tedious work, I'm happy to say that the Signal Decay image gallery has been added to the ol' site. Enjoy!

Again, the click here (http://www.misplacedplanet.com/signaldecay)for the Signal Decay (http://www.misplacedplanet.com/signaldecay) website (http://www.misplacedplanet.com/signaldecay).

And you can see the movie in its full glory, as well as some Behind the Scenes samples.

[Shaun Patrick]

Some fun news, Signal Decay is a Week 3 finalist over at the Sci-Fi Channel's Exposure Contest. Check it out and vote for us:

http://www.scifi.com/exposure/