"BASS COPS" by THX-1138

[THX-1138]

BASS COPS

CREDITS:

CREW

Written and Directed by Kip Kubin

Editor: Jeanie Moonjean-Gathops

Cinamatography: Kip Kubin

Music: Jensen Sportag

Gaffer: Kirk Cornelius

Costumes: Jean Schenk

Props: Courtney Wilder

Art Direction: Tony Miracle

Titles: Emily Harper

CAST

Bass Cop: Murray Meador

WC Criminal #1: Lewis Penrock

WC Criminal #2: Elvis Craig

WC Criminal #3: Austin Wilkinson

Illegal Bass Filter Seller: Kevin Hornback

Girl In Tub: Erin Fraser

Props:

Bass Cops Bass Rig - 2 Pair Yamaha NS-10 studio refrence moniters
1 1982 PAIA modular synth. Various 1/8th in patch cables.

Illegal Bass Filters - 4 cell phone headset adapters, misc parts from radio shack.

CAR: BMW Dinon

[THX-1138]

Looks like Bass Cops is ready to view.

Let me know what you think.

Kip

[smelni]

Very interesting.

Visually it was very nice - very consistent. Tight editing and flow and interesting shots - lots of great textures.

I didnt really get the story or understand what was going on. Was it a farce? Reality? not really sure.

Maybe you could explain a bit

[THX-1138]

Very interesting.

Visually it was very nice - very consistent. Tight editing and flow and interesting shots - lots of great textures.

I didnt really get the story or understand what was going on. Was it a farce? Reality? not really sure.

Maybe you could explain a bit

Farce.

My friends Jensen Sportag an electronic band from Goodltsville TN came up with the song idea and I wanted to bring it to life with this short.

The story....

It opens with 3 white collar criminals stealing money from a large company and putting it into an offshore account.

The Bass Cop is called to arrest the criminals. One commes out the front door od the office building. The Bass Cops' weapon is obviously his sound system in the trunk of his car. He flips the trunk open and the criminal is incopassatated by the low frequency. The Bass Cops' ear protection allows him to be unaffected by the bass.

But our Bass Cop is dirty....he kicks the criminal when he's down. The other two criminals look on in horror, but can do nothing or they will meet the same fate.

The Bass Cop retires home after his day of white collar crime fighting. His life is dull though, it's meaningless. Turning from his microwaved TV dinner he calls an escort service.

That same night our remaining criminals go to buy illegal bass filtering units. They remove all bass from the ears rendering the Bass Cops weapon useless.

The next morning the criminals are at it again...but this time it's a trap.

The Bass Cops get's a call that a crime is taking place. When he arves the two come outside. They quickly fall to the ground as the bass hits them. Our Bass Cop is then pround of another sucessful bust.

But...out criminals are only pretending. When the Bass Cop lets his guard down they attack him, rip off his ear protection and give him a taste of his own medicine.

Dejected and dismayed at what he has become, a crooked Bass Cop that can be defeated so easily now, he drives home and uses his own weapon to kill himself.

It's alot of story for 5 min but I wanted people to have to watch a couple of times to get it. Also I wanted to have no diolog as well...treat it like an old silent movie....that's why I shot in black and white.

More of a 60's sci-fi.

[ExtremeSleuth]

i liked the black and white. the editing was very nice as well and it was visually cool as well. sorry, but i didn't understand the story either until you just explained it.

[conrad_johnson]

That was funny but it should have been 2 minutes.
haha

[Shaun Patrick]

Dejected and dismayed at what he has become, a crooked Bass Cop that can be defeated so easily now, he drives home and uses his own weapon to kill himself.


I think the story was pretty self explanatory except for the sequence quoted above. Overall, I definitely dug the vibe of the piece but the Bass Cop singing along to the song kind of threw me for a loop initially. You were trying to develop a narrative but then you were also drawing from music video conventions...and I feel there was never really a good balance between the two. So, for me, the spectacle of this Bass Cop singing and driving around worked because it was fun and silly. Yet, primarily because the Bass Cop was played over the top, I had trouble empathizing with the character when he ultimately decides his life is meaningless. I guess what I'm saying is that I read this piece as more playful than you may have intended (based primarily on your last post summarizing the plot and your references to F451, Godard, etc.).

Overall, though, visually it was really great and I would love to download the song at some point. Great job.

[THX-1138]

i liked the black and white. the editing was very nice as well and it was visually cool as well. sorry, but i didn't understand the story either until you just explained it.

Thanks for the comments and compliments.

I agree it's tough to get a handle on upon first view.

The fact that it's not supposed to be serious dosn't help.

Also that the dialog is a song dosn't help....but that's a challenge I set up for myself.

[THX-1138]

I think the story was pretty self explanatory except for the sequence quoted above. Overall, I definitely dug the vibe of the piece but the Bass Cop singing along to the song kind of threw me for a loop initially. You were trying to develop a narrative but then you were also drawing from music video conventions...and I feel there was never really a good balance between the two. So, for me, the spectacle of this Bass Cop singing and driving around worked because it was fun and silly. Yet, primarily because the Bass Cop was played over the top, I had trouble empathizing with the character when he ultimately decides his life is meaningless. I guess what I'm saying is that I read this piece as more playful than you may have intended (based primarily on your last post summarizing the plot and your references to F451, Godard, etc.).

Overall, though, visually it was really great and I would love to download the song at some point. Great job.


No you got it!

It was supposed to be playful

My influences - Godard was the black and white a tiny tribut to his Alphaville and Trauffaut's Farenheit 451 was the use of no CGI you have to beleve it could be true without computers aiding in the visual composition.


Since the shooting I changed the score and som sfx. when the Bass Cop is defeated you hear an audio clip of the mayor giving him an award for bieng the best bass cop ever and never failing to get his man. I think that helps with his killing himself.

And when the contest is over I'll be releasing an EP on the band withthe video on iTunes.

Thanks, for your critique. I've read the ones you posted for other movies and I know your comments are well thought out.

Kip Kubin

[Shaun Patrick]

My influences - Godard was the black and white a tiny tribut to his Alphaville and Trauffaut's Farenheit 451 was the use of no CGI you have to beleve it could be true without computers aiding in the visual composition.



Ah, I see. When you metioned the Godard reference in your first post, I was expecting a structural reference or something along those lines. Then when I didn't catch the reference (even though it was right in front of my face) the first time around my film nerd ego was briefly bruised. Oh well. Like I said before, the visuals were great.

[ZombieSquid]

I was tremendously entertained by your film. I laughed out loud at certain points, and I watched it three times over! It looked cool, sounded cool, and it was a really FUN short. I love it.

[ZombieSquid]

I just watched it two more times. The FATAL BASS LEVEL part kills me. That dude's got moves.

[Kaz]

Dude, my sub was in overdrive for this!

Not sure I would qualify this as a film, per se but damn if it wasn't entertaining! Good job.

[THX-1138]

I just watched it two more times. The FATAL BASS LEVEL part kills me. That dude's got moves.

Wanted: 40+ former dreak dancer and b-boy to pop and lock for Sci-fi short film. Must have $60,000 rare BMW sports car and be willing to shoe-horn a futuristic bass rig into the trunk. Smokers welcome. No pay but great oppertunity for your acting reel!



I'm so proud of all the actors but Murray went the extra mile.

Thanks for watching.

Kip Kubin

[THX-1138]

Dude, my sub was in overdrive for this!

Not sure I would qualify this as a film, per se but damn if it wasn't entertaining! Good job.


FREEZE.....YOU'RE UNDER BASS ARREST.


I wanted to challenge myself and have no "real" dialog. Just dialog contained within the score/song. When I storyboarded the film the band and I deturmined the dialog to go with the sections and they plugged it into the song stucture....that works when you're working with an electronic band and are using a song with minimal melodic content.

Most of all I'm glad you were entertained!

Kip Kubin

[Norm Sanders]

Very unique & odd ... and I really enjoyed it. I was watching this at first, going "What the ....?" Kind of a hy-brid between a film and a music video, leaning more towards music video, so I'm with Kaz in that I'm not sure it qualifies as a flim.

Otherwise, there WAS a story, which I pretty much got ... I THOUGHT he was whacking himself at the end, with his own bass, but had to read your explaination on the first page to solidify what I thought.

Great, tight editing. Good locations/props. Nice vibe/feel to the whole thing, and it was certainly consistant.

My only beef with this, is a reality issue ... low frequence bass isn't going to mess up the ears so much as it will the entire body/organs ... so head phones aren't going to protect anyone. For this to be more realistic, it'd have to be insane tweeters in the back of the car, but I don't think anyone could listen to a song based on that for long.

I'll look forward to watching this again on my other system, which has a good sub-woofer with it.

[Z B Brox]

I got the story, though I admit I may not've gotten the suicide aspect if I hadn't noticed the "Fatal Bass Level"... LOF'inL at that, btw.

I really enjoyed this. I do kinda empathize with the guy who thought it went on too long (man, that song is gonna be stuck in my head all night after six minutes), but I was entertained. Nice job.

[CallaghanFilms]

...Trauffaut's Farenheit 451 was the use of no CGI you have to beleve it could be true without computers aiding in the visual composition...Before I share my thoughts on your entry, I gotta figure this one out. Did you mean to say "...use of no special effects"? Because of course Truffaut never used CGI...it wasn't available as a filmmaking tool during his lifetime.

On to the "film"...

First of all, after reading the title, I was trying to figure out how you were going to incorporate fishing into the world of science fiction (I thought the whole time it was "Bass (rhymes with gas) Cop." I had visions of the three-eyed fish from The Simpsons swimming around in my mind.

I see now that I was far off...because "Bass (rhymes with ace) Cop" is even more distant from the world of Science Fiction than its watery homonym of a cousin.

Let me say that technically everything was fine. If we were having "Music Video Fest" I would probably comment favorably on your cinematography, your lighting, your editing and more...but I can't see things in that light because I have my Sci-Fest glasses on.

I'm not trying to be overly critical, but there was one basic rule for Sci-Fest...
"Your film must be Science Fiction".

Honestly, I think you have talent, and I look forward to your entry for the next fest.

:beer: Cheers

[DannyDarko]

"I had visions of the three-eyed fish from The Simpsons swimming around in my mind."

I'd love to see Blinky the cop! He would straighten those punk teenagers out.

[HagerNYC]

I thought this was hilarious. The Bass cop reminded me of George Carlin. lol and I loved that he was singing his way through the short. I think for it to be perfect with respect to the song, you shouldn't have him defeated, and have let the short be basically a music video. That would make it shorter, but it would make it a much stronger peice. I loved the bass cop and didn't want him to die. :(

[angrynerdrock07]

I'm loving all the sci-fi entries that aren't so serious. This was hilarious! I love the bass cop dancing over the white collar criminal's crippled bodies. I loved the direct adress shot where he points to the camera and lipsyncs with the music, "You're under bass arrest." Also love the text: He fights white collar crime with low frequency bass. Probably the strangest entry, but right up my alley. Loved it THX-1138.

[angrynerdrock07]

I loved the bass cop and didn't want him to die. :(

I agree. Bass cops forever!

[KevinPeeples]

Yeah most of the story I didnt understand until you spelled it out for us in that post. It just seemed like you had a song you fell in love with and you had to make a video around it, which in my opinion limited you a bit... it would have been cool to see him have a partner. After all, it was Bass Cops.

[THX-1138]

Yeah most of the story I didnt understand until you spelled it out for us in that post. It just seemed like you had a song you fell in love with and you had to make a video around it, which in my opinion limited you a bit... it would have been cool to see him have a partner. After all, it was Bass Cops.

Yes, I agree, it did limit me a bit but I'm ok with that. As I said in an earlier post I teamed up with electronic group who's song idea inspired my video. And with no melody I felt it acceptable as an entry in the contest.

As for a partner? I had all to do to get the first one.....as other filmmakers have said maybe the sequel.

Thanks for watching.

Kip Kubin

[THX-1138]

Probably the strangest entry, but right up my alley. Loved it THX-1138.

Thank you!

[THX-1138]

I'm not trying to be overly critical, but there was one basic rule for Sci-Fest...
"Your film must be Science Fiction".
:beer: Cheers

Websters-
Science fiction: highly imaginative novels and stories centered around some projected, often fantastic, scientific development .

As far as I know no police force is using low frequency bass to fight crime. Although they may in the future. So acording to Websters my film is science fiction.

[THX-1138]

What about my fake quote in the begining? Didn't anybody like that? I'm most proud of that...and my two dolly shots of course.:huh:

[Shawn Murphy]

entertaining ;-)

Sportag sounds a little like a Nerdcore artist called 'MC Hawking' (http://www.mchawking.com/index.php)

[CallaghanFilms]

...As far as I know no police force is using low frequency bass to fight crime. Although they may in the future...Is that what he was doing? Because as mentioned in an earlier post, in the confines of the music video medium what little narrative is achievable is often groggy and incoherent. Perceived plot is what counts. Without reading your detailed description in your thread I would have thought I just watched a music video.

And besides...low frequency bass itself is not "some projected, often fantastic, scientific development". Neither are xrays, and if a character kills people with xrays in a story (which doesn't happen in real life I bet)...I would not consider that story sci-fi either.

Lookit, like I said I feel you have talent, and I'll add that your camerawork was quite good (and I did notice your pair of dolly shots:).) My biggest gripe is whether or not it qualifies as Sci-Fi.

:beer:

[Z B Brox]

I'm gonna throw in with the idea it does qualify as sci-fi--Gamma rays exist, but gamma rays don't turn you into the Incredible Hulk, so does the Hulk qualify as sci-fi? I'd say so. Any time science doesn't behave in the way we know and expect it to, I'd qualify it as fictitious sci-fi. It does blur the line between sci-fi and fantasy, but so many things do...

[THX-1138]

Is that what he was doing? Because as mentioned in an earlier post, in the confines of the music video medium what little narrative is achievable is often groggy and incoherent. Perceived plot is what counts. Without reading your detailed description in your thread I would have thought I just watched a music video.

And besides...low frequency bass itself is not "some projected, often fantastic, scientific development". Neither are xrays, and if a character kills people with xrays in a story (which doesn't happen in real life I bet)...I would not consider that story sci-fi either.

Lookit, like I said I feel you have talent, and I'll add that your camerawork was quite good (and I did notice your pair of dolly shots:).) My biggest gripe is whether or not it qualifies as Sci-Fi.

:beer:

I guess I have a very broad deffinition of Science Fiction. I gave this debate with my wife because I think Lord Of The Rings is science fiction and she doen't.

And you are right based on some of the other posts, my story can be confusing, I would not concider myself a writer by any means but somebody had to write it and I was the only one around.

Thanks for noticing my camerawork. And writing your critique.

Kip Kubin

[BrianV]

Scifi is definately broad. At its simplest base, scifi requires commentary on humanity that may include technological breakthrough, extrahumanity contact, or humans indeed "more than human."

It can even be more general than that :)

As for Lord of the Rings... I don't think it's science fiction... but that's another thread for another time ;) hehe

[THX-1138]

Traufaut concidered "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" to be science fiction simply because the actor sang their lines rather than speaking them.

[darkfader]

This was pretty funny and even if it was more of a music video so be it. Good work

[WilderWorks]

One can get into a debate about the nature of science fiction versus speculative fiction and fantasy, but when you have a machine, inescapably a product of science, (the speakers) doing something fictional, you're rather stuck admitting that it's science fiction. It may not be deeply philosophical sci-fi, but it's sci-fi. :)

[hienben]

I enjoyed this movie. I like the tongue-in cheek nature, a very different approach. Entertaining and fun. Well done!

[THX-1138]

This was pretty funny and even if it was more of a music video so be it. Good work

It's funny, in Nashville where I live, it's not a music video unless you have a band flailing about on a stage. Lots of backward thinking around here.

Funny is a good compliment because it was supposed to be.


So far I think I'm in the lead with # of F bombs in a short.

Kip

[EditPhish]

There were only a few films in this fest that JTyner and I disagreed on, and this was one of them ;) -- He liked it way more than I did. I didn't like it at all.

It's really comes down to personal preference in this one... I just hated the music, which made it very hard to watch. For me, it was like trying to watch the story of a music video I'd never choose to watch because I hate the band... so it was torture to sit through and try to figure out. Had I dug the music, it probably would have afforded me more opportunity to form a better opinion.

But that's part of the problem with basing a film around one song/band like this. Some people just aren't going to like the music and the film will suffer for it. If you hate Aimee Mann music, Magnolia might rub you the wrong way.

I DID like your use of black & white... the contrast and lighting were EXCELLENT, and your cinematography and lighting were very well done... very professional looking.

Ultimately though, it struck me as either a confusing film with bad music, or a way-too-long bad music video. It didn't strike me as sci-fi at all... it was more MTV (when they still actually played music) gone amateur.

Sorry to sound so negative and even harsh... like I said, I think for me this one just hinged too much on personal preferences, and without being into the song, it just lost so much. I did try to give it a chance and attempted to get through it several times (with success at viewing the whole thing only once)... the music was just a huge hurdle I couldn't get over.

[THX-1138]

There were only a few films in this fest that JTyner and I disagreed on, and this was one of them ;) -- He liked it way more than I did. I didn't like it at all.

It's really comes down to personal preference in this one... I just hated the music, which made it very hard to watch. For me, it was like trying to watch the story of a music video I'd never choose to watch because I hate the band... so it was torture to sit through and try to figure out. Had I dug the music, it probably would have afforded me more opportunity to form a better opinion.

But that's part of the problem with basing a film around one song/band like this. Some people just aren't going to like the music and the film will suffer for it. If you hate Aimee Mann music, Magnolia might rub you the wrong way.

I totally understand your point of view. Even 5 min is too long if you can't stand an element of a film. Music most of all.

As a professional electronic musician it's hard for me to get away from using the style of music I love. And that style is not popular with the masses. But that's what makes all our films different. The choices we make based on our personal experiances.

I'm glad you watched and wrote in.

Thanks

Kip Kubin

[EditPhish]

Thanks for taking my criticism graciously Kip... I never want to really hurt anyone's feelings, but do feel we all learn the most when we hear honest opinions. Music is JTyners passion, and he is probaby more diverse in his tastes than I, and I can't tell you what bugged me about this song in particular... but rest assured, I don't hate ALL electronic music :)

Thanks again...

[THX-1138]

Thanks for taking my criticism graciously Kip... I never want to really hurt anyone's feelings, but do feel we all learn the most when we hear honest opinions. Music is JTyners passion, and he is probaby more diverse in his tastes than I, and I can't tell you what bugged me about this song in particular... but rest assured, I don't hate ALL electronic music :)

Thanks again...

No one can hate ALL electronic music.

Honestly,

It is a terrable arangement as "songs" go and does go on too long and it's too lineir. That being said I would have rather turned in what I did than not be in the festival.

...post the fests deadline we made a new arangement changed a few sections musicly to fit the story better and chopped about 1.5 min from the song. My wife sang Freeze bitch...we're the Bass Cops for days.

Also I forced the guys to double the bass with an octive up part because sub frequencies to play on laptop/most in-computer speakers.

Also, we now have an audio flashback after the bass cop is defeated (His drive home and into the garage)...we hear the mayor of the city, at a press confrence, presenting him with an award for being the best bass cop ever and never failing to "get his man" not a blemish on his record.

All stuff we know is not true or no longer true...spuring on the suicide.


All that to say... the song, in the state I submitted it, deserved to be critisized.

[Beat Takeshi]

This felt so much like a music video I fast fowarded it just to look at the shots which most of them were pretty good. I came to post but then read the story line you said and watched it again but it still felt too much like a music video. I liked the shots of him lipsyching and the shots of the car in general. The bad guys I felt were shot very rushed or without thought. I still kind of didnt follow the story as a visual and had to force myself to think about what you said. I may be missing the point though because I have been editing for the last few days for like 18 hours so my mind isnt the clearest right now.

[THX-1138]

The bad guys I felt were shot very rushed or without thought. I still kind of didnt follow the story as a visual and had to force myself to think about what you said. I may be missing the point though because I have been editing for the last few days for like 18 hours so my mind isnt the clearest right now.

What about their shooting seemed rushed and without thought?
I'm not being defensive, I want to learn to make my films better.

My working method was to storyboard the whole film...then I anaimated that storyboard with the music (to know where the lip syncing would go) Then I filmed them.

If I rushed the shooting of that scene I would have admitted it but alas it was not rushed. Unlike the buying of the illegal bass filers as the reveal of the filters is so so soft I crindge every time.

Anyway if it was just a feeling you had I understand, if their are spacifics please tell me.

Thanks for watching

Kip

[Brandon Rice]

This is a really interesting entry. I did not expect a music video type thing. Liked it though, interesting song. Liked the look overall, but some of the lip sync was off. Anyway, cool music vid.

[THX-1138]

This is a really interesting entry. I did not expect a music video type thing. Liked it though, interesting song. Liked the look overall, but some of the lip sync was off. Anyway, cool music vid.

Yea, it was, no one has mentioned that yet.

The one thing I forgot was that with the ear protection the actor could'nt hear the track. So he had to wing it. We were motioning the tempo with our arms but some of it was a little off.

Live and learn

[Blaine]

My first reation...I hated it. Okay. I didn't hate the video, just the music. Just not my thing...sorry.

I turned the sound down and went back and watched again and then again. You've got some great images, here. Your lead character (Bass Cop) has a good look for the part. I liked your framing. And a lot of your shot choices were visually stimulating. I liked your b&w. It was very well done, no muddiness at all. http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

So from me, it's a mixed review. Visuals: excellent. Sound: not for me.

[THX-1138]

My first reation...I hated it. Okay. I didn't hate the video, just the music. Just not my thing...sorry.

I turned the sound down and went back and watched again and then again. You've got some great images, here. Your lead character (Bass Cop) has a good look for the part. I liked your framing. And a lot of your shot choices were visually stimulating. I liked your b&w. It was very well done, no muddiness at all. http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

So from me, it's a mixed review. Visuals: excellent. Sound: not for me.

Heartfelt thanks for the second watch. some directors do this but I wanted to make sure everything works with the sound down.

I worked hard my preproduction and storyboard it paid off. This was the first time I animated my storyboard as well. That is, I scaned them and put them into a timeline. It really helped me cut down on shooting useless footage and tightening up my story and screening it before I shot it.

I have a new philosphy...I treat DV tape like 16mm. By that I mean heavy on the preproduction...knowingthe shots I need, knowing my location, and hiring thew best actors and crew.

It cut's down on waiste it keeps the actors energy high and fresh.

Anyway for now that's how I'm doing things.





Thanks for the B&W compliment. So many of my favorite Sci-Fi films are shot that way and that was my little tribute to them.


Kip Kubin

[Daniel_Runyon]

My approach to watching all the films (began early this morning, off and on all day) has been to first just skim though the first few moments of each and see what catches my eye (or see if it majorly turns me off right from the get go)...from that I have so far gone back and watched about 5 of them in their entirety, but Bass Cops caught me right from the start and I've now watched it around 10 times. I am NOT saying that it is the absolute best of all (considering all elements), but it IS the one that I have found the most entertaining overall.

Some of the films require a lot of effort for me to watch, I know they might pay off when I watch them to end, but the first few moments of several just don't hook me and pull me in, making me look forward to what I'm about to see...I actually have to force myself to watch in anticipation of pieces coming together (there are exeptions...some are quite good, this is just a blanket impression)...but Bass Cops...for reasons I don't care to type a book about (lazy typer) opened up and instantly made me go WTF is this?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? and held me to the end.

As others have said, super nice camera work, actor is perfect for the part, nice use of B&W in a time when B&W can be overused just because of it's indieness (post Clerks I suppose is the issue)...good job all the way around. I even liked the song...a lot, and that's coming from someone who's not a fan of electronic music (not against it, it's just not something I seek out actively)...loved the f-bomb usage here, nice context. I wouldnt (personally) listen to the music as a standalone, but taken with the visual it's more or less perfect. I will certainly be watching Bass Cops for years to come (it's going in my little fun video folder that I go to when I need a break).

[macgregor]

Someone give Mr. THX the prize of the weirdest shortfilm of all. Congratulations man!!!!

BTW, was that a BMW or an Alpina? Quite impressive.

[JimtheJib]

that some freaky shit. i really like the main character. i thought he was perfect for the bass cop. the ending wasn't very clear for me. could you clarifiy? he kills himself? im not sure

nice job.

[THX-1138]

that some freaky poo poo. i really like the main character. i thought he was perfect for the bass cop. the ending wasn't very clear for me. could you clarifiy? he kills himself? im not sure

nice job.

Yea, he does.
Initially I thought that the garage ie people killing themeslves by leaving the car running and suffocating. And the FATAL BASS LEVEL warning fron the LCD would be enough...but I've since tweeked it a little more to make it clearer.

Basicly he turn his "gun" on himself...but his gun is BASS.

Thanks for watching.

Kip Kubin

[THX-1138]

Bass Cops caught me right from the start and I've now watched it around 10 times. I am NOT saying that it is the absolute best of all (considering all elements), but it IS the one that I have found the most entertaining overall.

Some of the films require a lot of effort for me to watch, I know they might pay off when I watch them to end, but the first few moments of several just don't hook me and pull me in, making me look forward to what I'm about to see...I actually have to force myself to watch in anticipation of pieces coming together (there are exeptions...some are quite good, this is just a blanket impression)...but Bass Cops...for reasons I don't care to type a book about (lazy typer) opened up and instantly made me go WTF is this?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? and held me to the end.


Thanks, much apreciated.

Kip Kubin

[thartley]

Loved the b&w, lighting... I was also confused as to whether the guy kills himself and if so, why?

But I have to thank you for letting me live out, at least visually, a fantasy I've had of shoving someone's head into thier car stereo speakers that blast out really loud bass.

*I may need a cigarette and I dont even smoke!* :D

[Dahopafilms]

First, I liked the 840ci (or was it a - gasp - 850?). The lines on that car make for some awesome photography, which you took full advantage of. Well done.

I liked the music, but found the originality of it (or lack thereof) lent itself to maybe a 3 minute short. I was also impressed initially thinking you had done the music yourself. It appears as though an established group may have done the music which makes me ... perhaps less impressed.

I liked the energy and the black and white. Your short also taught me where my sub-woofer contols are on my sound system, as I had to turn those down or risk divorce.

As for the story (and go with me here for a minute), am I totally nuts or could not the "white collar criminals" also been the "Bass Cops" (i.e. the Bass Cop's the criminal and the criminals are the Bass Cops)? They were there to make the BMW guy turn down his stereo. They got special black market gear to assist in blocking the bass to bust their guy. Of course, we would have to forget the opening text and the off-shore transfer of funds. But perhaps what I'm really suggesting is that on a story basis, it could have been a little clearer/tighter (for me at least).

And I did like the "Fatal Bass" indication on the stereo display. Amusing.

Overall, I liked it. Nice look. Nice feel. Better music next time.

Thanks for making it.

[THX-1138]

As for the story (and go with me here for a minute), am I totally nuts or could not the "white collar criminals" also been the "Bass Cops" (i.e. the Bass Cop's the criminal and the criminals are the Bass Cops)? They were there to make the BMW guy turn down his stereo. They got special black market gear to assist in blocking the bass to bust their guy. Of course, we would have to forget the opening text and the off-shore transfer of funds. But perhaps what I'm really suggesting is that on a story basis, it could have been a little clearer/tighter (for me at least).

That goes back to my made up quote at the top of the short. The computer will be a way to commit crime. Then when you see some guys using a computer to transfer money to an offshore account...I think most people would asume, at the least, something shady going on. And because it was happening in a office building it qualifies as white collar crime. Ans then the title credit, "He fights white collar crime with low frequency bass."

I'm not debating your opinion I'm just letting you know what I was going for.

Thanks for the coments.

The car is a BMW Dinon I think. It's fast and very $$$$$$$. Lucky to get it for the shoot. I wanted a car that had a bit of a future vibe to it while being rare enough so that it's model would'nt be recognised.

[THX-1138]

Loved the b&w, lighting... I was also confused as to whether the guy kills himself and if so, why?:D

Yes, he commits suicide.

I don't think I achevied this but in a new edit I have clarified it better.

The idea was that this BASS COPS was one of the best. Earlier cuts had CU's of the awards on the TV stand..BEST BASS COP EVER...NEVER LET A CRIMINAL GET WAY...that kind of things...same thing with the newspaper articles. I don't think I did the best job of establishing his superior crime fighting skills other than the "easy" arrest of the 1st criminal. The taunting and beating.

The only thing he's got going for him is being the best BASS COP. His home life is dismal...TV dinners and escort services. So when being the best BASS COP is taken away from him he no longer wants to live because he has nothing to live for.



Thanks for your thoughts,

Kip Kubin

[pastywhiteboy]

Disclaimer: whether your short is good, great, or grand, I will still be mostly pointing out things that I feel to be negative aspects.

Bass Cops was a fun and unique film. It starts off really strong and has terrific shots/framing throughout. Unfortunately, with that style of music in particular, it's really easy for it to get monotonous after a while, so the film seems to lose momentum in the middle, which could also be a pacing issue. Most of your cuts, however, were used very well with the music.
Another issue for me is that the criminals were never really established. We never really see them breaking the law, so they just seem like two guys working at an office.
The inverted coloring near the end seemed to be really - for lack of a better word - pointless. It was somewhat distracting from the film.
Lastly, although the idea for the film is really cool and unique, it seemed very odd that the "cop" wouldn't have a portable weapon. I think maybe having a suit, possibly an oversized bulletproof vest with speakers in it and volume control knobs would have been an awesome touch and would have allowed you to diversify your crime-fighting scenes. I'm sure that constructing a suit/vest would have been really difficult though, especially considering the time and resources most of us had.
Overall, an excellent, fun, and unique flick!

-pastywhiteboy

[THX-1138]

Disclaimer: whether your short is good, great, or grand, I will still be mostly pointing out things that I feel to be negative aspects.

Bass Cops was a fun and unique film. It starts off really strong and has terrific shots/framing throughout. Unfortunately, with that style of music in particular, it's really easy for it to get monotonous after a while, so the film seems to lose momentum in the middle, which could also be a pacing issue. Most of your cuts, however, were used very well with the music.
Another issue for me is that the criminals were never really established. We never really see them breaking the law, so they just seem like two guys working at an office.
The inverted coloring near the end seemed to be really - for lack of a better word - pointless. It was somewhat distracting from the film.
Lastly, although the idea for the film is really cool and unique, it seemed very odd that the "cop" wouldn't have a portable weapon. I think maybe having a suit, possibly an oversized bulletproof vest with speakers in it and volume control knobs would have been an awesome touch and would have allowed you to diversify your crime-fighting scenes. I'm sure that constructing a suit/vest would have been really difficult though, especially considering the time and resources most of us had.
Overall, an excellent, fun, and unique flick!

-pastywhiteboy

Thnaks for the comments...you allways learn more from the negitive stuff, funny how that is.

Some of your comments I totally agree with some I disagree with.

It's hard to establich white collar criminals and to that end I could have done better. Here's what I thought was establishing. 1. The transfer to millions of dollars to an offshore account. 2. Immediatly after the transfer one of the "criminals" makes a hastey getaway only to find himself in the clutches of the BASS COP.

MUSIC - you are spot in! Too monotonus!. Living in Nashville you have tons of bands at your disposal. I'm in a band, my friends have a bad etc. Unfourtunatly, Jensen Sportag was finishing up their LP when we came up withthe idea. I used the first edit. Since then, we went back and reworked several sections. It's 1 min shorter and the "in his house" section has an entirely different section...dreamy and atmospheric, still the same song though...that really emphasizes the patheticness of his life and revs up the action when he goes back to catch the next to. That being said...Good ear.

As for the weapon....it's the bigest joke of the film. The whole thing was inspired by a real life situatio that we've all encountered. you're at a stop light and the earth starts shaking. it's some kid in a honda or something with a stereo that's woth 10 times the cars value, listening to distorted bass and the rattle of car parts as if that's the normal way to listen to music. So that's why the weapon resides in a car.

MY FLIP TO NEGITIVE...glad you mentioned it. It's a tribute to Godard's Alphaville. In that movie Godard flips to negitive as a man walks to his car...no reason story-wise...he just does it. Their is no point, it's just a device to let you know your watching a film. Even though B&W isn't possable in real live the visual aspect is. The flip to negitive is absolutly imposable visually with the human eye. Therefor your movie watching eye says, That's not possable...you must be watching a movie" I love throwing in tributes to directors and films that inspire me and for this one Alphaville was the biggest inspiration.

Good coments, sometimes it's just helpful to rethink your choices as people bring them up and make sure they were the best ones you could have made...and unfourtunatly sometimes their not.

Thanks,

Kip Kubin

[pastywhiteboy]

Hey Kip,
I think the transfer of the million dollars was unclear to me... maybe I just wasn't paying attention close enough, though. I do love that you used the bass in the back of the car... we've got a road like that in Asheville that is reknowned for its sweet cruisin', so it was funny, just thought it may have been pumped up a bit by him ALSO having a "mobile bass attack system", or m-bass!
I've never seen Alphaville (sorry!), but it's cool that you did that in your film as a tribute. Anyway, the fact that your film was entertaining says a lot!
Which by the way, my wife and I were living in Nashville a few years back... good ol' audio engineering school, or as I like to call it - waste of money. :) I guess we could even know some of the same people there.

-pastywhiteboy

[THX-1138]

Hey Kip,
just thought it may have been pumped up a bit by him ALSO having a "mobile bass attack system", or m-bass!-pastywhiteboy

"Albert...the budget...think of the budget!" Real People by Albert Brooks

[Ought2bCommitted]

Hey man!

Cool short. Nice work on the visuals. Like the flow, the edits, and the shots. Nice shooting choices.

I got a kick out of it. Felt it dragged a little bit, but overall got its humor.

Really nice work! Now I'm going to have that beat stuck in my head all day. Thanks! LOL.

-Robert

[GenJerDan]

Can't think of anything that hasn't been said already, so I'll just say I liked it. And my wife liked it. :)

But...next time you go in and do an edit, try a horizontal flip on the shot of the handoff of the illegal ear protectors. To me, it looks like they are returning them, not receiving them. (How's that for a minor gripe? :) )

[THX-1138]

Can't think of anything that hasn't been said already, so I'll just say I liked it. And my wife liked it. :)

But...next time you go in and do an edit, try a horizontal flip on the shot of the handoff of the illegal ear protectors. To me, it looks like they are returning them, not receiving them. (How's that for a minor gripe? :) )

I reshoot that tonight...good eye. Yea I thought the with the size of his hand and the fact that his arm comes from above would be enough but it was'nt. That was the main critizism I got here in Nashville from my test audience.

Thanks for watching and paying attention.

Kip Kubin

[Daniel Skubal]

hahaha I've been thinking of what to say for the critique of this film all day.

It was addicting to watch and the song is pretty catchy, but there was something there that compelled me to repetitively say to myself "this is so weird, why am I watching this?" and when it was over and I sat around for a bit, I felt the urge to watch it again. I can't pinpoint what the appeal was, but I must say, good job haha


I loved how you made it retro, with the old comp (what was that a commador 64 or something?). You obviously put a lot of time into this short, making all of those news clippings and the tv ad. (ps, you should give me the girl in the tub's number :-p)

The film was so weird but I loved it. The main character fit really well with the song for some reason and the opening quote was awesome. That was a great way to open it.

Like I said before, you made a pretty bizzare film, but I loved it and I'm probably going to watch it again now that I've written about it. haha

Good work man!

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

this was just surreal ridiculos goodness

I don't know what you are smoking or whose idea it was to use this song as your jumping off point but fun, different and well lit.

Dings:
1) they're the bass cops, not the bas cop ... (right?)
2) didn't quite follow the end
3) the narrative was clear enough and easy to follow and I think because of that you should have felt som freedom to go a little more music video with this ... meaning that while I was grooving on the story, I found that the long pan up shot of the house or him coming back around the corner for the second show down just had nothing to do with the music. They might have been a little long under any circumstances but the beat was so pounding that I wanted some rythmic edits and jump cutting there. Like when the car pulls into the garage -- long shot, we get what's going on way before the next cut and all the while the beat is pumping - so like right there it would be great IMHO to have the car jump cut forward and even back and forth maybe -- shot could still take up the same amount of time if the next scene cut needs to happen at a certain place in the music, but would be less static, more visually interesting and work better with the music (again IMHO).

But I think if you could get a little funky jump cutty with the ending that this could be one of those google videos that eveybody emails each other - right now it starts off that way but some of those languid shots challenged my interest.

if you could find a way to clarify the ending that would be good to, but not necessary to internet cult status that this film could achieve with editing tweaking, as it was so wierd and fresh that a "huh?" ending kind of worked for me.

apologize if redundant or raising issues you've already addressed but didn't read thread so as not to be influenced -- wil do so now thow.

Thanks for something fresh and entertaining guys!

[THX-1138]

I loved how you made it retro, with the old comp (what was that a commador 64 or something?). You obviously put a lot of time into this short, making all of those news clippings and the tv ad. (ps, you should give me the girl in the tub's number :-p)

I would gladly give you her # if she wasn't my wife.

The comp was a Tandy... got it on ebay. Old computers just film better. More stuff...huge floppy disks etc. Also I used a 1983 modular synth as the guts of the BASS machine.

THanks for watchingm

Kip Kubin

[THX-1138]

this was just surreal ridiculos goodness

I don't know what you are smoking or whose idea it was to use this song as your jumping off point but fun, different and well lit.

Dings:
1) they're the bass cops, not the bas cop ... (right?)
2) didn't quite follow the end
3) the narrative was clear enough and easy to follow and I think because of that you should have felt som freedom to go a little more music video with this ... meaning that while I was grooving on the story, I found that the long pan up shot of the house or him coming back around the corner for the second show down just had nothing to do with the music. They might have been a little long under any circumstances but the beat was so pounding that I wanted some rythmic edits and jump cutting there. Like when the car pulls into the garage -- long shot, we get what's going on way before the next cut and all the while the beat is pumping - so like right there it would be great IMHO to have the car jump cut forward and even back and forth maybe -- shot could still take up the same amount of time if the next scene cut needs to happen at a certain place in the music, but would be less static, more visually interesting and work better with the music (again IMHO).

But I think if you could get a little funky jump cutty with the ending that this could be one of those google videos that eveybody emails each other - right now it starts off that way but some of those languid shots challenged my interest.

if you could find a way to clarify the ending that would be good to, but not necessary to internet cult status that this film could achieve with editing tweaking, as it was so wierd and fresh that a "huh?" ending kind of worked for me.

apologize if redundant or raising issues you've already addressed but didn't read thread so as not to be influenced -- wil do so now thow.

Thanks for something fresh and entertaining guys!

All your comments are right on! Already fixed most of what you said for a new edit. Either by changing the music or text or adding new SFX.

Thanks for the comments.

Kip Kubin

[Daniel Skubal]

I would gladly give you her # if she wasn't my wife.


Haha woops. *blushing*

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

I usually don't care about typos ... but I can't believe I spelled "though", "thow", lol.

[kimko]

Awe You're Just Wholeier Than Thow

[somewestfilms]

I saw more of a music video than anything else.

[pmark23]

That would make a great music video with a bit of editing. I can tell you that over here in Eastern Europe it'd be a hit.

Great music, BTW.

[THX-1138]

That would make a great music video with a bit of editing. I can tell you that over here in Eastern Europe it'd be a hit.

Great music, BTW.

Help me out with that.

What would you do differently if it was a music video? What spaciific changes would you make in the clip/edit pacing?

Thanks for watching,

Kip Kubin

[iSTy]

I saw more of a music video than anything else.

Same here, and not even a very impressive one. Although the 'dancing' did make me laugh.

[THX-1138]

Thanks to everybody who watched and esp to those who wrote their thoughts,

here's a link to the new and improved edit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iOrnfcaD9Y

It's now resting confortably as a music video with the new edits.

Watch and enjoy....

Kip Kubin

[Daniel Skubal]

I like the new edit!