Improper Use

[Ladyhazle]

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e133/Ladyhazle/ImproperUseRevised3.jpg

Download it here: http://www.dvxuser.com/dramafest/loa...mproperUse.mov (http://www.dvxuser.com/dramafest/loader.php?id=ladyhazle-A.L.Steen-ImproperUse.mov)


Crew:

Producer\Director\Writer - A.L. Steen
Producer\Editor\DP- Laura Steen
Producer - Jerry Buxbaum
Musical Score by - Jesse Gay, PDX Studios
2nd Unit DP\HD Acquisision Tech - D.Warren Steen
Make-up - Natasha Robbins
Stunts & Special FX - Side Effects
Catering - Cindy Steen

Cast:

Jeff Hime - Erik
Tori Lindsey - Lena
Zach Shallbetter - Driver

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e133/Ladyhazle/JeffHeadshot.jpg
JEFF HIME

Check out our lead actor Jeff Hime's other work at: http://www.thehumantrace.com
&
http://www.bigpuddlefilms.com/JRemy/index.htm
JRemy video shot using the HVX200!
Jeff is a great actor with wonderful versitility!

Zach Shallbetter was a great addition to our cast. Thanks Zach!
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e133/Ladyhazle/ZachShallbetter.jpg
ZACH SHALLBETTER

[Jason Ramsey]

Interesting title and poster combination. Welcome to the festival. Best wishes for you ahead. Looking forward to your details.

Jason

[ZFarms Productions]

Good luck to ya!

[Ladyhazle]

Good luck to ya!

And to you! Thanks.

[Norm Sanders]

Hey Steen! What are you looking for in the female lead? May have a suggestion or two for you, not sure.

I know you'll be using your HVX, but will you be shooting stock or using 35mm adapters?

Look forward to hearing more about your entry! :thumbsup:

[VersuS]

I really like the photo on the poster. Really creepy. But I'd lose this font you've got there. Ruins the whole thing. The photo, is it yours??

[Ladyhazle]

Sorry you don't like the font VersuS. Did I tell you this was a drama about the improper use of a font? hehe, sorry. Thanks, the creative criticism really is appreciated. I'll consider a change.

Thanks, Norm - I am auditioning a couple of gals this weekend. Unfortunately, we are shooting in Idaho the day after Thanksgiving (yes, I do love a challenge [when i'm prepared for it.]). The girls I'm auditioning have great potential and are within a few hours of our locations.

We will be shooting this stock. Lenses just aren't in the budget, which, other than the cost of flying my special actor in, is pretty much non-existant. I'm just so fortunate that Jerry and I have so many resources already in the kit to draw from.

[VersuS]

I am glad you took it as creative criticism, though I would not call it criticism after all, just a remark. It's just that the font struck me from the moment i laid my eyes on it, it screams 'digital matrix sci-fi' that stuff....and the photo on the other hand is more 'noir-ish'.

Maybe if you added some shadows to the title font to blend it better....just my 2 cents on this

[Charli]

I like the tag line.

[Brandon Rice]

Nice poster!

[jeremytuttle]

Good luck, I too like the tagline and poster, makes me interested to find out what or who gives who or what a reason to survive.

[Ladyhazle]

Thanks for the great comments on the poster. Unfortunately, we've just had a set back. We lost an actor due to scheduling conflicts. The poster will be redone as soon he can be replaced.

With two weeks until we shoot, we're gonna need a lot of good fortune... whew!:shocked:

[Mark Johnson]

I hope it wasn't your lead, Ladyhazle! I am extremely interested in this film and was really impressed by Jeff Himes.

[Ladyhazle]

I hope it wasn't your lead, Ladyhazle! I am extremely interested in this film and was really impressed by Jeff Himes.

Thanks Mark! No, not my lead. Jeff is an exciting actor who has never let me down. I'll be sure to give Jeff your good words.

I have confidence that we will find a replacement for our secondary lead soon!

[Mark Johnson]

Whew! So glad to hear. Now I'm stoked all over again. Yes, please do pass on my enthusiasm and see if you can get him to join DVXUSER. It would be nice if more actors would be available to discuss their craft here and Jeff really is impressive. Thanks for those links on your main page to his work.

[Ladyhazle]

I'm trying to consider myself lucky right now that ALL, i repeat, ALL of the video auditions i have been going through have been awesome... however, only one can play the part... cripes, what a decision.

I think I'll ponder the possibilities over another Widmer Brother's Snow Plow Milk Stout. Heck, it IS Friday night...:beer:

On a more informative note: The new cast of "Improper Use" will be in place on Monday night. I have full confindence in this statement!!! :thumbup:

[Ralph Oshiro]

Nice to see some female DP talent show up around here! I love your avatar! Cool title and type treatment--slick banner!

[Ladyhazle]

I love your avatar!

Poor little c-stand... it didn't have a chance against the big light and the poor film student that set it! haha. Glad it wasn't my grip equipment or my shoot.:huh:

[Tom Marshall]

Poor little poor film student that had to pay the rental place to replace the thing... :D

[Ladyhazle]

Let the editing begin! Principal photography turned out AWESOME! I love it when things come together.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! :beer:

[Norm Sanders]

Wow, you're setting the pace! We've still got another 6 weeks+ until we shoot ... we'll have a fairly rushed Post production schedule with only 2 weeks or less. Thankfully not post intensive.

Looking forward to seeing your work on this one! :thumbsup:

[Rich Poche]

You're already done shooting? I'm definitely behind the curve...Good tagline you have there...

[Ladyhazle]

Thank you!

My husband and I are working on a feature in Nashville over the holidays, so there wasn't really going to be any other time to shoot.

We do still have some second unit shots to do, so not quite done yet! haha

[Ladyhazle]

Happy New Year all!

Home at last! Just a quick update: We have finished with the first edit and are currently working on the sound design for Improper Use. I'm very happy with this project and can't wait to see it polished!

[Ladyhazle]

I really wish I'd stayed in band in high school :( I could add 'music by' to the many other titles I hold on this movie. But then, do I REALLY want to do everything? I guess you have to trust somebody sometime... The score for "Improper Use" is sloooooooowly coming together.

[Ladyhazle]

It looks like we have run out of time. Improper Use unfortunately will not be making the deadline. We had too many problems during compression with not knowing dimentions. The guy who helped us last time was unavailable this time so we had to figure it out ourselves and we are just learning this stuff. I'm bummed big time, but looking forward to trying for some other festivals.

Thanks for all the encouragement! Maybe next time... :(

[Geoff_R]

Hey, what are you using to compress? I could probably talk you through it and work any kinks out. What application are you using?

[RomanJaquez]

Ladyhazle, don't give up... how much time do you have left?
Call me on my cell 518-961-2725 at your earliest conveniece aka ASAP. I might be able to help you even if you have one hour left to the deadline. Do you have fast internet connection?

[Ladyhazle]

We've got 10 minutes! haha they think they have it figured out, but probably won't get it compressed in time.

[Ladyhazle]

Well, I was a pansy and threw in the towel too early. I'm just too hard on myself sometimes. I'm sure it has something to do with being a 'creative.' haha.

Thanks to Geoff_R, Barry, Roman and Larry_R for all you patience and help. I hope what we ended up uploading will work. At least its something. I'm pretty happy with the end result of this little short. There are definately some audio issues, but we learn something new with each one we do. I think I'll give us our own reward for most improved (i'm still apologizing for 'Guts' :Drogar-KnockedOut(D ) haha!

A.L.

[gabrielflorit]

The beginning scene when he goes to the trunk, and punches something, that sounds like a twig snapping, not like a punch.

Damn!!! The cutting-my-arm scene is gruesome.

And here's goes another punch, still the same twig-snap sound effect.

The trunk conversation isn't credible, they're talking about their situation like it's a normal thing, no panic, no stress, just resignation. Don't buy it. And now they're talking about themselves???? No one in someone else's trunk would talk about that. They'd be flipping out.

Actually, I take that back. What else would they do....

Hmmm. Interesting concept overall.

[iSTy]

there was something about this film i liked, not sure what it was, but i still liked it. :oS
Thank you.

[Paul Coleman]

Loved it. :thumbup: :thumbup:

[Blaine]

This was difficult for me to watch. Not because of the subject matter, but because I had so much trouble making anything out in the dark scenes.

[Geoff_R]

I like this film because you have a punk who commits random violence getting punched in the face. I like the concept, but I personally would have had a more brutal ending :)

Nice job lighting/shooting in the trunk space. Small spaces are the hardest places to light appropriately and it worked out well in the film.

[aFox]

Just watched your movie. I liked the first shot and the mood. The sound effects when he hits the guy where bad, didnt sound like a punch at all. Although i dont really mind the noisy image, i thought the lighting in the trunk was not good, just seemed flat and boring. I didnt like the scene in the trunk that much, there really was no tension, i think it should be much shorter. To be honest, i didnt really watch attentively during that scene, partly because of lack of tension, and second because i am not native english speaker and the sound quality wasnt that good. The actors were not always convincing and some lines felt forced.


Still i liked the concept of your movie and i thought the movie made a strong point in the end and was worth watching.

my two cents

[Ladyhazle]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. As far as lighting goes, you'd be surprise with what we had to work with. No professional lighting package here AT ALL... that being said, it was darker than I would have liked. The audio was a big disappointment for me. It was all done last minute and it definately shows. Overall though, we impoved and will improve more next time. With each one we learn from our mistakes.

Thanks again for taking the time to watch the short and critique it. It is very much appreciated by all those involved with "Improper Use."

[RebeccaD]

Nice job on this one. I agree that the lighting in the trunk left a lot to be desired, but overall good entry. Some touchy subject matter too, which was intriguing.

[Ladyhazle]

Thanks Rebecca! I enjoyed watching you in both of your shorts. You are very talented!

[Michael_Petro]

enjoyed your short... hope to see you in spyfest