The Artist - A film by Justin Anderson

[FatBird19]

Well, this'll be my first entry. Let's hope I don't screw it up completely. :D
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THE ARTIST

Direct link for the film:
http://www.dvxuser.com/dramafest/loader.php?id=FatBird19-JustinAnderson-TheArtist.mov





http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/TheArtist--FINAL2.jpg
====================================


CAST:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/Concannon2.jpg
"The Artist, Eric" - David Concannon (http://snodart.com/cache/index.htm)


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/Beede2.jpg
"Laura" - Amanda Beede (http://imdb.com/name/nm1438928/)





CREW:
Produced - Written - Directed: Justin Anderson
Co-Produced: Becky Boss
1st AD: J. Scott Worthington - Matt Anderson
Director of Photography: Ricky Norris - Becky Boss
1st AC: James Furdui
Music Composed by: Justin R. Durban (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/member.php?u=12891)
Editing: Ricky Norris - Justin Anderson
Visual FX: Justin Anderson



==============================
We're all really excited about this project.
It's been a lot of fun getting it together thus far.
MORE DETAILS SOON...

[FatBird19]

Ok, I feel that I can officially announce now that we've finished all principle photography. (the poster's still being worked on though)
Both David and Amanda are amazing actors. It was really abrupt how quickly this project came together and I was so fortunate to get in contact with such talented leads.

I'll post more info regarding this as the contest goes into voting, but I wanted to say that I would highly recommend both Amanda and David as actors in your films. They are both very directable and I was amazed at how fast they absorbed the characters and continued to give great performances take after take. And to top it off, they're just great people in general. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)




more info soon....moving through editing and post now.

[kimko]

alright! looking forward to seeing David again.

[Jason Ramsey]

Nice looking cast. Best of luck to you. Looking forward to your updates

Jason

[FatBird19]

alright! looking forward to seeing David again.

well then look forward to it. He did a great job. :D

[Brandon Rice]

Whoohoo! David in another film! Looking forward to it!

[Ted Arabian]

Hey congrats!

I, too, love working with David! Great guy and a great actor!

Looking forward to you flick!

-Ted

[CinematicRicky]

I'm real excited about it!
-Ricky Norris

[jeremytuttle]

Wow, all ready done shooting. Congrats, good luck in post production.

[FatBird19]

I'm real excited about it!
-Ricky Norris

haha...you would be. :D

[FatBird19]

Wow, all ready done shooting. Congrats, good luck in post production.

now there's a perfect opportunity for me to release more information and provide some updates. :D

The shooting took place on the Thursday night and Friday(all day) on the week after thanksgiving. David had another film to shoot that Saturday and Sunday so we had no choice but to cram all of the shooting into a 24hr period. Everyone did a great job though; The acting and photography was amazing. Even with the crammed schedule I got everything that I wanted.



As far as updates go, I'm submitting a locked picture to my composer tomorrow. Things are looking good. :beer:

-Justin

[FatBird19]

12/24/06
Poster is done.

[concannon]

Great Poster....

[Blaine]

Great Poster, Justin!!!! I met you at the RED screening, I believe.

You've got a great cast. Both David and Amanda are a joy to work with. Can't wait to see what you come up with...:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[FatBird19]

I met you at the RED screening, I believe.

Yeah, we did.
So have you been messing with the footage from red.com? :engel017:
It was much more impressive on the 4k projector, but whatever.

[FatBird19]

Great Poster....

thanks. :D

[jeremytuttle]

now there's a perfect opportunity for me to release more information and provide some updates. :D

The shooting took place on the Thursday night and Friday(all day) on the week after thanksgiving. David had another film to shoot that Saturday and Sunday so we had no choice but to cram all of the shooting into a 24hr period. Everyone did a great job though; The acting and photography was amazing. Even with the crammed schedule I got everything that I wanted.

-Justin

Wow, good job on the time constraints. Nice poster and banner too.

[jontuttle]

Wow! Talk about having to meet a deadline. Good job. Looking forward to seeing it.

[FatBird19]

Wow! Talk about having to meet a deadline. Good job. Looking forward to seeing it.

yeah it was crazy. Things really came together in the 11th hour when it didn't look like it would. The best example would be with the lead actress, Amanda.
So a few days before shooting(maybe 3 days before, I can't remember) the original actress that I had to play the role of the woman, Laura, dropped out because she had other things to do.
All of the actresses that I know look too young for the role but we decided that it's better to have someone that looks a little young than to scrap the project completely. I disagreed though and I wanted to find someone who looks the proper age. I talked to David and asked if he knew any actresses that would fit the part and he gave me a short list of potentials.
I figured it was a long shot but I contacted all of them. On Wednesday morning, the day before shooting, I got an e-mail from one of the ladies, Amanda, and she said that she loved the story and her schedule was free. I couldn't believe it.

When Amanda showed up to the location on Thursday night it was the first time I had met her. I was trusting that David knew what we were looking for in an actress when I contacted her and he turned out to be right on the money; Amanda was far better as Laura than the original actress ever would have been. It really was amazing.




AS FAR AS UPDATES GO I'm in the process of looking for a new composer. The original one I had selected is too busy to do the job. So if any composers out there might be interested then shoot me a PM. I'd like to finish this project by or before the first weekend in January.

cheers,
-Justin

[FatBird19]

update,
I'm currently going through color correction right now. Knock on wood, this thing'll get done early. :D

[Edgen]

AS FAR AS UPDATES GO I'm in the process of looking for a new composer. The original one I had selected is too busy to do the job. So if any composers out there might be interested then shoot me a PM. I'd like to finish this project by or before the first weekend in January.

Composer?... *cough* HI!

/j

[Blaine]

When Amanda showed up to the location on Thursday night it was the first time I had met her. I was trusting that David knew what we were looking for in an actress when I contacted her and he turned out to be right on the money; Amanda was far better as Laura than the original actress ever would have been. It really was amazing.Yes! Yes! We loved working with Amanda on HorrorFest. Great actress even better attitude. (Interesting tidbit: Turns out she's also into stop motion movie making.)

[FatBird19]

Yes! Yes! We loved working with Amanda on HorrorFest. Great actress even better attitude. (Interesting tidbit: Turns out she's also into stop motion movie making.)

haha. I'll have to ask her about that.

[ignatius]

Hi Justin,

I saw your banner on another thread which prompted me to click over to yours - great poster, I love the collage and the typeface. I also dig art, so I'm looking forward to your entry. It'd be cool to see some frames ...

EDIT: That was hardly a vague statement, wasn't it: "I also dig art". I think I meant that I dig all kinds of art, but I guess I was referring to the fact that I really enjoy comic book art, pencil drawings, pen and ink, illustration type stuff, and the sketch in the poster makes me want to see more.

[Geoff_R]

Great poster and best of luck to you with your first dvxfest entry.

[CinematicRicky]

Hi Justin,
I also dig art, so I'm looking forward to your entry.
Oh man, be excited then! Its a beautiful short.
-Ricky N. (dp :o )

[FatBird19]

Oh man, be excited then! Its a beautiful short.
-Ricky N. (dp :o )

and after color correction it's even beautifuller. :thumbsup:

[Slimothy]

Looking good man. David & Amanda Rock!!!

[FatBird19]

Looking good man. David & Amanda Rock!!!

They are amazing to work with. I'm really excited to post this film. :happy:

I'll be posting screenshots tomorrow.

[concannon]

Justin,
The big day is almost here! I want to wish you the best of luck with this competition. I can’t wait to see the finished film. Thank you again for the opportunity to play a part in your story. I know we all had a great time filming this and I am pretty sure that is going to translate to the screen. To add to the praise fest here for Amanda Beede, she is one of the most talented actresses I have ever worked with and a true professional. If she were any cooler, she’d be ice.

Best of luck my friend,
David

P.S. Becky, Scott, Matt, Ricky and James; it was a pleasure to work with you and I expect great things for you in the future. Congratulations on your film.

[concannon]

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/15838/1170277180.jpg

[FatBird19]

I'd go to that theatre. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

[FatBird19]

The film's done!!

I'm very happy with it. I got the film uploaded late last night and then I slept until 10 this morning.




I never got to post screenshots and now I wonder if there's even a point. I want to provide some sort of an update though so I thought I'd give more information about the film. It's a silent film so that has made scoring the film particularly...interesting. I should have thought about the score back in preproduction but I didn't think it would be that difficult so I didn't worry about it. Since the score is the only audio the film has though I should have paid more attention to that. Justin Durban(edgen) came along about a month ago and he has turned out an absolutely beautiful score. I couldn't have asked for anything better. Props to him.
I'm really excited to show this film off and I can't wait to see everyone elses.

[CinematicRicky]

I'll echo that. The score is beautiful. I was amazed at how exelent a composer Justin Durban is. And the film is fantastic, its so nice to have it done!

[Edgen]

Thank you so much :) I hope everyone else will dig the score too. Can't wait to see the final final version of the film.

Good luck!

/j

[Brandon Rice]

Justin rocks! :thumbsup:

[FatBird19]

Here's some screenshots...(should have done this earlier, huh?) :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/5-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/7-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/14.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/11.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/6-1.jpg

[CinematicRicky]

:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)finally!

[FatBird19]

here's a few more...

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/11b.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/2-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/3-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/FatBird19/1-1.jpg

[Blaine]

I'm really looking forward to seeing David and Amanda work together.

[FatBird19]

I'm really looking forward to seeing David and Amanda work together.

I'm tellin' ya, they're great

[Brandon Rice]

WOW WOW WOW! More later.

[RebeccaD]

I loved your film. It was so beautifully shot and had such a warm presence. I like the story and the acting was well done and genuine. This one will be hard to beat for me! Congrats on all your efforts!

[Brandon Rice]

I loved your film. It was so beautifully shot and had such a warm presence. I like the story and the acting was well done and genuine. This one will be hard to beat for me! Congrats on all your efforts!

Agreed... my favorite thus far. :thumbsup:

[Zak Forsman]

My impressions of THE ARTIST:

there is something to be said for stripping away a number of elements to bolster what’s left. congratulations on crafting a visually told story. not many people can do that this well. many, many nice compositions. of course, Huntington beach is a beautiful locale to be working in.

what else can I say? thank you for not undercutting an unashamedly optimistic, romantic story with a cheap twist. I have to admit I was afraid you would impose a “this guy is a serial killer whack job” ending on this thing. boy was I relieved. not just relieved, I was really touched by it.

by the way, your lead actor looks familiar to me. i must have his headshot in my files somewhere.

[concannon]

Justin,
Just watched it for the first time. Great work my friend!

[RebeccaD]

Justin,
Just watched it for the first time. Great work my friend!

Agreed! Justin, your music really moved me through the entire film. I was touched by the ending as well....wow.

[Brandon Rice]

Forgot to mention, David, you were terrific in this!

[RebeccaD]

Forgot to mention, David, you were terrific in this!

I did mention acting, but yes, David you were very good in this film. Awesome job!

[Edgen]

yay! :)

"The Artist" (http://edgen.hostpaw.com/edgen_the_artist.mp3)

Congrats Justin! You chopped and spliced the score nicely. And ya.. David, first time watching it (and others I've screened the film to) thought you were a crazy nut job. Then.. awawwww. you totally redeem yourself. ;) (those crazy artists)

/j

[Brandon Rice]

J. Durban. The music on this... moved me... Wow... Huge part of the flow and story... AMAZING WORK! WOW

[CinematicRicky]

Justin, I said it before but man, way to go. You really took the vision you had and conveyed it so well that it wasn't difficult for me and the rest of the crew to help you make it happen.
-Ricky Norris

[Matt Sconce]

This is Magnificent. It was a masterpiece. Inspiring.

[Brandon Rice]

Story & Acting
Wow. This was easily one of the most well executed shorts of the fest. At first when I started watching it and seeing this guy draw pictures of this woman, I was like, ew, he’s some weird stalker or freak. Then at the end when he’s actually been doing it for an anniversary present, I nearly lost it. So touching, and everytime I watch it, I still well up. The acting was amazing! David and Amanda both did outstanding jobs in saying everything without ever saying anything. This short is the first one that truly touched me. Thanks!

Technical
While this isn’t the most technically stunning films of the fest, the soft colors and shot selections work. I think the editing is just right. You nail the beats you need to nail, and I love the locations! And just a special word about the music. This is one of those films where the music is really another character driving it along. I think it’s for sure the MVS (Most valuable score) of the fest!

[Charli]

Setting - Loved your location shots. Made me feel as though I were there.

Dialogue - Not any, and I tell you, as a screenwriter I am not a fan, however, you pulled it off quite well. It kept my interest, I understood what you wanted me to understand. Good job.

Execution - A little creepy at first, but nice twist at the end. Good job.

[Geoff_R]

Very nice work! I think your best element is the fact that there are no words. I really like that, not even voiceover, and none of it's needed because the entire story is visual. That's tough to pull off and you did it well.

I like your framing, choice of shots; the stuff at the beach being the best. Great performances by your actors. Nice little twist, at first I thought that the guy was a total artistic weirdo stalking the girl, but when you discover the truth... you feel like one of the horrible people who misjudge people prior to knowing/understanding them.

It's tough to pull off romance without being cheesy and I think you did it without being cheesy at all. Nice job!

[hoz]

i really loved the way you chose to tell your story. the way the man danced on the sidewalk after finishing up his work totally conveyed a man with the perfect gift for his wife. nice.

i liked the pacing too, and the way you worked the colorful scenery into the movie. it almost felt creepy but the man just didnt look or act like a creep, i just didnt think it was going to be a stalker flick, i think your actor did an amazing job of pulling this off. he looked more proud almost than anything else. your actress did a fine job as well. she came through as very believable at the end.

really great work!

[smashedburrito]

Great job on this one. I was a little worried about it turning into a stalker film, but thankfully it didnt. I think this is a good example of a simple idea done well. The acting was very natural and the piece flowed together very nicely. Great job.

[Kholi]

REVIEW: THE ARTIST

I'm creeped out, and yet tastefully vindicated. Now, wheres my cup of conflict?

Because the name of the fest is Drama, and while I felt like this guy was totally going to hang her by her scarf, there's a lack of drama here. I think that I would've found it if I had seen something in the very beginning that linked me to what was going on, and how Eric was going to redeem himself.

But, hey, it's an artistic piece and I think you accomplished what you were going for. It felt like a "gift" from you to me, and I totally got it.

As a standalone artistic venture, something outside of the fest, I think you succeeded on so many levels it makes me smile. I did smile at the end, don't tell the guys, though.

Tell your DP I said hi, the house lighting was neat. I also thought the lights coming on behind her was just as neat.

Kudos to this team. Visually appealing piece you have here!

[Matt Sconce]

This is a front runner for me. I was getting sick of DRAMA meaning it had to have a sad ending. The human experience is about so much more than depression and sadness and it is not focused on enough. This movie focused on a redemptive side of human nature and the ability to bring joy to someone else. I LOVED it!

[Blaine]

Justin, you made a nice, sweet movie. You did a good job of telling a story without dialogue. Nice cinematography however there were a couple of times when things got blown out. The acting was very good, but I'd expect nothing less from Dave and Amanda. The music was indeed another character in your movie. This is a piece of poetry. Good job.

[CinematicRicky]

Tell your DP I said hi, the house lighting was neat. I also thought the lights coming on behind her was just as neat.

Kudos to this team. Visually appealing piece you have here!

Thanks man! Hi to you too! :dankk2:

[khmuse]

I really really liked "The Artist" it was a great story, one well worth telling and told in a subtle and very tasteful manner.

It was such a great pleasure to see Amanda's work again, she is so talented and such a wonderful person. I am certain you had a great time working with her.

This may be the best performance I have seen from David thus far, he is a really solid actor, so versatile and so skilled. He falls in that very rare category of actors that I refer to as chameleon actors, they can simply become whatever is needed.

The score was excellent, the camera work solid and served the story well. I did have a sense that there was something a bit wrong with the delivery aspect ratio, everything felt just slightly compressed vertically. Not by a large amount, just ever so slightly. I can't explain nor even imagine what might have caused this, but it comes off that way for me. Could just be me putting these two actors up on such a high pedestal that my perspective is a bit skewed.

Thanks for making this film, I really enjoyed watching it!

[Mark Johnson]

I, too, am a big fan of this film. What was great for me was that I swore that this was a sixth sense ripoff and just knew David's character was dead. It was so damn cool to come to the end and realize what was really going on. Made me tear up and really struck a note with me.

[Kholi]

I, too, am a big fan of this film. What was great for me was that I swore that this was a sixth sense ripoff and just knew David's character was dead. It was so damn cool to come to the end and realize what was really going on. Made me tear up and really struck a note with me.

Me too! I thought one of them was surely dead, man.

[Michael_Petro]

Good movie very touching thought someone was gonna bite it :) but you tricked me good Job :)

[Matt Sconce]

I just showed this to my wife and she cried. She LOVED it! She said if she could vote, she would vote for you. Good job!

[RebeccaD]

I just showed this to my wife and she cried. She LOVED it! She said if she could vote, she would vote for you. Good job!

I totally teared up at this movie too! Still one of my absolute favorites in this fest so far....:)

[Norm Sanders]

Sheash, I think this is Rebecca's favorite film by far, as she's posted in it SO much in just one day ... more than our own thread, lol!

Justin, I read on your first page that this was your first entry ... PLEASE don't tell me, however, that this was your first film, or it'll make me want to quit right now!

This immediately went into my 'to watch again' folder. BEAUTIFULLY shot, scored, acted, written, etc. One of the things I loved so much about this was that it was a refreshing love story. While I thought the guy was a stalker, and the music even made me feel on edge for the lady when she came into the house, I was warmly surprised that it was her husband doing a VERY romantic thing for his wife.

I loved it. Period. I'll get a more detailed review (including any critiques I can try to come up with) later, once I've reviewed the top films again.

Now, and I know I'm going to sound like the bad guy for asking (unless it's been asked already), but why did you choose not to have the name Eric/Erik or Erica/Erika anywhere in the story? Doing so, IMO, make this an automatic non-compete film. It would have been SUPER easy to have the name in the card (either To or From), or she could have mouthed his name, when she turned to see him, etc.

That doesn't stop me from loving the film any less, but I've got to know what's going on for the whole voting aspect of it. Yours is not the only incredibly crafted film that seemed to disregard the name issue either, so I'm not picking on yours at all when asking.

[Brandon Rice]

I think the Eric/Erica thing is so overblown... this film was obviously made for this festival, and David's in it etc. I think it's totally fair for this one to be in competition! This is my top film so far btw.

[Slimothy]

This one was put together pretty well. Alot of times EXT shots can turn out to be really nasty, but you did good here man. Some of the camera work was a bit jerky, and I think it could've been a bit shorter, but overall the look was pretty damn cool.

David looked excellent in this short, as did Amanda. Great job casting.

[LloydC]

It's not my type of movie... but, it gave me this great happy feeling at the end. Happy is good when writing papers. Normally I'd find an ending like that cheesy as hell, but I actually liked it! Very sweet. Well acted also. Nothing crazy over the top which can easily happen with motion-dependent acting rather than dialogue-dependent.

Loved the look of it all... simple, but effective. Hard to pull off day-time stuff without something always being overexposed, but yours looked great. I enjoyed this one...

-Lloyd

[FatBird19]

Wow! I briefly looked at this thread earlier in the day when I was heading out the door and now I finally have a chance to respond(including viewing some films). I took so long to say something that I feel I need to generally address everything first.

Thank you. Thank you everyone for your kind words and encouragement; they mean so much after so much work. I'm overjoyed that many people have connected with the film as I have. At times this was a very hard project to make as production problems arose and I had to drive around and make calls like mad to keep it from falling through. More often then not though, when I was focusing on the story I wanted to tell rather than overcoming the problems I had to tell it, I felt happy believing I was making something meaningful. It was a great experience to make and it definitely lifted my spirits.

I think the idea originated from a desire to make something very different. I have seen an overwhelming amount of intro student projects about stalkers or, more commonly, the mob and I wanted to make something that was along the same lines as what's been done before but better. I spent about an hour going through cliche stalker ideas and I liked the idea of a stalker who was an artist because I thought it lent itself to some good cinematography ideas, then it came to me that maybe I should rebel against cliche formula completely and turn the film into something happy and inspirational rather than something sad and depressing. While I could explore the sad route and possibly make it into a good film, I wanted to tread the path that was unique. I quickly thought that it should be a romantic movie and, after concluding they should be married, the story formed that is here today.
In my mind I created a world for these two people that would make sense for what I was trying to do. I wanted him to present all that he'd done for her in a romantic way so I set this presentation piece on their anniversary and after shuffling the idea around for about a week I gradually formed the image of the film in my head.

The more I thought about it, the more I hated the original idea of making a good stalker film. It wouldn't have accomplished anything new or anything of value to me(at least not in 6min of story development) and I just wasn't interested in pursuing it anymore. I wanted to explore some often unseen and underutilized stories in human drama; security, devotion, the acts of a trusting relationship. I wanted people to walk away from the film feeling moved and inspired, and hopefully want to return to it again. As I continued into development I realized that the stalker element is what makes the story work. The strength of their relationship is confirmed by a contrast of who Eric is not against who Eric is, and so when the reveal happens it makes the end conclusion of what he's done for his wife both real and powerful. I think part of the reason I love the story so much because it taps into my need to remember that some things don't turn out terribly and instead I'm reminded to appreciate and enjoy what is good.

Again, thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[FatBird19]

Story & Acting
Wow. This was easily one of the most well executed shorts of the fest. At first when I started watching it and seeing this guy draw pictures of this woman, I was like, ew, he’s some weird stalker or freak. Then at the end when he’s actually been doing it for an anniversary present, I nearly lost it. So touching, and everytime I watch it, I still well up. The acting was amazing! David and Amanda both did outstanding jobs in saying everything without ever saying anything. This short is the first one that truly touched me. Thanks!

Technical
While this isn’t the most technically stunning films of the fest, the soft colors and shot selections work. I think the editing is just right. You nail the beats you need to nail, and I love the locations! And just a special word about the music. This is one of those films where the music is really another character driving it along. I think it’s for sure the MVS (Most valuable score) of the fest!

Yes, Amanda and David both have amazing control over the emotions they display. Even without words I was completely convinced of everything they were portraying; it's a real testament to an actor's ability when they can perform incredibly even without a major acting tool.

And I can't say enough about Justin's score, as has also been mentioned several times in this thread. It took some work to perfect but he perfectly nailed down all of the beats I was looking for with a score that I enjoy listening to even independently from the film! And you're right, the score is almost a character unto itself. Great, great work.

[FatBird19]

My impressions of THE ARTIST:

there is something to be said for stripping away a number of elements to bolster what’s left. congratulations on crafting a visually told story. not many people can do that this well. many, many nice compositions. of course, Huntington beach is a beautiful locale to be working in.

yes, thank you. Part of the challenge I set up for the project and for myself as the director was to try to do a lot with very little. Although I don't have a hankerin' to do more silent films I felt it worked as I had hopef for this one.


heheh. Funny story about Huntington beach. Everything except for the house in the final scene was shot in one day(7am-3pm). When we finished doing the downtown work(at about 11am i believe) we broke off in different cars to drive to Huntington. As we were driving we all received calls from each other because no one knew off the top of our heads how to get there! And of course this sends me into a panic; "the film won't get finished cause' we can't get to the beach!" We all got there eventually and took 5+ different paths to get there, and then we got the rest of the film shot.
...I was the last one to the beach btw....by about 20 minutes. :eek:

[FatBird19]

It was so damn cool to come to the end and realize what was really going on. Made me tear up and really struck a note with me.

wow, thanks man. That means a lot.

[Christopher Barry]

A beautiful and uplifting entry. The ending sure pushed some buttons for me emotionally, very well thought out and executed. David C's character was a likeable and came across as devoted. The score really expands and highlights the emotional ending and, imo, Justin Durban enhanced that with truly great composing.

[Wild Imagination Films]

I was really glad to see the end of this one. By this I mean, thank you for not producing another depressing episode of the crime of the week tv show. I'm glad to see you were able to touch the hearts of several forum members. I was also touched. Nice way of going back to earlier scenes and pointing out the rings.

[iSTy]

Wow, luved it :)
thought there was gonna be a sinister side to it, but nope, it was brilliant. (maybe I'm just a romantic at heart :oS
Thank you.

[ripupthehwy]

I really liked your film. It was quite moving at the end. As a guy whos been married for just over a year, it really touched me!

The actors were good. The girl displayed some great emotion!!!!

Good job!!!!!

[Norm Sanders]

The strength of their relationship is confirmed by a contrast of who Eric is not against who Eric is, and so when the reveal happens it makes the end conclusion of what he's done for his wife both real and powerful. I think part of the reason I love the story so much because it taps into my need to remember that some things don't turn out terribly and instead I'm reminded to appreciate and enjoy what is good.

So I've got to ask the artistic choice not to include his name anywhere in the film, because as it stands, there's no way to tell who is named who, etc. And I'm only asking for a fest-rule question, which likely may not matter anyway (as in, it may appear to be a pretty soft rule/guideline). Anyway, just a question, as it SO easily could have been satisfied by having the name on the card, etc.

Otherwise, HANDS DOWN, this is my favorite film to watch. It just FEELS good. It's one I can't wait to show my wife, as I know she'll instantly fall in love with it. It has that 'Notebook' feeling of love that's just ... splendid.

It's also refreshing because when most people think drama, they think fighting, death, tears, etc. ... but not a lot would think outside of the box for romance, which I dig.

[jeremytuttle]

This one was great guys. I really enjoyed it. There was a couple people watching it with me that right away thought he was a stalker (I just thought he was obsessed, which maybe in a way he was). The ending was great though, very sweet and touching. David did a good job here and your actress. I do wonder if the cell phone was used a little too much, I know you wanted to get her smiling but I thought it may have been a little over kill.

[FatBird19]

So I've got to ask the artistic choice not to include his name anywhere in the film, because as it stands, there's no way to tell who is named who, etc. And I'm only asking for a fest-rule question, which likely may not matter anyway (as in, it may appear to be a pretty soft rule/guideline). Anyway, just a question, as it SO easily could have been satisfied by having the name on the card, etc.

Otherwise, HANDS DOWN, this is my favorite film to watch. It just FEELS good. It's one I can't wait to show my wife, as I know she'll instantly fall in love with it. It has that 'Notebook' feeling of love that's just ... splendid.

It's also refreshing because when most people think drama, they think fighting, death, tears, etc. ... but not a lot would think outside of the box for romance, which I dig.

I just couldn't think of any way I could put the name "eric" into the film without it coming off as jarring exposition. Like I said, part of the challenge of this film for me was to do a as much as I could with very little so I wanted to commit to the idea of a silent film as much as possible. It was an exercise in visual exposition.

That said, the requirement for the film was that "The central character of all films must be named Eric or Erica." That's a pretty broad statement; It doesn't say anything against naming them in the credits.:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)


I'm glad you liked the film. I just wanted to tell a human story that was enjoyable to watch and it's great that so many people appreciate it. Thank you.

[FatBird19]

This one was great guys. I really enjoyed it. There was a couple people watching it with me that right away thought he was a stalker (I just thought he was obsessed, which maybe in a way he was). The ending was great though, very sweet and touching. David did a good job here and your actress. I do wonder if the cell phone was used a little too much, I know you wanted to get her smiling but I thought it may have been a little over kill.

yeah, after filming was over one thing that I realized I didn't get across well enough was who this woman was. She was on the phone all day supposedly for work as she's talking to clients. Although I think the mind fills in the blank for what she could be doing for her day it would have made the film more complete to me if I had just one shot of her scratching an item off her to do list or shuffling through some paperwork. I was actually trying to get that in for this festival but I ran out of time to get that shot.
Minor detail I think but it would have made the film just a little bit better.

[Shawn Philip Nelson]

I really enjoyed this movie, it hooked me and kept me interested. Great acting, great cinematography. The complete lack of any sounds started to really bug me. I really like the decision to not have dialogue, but the total lack of sound comes across as more of a lack of crew than anything. oh, and cool drawings too.

[J.R. Hudson]

I really enjoyed this film as well. Very touching, romantic and a lot of heart.

I really felt emotion on the end when we see the wall of all the photos. I thought your talent was nice as well.

Great overall job. Some technical areas need work, but I assume that will only get better with more expereince

What a wonderful film experience this was

[Paul Coleman]

I'm not sure about the edit, but this is really good filmmaking. Quiet, magical. :beer:

[FatBird19]

I'm not sure about the edit, but this is really good filmmaking. Quiet, magical. :beer:

thanks. :)
Could you expand on what you mean a little more?

[abraham]

interesting stuff -- i liked that i felt an almost thriller-ish moment when she gives that concerned look in the house. i thought for a second we might've had a little concannon/bates happenin'.

good work.
thanks
evan

[FatBird19]

I really enjoyed this movie, it hooked me and kept me interested. Great acting, great cinematography. The complete lack of any sounds started to really bug me. I really like the decision to not have dialogue, but the total lack of sound comes across as more of a lack of crew than anything. oh, and cool drawings too.

Actually that was something I've been wondering. I thought that adding some sound effects(cars, the ocean, etc) might have an impact on the film but I figured that it wouldn't affect it enough to where I'd want to put the work into it.

I'd like to get others' thoughts on this as well. Sound effects or no sound effects?

[Blaine]

I'd like to get others' thoughts on this as well. Sound effects or no sound effects?I think subdued sound effects would have been nice, but I wouldn't overdue it...just something low in the background.

[FatBird19]

I think subdued sound effects would have been nice, but I wouldn't overdue it...just something low in the background.

yeah, I'll defenitely look into that then.
I want to put this film to rest and move on but there's a few more tweaks i want to make first. I'm really happy with the DVXcut though...besides, as someone mentioned, how it's slightly squashed vertically. :huh:

[D_and_G]

Nice reveal of him stalking her. I liked how you played with perspective to show the audience one thing and then did the LS to show another. Cool. And another lovely shot is the one of her looking out onto the ocean with the Pier stretching out beside her, sunlight playing across the water.

Gorgeous actress - > so far she’s the best looking one in the fest. Yes, that’s irrelevant D&G , talk about the story. Ok, why didn’t the woman notice the guy stalking her.? They always notice me ?. I’ve got the restraining orders to prove it.

Overall, it was a sweet flick, and I gotta give you props for effectively using the audience expectations to take then where you wanted to go.

The only possible comments about improvements I’d have would be the overall cinematography and using the score to add context to the scenes.

:beer:

[khmuse]

yeah, I'll defenitely look into that then.
I want to put this film to rest and move on but there's a few more tweaks i want to make first. I'm really happy with the DVXcut though...besides, as someone mentioned, how it's slightly squashed vertically. :huh:

That was me and as I mentioned in my comment it appears to be only very slightly. I know both of your actors well (having worked with them in the past) so I don't think I am coming to this conclusion based upon a lack of familiarity. Do you agree with my observation at all? Just curious. I would be interested to see if you compared the compressed version to your NLE directly if you see any difference at all.

Again, this is a really nice film across the board (both vertically and horizontally)!

[Blaine]

That was me and as I mentioned in my comment it appears to be only very slightly. I know both of your actors well (having worked with them in the past) so I don't think I am coming to this conclusion based upon a lack of familiarity. Do you agree with my observation at all? Just curious. I would be interested to see if you compared the compressed version to your NLE directly if you see any difference at all.

Again, this is a really nice film across the board (both vertically and horizontally)!I too, agree that Amanda and Dave looked just a tad squashed. I went back to the short we did with both of them to compare and it is just ever so noticable. I don't think I'd have noticed it had I not know both the actors.

[Paul Coleman]

thanks. :)
Could you expand on what you mean a little more?

It seems like you get a good pace going, then throw in a quick cut for no specific reason. (3:47) But overall the edit does work. :thumbup:

[Mark Harris]

This was very sweet and nicely shot and the actors were both genuine and did good work, I thought - though I had a dream last night starring David Concannon, so I think hope this is the last film he's in. Dude's a good actor and all, but he's getting into my HEAD!!!

I think the main criticism I'd have is that it's too slight, and could've used some kind of conflict, like maybe show us some strain on the marriage that's leading him to do this? I dunno, it's your story, but I think something like that would have made it deeper and more powerful. Or maybe played more with him stalking her so we get more of a sense that he might be cracked before you slip in the reveal.

[FatBird19]

That was me and as I mentioned in my comment it appears to be only very slightly. I know both of your actors well (having worked with them in the past) so I don't think I am coming to this conclusion based upon a lack of familiarity. Do you agree with my observation at all? Just curious. I would be interested to see if you compared the compressed version to your NLE directly if you see any difference at all.

Again, this is a really nice film across the board (both vertically and horizontally)!

haha. yeah, if you look at the screenshots on page 4 you'll see the aspect ratio it's supposed to be at(2:1). It was 11pm on the 31st and I couldn't encode the h264 file in time so I gave it to someone else...he didn't get the aspect right. :kali:

[Noel Evans]

Ill get the bad outta the way first so I can get to what I want to really say: In the first minute or so I felt a couple of continuity issues.

WOW this was a surprise package and a half! Great job. I totally felt into it that he was a wierd stalker, I wasnt sure, her reaction when she came home was perfect, I was on edge. Then the punch.

Great job FatBird.

[FatBird19]

Ill get the bad outta the way first so I can get to what I want to really say: In the first minute or so I felt a couple of continuity issues.

WOW this was a surprise package and a half! Great job. I totally felt into it that he was a wierd stalker, I wasnt sure, her reaction when she came home was perfect, I was on edge. Then the punch.

Great job FatBird.

Thank you so much. :beer:

which continuity issues? (I wonder if we're thinking about the same ones) :violin:

[khmuse]

haha. yeah, if you look at the screenshots on page 4 you'll see the aspect ratio it's supposed to be at(2:1). It was 11pm on the 31st and I couldn't encode the h264 file in time so I gave it to someone else...he didn't get the aspect right. :kali:

Thanks for the clarification and acknowledgment of the issue. The 11th hour has certainly claimed more than its fair share of victims, a small aspect ratio error is one of the more minor ones. Good to know that I wasn't just "seeing" things!

[StMad]

This sorta thing is so hard to do without sugar coating - you really nailed it. I'll bet there's a few cynics in this crowd surprised by both the payoff and their emotional reaction (me included).

As mentioned the proximity play which introduced him as possible stalker was very nicely handled.

The soundtrack is blowing my mind. An odd off note here and there (2.10, 2.27 eg) and that light piano with the occasional undercurrent of something (possibly)sinister...but so subtle you can't be sure. Manipulation at its best. Subliminal where so often this is done with a heavy hand. I'd really enjoy hearing you and Justin explain your thought process in the creation and the chopping of the score. And Justin D, did you draw on anything in particular when composing?

I was a little thrown when she got back to house...not sure if it was the crossing of the line or the soundtrack flowing (god I love trying to explain music :)) when she abruptly stopped (4.12)...just a little jarring for me. And when she arrives at the scene I would expect she would look at the pictures first, and study them. Then read the note. Anyway, minor blips for me and they didn't spoil the payoff. (That moment where she holds her ground and appreciates him...wow.) This effort is probably my no 1.

[Aaron Marshall]

Justin,

Congrats on your film. Edgen's score worked out well. It added tension in some places that was interesting.

I like the premise. It's romantic, yet refreshingly innocent. Good job.

[RomanJaquez]

Beautiful story,

I like the twist... you prepared me to think about the happiest creepy stalker and the happiest naive victim as if you the filmmaker are failing to give me background information about them... what I mean is, you played with my emotions and challenged my intelligence to predict what is going to happen.

I am so used to going to the theater and watch movies that give a lot of clues away to prepare you for what is about to come... the plot happends and I am all ready for it... on the other hand, opposite to Hitchcock, you've managed to present a series of event and hint to the viewers and on top of that, without much ado, you surprised the audience without disappointing their expectations. An a risky thing to do which you and your actors pulled it off very well.

I am not sure if this makes much sense, but If I have to put it in simple words, I guess what I am trying to say is... you did a fine job at story telling and manipulating the situation on the screen. :)

Best regards,

[ManwithaPlan]

I really liked this film, top 10. I'm usually not a fan of shorts with no dialogue, but this was done well enough to keep my interest. The inserts of the drawings were fairly seamless, which can be hard to do. Good job and good luck.

[Ted Arabian]

Wow! Beautiful film!!! Lovely cinematography. And how wonderful that the entire film was done with a single use of dialigue but felt so complete.

The score was just precious. I loved it.

I do question why a man would let the love of his life feel that their anniversary was missed just to capture a day in her life in drawings. It seems that he had the entire day free and could have spent it WITH her saving this wonderful "gift" for another day. But that is just me and wouldn't make a very interesting film! Just a thought that I had.

Great job. The film beautiful and so well executed.

[FatBird19]

Wow! Beautiful film!!! Lovely cinematography. And how wonderful that the entire film was done with a single use of dialigue but felt so complete.

The score was just precious. I loved it.

I do question why a man would let the love of his life feel that their anniversary was missed just to capture a day in her life in drawings. It seems that he had the entire day free and could have spent it WITH her saving this wonderful "gift" for another day. But that is just me and wouldn't make a very interesting film! Just a thought that I had.

Great job. The film beautiful and so well executed.

I'm glad you loved the film. It was definitely a challenge to make it work with almost nothing but visual based exposition. :)

I wrote this earlier addressing a criticism similar to yours:

yeah, after filming was over one thing that I realized I didn't get across well enough was who this woman was. She was on the phone all day supposedly for work as she's talking to clients. Although I think the mind fills in the blank for what she could be doing for her day it would have made the film more complete to me if I had just one shot of her scratching an item off her to do list or shuffling through some paperwork. I was actually trying to get that in for this festival but I ran out of time to get that shot.
Minor detail I think but it would have made the film just a little bit better.
You bring up a point that I think makes it all the more necessary to clarify what she's doing all day. Becuase you're right, if she had absolutely nothing to do on her anniversary then she'd be spending time with her husband.

thanks.
And again, thanks for the compliments.

[Brandon Rice]

I just wanted to let you know I submitted my vote and you were #1. Thank you.

[FatBird19]

I just wanted to let you know I submitted my vote and you were #1. Thank you.

Wow, thank you so much! That means a lot to me. Cheers. :beer:

[Edgen]

STMad, Thank you for the kind words.

Inspiration? Well, a lot had to come from Justin's direction. He was very, VERY specific as to what type of music he wanted, and I did the best I could to portray that. I think a lot had to do with the lead actress. She's beautiful. So when writing I wanted something to reflect her and her daily life with a mix of a general longing for perfection and reflection upon these two characters. Then, through a mix of Concannon's performances to offset the happiness.

Thank you Aaron.

btw.. who's drawings? :)

/j

[concannon]

STMad, Thank you for the kind words.

Inspiration? Well, a lot had to come from Justin's direction. He was very, VERY specific as to what type of music he wanted, and I did the best I could to portray that. I think a lot had to do with the lead actress. She's beautiful. So when writing I wanted something to reflect her and her daily life with a mix of a general longing for perfection and reflection upon these two characters. Then, through a mix of Concannon's performances to offset the happiness.

Thank you Aaron.

btw.. who's drawings? :)

/j

The character called for someone to draw the pictures in the story. Justin gave me a shot at creating these throughout our day. I love to draw so it worked out.

[FatBird19]

STMad, Thank you for the kind words.

Inspiration? Well, a lot had to come from Justin's direction. He was very, VERY specific as to what type of music he wanted, and I did the best I could to portray that.

/j

and did a stellar job I might add. :D

[CinematicRicky]

I just wanted to let you know I submitted my vote and you were #1. Thank you. Man. You are the man. Justin and I both very much appreciate it.

[Brandon Rice]

It's well deserved!

[FatBird19]

The character called for someone to draw the pictures in the story. Justin gave me a shot at creating these throughout our day. I love to draw so it worked out.

I met with David about a week before shooting(at Chipotle.....go, Chipotle). He told me in an e-mail that he's an artist and I knew that would be perfect if I could have the person who played Eric actually draw the pictures. He some paper out and I told him to draw a guy at the salsa booth. Five minutes later the salsa guy was drawn on the paper and I was convinced.
Just one of the many circumstances on this film that happened to work out perfectly. :D

[FatBird19]

It's well deserved!


I feel like a politician..."thank you for your vote" :D

But seriously, thank you.

[macgregor]

There is a magical moment around 2:51. Images, music, and camera work are astoundishing there. That is a true moment for me.

The twist is great. Later I find the end excesivelly romantic.

BTW, your pixel aspect ratio needs to be fixed, but you probably know that.

[RebeccaD]

[quote=macgregor]
The twist is great. Later I find the end excesivelly romantic. {quote]

I liked the romantic....it made me weepy and everything! :crybaby:

[FatBird19]

[quote=macgregor]
The twist is great. Later I find the end excesivelly romantic. {quote]

I liked the romantic....it made me weepy and everything! :crybaby:


yay:thumbup:

[FatBird19]

BTW, your pixel aspect ratio needs to be fixed, but you probably know that.

.....yup.


:badputer:

[Geoff_R]

This is one of the few films I made my gf watch :) AND she liked it.

[FatBird19]

This is one of the few films I made my gf watch :) AND she liked it.

good to hear.

I suppose even if festivals won't work then at the very least I can convince the ladies of my sensitivity...or something like that. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

[Texture]

Congrats to FatBird19 on this excellent first entry.

While interesting enough to watch, hats off to Justin Durban, the true story teller of this production. Yes, we saw the connection between the two characters but Justin's music really made us wonder, "Where is this relationship going to go?" The music drove the action and occasionally drifted into progressions of minor uncertainty helping to build dramtic tension.

Cool "B roll" though I would have liked to have seen a few direct POVs of the aritist drawing. A couple of extreme closeups of his eyes. Seeing is what an aritist does best.

It would have been easier to have this story veer off into disaster. The ending could have appeared contrived cliché, but the director and his capable cast somehow pulled it off.

Refreshing...

[Geoff_R]

You should submit this to 'On the Lot' that filmmaking reality show. I think you'd have a good shot at getting on the show.

[FatBird19]

You should submit this to 'On the Lot' that filmmaking reality show. I think you'd have a good shot at getting on the show.

I've thought about this but anything submitted to "on the lot" you loose all rights for.
That's encouraging though. :)

EDIT: I said "loose"....bah

[Robert Eldon]

The Artist – review

I like the way the movie starts so sweetly. I’m ready for a story. And then the girl smiles and the guy is drawing and smiling back. I’m a sucker for romance. But wait… she’s not smiling at him. And they’re not together. He’s… stalking her…? This is a real great set-up. It worked perfectly to the end.

I liked the cut away shots of the locations. I think this gave it a mood and good pacing. Where was this shot? Obviously, the beach at Huntington, but what about the ‘town’ scenes? Very nice.

The music really made this for me. Great job to Justin. This was my favorite music from the whole fest. I really liked the nuances of the sweet music, but then these little notes that made you go… hmmm… wait a minute, that almost sounded a little sinister… but, nope… it’s O.K.

Favorite acting was at about TC 3:53 when Eric is going down the street and does a little dance. It is adorable and dorky (wait… did I just say that?) and we all know that we do that, when we think that no one is looking. It showed an ‘un-masked’ happiness with himself and his ‘project’.

Favorite shots at TC 2:33, 3:08, 4:11

One of my favorites. It was nice to have a movie with a real happy ending. One of my top 5.

[FatBird19]

The Artist – review

I like the way the movie starts so sweetly. I’m ready for a story. And then the girl smiles and the guy is drawing and smiling back. I’m a sucker for romance. But wait… she’s not smiling at him. And they’re not together. He’s… stalking her…? This is a real great set-up. It worked perfectly to the end.

I liked the cut away shots of the locations. I think this gave it a mood and good pacing. Where was this shot? Obviously, the beach at Huntington, but what about the ‘town’ scenes? Very nice.

The music really made this for me. Great job to Justin. This was my favorite music from the whole fest. I really liked the nuances of the sweet music, but then these little notes that made you go… hmmm… wait a minute, that almost sounded a little sinister… but, nope… it’s O.K.

Favorite acting was at about TC 3:53 when Eric is going down the street and does a little dance. It is adorable and dorky (wait… did I just say that?) and we all know that we do that, when we think that no one is looking. It showed an ‘un-masked’ happiness with himself and his ‘project’.

Favorite shots at TC 2:33, 3:08, 4:11

One of my favorites. It was nice to have a movie with a real happy ending. One of my top 5.

Thanks a lot. That really means so much.

I started with that setup of appearing as though he's sitting right in front of her because when it's revealed that he isn't it destroys any trust of Eric that was initially built up and it's meant to make the viewer feel somewhat emotionally betrayed.
Thanks for the compliment on the intro.

We shot the town footage in old town Whittier. It's a really nice area.
The night before the day's shoot there I went out to the location from 2-3am planning all the shots I wanted to take throughout the town. It's really a beautiful place so I wanted to make sure I'd have time to get all the shots I wanted, and we did.

yes, Mr. Durban's soundtrack was officially awesome. Outside of the movie I even enjoy it as a listening piece. Great work.


thanks,
-Justin

[NC17z]

Great Job. O.K. I admit, I cried...

[Michael_Petro]

My wife liked it too

thats 2 liked it alots from my house :)

[Robert Eldon]

We shot the town footage in old town Whittier. It's a really nice area.

No kidding? My wife pretty much grew up in that area and knows of it well. I have never been there, but would like to see it sometime in the near future. It didn't have a 'Southern California' look to it. Great location!

[FatBird19]

No kidding? My wife pretty much grew up in that area and knows of it well. I have never been there, but would like to see it sometime in the near future. It didn't have a 'Southern California' look to it. Great location!

That's one of the reasons we chose it. ;) The town feels very classic and comfortably settled; not a feeling one typically gets in SoCal.

EDIT: Everything was shot within a 3 block area on one street, which is about the extent of what's there. The area has so much character to it though that it made it easy to utilize the space with interesting environments.

[Robert Eldon]

Everything was shot within a 3 block area on one street, which is about the extent of what's there.

Well again, great use of the location and you got the 'feeling' that you wanted. There was one shot, I remember, having a tree with red leaves. What was that?

Have you been to Orange in California? There is an area called the Orange Circle that also has that 'classic' look (Unlike other areas in O.C.). I believe that Tom Hanks used that area for 'That thing you do'.

[FatBird19]

Well again, great use of the location and you got the 'feeling' that you wanted. There was one shot, I remember, having a tree with red leaves. What was that?


Like what kind of tree? :D
I dunno, but the DP saw it on that 3 block strip, liked it, and shot it. Go, him. :beer:



Have you been to Orange in California? There is an area called the Orange Circle that also has that 'classic' look (Unlike other areas in O.C.). I believe that Tom Hanks used that area for 'That thing you do'.

I have been there...once. Orange Circle is nice.

[CinematicRicky]

Well again, great use of the location and you got the 'feeling' that you wanted. There was one shot, I remember, having a tree with red leaves. What was that?
.
Really appreciate it! We shot that right behind a Cafe, the one in the beginning actually.

[Justin Reade]

Excellent work!! I really enjoyed this short film. I thought it was a great use of imagery, shot compositions, and no dialogue! This is a real winner! :)

[FatBird19]

Excellent work!! I really enjoyed this short film. I thought it was a great use of imagery, shot compositions, and no dialogue! This is a real winner! :)

Thank you.

What was really freeing was that during production we had the film planned out to the point where it never crossed my mind that we needed dialogue. It relieved a lot of stress during editing knowing that we didn't have to add that aspect.
What we have largely to thank for getting that across though in the end product is Justin Durban's amazing score. :D

[arielman]

Really enjoyed this one . Thought the music was perfect for the film. the actors despite havig no lines pulled this off nicely!!.I also like the way you shot this .
I especially liked this because there is no killings etc as in others . I think you picked the perfect ending for this short which makes it stand out from the others .
Nice work !!!
Ian

[FatBird19]

Really enjoyed this one . Thought the music was perfect for the film. the actors despite havig no lines pulled this off nicely!!.I also like the way you shot this .
I especially liked this because there is no killings etc as in others . I think you picked the perfect ending for this short which makes it stand out from the others .
Nice work !!!
Ian

yay for no killings! :D

glad you liked it.

[Jazz Dog]

Justin, I really enjoyed watching your short. A lot of great shots. Great job building the creepy vibe up to its highest level then going in to the oh its all okay mode. You pulled the ending off without getting cheesy. I think it is hard to tell a story with no dialogue but you kept me interested. I think I would have liked more ambient real audio though. The waves crashing, sounds of the pier, background noise etc. That would have really locked me in to being there in the moment.

[FatBird19]

I think I would have liked more ambient real audio though. The waves crashing, sounds of the pier, background noise etc. That would have really locked me in to being there in the moment.

yeah, a few people have said that now. I thought about it at one time but dismissed it. I'm going to go back now though and add it in.
Thanks.

[Blaine]

yeah, a few people have said that now. I thought about it at one time but dismissed it. I'm going to go back now though and add it in.
Thanks.Can't wait to see the new release. I like the one you've got now, but fixing the PAR and putting some well placed ambient sound in should make it even better.

[Dahopafilms]

Justin,

I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. A very peaceful entry (that's good). It's rather sad, I suppose, that my first reaction/anticipation was that the Artist was a stalker and would be waiting for her when she got home. So the surprise for me was in the gentle ending and not delivering an eerie twist at the end.

Very welcome, in my view.

I'd put this easily in my top three of the shorts I've managed to watch.

Very, very nice job. Thanks for making it and thanks for letting us comment on it.

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

Nice job.

This just looked great.

Thanks for entering it.

Jack

[FatBird19]

Thank you everyone for your feedback on the movie. It has been so uplifting and valuable for me to hear your guys' thoughts and it's a huge encouragement for me to pursue more projects.

-Justin

[kylelewis1]

Justin,

I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. A very peaceful entry (that's good). It's rather sad, I suppose, that my first reaction/anticipation was that the Artist was a stalker and would be waiting for her when she got home. So the surprise for me was in the gentle ending and not delivering an eerie twist at the end.

Very welcome, in my view.

I'd put this easily in my top three of the shorts I've managed to watch.

Very, very nice job. Thanks for making it and thanks for letting us comment on it.
I agree, I really liked this short.

[Cynic821]

9th review:

First thing noticed , again, was the DVX stereotype piano music, but its better than nothing if not feeling like a zales commercial.

This also suffered from the far too common feeling of trying to reach 6 minutes than just making a short. Felt too much like a hybrid commercial/zales commercial. direction was very forced, and when revealed in the end that they are a couple, i couldnt help but think how easily noticed he would be. Arbitrary shots of just random stuff was bothersome as it made this longer than it really needed to be.

The music seemed much more sinister than it needed to be at some points.

I also think that of course we will think this guy is stalking her the way he is acting. As her romantic other, i dont think he would be acting that way when following her, the facial expressions. whats she doing out of the house?

his just went on too long, and i dont think it would even make that great of a demo reel because of the blandness and clicheness of the look of it, the shots are just far too common of filler where it is not neccessary.

thats it.

maybe i should give a disclaimer before i get warned? ( i had to stop reviewing horrorfest because i wasnt being that positive, this is how i feel and i guess ill just post until im stopped again)

[Matt Sconce]

I really liked this! It was my number one pick!

[Geoff_R]

I really enjoyed this one too. This was in my top three and I see an incredible amount of talent embedded into this film. There are a lot of 'great beats' in this film, parts where I'll watch the entire film just to see that one shot again or feel that one particular moment. I hope to see more of your work in Spyfest.