"BLACK" Official Thread

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

Hi guys. I am currently in pre production stage for my next project titled "BLACK". It will be a neo-noir story with a touch of horror/thriller element to it. It will be shot with the DVX102B.

I will be writing and directing with my partner who will also be playing the main character. This will be the first feature length project of our newly formed production company Chaotic Serenity Pictures.

Location is Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, perfect because it is always raining, there are lots of old decaying buildings and train stations from the British Colony times, and a large and busy urban population.

Language will very likely be in Mandarin though English is still a high possibility. Just not sure how others would react to a Chinese cast speaking English.

This project was initially planned as a short 30 minutes film but has since been expanded to feature length. Due to timetable and monetary reasons, I have decided to shoot the movie in three 30 minutes parts (kinda like a TV episode).

I estimate that it take around three days of shoot and a few weeks of post to finish the first part. If the first part is successful, I can probably get some sponsorship to make the other two parts better. If I can't I will still finish them though it will probably take longer.

When all three parts are done, it will be combine into a feature length movie.

Current production date is around April or May.

Do check back here often for updates on the locations, characters, costumes, etc, etc.

I will post the finalized storyline hopefully next week but for now enjoy the main character's costume test stills.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Test1a.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Test2a.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Test2b.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Test1b.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Test4a.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Test3a.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Test4b.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Test3b.jpg
I appreciate any comments or suggestions. :dankk2:

[Cynic821]

i wish the jacket didnt have a zipper. i like it though, hes got a beleivable face for movies. not the usual im clearly not an actor face we are used to seeing on here

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

i wish the jacket didnt have a zipper. i like it though, hes got a beleivable face for movies. not the usual im clearly not an actor face we are used to seeing on here
Thank you for your comment. I am stuck with the jacket since that's the only one I got. It is notoriously hard to find decent looking coat here since it is a very hot country that rains all the time.

The actor has some experiences in starring roles in shorts and supporting roles in features. He is definitely comfortable playing the conflicted man type of role.

[Herman Witkam]

Sounds interesting - I'd go for Mandarin language btw. Not that I speak it, but if it's the main language in your area, it sounds like a logical choice.

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

Some updates. I have been working on a short video for a competition lately, using the main character and look for this movie as the basis. The girl is not the one that will be featured in the final movie.

Here are some stills taken from the video. This should give you some ideas as to what to expect in terms of the visuals. Take note that the compression to MP4 degraded the footages greatly.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Sample2.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/sample6.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Sample1-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Sample5.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Sample3.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/sample8.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/Sample4-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/sample9.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/noisetrigger/sample7.jpg

Story wise, I am currently working on the second draft. The first draft has been banished to my personal black hole. In the first draft there was a blatant attempt at creating a very pitiful, sad, and angry main character. There was an over reliance on shocking visuals and actions to make the character really dark and unlikeable. After much thought, I concluded that it was too pretentious and unoriginal. It lacks the human quality that makes us feel for the characters.

In the current draft, the main character is still not very likeable with not much redeeming quality except for his commitment and integrity to his job. I am still currently drawing out this main character and will be posting more updates soon.

The name of the main character is 'Black'. Sounds weird in English but in Chinese it will be fine.

Production date will have to be moved, very likely to end of the year. I have been booked to shoot a feature length movie in May and another one around July/August. Instead of shooting in three parts like originally planned, it will now be done in one go like a proper feature length production.

The current draft of the script has a bigger scope and I will need a bigger budget and bigger crew for this.

Do check back offend for updates. I will be posting pictures of locations and more test shoots when I have time.

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

Sounds interesting - I'd go for Mandarin language btw. Not that I speak it, but if it's the main language in your area, it sounds like a logical choice.
We actually speak a few different languages here. Malaysia is multi cultural and we have three main races (Malay, Chinese, Indian) and three main ethnic languages (Bahasa, Mandarin, Tamil).

The national language is Bahasa hence everyone here knows it. But since Malaysia was a British Colony, everyone here knows English fairly decently too.

The Malays, Chinese and Indians tend to stick with their language for everyday communication among their own race but will usually use English or Bahasa as a 'bridging' language between different races.

Therefore, different races speaking English is a common sight here though you are right. The cast will be mainly chinese so Mandarin is a logical choice.

I might throw in some English or Bahasa for certain scenes that feature other races.

[Herman Witkam]

We actually speak a few different languages here. Malaysia is multi cultural and we have three main races (Malay, Chinese, Indian) and three main ethnic languages (Bahasa, Mandarin, Tamil).

The national language is Bahasa hence everyone here knows it. But since Malaysia was a British Colony, everyone here knows English fairly decently too.

The Malays, Chinese and Indians tend to stick with their language for everyday communication among their own race but will usually use English or Bahasa as a 'bridging' language between different races.

Therefore, different races speaking English is a common sight here though you are right. The cast will be mainly chinese so Mandarin is a logical choice.

I might throw in some English or Bahasa for certain scenes that feature other races.

Thanks for clearing that up :)

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

Exciting updates guys. We will be shooting Black (short version) as soon as next week. The current planned date is 26 or 27 April 2007.

Locations will be scouted this week and the script for this short version will be completed and finalized this week.

As of now, this short version will be done in a way where it will be a story by itself but will also allow me to continue it into a feature length version eventually.

It will be a three to four day shoot with quite a few locations to cover. It will be hectic!!!

The storyline in the latest draft is best described as one man's journey into the depths of darkness.

More updates will come this week.

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

Latest updates!!! Principal photography will start this Thursday on the 26th of April 2007. It will be a three day shoot with one day contigency.

I will be doing some B rolls first this Wednesday on the 25th with an assistant.

Most locations have been locked down and two more will be confirmed tomorrow.

It is a little hectic as I have been busy with moving but this will be fun. Check back tomorrow for some costumes and locations stills.

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

Sorry for the lack of updates this few days, been very busy but good news is, today we are in the second day of principal phtography.

But anyway, recap for for yesterday...

Day 1
We started a little later than planned because a friend of mine was late. We also have a little of a slow start in the first scene as I have trouble getting into the mood. It was a scene where the main character is watching TV and then falling asleep. I never did get the look and lighting right. It was OK initially but when I was previwing the footages later, I though it looked really bad. Let's hope I can get something out of during editing. We were delayed another hour because some guy was there to fix some stuff in the house and we have to stop shooting.

But things start to go smooth after that. We did a scene where the main character woke up from a nightmare. I got the look right and the main actor got the performances right. I experimented with a few more different angles this time. I was happy with the progress. With that scene done, we start preparing for the final two scenes.

We had to trash the lead actress house a little and dress her up for some CSI style crime scene stuff. I also took 'crime scene' photos for the final day of the shoot. With some CC in photoshop, the pictures should turn out great.

We also did some cool POV scene and also a touching flashback scene. I shoot as much angles as I can for options in editing. We overshoot the schedule by half and hour but we got all the needed scenes done for the day.

Overall a great start.

Despite the really LIMITED amount of crew, I think we got something exciting here.

I will post some production stills from day 1 as soon as I get the pictures.

Overall, it's a good start for day one though I am DEAD TIRED.


Day 2
Since it's only outdoor and some B rolls scenes today, I kept the crew to only four including myself because

1) it's so we can move around faster and easier with one car and

2) to minimized distraction as a big crew shooting around in the city might just attract unwanted distraction from the city police, we are shooting without a permit afterall.

The day did not start off well, I was late because I had to drive back to the house to retrieve my mobile phone. Furthermore, the art director/make-up artist could not make it because she wasn't feeling well.

We were also late by almost two hours because of the horrible jam in the city, (it's KL afterall).

When we finally did arrived at the first location, which is called Petaling Street (to you guys, that it's the Malaysia equalvalent of Chinatown), the weather was just perfect for the sunny afternoon look. We started with a scene that introduces the protagonist.

The actor (also my partner) was perfect for the role. He put a lot of effort into it. He based it after John Constantine from the movie 'Constantine' and man, he really captured it.

We got some really cool looking and expensive looking shot because it Petaling Street was really crowded and there were lots of people and cars and buses.

There were a few moments of tension between the main actor and I. There were a few instances were I said roll, action and he just stood there, doing nothing. So it became a situation of me waiting for him to start and him waiting for me to signal.

It was noisy and hot and I guess he didn't hear me or I didn't speak as loud as I should have.

There were also two instances where he looked into the camera in the middle of a take because he thought I was telling him something. (it was busy and there were lots of people around and he mistook someone else voice for mine).

I guess I need to really start briefing my actors better because I have a habit of just making changes or adding scenes at the last moments and more often than not, the actors were a little confused because I tend to not make the changes or addition clear enough.

I really need to improve my PR skills.

After getting some inserts of the city, we went to a the carpark of a shopping mall. Since the carpark is upstairs, we managed to get some really breathtaking helicopter shot of the city. Best of all, it was just raining heavily and it's perfect for the introduction to the short film. With those 'heli' shots done we went down to ground level for some slow shutter stuff also for the intro.

It's really cool with all the lights and cars passing around and the lights and motion in a really blurry dreamy way. It will be a great scene to set the tone to the short film.

With that done we call it a day. Tomorrow will be a big day. We have a key scene to shoot on a rooftop.

I only wish that it's smooth sailing like yesterday and today.

Do check back often for updates.

[Brandon Rice]

Thanks for the update, sounds fun! Looking forward to seeing some stuff.

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

Sorry for the lack of updates but we are finally done with principal photography. Now for a recap of Day 3 and Day 4.

Day 3
The shoot started as planned. It was a half day shoot only because it is an outdoor night scene.

We gathered at the location by 630 and started setting up. Seeing that we were quick early. I decided to shoot an extra scene. That scene was done quickly and smoothly. We then moved on to the roottop, for the only scene of the day.

This is where things kinda starts going wrong. Firstly, it was supposed to be a rain scene. While there is a water pipe on the rooftop, the water pressure is too low to create the proper rain effect.

Realizing that it was too late to find a different way of getting water up to the rooftop, I decided that it will just be a night scene instead of a rainy night scene.

I was very disappointed as the rain will add the much needed mood to this pivotal scene.

The other problem was the night view on the rooftop wasn't as nice as I had imagined. The location was too far from the city there were barely any tall buildings arounds, hence not a really nice backdrop for this scene.

We also have problems with electricity. Since it's the rooftop, electricty had to be pulled from the floor below. While connected the extention plugs, I stupidly smashed the head of one, hence limiting the range and amount of lights I can use.

Other than that, the shoot was fine. We got some cool shoots here and there though I am worried that I might not have enough angles variety of shoots to cut with. I should have taken a few more angles but since I took quite some time to get the lighting right, all my crew (friends who volunteered) are getting restless, cold, and bored (it's really dusty up here).

While they did not complain I can't help but feel bad since I did not pay them therefore I feel like it is not right to ask them to suffer along with me while I take my own sweet time getting as much angles and as much shots as possible.

Day 4
Now I feel bad since one of the crew member got sick from yesterday. I am actually sick too, I have been sneezing all day long and my throat is killing me. We are also three member short since they have something to do. It's a Sunday after all.

But the three of us (me, the main character, and art director) braved on. Today is the final day of shooting and we have the most scene to cover today.

We got to the location (my dad's office) and started setting up. I took longer than expected to set up because of the limited space and also limited lighting equipment. The aircond in that particular room wasn't working and it was really stuffy and hot inside. The smell of tungsten isn't the most pleasent thing in the world either.

By the time I was done with the lights, it was a little past lunch time so we decided to start shooting after lunch.

Disaster strikes. When we got back to the office, one of the locks on the door (there are a total of five locks) refused to budge. After findling with it for more than half and hour in that stuffy and dusty hallway I lost it and decided that there best way to open the door is by kicking is down. After kicking at the door futily for more than half and hour, I realized that it would have been a better idea to call the locksmith in the first place.

Hence, another hour later, the locksmith got the door open. But by that time, it was already late, I was tired, sick, ashamed, and demotivated that I sent my crew home. I also lost a bit of money since I had to pay the locksmith and also for a new lock.

It was a sad day since we were fully prepared to shoot and everything was set up and proper right behind that freaking door. I went home that day, unsure if I should go on with the shoot.

Day 5
Today is a Wednesday and I was pretty pumped up to shoot the final scene and get it right this time. I watched Spiderman 3 yesterday and it was amazing, what a fitting end to the trilogy. But anyway, a few days of rest and also Spiderman 3 got me motivated to finish the movie.

This time, we had lunch before starting so we can shoot non-stop. I still took a long time to set up, to get everything right and perfect. I also experimented with different mixture of gels to create a unique look.

I added a few more scenes since I am worried that this short film might be too short (I am aiming for 15 minutes at least).

Despite the large number of scenes, we got everything done and only overshot the schedule by half and hour. There were some scenes that I had to change and remove because of budget, scheduling, and various unexpected situations but overall I am happy with the shoot. Lessons learned for my lack of planning and also last minute decisions making. Always bad for a shoot but also allowing for some creative moments.

I learn a lot of new stuff this time and greatly improved my skills as a DP. I used to underexposed for night or evening scenes because I wanted a darker look but now I realized the importance of exposing right and then printing down in post. The footages I got are so much more cleaner than my older stuff where I underexposed in order to achieve a night look instead of exposing right and then printing down in post.

The footages looks bright and a little flat now but I believe it will allow me to do wonders in post.

[StayNuts]

Sounds interesting - I'd go for Mandarin language btw. Not that I speak it, but if it's the main language in your area, it sounds like a logical choice.Its not really the main language in Malaysia, the official language is Bahasa (Malay) & only the Chinese people in Malaysia use Mandarin... or some of them, Hokkien or Canton (chinese dialects)... and go so on... English and Bahasa is the language which is used by the different racial groups to connect together.

As Singaporean -- we have the same situation as in Malaysia only then is English the sole bridge language -- I would recommend to use English. Your Malay and Indian friends will appreciate that you make your movie accessible for everbody & not only for the Chinese sub culture. Of course you can use a little Mandarin, Bahasa and Tamil in your movie as you hear these languages daily around on the streets in KL... it will also showcase the unique multi-culture situation in your country :)))

And who you want to reach with your movie? The Chinese people only or the rest of your country too? Or do you thinking even to make it international available...???

Good luck & good to see some filmmakers from the region...

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

The short film is at about 70% edited. There is still a lot of work in terms of sound effects, music and voiceover though.

Check out http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=96220 for stills from the short film. More stills will be posted and a teaser trailer too hopefully by next week.

Staynuts, at this point, I am leaning heavily towards mandarin. English was seriously considered but the main actor isn't exactly fluent with English and I rather have an actor speaking a lesser known language but one he is fluent with than the actor speaking a language that's more common but one he is not very fluent with.

Sub par command of the language can seriously spoil the overall viewing experience.

I hope to reach an international audience with this short film and I believe that language shall not be a barrier these days.

[StayNuts]

Can understand that you choose then English but do you make a movie around your main actor or goes it about the movie? If he was so famous already, I can understand you make it around him but else, the movie has the priority. If he speaks English with so big accent, why is that a problem... is shows exactly the situation of the Chinese population in Malaysia... so stucked in there own language that they even can speak properly one of the main languages of the country.... We have exact the same problem here in Singapore...

For international... with Mandarin language, no chance... know some friends who have tried it... & they decided later to redo it in English... all there productions are now in English only.... do you know a list of movies with Mandarin as base language who have made it worldwide? There is one but thats is it...

Even French is still not a worldwide accepted language for a international movie... Spanish too... It's coming slowely for those European languages but Mandarin is still far beyond... Just because the people are not used to hear it. Bollywood is a big movie industry but the most of the people outside India think its a comedy about hollywood. There are some Chinese actors who have make it on the big screen, but they all speak English... ( also not fluently & with a big accent ). We all the know the movies of Chakie Chan, but not his Chinese movies... except the Chinese people or the real fans of him... If ypu speak international, then is English still the standard...

It's your movie & your call... just wanna share my opinion as filmmaker who lives in a country with the same multiculture construction as you have... ( only English is here our main bridge language... or as we called Singlish lah )

[Axel Segebrecht]

Kinda agree with StayNuts there, not doing it in English will mean narrowing the target audience down quite a bit. Although I don't mind watching with subs I still find them distracting. Oh well, I'm watching for the "look-and-feel" sake anyway
:-)

Germans have a similar problem, the industry is booming here but international successes are very few and far between. Simply because American's don't like watching dubbed films (neither do I but it's the other way 'round) and Germans usually speak with a dodgy accent.

I can see your point about the acting and speaking well part though. I guess I rather have a German speak proper German than trying to speak English badly (gives me the creeps...).

[Herman Witkam]

The grabs are looking great!

StayNuts > I don't see how Mandarin would be an issue. I've watched lots of films in Mandarin (with English subtitles, and English is my second language). Also, isn't Mandarin by far the most spoken language in the world? Seems like a good choice to me :)

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

Can understand that you choose then English but do you make a movie around your main actor or goes it about the movie? If he was so famous already, I can understand you make it around him but else, the movie has the priority. If he speaks English with so big accent, why is that a problem... is shows exactly the situation of the Chinese population in Malaysia... so stucked in there own language that they even can speak properly one of the main languages of the country.... We have exact the same problem here in Singapore...

For international... with Mandarin language, no chance... know some friends who have tried it... & they decided later to redo it in English... all there productions are now in English only.... do you know a list of movies with Mandarin as base language who have made it worldwide? There is one but thats is it...

Even French is still not a worldwide accepted language for a international movie... Spanish too... It's coming slowely for those European languages but Mandarin is still far beyond... Just because the people are not used to hear it. Bollywood is a big movie industry but the most of the people outside India think its a comedy about hollywood. There are some Chinese actors who have make it on the big screen, but they all speak English... ( also not fluently & with a big accent ). We all the know the movies of Chakie Chan, but not his Chinese movies... except the Chinese people or the real fans of him... If ypu speak international, then is English still the standard...

It's your movie & your call... just wanna share my opinion as filmmaker who lives in a country with the same multiculture construction as you have... ( only English is here our main bridge language... or as we called Singlish lah )
Your points are solid and all but I believe this project will ultimately have a better chance in the Asian market first by first catering to a more Asian audience. And when it starts getting attention in the Asia region, that should open doors to the international market.

Making the jump straight into the international market will be harder. I believe we need to at least conquer your own home first before moving on to bigger fields.

While a Chinese speaking bad or sub par English might work in an American movie with an American cast, a Chinese speaking bad or sub par English will look out of place in an essentially Chinese production.

[Vincent Wong Yoon Wei]

Kinda agree with StayNuts there, not doing it in English will mean narrowing the target audience down quite a bit. Although I don't mind watching with subs I still find them distracting. Oh well, I'm watching for the "look-and-feel" sake anyway
:-)

Germans have a similar problem, the industry is booming here but international successes are very few and far between. Simply because American's don't like watching dubbed films (neither do I but it's the other way 'round) and Germans usually speak with a dodgy accent.

I can see your point about the acting and speaking well part though. I guess I rather have a German speak proper German than trying to speak English badly (gives me the creeps...).
True, I find sub distracting too. Having to read at the bottom of the screen each time someone speaks takes the overall enjoyment of the movie away greatly.

I like some of the german film I watched before. I remember one called 'Tattoo' or something like that. Really cool and dark stuff. Kinda reminds me of Seven, really beautiful low key visuals.

[Ticonderoga]

I believe audience in Asia are very comfortable with subtitles--we all watch Chinese, Japanese and Korean dramas regardless of what dialect we speak. Personally I definitely prefer actors speaking their mother tongue rather than trying English merely for the sake of being international.

[doncamillo]

Good call doing it in the language he normally speaks. Having him speak English in an awkward way, will only lower the perceived value of your production. Just add subtitles in English and it'll feel more professional and it even might give it a little more of that HK/asian-movie feel that a lot of people seem to like.


I'll be looking out for the trailer, good luck on finishing your film!