"Voices from the Dark" -- a film by AJ Brooks...

[ZazaCast]

^ hey... it was 3am in the morning when I watched it...just going by my notes... cut me some slack.
(maybe a score would have been nice...? No more comments until I get some sleep!)

[Ryan E. Walters]

I like AJ's choice to not have a score in this film. I think it is in keeping with his vision to not go the tradition route, and I enjoyed the sound design so much that I never felt like I was missing a score. The pacing, acting, and sound design all combined for a nice delivery. At the end, I felt like "hey, there was no score, and I didn't miss it."

[Ryan E. Walters]

Yeah, I can see how a normal viewer would not think twice about it, especially if they've ever watched CSI, but we are not normal viewers here.

I wouldn't have noticed it if there was a little more crossover/ bleed between each guy's light. It still looked fantastic and only took me out of it for a nano-second.

Yep- WE are not normal at all. ;)

It is good to know, and I appreciate the feedback / criticism. It is important to know if a viewer is taken out of the moment, as that is not what I want to happen. But it is a risk whenever the norms or conventions are strayed from. And I am still glad that we made bolder choices and took more risks on this one. It is good to know that it did not take you out of it for very long and it wasn't overly distracting.

I think it works, but obviously I am bias. The films / cinematographers that inspire me most have always been ones that stray from the norm / convention. So I just need to be aware to not let it become to over powering that the images overtake the story- in the end, the images should be subservient to the story.

[AJ Brooks]

I did find it odd that he kept calling him kid though. Yes, he was younger than him but not kid status by any stretch, not even close.

Yes, I had planned a younger actor to play Crosse (suit) when I wrote the script. And I debated cutting the "kid" lines but once I saw it in rehearsal I wasn't bothered by it. Phillips saying "kid" is more of a reflection of who he is and how he sees people, rather than a accuracy denoting age. But yes, I do see how it can be distracting.

I did find the opening face to the floor cough to look a little forced though. As if he was told to get the dust to rise for effect. Again, just a small thing.

Yes, I did like the effect of the dust rising after he coughed, and I DID say that on the second take, but in my defense, I used the first take in the edit, the take where he did it naturally before I had said anything about the cough.

Thanks Zaza, what score though?

Gohanto, maybe take that as a compliment. The sound design was so effective that he felt as if there was a score. hah

I like AJ's choice to not have a score in this film. I think it is in keeping with his vision to not go the tradition route, and I enjoyed the sound design so much that I never felt like I was missing a score.

I knew early on that I was not going to use score/music. In fact the sound designer Gohanto (Alex), was technically the first person onboard. I had him involved early in pre-prod, and made sure we had sound in mind for the shoot. Alex is very talented and was dedicated to doing what was right for the film. Kudos to him for his work.

To respond to the questions about the story and "what the hell was going on?"...

Like Ryan said, it is a balance. I usually get comments on my films saying I do not give enough information or that certain elements were unclear. Personally I feel I gave enough in this film for people to figure out everything I wanted them to in terms of story.

I might elaborate on the story in a future post, but I almost think I should leave things as they are.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I love the feedback!

[Gohanto]

Gohanto, maybe take that as a compliment. The sound design was so effective that he felt as if there was a score. hah

Thanks AJ and Zaza, sincerely, and I do take it as a great compliment (hence the smiley face after the comment )

I was a wonderful challenge to get a film that worked sonically without a score and thanks for bringing me on board early. And I certainly owe a lot to your production mixer / boom op who captured excellent stuff on set.

[ZazaCast]

AJ...Gohanto... you did get that this is one of my top picks...yes?
Great job guys!!!

[Matt Harris]

Ryan E. Walters, i loved the lighting and cinematography. loved. To me, you knocked it out of the park. I would work with you in a nano-second.

[Mike@AF]

Good film! I really liked the cinematography, although have the same thoughts on the color of light. I think it looked a little washed out as well, which could be adjusted easily with some color correction. Sound was good. Acting was great. Good job!

[Bigmagic]

Good film, I liked it the pacing was very good, I didn't get the story although I think its good to leave the audience wanting more information of let them "fill in the blanks". Overall well done.

[killacam]

definitely one of the best looking films of the fest for sure, although I guess it being shot on red obviously helped. the cinematography was very good, as well as the editing and sound. overall it came off as very pro. as far as the story, I'm guessing it was a reservoir dogs like scenario where most of the accomplices had never met? and he recognized his daughter's killer from his neck scar/tattoo. the only problem I had was why were the guy's hands tied in front of him? wouldn't it have been easy for him to pull out his gun and wait for whoever tied them up to come through the door and then just shoot them? still one of my top films of the fest though. good job.