Short movie - Static Blue
- Thread starter ZanucK
- Start date
im.thatoneguy
Well-known member
Oh well if it's a student film...
It doesn't matter if you're five or 100. Everyone is competing for the same jobs. Unless there is some market for student films I'm unaware of. I judge all films without prejudice of its origins. Too often I've found people aren't given the honest feedback they want and need because the critic has excused elements based on some sort of view on the legitimacy of art.
One of my favorite film quotes is by IAL Diamond:
"Critics have a tendency to assume that the more obscure something is, the more profound it must be."
That being said. I like the motivated screen lighting. I'm a sucker for cool colors.
It doesn't matter if you're five or 100. Everyone is competing for the same jobs. Unless there is some market for student films I'm unaware of. I judge all films without prejudice of its origins. Too often I've found people aren't given the honest feedback they want and need because the critic has excused elements based on some sort of view on the legitimacy of art.
One of my favorite film quotes is by IAL Diamond:
"Critics have a tendency to assume that the more obscure something is, the more profound it must be."
That being said. I like the motivated screen lighting. I'm a sucker for cool colors.
Last edited:
DavidBeier
Veteran
That's the ground rules most professors give you. Sadly, I'm far too interested in dreams and how they work to follow them
im.thatoneguy
Well-known member
ZanucK said:
Hahaha, I know where you're coming from. If I posted some of my "night before it's due" assignments, it would put your little dream sequence to shame. Tight schedules spawn the most dramatically incomprehensible films ever produced.
Another good ground rule. Be aware of the mantra: "Everything sounds like a great idea at 1 in the morning, then you wake up."
ZanucK
Active member
im.thatoneguy said:
Ok, that's possible. But, I would like to know in what stage are you? In other words, if you are a graduate? a senior? a junior?
This was my very first film project, what I mean by that... this was done for my very first project of "Intro to Film".
I wouldn't be surprise if your "night before it's due" assignement tops mine.
Zan
Last edited:
taubkin
Veteran
im.thatoneguy said:
This is film discussion. It has anything to do with competition. As you said, there is no market for a student film. They are made so a student can learn, and not so he can get rich. Of course we can cut some slack. For instance, a student film, a person's first film, that shows promise in several areas, but is built over a cliché idea is a good student film, shows promise. I think it's much more sensible to say that than "give up, the film is mediocre, you are not a born genious filmaker" (Who is? 3-4 people in the world? Ever?).
This is all part of a learning experience, and as such it is a great piece of work. It shows how much he learned over one year of Savannah, and some more years of watching movies on his own. Since everybody pointed out the flaws, I thought it was fair to point out it is a film that stands out aggainst other films of the same category (read first year student films).
It is not about legitimacy of the art. This is not about art. This is about education. This is an school exercise.
For competing for the same jobs, I'd be more worried about him 3 years from now, when he is graduating. If he keeps this learning curve, I'd be worried.
Don't take me the wrong way, I respect your point of view and agree the film has it's flaws, very well put by the other members of the forum but I'm also giving my .02
Cheers!
DavidBeier
Veteran
im.thatoneguy said:
My someone certainly has a high opinion about one's self.
im.thatoneguy
Well-known member
By "Put to shame" I meant "are spectacularly bad". Sorry about the confusion, no positive connotations were intended for my late night films.
The comment was an agreement with the author that the tighter the time frames, the more obtuse films tend to get, usually to their detriment. I'm not trying to be negative. Quite the contrary, I'm just encouraging him to break the student mold and put his notable talents to avoiding the common pitfalls of ArtSchool Drama(tm).
It's very easy to fall into the incestuous thought patterns of film school, matter of fact, I think they should require a class in it, I know I would have benefited "How to not get caught up in nothingness 101". I would personally argue the reason student films aren't marketable, isn't because of a lack of film making experience, but because they're usually just not films anybody cares about, especially the film maker. They as a whole tend to completely lack heart, being nothing more than clever parlor tricks. The more clearly we are able to identify the obstacles that stand in our way, the easier it is to avoid them in the future. I've had professors lecture for days on lines of action and screen direction, but the question that has stuck with me was from my screenwriting teacher: "Who cares?" Usually after trying to summon some inner motivation to find meaning in my project all I could answer was.... "Nobody."
I don't intend this as any sort of critique to Static Blue... the location of this discussion is quite incidental to any specific film and for that I apologize to the thread and the moderators. It might have happend next to a hamster cage at the pet store should they have a forum in said location.
The comment was an agreement with the author that the tighter the time frames, the more obtuse films tend to get, usually to their detriment. I'm not trying to be negative. Quite the contrary, I'm just encouraging him to break the student mold and put his notable talents to avoiding the common pitfalls of ArtSchool Drama(tm).
It's very easy to fall into the incestuous thought patterns of film school, matter of fact, I think they should require a class in it, I know I would have benefited "How to not get caught up in nothingness 101". I would personally argue the reason student films aren't marketable, isn't because of a lack of film making experience, but because they're usually just not films anybody cares about, especially the film maker. They as a whole tend to completely lack heart, being nothing more than clever parlor tricks. The more clearly we are able to identify the obstacles that stand in our way, the easier it is to avoid them in the future. I've had professors lecture for days on lines of action and screen direction, but the question that has stuck with me was from my screenwriting teacher: "Who cares?" Usually after trying to summon some inner motivation to find meaning in my project all I could answer was.... "Nobody."
I don't intend this as any sort of critique to Static Blue... the location of this discussion is quite incidental to any specific film and for that I apologize to the thread and the moderators. It might have happend next to a hamster cage at the pet store should they have a forum in said location.
Last edited:
DavidBeier said:That's the ground rules most professors give you. Sadly, I'm far too interested in dreams and how they work to follow them
Here here. Dreams are VERY interesting when you really dig into psychological references and such (three years on it). So, the dream theme can be done. (Please don't use Gondry as an example... I don't think that'll be good at all.)
On the subject of the thread topic--
I think it was worth watching. Lighting's good, dolly's were done to director's taste I'm guessing, and the slow-mo is kind-of-a no no (but that's the director's vision yes?)
Let's see some more! I love GA.
DavidBeier
Veteran
im.thatoneguy said:By "Put to shame" I meant "are spectacularly bad". Sorry about the confusion, no positive connotations were intended for my late night films.
The comment was an agreement with the author that the tighter the time frames, the more obtuse films tend to get, usually to their detriment. I'm not trying to be negative. Quite the contrary, I'm just encouraging him to break the student mold and put his notable talents to avoiding the common pitfalls of ArtSchool Drama(tm).
It's very easy to fall into the incestuous thought patterns of film school, matter of fact, I think they should require a class in it, I know I would have benefited "How to not get caught up in nothingness 101". I would personally argue the reason student films aren't marketable, isn't because of a lack of film making experience, but because they're usually just not films anybody cares about, especially the film maker. They as a whole tend to completely lack heart, being nothing more than clever parlor tricks. The more clearly we are able to identify the obstacles that stand in our way, the easier it is to avoid them in the future. I've had professors lecture for days on lines of action and screen direction, but the question that has stuck with me was from my screenwriting teacher: "Who cares?" Usually after trying to summon some inner motivation to find meaning in my project all I could answer was.... "Nobody."
I don't intend this as any sort of critique to Static Blue... the location of this discussion is quite incidental to any specific film and for that I apologize to the thread and the moderators. It might have happend next to a hamster cage at the pet store should they have a forum in said location.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.
As for caring, I think you're very right but there are a few of us who take our student films VERY seriously. The amount of time I've invested into my latest (and yes it is about dreaming) has bordered on ludicrious proportions.
Yes I'd say that the vast majority of students don't really put much effort into their stuff but do we think any of these people are going to ever amount to much anyway?
I think that those that have it in them to do great things will make things they and other people will care about. Short or no.
im.thatoneguy
Well-known member
Technically the piece is very well executed. On the next project my feedback would just be to tackle a more conventional subject. The simpler the story, the more clearly you can see what does and does not work in the delivery, which is why I recommend not tackling dream films, which I don't believe are inherently bad, they just often can mask fundamental problems with films.
The best time to fail miserably at telling a really simple story is in school, don't be afraid of failing spectacularly. Spectacular failures are alwaysbeen my best learning experiences. And who knows... you just might succeed.
- side bar
On the topic of dream films: One very sage piece of advice I received once was why dream films often fail, and how to avoid it in films in which they are used.
The danger is that the audience feels cheated, like you've told them this elaborate story that they bought into and emotionaly invested in and then at the last second the director comes on screen and says "Hahahaha just kidding, fooled ya!"
People don't like to be fooled and laughed at.
The trick is to throw so much, rediculously obvious hints that it's all a dream, that instead of it coming across as "Hahah Fooled ya!" the audience all kicks themselves and says... "Ohhhhhh Stupid me, of course."
Good research films on these topics would obviously be The Sixth Sense and Fight Club.
The best time to fail miserably at telling a really simple story is in school, don't be afraid of failing spectacularly. Spectacular failures are alwaysbeen my best learning experiences. And who knows... you just might succeed.
- side bar
On the topic of dream films: One very sage piece of advice I received once was why dream films often fail, and how to avoid it in films in which they are used.
The danger is that the audience feels cheated, like you've told them this elaborate story that they bought into and emotionaly invested in and then at the last second the director comes on screen and says "Hahahaha just kidding, fooled ya!"
People don't like to be fooled and laughed at.
The trick is to throw so much, rediculously obvious hints that it's all a dream, that instead of it coming across as "Hahah Fooled ya!" the audience all kicks themselves and says... "Ohhhhhh Stupid me, of course."
Good research films on these topics would obviously be The Sixth Sense and Fight Club.
ESTEBEVERDE
Veteran
DavidBeier said:
Good looking film!
DavidBeier
Veteran
im.thatoneguy said:
Well, with my latest I think it's quite obvious that the main character is dreaming fairly early on. Rather, I try to use the dream to make the audience question other things. I guess you all can see how succsesful I was in a week or two when I get it uploaded online (just need some final ADR).
I don't see why people are so afraid to give real criticism? That's the problem with film school, too much placating and patting on the back. If you want someone to grow as a filmmaker you have to have the courage to be an asshole. Noone will ever get anywhere from vaccuous compliments...
So yes no dreams, definetley no suicide and all that....
Another problem I see is the most common short film structure. It begins with someone waking up in bed (probably some ridiculously pretentious shot of an eye opening) CUT TO two feet hitting the carpet, CUT TO a faucet gushing on... then they either kill themselves or do drugs or stare at a television or something.... Then we find out it was all a dream....
Actually what the hell is up with this dream anyway? I've never had a dream as pretentious as this. Usually my dreams are about living in giant milkshakes while my dog wanders around in a snakeskin suit and chainsmokes... I don't know if anyone really dreams like this, about smashing a TV that is. One time I had a dream that I was a living sculpture in a giant clamshell shaped fountain and the maitre'd came over and said we weren't moving enough and that our pauses weren't 'pausy' enough. Then I looked over and my brother had genitals made out of rotting meat. Then I woke up... Now there's a film for ya.
So yes no dreams, definetley no suicide and all that....
Another problem I see is the most common short film structure. It begins with someone waking up in bed (probably some ridiculously pretentious shot of an eye opening) CUT TO two feet hitting the carpet, CUT TO a faucet gushing on... then they either kill themselves or do drugs or stare at a television or something.... Then we find out it was all a dream....
Actually what the hell is up with this dream anyway? I've never had a dream as pretentious as this. Usually my dreams are about living in giant milkshakes while my dog wanders around in a snakeskin suit and chainsmokes... I don't know if anyone really dreams like this, about smashing a TV that is. One time I had a dream that I was a living sculpture in a giant clamshell shaped fountain and the maitre'd came over and said we weren't moving enough and that our pauses weren't 'pausy' enough. Then I looked over and my brother had genitals made out of rotting meat. Then I woke up... Now there's a film for ya.
DavidBeier
Veteran
^
Dad? Is that you?
Dad? Is that you?