Aaron Marshall
Well-known member
MP4
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Noct - Hero of Mana
- Thread starter Aaron Marshall
- Start date
MsManhattan
Well-known member
Aaron, nice job! Loved the location -- was that in Bloomington?
Aaron Marshall
Well-known member
Thank you!
It was close to Bloomington. It was in the rolling hills of brown county.
It was close to Bloomington. It was in the rolling hills of brown county.
Beat Takeshi
Two-Hip Shakur
Very whimsical feeling to the overall piece. You are going to win best animal actor right off the bat, he was much better than all the pigeons i hired. I thought some of the edits were a tad long but since everything had a certain vibe it didnt really bother me at all. The opening shots were amazing.
snodart
Veteran
First off.. Very nice. As mentioned before, the edits (jump cuts) were a little distracting. Maybe you did this to chop down the time. Some of the shots are amazing. The end confrontation was a little anti-climatic, but I understand that it is a matter of time and $$ to do more. The narrator and other voices were perfect. The score at the beginning along with the narrator was great. later on though the score turned a little synthetic, but still great. Overall, it was very good and also had a very professional quality. I make so many comments because I liked it! Excellent colors when the world turns back to good.
Nice work.
Nice work.
Aaron--
I got to download yours before the bandwith went down the potty.
I could sense the influence right off, and it was coooool.
Of course, your score is the best part about it all. Great color falls in next, really captured a sense of the World of Mana. =D
Good job! I'm jealous!
I got to download yours before the bandwith went down the potty.
I could sense the influence right off, and it was coooool.
Of course, your score is the best part about it all. Great color falls in next, really captured a sense of the World of Mana. =D
Good job! I'm jealous!
Aaron Marshall
Well-known member
Thanks everyone. I'm glad you like the voice Snodart. It's my voice. I spent one hell of a lot of time trying to get something down. I knew it would be important, but I didn't want anyone else to do it. They couldn't get each phrase exactly like I wanted it. Yes it could have been better with a big name voice over actor, but it wouldn't have been what I wanted. I needed an actor that understood the material 110% voice over, not a voiceover voice over if that makes any sense. I tried to deliver it like I was telling a group of kids a story.
The movie is for children basically, but universal enough for everyone. Think Star Wars, or The Dark Crystal etc.
Yes the jumpcuts in the introduction of the character were because of the strict 5 mins at the time. I was doing everything I could to squeeze it down. I thought it turned out nicely. It gave a disorienting feel. What the hero was about to go through was one of those disorienting days. A day when he would feel his only friend slipping away into sickness.
I don't agree with mrpunch about the conflict lacking urgency. The entire introduction builds into something the audience cares about, or at least I deeply care about, only to see it destroyed and drained by a force, a disease, a cancer it can't fight off. That's the overall conflict. The specific conflict surrounding the dog sets everything in motion. It gives the hero a small minded goal to a much bigger problem. The audience knows of that bigger problem, but the hero is just setting out to save his friend. It's not so much saving a friend but a quest to not be lonely. Loneliness is a theme in this movie. Also, it's not shot all MTV, so yes it does have some moments of reflection influenced by older cinema from a much simpler time.
The hero was happy living out in his hut. He was content, but certain bigger things happen sometimes and even the little guy has to take action.
I'm happy with this movie. Sure it has its shortcomings. But keep in mind a few things:
1. It was my first movie with the DVX
2. I shot it by myself (with the exception of a couple tiny shots that I dragged my sister out to help shoot, the one on the log). I played the hero, and the villian.
3. 0 budget, unless you count time spent
4. This was my first time getting really into AE.
5. I did so much physical behind-the-scenes work in this film. The shoot at the hut was 2 miles back through wild and wooly territory. I had to, by myself wheel in the bed, all the set decoration such as the stove, bracing for the bed, all the blankets and pillows, camera, tripod, the whole nine yards. I took it back in a deer cart my dad let me borrow, dragged it up over logs, nearly broke my back...then I set it all up, spent the night there for method acting purposes, woke up shot everything, packed everything back up and hauled ass.
That was just one day. The showdown scene was a real bastard because I had to hike in to a location I had scouted. Only this time the hike was weighted down with costumes and equipment. It was about 2 miles of up and down steep as hell terrain. I'm use to that kind of stuff though. I'm totally conditioned for it and do it constantly. I had a blast. The end result or vision I had kept throbbing in my brain and pushing me foward. What you see is a story I'm sincerely trying to tell, not something I slapped together. Even though it looks that way at times :grin:
Everything you see or hear you can bet I meant to do it and gave it extensive, scratch that, exhaustive thought. Now my skills on the otherhand might not be caught up with my passion, but I'm working on it. I especially think that about my handling of the DVX at this point. I don't know it like I should yet. I appreciate and recognize all the superior talents on these boards. I look forward to learning from you.
The movie is for children basically, but universal enough for everyone. Think Star Wars, or The Dark Crystal etc.
Yes the jumpcuts in the introduction of the character were because of the strict 5 mins at the time. I was doing everything I could to squeeze it down. I thought it turned out nicely. It gave a disorienting feel. What the hero was about to go through was one of those disorienting days. A day when he would feel his only friend slipping away into sickness.
I don't agree with mrpunch about the conflict lacking urgency. The entire introduction builds into something the audience cares about, or at least I deeply care about, only to see it destroyed and drained by a force, a disease, a cancer it can't fight off. That's the overall conflict. The specific conflict surrounding the dog sets everything in motion. It gives the hero a small minded goal to a much bigger problem. The audience knows of that bigger problem, but the hero is just setting out to save his friend. It's not so much saving a friend but a quest to not be lonely. Loneliness is a theme in this movie. Also, it's not shot all MTV, so yes it does have some moments of reflection influenced by older cinema from a much simpler time.
The hero was happy living out in his hut. He was content, but certain bigger things happen sometimes and even the little guy has to take action.
I'm happy with this movie. Sure it has its shortcomings. But keep in mind a few things:
1. It was my first movie with the DVX
2. I shot it by myself (with the exception of a couple tiny shots that I dragged my sister out to help shoot, the one on the log). I played the hero, and the villian.
3. 0 budget, unless you count time spent
4. This was my first time getting really into AE.
5. I did so much physical behind-the-scenes work in this film. The shoot at the hut was 2 miles back through wild and wooly territory. I had to, by myself wheel in the bed, all the set decoration such as the stove, bracing for the bed, all the blankets and pillows, camera, tripod, the whole nine yards. I took it back in a deer cart my dad let me borrow, dragged it up over logs, nearly broke my back...then I set it all up, spent the night there for method acting purposes, woke up shot everything, packed everything back up and hauled ass.
That was just one day. The showdown scene was a real bastard because I had to hike in to a location I had scouted. Only this time the hike was weighted down with costumes and equipment. It was about 2 miles of up and down steep as hell terrain. I'm use to that kind of stuff though. I'm totally conditioned for it and do it constantly. I had a blast. The end result or vision I had kept throbbing in my brain and pushing me foward. What you see is a story I'm sincerely trying to tell, not something I slapped together. Even though it looks that way at times :grin:
Everything you see or hear you can bet I meant to do it and gave it extensive, scratch that, exhaustive thought. Now my skills on the otherhand might not be caught up with my passion, but I'm working on it. I especially think that about my handling of the DVX at this point. I don't know it like I should yet. I appreciate and recognize all the superior talents on these boards. I look forward to learning from you.
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Aaron Marshall
Well-known member
Kholi said:
Thanks Kholi! That means a lot. I'm glad you liked the score. I'll upload it into four separate mp3's in a couple of weeks. I knew you could sense the influence. There's a lot of vibes from the SNES RPG days in there.
Dahopafilms
Well-known member
Aaron,
I've watched your film twice. And I read your long description of how you filmed this. I get that really creepy feeling that we're all going to be hearing a lot more from you in the future. Why? Because it really sounds like you singularly busted a gut to make this and you really care about the story, the film and everything about it. Holy crap, you even scored it yourself.
Just to be absolutely clear, are you telling us that you filmed this totally on your own and then edited in the pans and zooms? Absolutely freaking fabulous.
What I liked:
Lastly (and I'm showing a little age here) I think this type of work (if not this piece itself) accomplished what Brian Wilson tried to do years ago in his Mount Vernon and Fairway fairy tale. He tried to make something for the kids (which in my view ended up as quite lame). Had he accomplished something along the lines of what you have done, I think he would have been pleased.
Really, really well done.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
And go pat your dog. Then make another film.
I've watched your film twice. And I read your long description of how you filmed this. I get that really creepy feeling that we're all going to be hearing a lot more from you in the future. Why? Because it really sounds like you singularly busted a gut to make this and you really care about the story, the film and everything about it. Holy crap, you even scored it yourself.
Just to be absolutely clear, are you telling us that you filmed this totally on your own and then edited in the pans and zooms? Absolutely freaking fabulous.
What I liked:
- Very tonal and complete in feel. Nice job.
- You went out and got great locations. I was totally in as soon as I saw the interior in the stone cabin. You can't build sets like that - but you CAN be smart enough to use locations that already exist - even if it means breaking your back getting there.
- The music/score was perfect. Loved it.
- The look was great - nice colours in the opening shots and some very nice effects.
- The VO narrative worked for me - and I can pick out a fake "British-type" accent a mile away. And yes, it was fake. But not too fake. Nice.
- I liked your cuts. They completely worked for me in the context of this piece.
- Your enthusiasm is coming across on screen. Well done.
- PERHAPS the story could be tightened up a little. Just a little.
- The battle scene with our hero waking up and just wiping out the bad guy didn't really do it for me.
Lastly (and I'm showing a little age here) I think this type of work (if not this piece itself) accomplished what Brian Wilson tried to do years ago in his Mount Vernon and Fairway fairy tale. He tried to make something for the kids (which in my view ended up as quite lame). Had he accomplished something along the lines of what you have done, I think he would have been pleased.
Really, really well done.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
And go pat your dog. Then make another film.
david jerome
Well-known member
I loved it Aaron. It's amazing that you did that by yourself. The setting was beautiful and drew me in. How do you make such pretty pictures under 40mb?
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Aaron Marshall
Well-known member
Dahopafilms said:
Thank you very much for watching my film. I'm very gracious for your observations, and kind words.
I did all the pans in post. I did the zooms using the remote control. If you look really closely in that scene coming into the window you can see it in my hand. I tried to hide it as best I could. If I'd not said anything you might think it was just a shadow or something from my hand.
There was one scene in which I had my sister use a homemade steady cam type device where I walked over that log. We did like 10 takes and one of them turned out halfway decent. In some of the scenes with the villains I did really quick cuts using my neice as a stand-in for the mask and cloak.
The dark ones were meant to be figurative. They meant to represent a much larger group of their species. I set up the showdown sequence as kind of like a chess game, or turn based RPG. I think anyone that's played those type of games could relate to the scene.
You're right about the showdown scene. I wish I could have done the showdown scene differently. It would have been if I had any semblance of a crew, or heck even one or two people. It just makes me look forward to next time when hopefully I'll have more resources. When I came back and saw my footage I just had to work with it. Things were starting to green out and it's not like I could do any reshoots.
Dahopafilms said:
I think any dog or animals enthusiasts will view this movie differently and probably more deeply. Her name is Esther. She a 5 year old Jack Russell terrier. She's so awesome and so smart. I love her. Man's best friend for sure. She's never been trained for anything like this and she nailed everything in 1 or 2 takes tops. I couldn't believe it. It's like she wanted to do it and knew what she was doing. It kind of scared me.
There was one scene where I had an idea to actually put the camera on her stomach, start rolling, walk away and come and check on her. I thought, "Nah that'll never work, she'll move and knock the camera over. I tried it and said "Esther, sit still now, don't move". She stayed in position, I put the camera a little on the ground and a little on her stomach. If she would have moved even the slightest the camera would have lost its framing. She didn't move one single muscle except for her face and head area. I hit record, walked away, came back and boom we had it in the first take. I gave her a doggie treat for that and she kept performing flawlessly the rest of the day for me.
She's a very special creature. I'm glad I somewhat immortalized her in a story. During the reshoots where everything greened out Esther ran off after a chipmunk or something and got lost. She normally does this type of thing, but the thing different about this time was, I was really moving and trying to focus on getting the film finished. So I didn't pay attention to her following me. I just assumed she was there. I put all my stuff down and started looking for her. That's when I wrote all the musical themes for when she was sick. In a way she helped me out there too. Later that evening I found her. Or she found me is more like it.
Dahopafilms said:
Thanks again. I deeply appreciate your feedback. I think you carefully examined my film for what it was, and your criticism is truly thought out, honest, and constructive.
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Aaron Marshall
Well-known member
Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.
Just Vegas 5.0. I kind of treated it like a video photoshop. I used After Effects for some shots. Especially in the intro. Well, the flowers mainly. 90% of it is CC'd with Vegas.
I used a lot of muted tones. I was thinking along the lines of a pseudo color noir.
Just Vegas 5.0. I kind of treated it like a video photoshop. I used After Effects for some shots. Especially in the intro. Well, the flowers mainly. 90% of it is CC'd with Vegas.
I used a lot of muted tones. I was thinking along the lines of a pseudo color noir.
Edgen
Veteran
aaron!! Man oh Man did I really love your score! Fantastic music to go with this little 'tale' 
I really dug the effects in the opening scene with the dragons and the little sprites amongst the flowers. Very cool stuff. Location.. Damn! That place was kinda creepy, but then again your amazing music really drove that into us.
I didn't know you filmed it all yourself too! That's crazy.
The only thing that I really had problems.. which, hopefully this is constructive was the transition wipes. I think with the context of the film a dissolve may have worked just as nice.
Great animal use too! she was a real sport.
Congrats on your film!
/j
I really dug the effects in the opening scene with the dragons and the little sprites amongst the flowers. Very cool stuff. Location.. Damn! That place was kinda creepy, but then again your amazing music really drove that into us.
I didn't know you filmed it all yourself too! That's crazy.
The only thing that I really had problems.. which, hopefully this is constructive was the transition wipes. I think with the context of the film a dissolve may have worked just as nice.
Great animal use too!
she was a real sport.Congrats on your film!
/j
mjmcneese
Veteran
Very creative. Hearkens me back to the days of playing Dragon Warrior on NES. Nice camerawork.
On the critical side, I'm not sure that some of the transitions are fitting. The music at the beginning wasn't bleak enough for what the VO was talking about. Is this guy a superhero or sorcerer?
On the critical side, I'm not sure that some of the transitions are fitting. The music at the beginning wasn't bleak enough for what the VO was talking about. Is this guy a superhero or sorcerer?
Aaron Marshall
Well-known member
Edgen said:aaron!! Man oh Man did I really love your score! Fantastic music to go with this little 'tale'
I really dug the effects in the opening scene with the dragons and the little sprites amongst the flowers. Very cool stuff. Location.. Damn! That place was kinda creepy, but then again your amazing music really drove that into us.
I didn't know you filmed it all yourself too! That's crazy.
The only thing that I really had problems.. which, hopefully this is constructive was the transition wipes. I think with the context of the film a dissolve may have worked just as nice.
Great animal use too!
Congrats on your film!
/j
Thanks Edgen! You know I respect your opinion a great deal. Oh the transitional wipes. I felt like using some creative wipe transitions ala George Lucas or old, old Flash Gorden reels. I wanted it to have that quirkiness, along with a certain grace. As for the wipes near the campire scene, I wanted to move the picture horizontally and experiment with how the screen moving on that axis. So movement had a lot to do with that. I want to convey movement in time and actual physical movement in the early morning light. That turned into a "high noon" type of spaghetti western gunslinger inspired pose walking across the log.
mjmcneese2 said:
Right on! Thank you.
mjmcneese2 said:
The music is something I had the most mature control over both emotionally and technically in the process. It was meant to counterpoint the truly dark things happening to the world. It wasn't so "melodramatic". It stayed coy in a way like it knew the hero was going to save the land. Its changes were very subtle.
Superhero, Sorcerer? What's the difference? They're cultural references to a fictional person with exaggerated abilities from different time periods.
Aaron Marshall
Well-known member
Thanks wesley. Beyond principle photography, I wouldn't change a frame of what I have. If I could have shot things differently I would have for some scenes. My favorite scene of all is the campire, and the smoke. It's the first scene I ever shot with my DVX, so it's sentimental. It's when it really dawned on me how much I might be able to do with the DVX as a tool. I was very stressed that I just dropped that much money on a big chunk of plastic and electronics. Not after that.
I have a feeling a lot of people aren't watching my film all the way through. It must be excruciatingly boring. It's kind of something you have to chill into. It's not a high energy drink, it's more like hot chocolate late at night. It's a bedtime story.
While it has plenty of shortcomings, I don't think any other film in the fest could be described as "elegant" as much as my film was; I think elegance is not something a noob director can pull off very well, if at all. BTW I don't mean that other films didn't have elegance, but mine was thick with it. I'm pretty much divorced from my film at this point. I'm looking at it as a viewer now.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned the elemental aspects, water, wind, fire etc. That's kinda where the hero drew his powers. Maybe it was too subtle? It's weird. Almost every one of my friends and family members I showed instantly picked up on that.
My next film will be better. That's really what you have to focus on. Compete against yourself. I hope it's horrorfest, because that's how I was leaning in new script concepts.
I have a feeling a lot of people aren't watching my film all the way through. It must be excruciatingly boring
. It's kind of something you have to chill into. It's not a high energy drink, it's more like hot chocolate late at night. It's a bedtime story. While it has plenty of shortcomings, I don't think any other film in the fest could be described as "elegant" as much as my film was; I think elegance is not something a noob director can pull off very well, if at all. BTW I don't mean that other films didn't have elegance, but mine was thick with it. I'm pretty much divorced from my film at this point. I'm looking at it as a viewer now.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned the elemental aspects, water, wind, fire etc. That's kinda where the hero drew his powers. Maybe it was too subtle? It's weird. Almost every one of my friends and family members I showed instantly picked up on that.
My next film will be better. That's really what you have to focus on. Compete against yourself. I hope it's horrorfest, because that's how I was leaning in new script concepts.