Leap Of Faith - Larry R

conrad - thanks for the comments. When I started out I wanted to make sure I had a complete story or else I wasn't going to proceed. I spent about a month, getting input from a couple of outstanding writers, fine tuning the script to make sure the story was clear and complete. I'm glad you, and others, feel I have accomplished that.

Thanks for the "beefs", along with hearing what was done right it is helpful to hear what wasn't so good. Especially since I am still pretty new to all of this (this being only my second film ever and my first time handling the DVX).

I'm still trying to get a handle on framing, Thanks for pointing it out as it helps remind me to be more conscious of it while watching others (to see how they accomplish it) and while filming my next project.

The sky thing was a major beef with me...I saw it while I was filming, but I was so overwhelmed with everything that had to be accomplished I couldn't find the time to fix it. A week later I was able to borrow the DvX again and shoot some pick-ups, I finally had a little breathing room to figure out the iris and was able to improve my shots, I then shot some better exposed sky with clouds to try and cut in to the original shots, but keying out the old blown out sky was proving very difficult, especially with the detail around the trees. Live and Learn...at least I know better how to expose the camera for next time.

I hope, technical gaffes aside, that it was an enjoyable experience. Thanks for watching and commenting.
 
After trying to keep up with Jack's thread, I have decided that it's simply not plausible to read every page of every thread and then leave comments. With this in mind, please forgive repeat comments.

The praise:
The begining is phenominal, I was on the verge of goosebumps. The music, the vo, the titles, awesome.

Hands down, best score in the fest.

Great title.

Overall, good shot selection. decent composition, good mise-en-scene, good camera movement.

Cool locations.

Using the music as the punch hits (when he's invisible in the bathroom) worked really well. I would have loved to have seen them all like that, and not use the cheesy punch sound.

Cool story, the script could have used a bit of dialog doctoring, but other than that I was diggin' it.

The critique:
You have already addressed the problems that you had with the sky, so there's no need to go into it.

Someone (briceman?) suggested a he fade away when in the bathroom instead of just dissappear. Good call.

Some of the shots seem really forced, like in the intro, when he is stepping up onto the ledge he pauses for a really long time. Doesn't seem natural. When the mystery man walks up to the park bench, you can see him standing still for like 5 frames before he begins to walk.

I'm somewhat up in the air on the acting. The main guy was pretty good, but everyone else seemed pretty hammy.

The effects, overall, need some work. There were lots of pops where background plates were repeating.

Something about the handwashing/ walkby shot looked off. It has to do with the hand timing and the guy walking by.

After he puts on the costume, it would have been nice to see a moment where he showed some signs of being unsure of what was going on.

I would definitely try doing your own foley next time, those ready-made punch sounds are often a bit rediculous.

A bit more careful framing, and the punches in the fight scene could have looked much more realistic.

In the scene where the cop shows up, I can see a mask traveling on the left side of the frame, though I'm not sure what you were using it for. Also, there's remnants of it as he runs away.

Overall:
I dug it, and for the first time with the DVX (and second film overall?) that was a great accomplishment.
 
Hey TC, thanks for the comments....I guess that means I have to get back to that boat anchor, huh? :grin: Wait a minute, aren't you supposed to be at the mud run today? You didn't chicken out did you?

Anyway, back to the film/comments.... It sounds like you were entertained and for that I'm glad. That was the primary goal.

I agree, the punch sound fx were cheesy, but on such a limited budget and extremely compressed timeframe that was the best I could come up with. I was glad the music underscored the punches in the bathroom...really adds a nice "punch" to the scene.

I am working on fixing the disappear/reappear scenes...as I agree that it isn't working as is. I originally wanted it to be a cool fade-out/in effect or something, but ran out of time.

The long delay when he step onto the ledge was intentional. I was trying, not totally successfully, to show his apprehension about approaching the edge and, ultimately, leaping off.

The actors are better than you can tell here...that is the fault of my still learning to direct.

Regarding the effects...that is just the best I can do. That is not an area I even have a desire to delve into...just to much to learn on top of everything else. Next time I will bring on a VFX person/crew...they did, however, greatly impress my family and friends. Especially the "hologram" rising out of the watch...Personally, I know it is cheesy and weak, but the average audience is easily impressed.

Good idea about a little more apprehension after he put the suit on. I actually scripted a longer sequence of him putting the suit on, but just ran out of time to film/include the shots.

And yes, I want to focus on framing a lot... I see where I need to improve there...and many other things as well.

Glad you enjoyed it...and thanks for commenting.

Peace,
Larry
 
I liked this one. The theme/writing was what I liked best. Not trying to be completely serious, not trying to be completely satirical. This one had a flow to it I really enjoyed.

Some technical issues were there, some writing and editing issues, but a good concept, design, and pacing carried it along well.

The music was great.
 
Larry great film! Well done.

I loved the music ,(defo da best), and I think you really gave us a SuperHero film at last! Liked your main Actor (Cool SM gloves :)) I did question a few of the cuts dolly, bathroom fade, also how he left the sketch book behind, his initial reaction to that cool watch but thats just pickin. It was very entertaining and I think you got the ending spot on leaving us wanting more.
Top Job.
 
Rapier - glad you enjoyed it...and thanks for the great work cleaning up my bad audio and making that awesome 3d rotation of the logo.

jp - yes, I agree the music is FANTASTIC...Leo did an outstanding job. I'm not sure what "SM gloves" are (I know I'll feel stupid when I find out :) ), but I actually got chemical gloves from the military surplus store, washed the powder off them and spray painted them black. Yes, the cuts need more work...some are because I don't know what I'm doing yet and others are because I had to work with timing/available footage issues. Glad you enjoyed it.

It's interesting about the script...a few have mentioned quibbles with the dialog/script. This is where I spent the majority of my time...and actually went through several revisions with 3 different people reviewing each version. I never got a 100% consensus on any version. Some people loved one version and then really disliked another, then the next revision it would be just the opposite :) It's pretty interesting how subjective that stuff is.

I'm not saying the dialog doesn't need to be tweaked/cleaned up, just pointing out an interesting observation.

Anyway, glad you guys enjoyed it. Thanks.
 
I liked the film and it is very apparent that a lot of hard work went into it. I like the story the only thing that I found difficult was it felt a little forced. What I mean by that is that the story you wanted to tell may have been served better in a 15-20 minutes film.

It reminded me of "Greatest American Hero", loved that as a kid.

Other then that my notes have already been discussed so there is little reason to rehash.

This is a wonderful effort and proves that you can execute the complicated task of putting together complicated scenes and deal with both live action and special effects as your tools to tell the story. A lot went right with this. Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve next.
 
Wow, thanks for the kind comments....glad you liked it.

When I wrote the script I remember thinking that I had something that fit well in the 5 minute timeframe, but while I was shooting it I realized that I was compressing a large amount of time into a small window. I am a fan of these short form projects because as a writer they challenge me to tell only the core elements of the story and not drag on simply to fill time. But, you're right, this story would be well served in a longer format....It would be nice to get to know these people, especially the hero. It would help to know his fears and insecurities and his desire to become something more than himself. It would also help to establish a real "crime" for him to deal with rather than the stereotypical "hostage" situation I cooked up just so I could get bad guys into the story before the 5 minutes ran out.

You are the second to comment on the Greatest American Hero. I never thought of that while making it, but I see the connection....in particular with the suit. I too enjoyed it as a youth.

Again, thanks for the kind comments and the constructive feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I too look forward to seeing what I might be able to pull off next time.

Thanks.
 
Heres my review of the film.

STORY: The story was there but it didn't collect right. Why would some give him the suit why would someone what to be a hero? Why is it happening to him? Why do gangster hold people up in the most open space, a park at noon time? why does he jump at the end? incomplete feeling and confusion. unanswered informaton.

SFX: I didnt' understand why you green screen a scene on the bench. it could have just had the compositing. I don't understand the drawing being fake as well on the paper, it destracting and looks "magical"? The one part when the cop tells him to stay there you masked something out but it is very visible and even cover up the actor at one point. Need a FX guy to do your work and have him there while you shoot for suggestions.

SOUND: Decent audio job. could hear them talk and well done but the asian guy voice seemed dub or out of sync.

SOUNDTRACK: Went well good job!

ACTORs: Acting was a little rough on the edges. the action fighting was really under done and comes of bad on camera, almost funny. Its ok for actors to take punches if you want realism. for cpu my actor puches each other and threw each other. I let them act natural with one another and they started to go at one another.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Good shots need to work with the camera more then you'll be better with it. study movies and the way movies are shot.


Overall: an Ok start to your first real project needs alot work but it can be better overall a decent atempt good for the first time. But editing wise make sure you dont see the "AND ACTION" then movement of character I noticed that with the one wide shot of the asian guy walking.

But story wise you need help in. I mean I knew what you were going for but it wasn't. I know of Bibleman and It felt like you going for that approach. It's ok to break away from it or to do the same just make sure your story is well thought and planned well or you will have certain themes but overall message is a miss. make it your own film but make it worth viewing and interesting with the message.
 
I was an extra in Leap of Faith (the one with Steve Martin etc.). :) Anyways, Glad to see you were able to get it done. everything has pretty much been covered, the guy waiting for his walking queue, the drawing, the masking but it's all about living and learning right. Nice score also. Good luck.
 
Hey -
I liked this film, particularly the costume of the main character. I also liked the moment when he poses in the mirror...a little bit of superhero vanity to brighten up the day.
Maintaining the pace of action is obviously a key thing here. Running out of one frame and strolling into the next is a risky choice, it makes your audience feel the urgency has passed already.
And the invisibility FX - I can't help but feel something more could have been done with that. The best effects are done with editing, not with AE. What the audience wants is to feel like something magical has happened - if you show it to them, unless you're Aram Bauman or somebody like that, it's basically going to be a let-down. Don't be afraid to hide things if you do it well.
Best of luck, and see you next fest.
-Ben
 
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