86th Street Studios: "Catherine" by Nic Aragon
- Thread starter Cynic821
- Start date
Just got another look at the screenies in post 1. Looking forward to it!
Review | POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT! I watch the movies first time around strictly for enjoyment, second and third for review.
Hey, Cynic/Nick. For some reason, you remind me of the antognist from Hackers (1). I wonder why. Saw your short, review below.
Script - Ghost story works for me. I like the idea of the outcast becoming the hero. Not sure how far it travels into the realm of horror but it made a good short piece. Some of the dialogue was eh. Like the scene in the hallway with the repair guy and your leading lady. I think all of that could've been said at the washer and it would've moved things along faster. The hallway scenes seem to be out of place as well, though you'll see below that I liked the hallway visuals. Also, it took a while to get to what it was really about. The shower information came later, and then the girl's death. Maybe if you started out with the death instead of using a flash back it might've had more punch? You could re-edit it that way and see how it works overall. Just a thought!
Direction - Not a bad choice of shots. There's a lot of focal play going on, and maybe because of the short format it became redundant on the second watch around but it wasn't too bad. The blood rinsing on the wall was a neat kinda take on the idea. I liked the scenes with her walking through the halls. Great stuff, visually.
Acting - Your leading lady seemed to deliver curse words a bit better than regular dialogue. But she wasn't bad at all. Nice girl next-door look. Your repair man had a good bit of delivery in the washing room, then became a bit mechanical. You did well as the suspicious weirdo. Best actor in the entire thing. =D Good job to all actors.
Cine/Lighting - Yellow wash. Not a bad way to go about it all. Seemed kind of "in hindsight" or "flashback" to me which wasn't bad. And the actual flashback or "revelation" color choices were neato. I see now why you were playing with the Coca Cola cup in the water.
Editing - Not too shabby at all. Dun ever have much to say in this field, just whether it stood out as not so good or good. Only a few odd cuts and holds. Fade-outs in the wrong place, maybe? Just an opinion.
Sound - I'm just not a fan of the piano tracks this go around. Soundtrack didn't do it for me with this one, though the sound effects were fine. The kick to her face didn't seem right on the second watch, but it still had enough impact.
Special Effects - That was a harsh kick to the face, dude. I was like "owies". And then the blood flew. Neat addition.
Scariest Moments - The hallway scene, actually. I almost expected something to float around the corner before I knew what the story was about. Hallways are always creepy to me though.
Overall consensus - My first time seeing narrative work from you and it was a good watch. Hope to see more in the future. You should go into acting as the silent guy who looks like he MIGHT kill you but will eventually save you. That should be your role. Typecasting and all.
Hey, Cynic/Nick. For some reason, you remind me of the antognist from Hackers (1). I wonder why. Saw your short, review below.
Script - Ghost story works for me. I like the idea of the outcast becoming the hero. Not sure how far it travels into the realm of horror but it made a good short piece. Some of the dialogue was eh. Like the scene in the hallway with the repair guy and your leading lady. I think all of that could've been said at the washer and it would've moved things along faster. The hallway scenes seem to be out of place as well, though you'll see below that I liked the hallway visuals. Also, it took a while to get to what it was really about. The shower information came later, and then the girl's death. Maybe if you started out with the death instead of using a flash back it might've had more punch? You could re-edit it that way and see how it works overall. Just a thought!
Direction - Not a bad choice of shots. There's a lot of focal play going on, and maybe because of the short format it became redundant on the second watch around but it wasn't too bad. The blood rinsing on the wall was a neat kinda take on the idea. I liked the scenes with her walking through the halls. Great stuff, visually.
Acting - Your leading lady seemed to deliver curse words a bit better than regular dialogue. But she wasn't bad at all. Nice girl next-door look. Your repair man had a good bit of delivery in the washing room, then became a bit mechanical. You did well as the suspicious weirdo. Best actor in the entire thing. =D Good job to all actors.
Cine/Lighting - Yellow wash. Not a bad way to go about it all. Seemed kind of "in hindsight" or "flashback" to me which wasn't bad. And the actual flashback or "revelation" color choices were neato. I see now why you were playing with the Coca Cola cup in the water.
Editing - Not too shabby at all. Dun ever have much to say in this field, just whether it stood out as not so good or good. Only a few odd cuts and holds. Fade-outs in the wrong place, maybe? Just an opinion.
Sound - I'm just not a fan of the piano tracks this go around. Soundtrack didn't do it for me with this one, though the sound effects were fine. The kick to her face didn't seem right on the second watch, but it still had enough impact.
Special Effects - That was a harsh kick to the face, dude. I was like "owies". And then the blood flew. Neat addition.
Scariest Moments - The hallway scene, actually. I almost expected something to float around the corner before I knew what the story was about. Hallways are always creepy to me though.
Overall consensus - My first time seeing narrative work from you and it was a good watch. Hope to see more in the future. You should go into acting as the silent guy who looks like he MIGHT kill you but will eventually save you. That should be your role. Typecasting and all.
filmismymedium
Well-known member
haha, dvxuser keychain. I love mine too!
Awesome short. In the process of watching the rest of the films, just wanted to say, good job!
Awesome short. In the process of watching the rest of the films, just wanted to say, good job!
Cynic821
Carbonite Member
Thanks.
Kholi: Im not going to defend anything in the movie, i expect a TON of that , well we didnt have time, and didnt this and that when i post some of my reviews...ill just say a few things though...
The characters dont like to talk around that guy (me) so they went into the hallway...Alot of the Hallway conversation is chopped out, i think the normal conversation went better...im glad it didnt feel wierd though, that scene used to be 2.5 minutes alone! I wouldnt say im the best actor , maybe best at what i do, just be a wierd shut in creep, you wouldnt think that with my farmers tan though
Kholi: Im not going to defend anything in the movie, i expect a TON of that , well we didnt have time, and didnt this and that when i post some of my reviews...ill just say a few things though...
The characters dont like to talk around that guy (me) so they went into the hallway...Alot of the Hallway conversation is chopped out, i think the normal conversation went better...im glad it didnt feel wierd though, that scene used to be 2.5 minutes alone! I wouldnt say im the best actor , maybe best at what i do, just be a wierd shut in creep, you wouldnt think that with my farmers tan though
VersuS
Veteran
Ok, time for 'CATHERINE'.
I'll start with this ---> 'Catherine' has the visual ambience that I love in some movies. The colors, the warmth, the sometimes out of focus, the blurriness....I loved it!!
I found that this film had excellent cinematography. I LOVED the corridor shots when the girl leaves the appartment, with the music it was like a video clip!
I also loved your score. PIANO ROCKS! And it certainly blended well with the movie and the story. But here's the negative...the screenplay....I think it could get better....as a story it is very interesting....but i dont think its a story for a 6' film...the part with the guy in the laundry was nice shot but story-wise it seemed that its purpose was just to inform us about the dead girl and for the girl to leave her keys...you could have achieved those 2 with something completely different, that part slowed down the movie significantly.
I liked the bathtub scene when she says GET OUT! Creepy! But before that, during the murder, the blood looked orange...maybe something with the compression....
I found some issues with sound as well....it was like they were recorded in empty rooms...dont know how to make it clearer..maybe you know what i m saying....but you had the score all the time and I like it so much that I didnt mind the sound issues....
The acting was OK...the girl (the live one) especially was more natural in her part than the male characters.
Ah and something else...when he kicks her, right before she has a bloody nose. First of all we dont know how that happened....but lets leave that....he kicks her in the face and then she turns her head and there's no blood on her nose!
Anyway, all in all I really really enjoyed this one! In terms of directing and lighting one of the best IMHO. And score!
I'll start with this ---> 'Catherine' has the visual ambience that I love in some movies. The colors, the warmth, the sometimes out of focus, the blurriness....I loved it!!
I found that this film had excellent cinematography. I LOVED the corridor shots when the girl leaves the appartment, with the music it was like a video clip!
I also loved your score. PIANO ROCKS! And it certainly blended well with the movie and the story. But here's the negative...the screenplay....I think it could get better....as a story it is very interesting....but i dont think its a story for a 6' film...the part with the guy in the laundry was nice shot but story-wise it seemed that its purpose was just to inform us about the dead girl and for the girl to leave her keys...you could have achieved those 2 with something completely different, that part slowed down the movie significantly.
I liked the bathtub scene when she says GET OUT! Creepy! But before that, during the murder, the blood looked orange...maybe something with the compression....
I found some issues with sound as well....it was like they were recorded in empty rooms...dont know how to make it clearer..maybe you know what i m saying....but you had the score all the time and I like it so much that I didnt mind the sound issues....
The acting was OK...the girl (the live one) especially was more natural in her part than the male characters.
Ah and something else...when he kicks her, right before she has a bloody nose. First of all we dont know how that happened....but lets leave that....he kicks her in the face and then she turns her head and there's no blood on her nose!
Anyway, all in all I really really enjoyed this one! In terms of directing and lighting one of the best IMHO. And score!
Cynic821
Carbonite Member
Cool! Thanks John. The empty room thing i understand what you mean, i think. Its kida echoey in this place, no crew so setting up the boom with the AT-897 was tricky most of the time for optimized audio.
Her nose was originally bloody from being chloroform'd out. Ya his character , the hallway guy, was written alot differently and edited that way for the 6 minute short of it. It was originally written specifically for this contest, but ran longer than i thought it would and how it played out in my head. You are one of the first to spot the disappearing blood though... shhh. LOL.
I am really happy though you got the mood and the way it was shot , the 'visual ambience' its exactly what i was striving for, the reaction you had with it that is. Jordan will be happy you liked the score, theres bass in there that cant be heard on ear buds or normal laptop speakers too. Again though , im glad you liked the cinematography it was one of the biggest parts of the short, that and the score are suppose to drive home the feeling for the movie...thanks for the review!
Her nose was originally bloody from being chloroform'd out. Ya his character , the hallway guy, was written alot differently and edited that way for the 6 minute short of it. It was originally written specifically for this contest, but ran longer than i thought it would and how it played out in my head. You are one of the first to spot the disappearing blood though...
shhh. LOL. I am really happy though you got the mood and the way it was shot , the 'visual ambience' its exactly what i was striving for, the reaction you had with it that is. Jordan will be happy you liked the score, theres bass in there that cant be heard on ear buds or normal laptop speakers too. Again though , im glad you liked the cinematography it was one of the biggest parts of the short, that and the score are suppose to drive home the feeling for the movie...thanks for the review!
Matt Sconce
Veteran
Okay, this is one of my favorites so far. I loved the story, and the ending. The cinematography was great. I wish the girl was more in focus with the get out line and a little of her shots were blurry also, but all in all awesome. The music worked well, and the angles were great. Thanks for making such an enjoyable film!
penfever
Well-known member
Cynic & Nic-
Solid effort, a well put-together film. This is a good film because it pays some attention to all the different aspects of filmmaking. Sound gets some attention, (although the quality of the vocal recording is very spotty), and gives an acceptable if not spectacular verite feel to the short.
Cinematography is one of the best I've seen so far at times-there's a little too much sense of deliberately overcoming production and mise-en-scene limitations with blur filters, but what I like is that it's always justified by the story, so it really is one of those things that would pop out only to people like me, who wish they could be shooting another film right now instead of working.
What's good about the shooting is that the handheld style works with pacing and sound to create a single atmosphere. The plot is also pretty solid - acts 1,2,3 all present and accounted for, which is nice to see in a fest full of meandering stories and teasers for features.
Performances are spotty - I didn't like the line before he kicks her - I thought it was delivered way too flatly, given her situation. But I liked the grungy hero character's performance.
Anyway, I've seen you before at this fest and I'm sure I will again. Peace!
-Ben
Solid effort, a well put-together film. This is a good film because it pays some attention to all the different aspects of filmmaking. Sound gets some attention, (although the quality of the vocal recording is very spotty), and gives an acceptable if not spectacular verite feel to the short.
Cinematography is one of the best I've seen so far at times-there's a little too much sense of deliberately overcoming production and mise-en-scene limitations with blur filters, but what I like is that it's always justified by the story, so it really is one of those things that would pop out only to people like me, who wish they could be shooting another film right now instead of working.
What's good about the shooting is that the handheld style works with pacing and sound to create a single atmosphere. The plot is also pretty solid - acts 1,2,3 all present and accounted for, which is nice to see in a fest full of meandering stories and teasers for features.
Performances are spotty - I didn't like the line before he kicks her - I thought it was delivered way too flatly, given her situation. But I liked the grungy hero character's performance.
Anyway, I've seen you before at this fest and I'm sure I will again. Peace!
-Ben
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Cynic821 said:
still making my way to yours dude... there are a LOT of films, and I only have so much time in a day
some more coming this afternoon... including yours!
Mark Harris
Pain in the ass
I thought this was really well done. Not exactly scary or suspenseful, or anything like that, but did have a real doleful sense of sadness flowing through it. The pacing and the music really brought that home. Almost as if what we were watching was inevitable and we weren't meant to wonder what would happen, or anything. Just flow with it and witness it.
I think this would destroy a feature, but in a 6 min, it actually was pretty effective to me.
I knew the long-hair was misunderstood!
Just a good, solid story.
I think this would destroy a feature, but in a 6 min, it actually was pretty effective to me.
I knew the long-hair was misunderstood!
Just a good, solid story.