"Bloody Mary: A nightmare Collaboration by Mark Harris and Timur Civan"

I liked this film. This is another one that felt like I was watching a movie. Yes, this definitely felt like a reader's digest version of something much grander. You could definitely do something to the effect of real world versus vision world and what is really true. Craft on the film was excellent, and I'm not talking about the catering!

Good job, guys!


John G.
 
penfever said:
...The father looked like Lawrence Fishburne. Just had to say that. But how exactly is he her father?
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well barring a genetic near impossibility since she seems to be not only white, but a ginger ... one obvious answer sort of rears its head ... he ain't daddy, he's step daddy.

Could this have been alluded to more, perhaps, but I think its ok since there is only once possible answer and also it was clear to me that the guys were working within a kind of cinderella archetype (where stepdad replaces stepmom). I think this is even kind of a staple of the genre. I know there's a whole series called Step Dad or Step Father or something. So from the get it was clear that this man was the evil stepfather who had done mommy wrong (at least in the perhaps delusional eyes of the protag)

This explanataion does not negate your response - this was just my experience. Proabably everyone falls on your side of the fence or mine. If its important to Mark I'm sure he could easily emphasize it one way or another to keep folks on the same page with this.
 
yeah, step-dad. For those following along at home, this story is pretty much cribbing Hamlet, with Bloody Mary replacing Hamlet's father, the step-dad as a kind of Claudius, and the lead girl as the troubled Dane himself.
 
Guys .... great job. Nothing distracted me from what was going on and for a horror I got the chill I want and rarely get.
 
Mark and Timur,

Well, while I've only been able to watch about 7 of the films so far, yours is definitely my favorite.

Everything was great...the lighting, sound, acting (the father was great!), locations looked good, the makeup/fx whatever you did for the dead mother...friggin great.

The only part I found confusing was the second bathroom scene; it took me some time to realize that 'Bloody Mary' was supposed to be showing the daughter that the father killed her to prompt her to seek revenge.

I loved the end scene where she's in the tub covered in blood with the knife!

Great stuff man.
 
Well, the fact that you got that at all might be amazing. It's been a toss up about how clear we made that and how much clearer we SHOULD have made it.

But that's what I like about the fests. Some people are out just to win, I guess, but to me it's also a good place to try stuff out on an audience of fimmakers, to take some chances, try new things, and get some real feedback. I think Spidey said in his thread that he was trying out some new stuff too. So far, from many of the comments people have said her and in PM, I have some ideas on what needs to be clarified, what needs to be extended, etc.

Thanks for watching!!!

M

apollyon said:
Mark and Timur,

Well, while I've only been able to watch about 7 of the films so far, yours is definitely my favorite.

Everything was great...the lighting, sound, acting (the father was great!), locations looked good, the makeup/fx whatever you did for the dead mother...friggin great.

The only part I found confusing was the second bathroom scene; it took me some time to realize that 'Bloody Mary' was supposed to be showing the daughter that the father killed her to prompt her to seek revenge.

I loved the end scene where she's in the tub covered in blood with the knife!

Great stuff man.
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MY GOD! I just put this on and it rocks!! SCARY!!!! And you've got Laurence Fishburn playing LOL!!!! That dude is HIS TWIN! Same Morpheus look...I was begining to wonder when he'd pop the pills.

Going back to it...coming later with a review!!!!! BLOODY MARY BLOODY MARY 10 TIMES BLOODY MARY!!! Probably my favourite line so far!!!!!!
 
Ok!!! Here goes

One of the best definitely! Your lead is probably the best actor/actress I've seen so far! Totally convincing! Loved your make up and lights. Excellent cinematograpy and editing. The story was SOOOOOOOOOOO NICE!!!!! And it's rare to find a really nice story in here, one that works well in 6 mins and leaves no ? behind, at least it didnt do that to me.

I liked the score but thought you could go with a few db down...and emphasize on sound from the scene coz it was too loud sometimes.

Overall a true contestant!
 
Thanks Versus. I am making my way through them to yours. Man, having to work during the fest SUUUUUCKS.

But I'm glad you took the time to check us out!

Do kids play Bloody Mary in Greece?
 
desperatecomfort said:
Thanks Versus. I am making my way through them to yours. Man, having to work during the fest SUUUUUCKS.

But I'm glad you took the time to check us out!

Do kids play Bloody Mary in Greece?
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Hmmm we have several 'games' like that...at least I remember we did 20 years ago....not sure what the kids play today...they play the REAL bloody mary man i m telling you....crazy youth......

Anyway....
 
I've watched about 80% of the shorts and Bloody Mary is the best one I've seen so far. You've got a distinct style here that you were able to retain through out. You did a great job of incorporating a lot of "horror" elements while not giving in to the Micheal Bay editing style. You respected your story and actors and let the story speak for itself.

One of the moments that stick out in my mind is when the mother is holding the girl and blood starts dripping on her face. Rather than throwing in a flash frame and some over the top effects you let that moment play out which really drew me in and gave me a WTF feeling.

REALLY dug the father. That guy creeped me the eff out. Loved the moment when he turns to the camera while sitting at the desk. Again, I really loved that you let these little moments play out.

Great job man! This is a solid piece of work!
 
!!!!! :D !!!! THAKN YOU GUYS!!!!!!

man lemme tell you for a struggling DP who thought ... gee maybe im just not cut out for this bussiness... these words of encouragement are pricelss..... Thank you all so much!!!!!!
 
Michael_Petro said:
dont know protocol for these fest so here goes your
movie kicks ass wow I liked it alot. I shall watch again and learn... :)
after I've seen the other ones of coarse :)
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Thank you Michael, your thread has been a fun place to hang out.
Betrayed was well..... :) Interesting. But for a firstimer im glad you
didint go the route of TExas ChainsawMassacre, or The Hotel. You kept it
real and original.... Respek. ;)



desperatecomfort said:
Also, you want to learn?

Lesson #1) GET TIMUR ON YOUR MOVIE.
Lesson #2) GET STEVE ON YOUR MOVIE.
Lesson #3) GET HERMAN ON YOUR MOVIE
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Lesson 2 and Three being the most important. Steve is the man.
Steve = 5 People on set. Herman gave us something that i cannot
thank him enough for. That score is on my ipod..... Herman Does
impecibble work. Thank you SOOOOO MUCH HERMAN!!!!!!! It would
have been a different flm without you.

TheatreGuy said:
AWESOME JOB ON YOUR MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW! Great lighting, story, music..........

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Glad you are happy!!!! WE tried to make the best most complete film we could...
in Six minutes. lol Movie Express i suppose.



insanityfw said:
Wow!!!! You guys did just about everything right on this one. Very inspiring.

I'm not a big fan of the super softness that the DVX and adapter can bring, but it adds a real 70's-Horror style that only adds to the mood.

EDIT: Great cinematogrpahy, Great editing, great shot selection and pretty damn good acting. The music creeped me out.

Great job again guys.
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Insanity, thnak you for the kind words, I agree with the 70's aspect of thiscomment.
i took much inspiration from "the Entity" a true story i might add...
one of the most terrifying books/films ever. Makes exorcist look like
peewee's playhouse. I took a lot of that very theatrical lighting, which
is alos pretty prevalent int the Video art world. Nostalgia goes along way
in this film. i wanted ti to look "timeless" no real date marker as to when it tool place.
( yea yea there was a TV .... BMFU)


Brandon Rice said:
Bloody Mary


Acting
Wow, everyone was perfectly cast, your lead was terrific. The only knock on the acting is I think she seemed too psychotic at the very end, maybe a little more scared/terrified would be in order.
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Ye Marks talent for choosing the right actorto play the right role is uncany.. He realllly is a VERY VERY good director. He can sculpt a performance liek no bodies bussiness.
Brandon Rice said:
Cinematography
Whoa! The look of this film knocked my socks off! Totally stylized, and different, but it totally worked. It had it’s OWN look, and it rocked! Amazing amazing work.
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Yea after discussing my ideas wth mark, he oked me o go ahead on my vision of Bloody Mary.
i really didint want to make a flashy quick cutting gore movie. I find that pacing an image, letting it burn
into your head is more powerful. For example the last scene. i specifically asked mark to make as few cuts as
possible. just let it play. let leah do her thing. That was shot in 2 takes. wide angle.... and the closeup.
her energy was all there and i wanted it to show..... OR The dolley in to the stepdad with the head roll and all that
green lighting. that shot scares me, even while i was filming it. color psychology had alot of role in ths film.
all thoes years in art school ment something after alll. lol.

Thank you for noticing that i tried hard to create our OWN look for this film, and do something as origional as possible.


Kholi said:
Review | POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT! I watch the movies first time around strictly for enjoyment, second and third for review.

Let me say that this felt like a horror movie throughout. It reminded me of Carrie a lot, appealed in a 70's horror sort of way like said before.

Cine/Lighting - Timur you rocked the Microphone, figuratively speaking. Awesome lighting. Sorry the compression softened it but it looks great to me, man. Shadow play, composition. It's all there. You're high up on the list for Best Cine if not the best I've seen so far.

Editing - Seemed like it had to be really chopped down to the six minutes. I think, personally, you really had enough time to work it down to less than five in the cutting room, but that's just me. Editing could be tightened later, though.

Sound - 70's horror. The soundtrack fits the visuals for me. I have no qualms about it. The voices weren't hollow, but sounded pretty much right on. No peaks or lows, smooth sailing.

Special Effects - Bloody Mary looked pretty gross. I wanted to reach into the screen and comb her nappy hair. Blood work was sticky, some too bright for my tastes (in the bathtub) but otherwise, sweet.

Scariest Moments - I don't like when lights go out. So every time they went out I wasn't too happy.

Overall consensus - Great work from you guys. I'm not up for Man-Hole at all (Not my thing) but this shows versatility. Timur your lighting is as good as everyone praises you for. I love it. Keep up the good work dudes! And thanks for the lesson.
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Thanks Kholi! I love the "lemme brush her nappy hair part.. lol. if you saw poor rachel, she needed a bit of kindness on set. she was miserable. that costume while looking awesome was apparently
terribly uncomfortable.

Lemme ask you though? you said we could chop it down to five minutes. Do you mean by removing the opening scene or just with quicker cutting???? Acually this should be
directed to mark as he is the Editor. but im just curious what youre thinking? Thanks for watching hope we made you crap you pants.

Getting to the rest in a few minutes!
 
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Aram Bauman said:
I think you guys are going to have a nice HVX in a week.
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You planning on stopping by with one? I mean, what kind of cash can you get for pawning your terminator ass if you need the money? :)
 
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