"This Is Death, Your Captain Speaking" a Horror entry by Phillip George/Shawn Chittle

[Mark Harris]

Thanks man. Well said on the sound stuff, because sound is more important than visuals typically (especially dialog sound). I need to amp it up no doubt. But think about it, little things I made time for that made a big difference:

1. 100% authentic flight deck audio, warning sirens, sounds, ATC
2. 100% authentic flight deck script, those lines could be spoken in real life and they would be accurate (Hollywood can rarely say that)
3. When the thunder cracks outside, it muffles when we cut to the indoors shots.

That's good sound design IMHO. But it can be a lot better and will be! :beer:

I don't mean sound DESIGN. Had no problem with that. Mainly the recorded sound. I'm just talking about certain points where that could have been cleaner. And I think get rid of it altogether in favor of foley, like when he gets out of bed and walks out the bedroom door, for instance. That's a place where the lcoation sound was kind of eh.

 

[Edgen]

Heya!! I enjoyed the film! But death!?! That's what really got me going.. "Oh boy.. now its kooky." I'm sure you've heard this, but the audio was just a downer for me. I LOVED, LOVED the small clippit you posted earlier in the month and actually inspired my own music in a way. I found myself listening to it over and over. Of course, blocking out all the sirens and whistlings of the aircraft.

Luck to have that location and looking forward to seeing more of your films!

cheers,
/j

 

[gwmesler]

I gave you top score for VFX. The airplane crash was very good.

 

[Darkline]

did you really do the plane crashing scene? It was so realistic I thought you had used real news footage!

 

[TheatreGuy]

FlintMI, great job on your film! The ending caught me off-guard. Didn't see that coming. Nice job.

I loved the cockpit shots! Wow! Spinning gauges and all. Nice stuff. Great plane sounds as well!

I thought that the "costumes" were authentic. (sounds silly, but nothing like seeing a cop in a fake uniform. Same would apply to a fake uniform on an airline captain. Nice job!)

Loved, loved, loved the newscaster. And the added "video" lines made it work even better. Great Job!

I didn't like the scene with the stewardess. First of all, the airplane noise way over-powered the dialogue. And I would like to have had the Captain's voice there. It seemed like a long scene for a one-way conversation with the main part of the conversation missing. Just my opinion.

I didn't catch up with the fact that the guy sleeping was dreaming (or re-living the flight). Maybe a hazy filter to play the initial cockpit scene? I don't know. Maybe you want the audience to find out later that this was a dream but I would like to know that choice.

Overall, I really enjoyed your film. (Always love an airplane flick!) And I didn't see that coming with Death sitting next to him as his co-pilot.

If I may expound on this (Death).... I would really liked to have seen a transformation of sorts as the co-pilot becomes death. I can see that as eerie. As it was, your death character was rather static. I would loved to have seen his mouth move. I guess in general, I love the idea of death sitting there but he was too "physical" (meaning that he should have been more of an "illusion").

Loved the concept and I thought that you did a great job pulling it off!

Nice work and congrats!

Ted

 

[FlintMI]

I'm sure you've heard this, but the audio was just a downer for me. I LOVED, LOVED the small clippit you posted earlier in the month and actually inspired my own music in a way. I found myself listening to it over and over. Of course, blocking out all the sirens and whistlings of the aircraft. Luck to have that location and looking forward to seeing more of your films! cheers, /j

Hey Justin! Do you mean dialog audio or soundtrack or both? Soundtrack was done in 18 minutes, including the recording of it. I just ran out of time and it was last on my list. To say you were inspired by that men's choir piece I posted earlier was one of the best compliments I've gotten on this board. Thanks so much for that Justin! you should hear my final 6 second 60-240BPM raging drum part that increases the tension and emotion leading up to the crash. I should have had someone else do the soundtrack. soooo time consuming!

The dialog audio was straight into a G2 evolution wireless lav, but I had 5 camera angles going on that flightdeck and the actors did a LOT of ad libbing (I wanted that). But sorting out the audio from take to take and cutting it all together in the time I had was not possible. I'm remixing it for the theatrical release and it will be sweeter. I'm also recording a whole new soundtrack for the final version.

Did you get the guitar joke from the rooftop? It's an inside joke. But I'll let you in on it. We shot that scene in Sam Waterston's building, so I played a total rip of "Law & Order" can you hear it? LOL

FlintMI, great job on your film! The ending caught me off-guard. Didn't see that coming. Nice job. I loved the cockpit shots! Wow! Spinning gauges and all. Nice stuff. Great plane sounds as well! I thought that the "costumes" were authentic. (sounds silly, but nothing like seeing a cop in a fake uniform. Same would apply to a fake uniform on an airline captain. Nice job!) Loved, loved, loved the newscaster. And the added "video" lines made it work even better. Great Job!

Wow thanks Ted! Costumes were in fact real pilot uniforms. I wanted 100% authenticity or else the movie would have been totally hokey. Yah, the scanlines puts the viewer watching a TV set. She's a (former) real newscaster, so that's why she pulls it off.

I didn't like the scene with the stewardess. First of all, the airplane noise way over-powered the dialogue. And I would like to have had the Captain's voice there. It seemed like a long scene for a one-way conversation with the main part of the conversation missing. Just my opinion.

Thanks, yah, I have the captain's audio where they talk back and forth and I just didn't get the time to put it on there, and I plain messed up when I mixed it and yes, she's being overpowered by the aircraft audio. Fixed in the final version.

I didn't catch up with the fact that the guy sleeping was dreaming (or re-living the flight). Maybe a hazy filter to play the initial cockpit scene? I don't know. Maybe you want the audience to find out later that this was a dream but I would like to know that choice.

Shoot! Well, I had the hazy filter but it didn't seem like it really happened (remember it actually did, this is a nightmare of a real event). Instead, I just added flashback cuts to him in bed having the nightmare. Did you see that? The newscaster tells you it was real, but gives people nightmares (like the Captain in question). I had originally done a fade from him to the flightdeck, and Daniela told me she thought it was the next day, so instead I cut right to it and interspersed him dreaming. Thought I did my job on that, but I need to do it better for the final version.

My question: should I leave the flightdeck audio running when I cut back to the captain in bed or cut to the scene audio (TV drone)? I can't figure that out.

Overall, I really enjoyed your film. (Always love an airplane flick!) And I didn't see that coming with Death sitting next to him as his co-pilot.

Thanks, the twist at the end was what I wanted. Most had no idea what this film was about and that was the point.

If I may expound on this (Death).... I would really liked to have seen a transformation of sorts as the co-pilot becomes death. I can see that as eerie. As it was, your death character was rather static. I would loved to have seen his mouth move. I guess in general, I love the idea of death sitting there but he was too "physical" (meaning that he should have been more of an "illusion").Loved the concept and I thought that you did a great job pulling it off! Nice work and congrats! Ted

The First Officer, (that crappy southern actor I used, haha) is NOT the Angel of Death, the Grim Reaper. He just takes the place of him. I was concerned any morphing or illusions would give you the idea he was. We thought about making his mouth move but then I thought of the "Tales From The Crypt" guy and he started to act and look too much like that guy. My reaper is a phantom, a ghost. We had a smoke machine but I forgot to bring it. That might have made him more ghostly.


THANKS FOR ALL THESE COMMENTS YOU GUYS ARE MAKING MY DAY!

 

[TheatreGuy]

Hey FlintMI -

Yeah, the dream or nightmare works... I just didn't know that was him dreaming. I don't know why I didn't. I've only seen your film once and will check it out again!

I understand the concern about making the dream look real. When I mentioned a haze filter, I was thinking just the first time we go there so we get the feeling that it is a re-lived moment. I honestly thought that the dream was real time, not a flashback or dream. Like I said, I'll watch it again.

The Co-Pilot morphing into Death wasn't suggested to establish that Death had become the co-pilot. I guess I meant that more like, the pilot sees death appear in the co-pilots seat. I know it's weird, but I was wondering WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CO-PILOT DURING THIS??? If, in fact that the co-pilot did not turn into Death (and I am not suggesting that) what happened to the guy that was sitting there? That's why I suggested a morph. Maybe, when Death appears, we see the pilot and HEAR the co-pilot gasping and crying out. Then the pilot takes a quick glance over to the co-pilot and sees death.

I will take another look. Seriously.

I'll be back.

Thank you for commenting on my comments. I like this discussion!

Ted

 

[TheatreGuy]

Okay, I'm back.

The know see why I didn't think that the pilot was dreaming to begin with. He wakes up and then falls back asleep and immediately the dream begins. I originally thought that these two actions were live and happening at the same time. IF, the opening pan to the pilot had him "muttering in his sleep" and NOT going tight to his face with his eyes opening, I would absolutely think that the nest shot was a dream. No haze needed. That's just my opinion.

Also, second time through, two thoughts that I didn't mention before...

One, what is that shot of the "simulator screen" doing in the newscast? I didn't get it the first time and I still don't. Is this supposed to be "B" roll from the news?

Secondly, the immediate shot of the co-pilot after the fade of the control tower led be to think that the co-pilot was an Air Traffic Controller. (this is not a big deal, because it is quickly known that he is in fact the co-pilot, but I bring it up because I was reminded of my initial reaction when I saw it the first time. I think a shot of the plane on the runway or inside the cockpit would ease that for me. But that, again, is only my opinion.


Thanks for hearing!

Ted

Oh! BTW, I love the opening shot of the sun above the clouds!!!!!!!!!

 

[VersuS]

Things I liked:

- the use of real cockpit
- the realism with costumes and crew
- the night shots after the bad dream, excellent frames
- the news lady
- the concept

THings that put me off:

- sound....sound...sound....
- colors...lights...it had a 70s feel to it...dont know if it was intended but it seemed 'wrong'
- the end was not what I would expect...ok i get your point but i d rather you showed it a bit differently
- the mask....maybe if you didnt show his face..i mean most people would get the grim reaper thing with just the hood and maybe a bone hand....(JDS credit)

 

[FlintMI]

The comments keep coming! Thanks for letting me explain this stuff. Only happy to do so!

Okay, I'm back.

The know see why I didn't think that the pilot was dreaming to begin with. He wakes up and then falls back asleep and immediately the dream begins. I originally thought that these two actions were live and happening at the same time. IF, the opening pan to the pilot had him "muttering in his sleep" and NOT going tight to his face with his eyes opening, I would absolutely think that the nest shot was a dream. No haze needed. That's just my opinion.

Not sure what you mean. this is the story straight from the outline:

1. lying in bed
2. falls asleep
3. has nightmare of crash
4. wakes up
5. news story tells of the crash he's having a nightmare about; it's actually real, not a dream, and how he is headed back to work next day after a year off
6. next day arrives
7. reaper dude gets 'em

One, what is that shot of the "simulator screen" doing in the newscast? I didn't get it the first time and I still don't. Is this supposed to be "B" roll from the news?

That's from the NTSB, it's a crash investigation recreation they do for all fatal commercial flights. watch the evening news next time they have a crash investigation. That's actually from a FedEx crash, if you look carefully and freeze frame it, you'll see the text at the bottom says "FedEx" I did not get a chance to change it. But it says AirJet at the top! Whoo hoo authenticity!

Secondly, the immediate shot of the co-pilot after the fade of the control tower led be to think that the co-pilot was an Air Traffic Controller. (this is not a big deal, because it is quickly known that he is in fact the co-pilot, but I bring it up because I was reminded of my initial reaction when I saw it the first time. I think a shot of the plane on the runway or inside the cockpit would ease that for me. But that, again, is only my opinion.

I've got that fixed! Instead of a tower I have the guys walking into the airport. I just couldn't get it cut in time and went with a still since it was easier. Ha! And the Captain audio is back. You can't hear it when he asks the co-pilot a question.

Oh! BTW, I love the opening shot of the sun above the clouds!!!!!!!!!

heh heh. everyone does. I love that montage. my opening scene was rather boring. (guy falling asleep). I've noticed if you don't get the viewer within 15 seconds, they will move on. so I put that wild opening/title in there to draw you in. I hope I did.

 

[FlintMI]

Thanks Versus!!

THings that put me off: - sound....sound...sound....

Dialog audio? Soundtrack? Lemme know what works and what didn't. Sound will be corrected. It's really weak in spots and I'm very sorry as I had to focus on other things in the limited time I had. Doh!

- colors...lights...it had a 70s feel to it...dont know if it was intended but it seemed 'wrong'

LOL. This film was not color corrected. Final version is. The colors are oversaturated from a camera trick I learned from a friend. Shoot oversaturated and get that color data. Then correct in post.

- the end was not what I would expect...ok i get your point but i d rather you showed it a bit differently

How? I really wanted the grim reaper reveal to work well. I wanted him to just kind of appear out of nowhere but not be jumpy and hokey. He's a calm, cool grim reaper!

- the mask....maybe if you didnt show his face..i mean most people would get the grim reaper thing with just the hood and maybe a bone hand....(JDS credit)

That was not a mask. That was a real skeleton which retails for $600 bucks! I puppeted him while Timur Civan shot the scene. We could have done just the hood and hand and then someone would have said "why didn't you show his face?" LOL. I really wanted a good looking skull to pull it off. We even tried to light him internally, but he looked like a pumpkin. LOL

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT!! AWESOME!!

 

[VersuS]

- Sound: did you use a shotgun or the camera's onboard mic? that's where we can start....its not the score that bothered me so...the dialogues and design...

OH NOW I REMEMBER! One thing that was wrong! When you see the nightmare, the co-pilot talks with the radio but you made it sound the other way around, like how you would hear the voices from the tower coming out from this radio...you see what i mean? He is talking to a mic so there's no need to alter his voice..his voice will be natural as we hear it but when you put the tower voices in place then you did ok (even though the levels were way high and i couldnt make out what they were saying)

- Colors: this oversaturated thing is interesting! but I'd rather have something more modern in that sense...that 70s feeling that reminds me of Shivers and Rabid just gives me the creeps!!

- Ending: ok, the thought of a plane going down coz Death wants just one soul has crossed my mind several times since I've been doing a lot of flying around in my life...so I like your approach...but maybe you could have something else rather than show us Death...the possibilities are endless....have the co-pilot be obsessed by Death, change his voice, eyes, appearance....have the
radio send a message that only he can hear....make a vision in the cockpit windshield much scarier than a real life Grim Reaper...it reminded me of Metal Music Videos from the 80s...like Iron Maiden and such...

 

[FlintMI]

yah, I shot this all by myself, except the 2nd aircraft scene(s). so I did my best to wire up people and watch the audio levels. it sounds great in the NLE and I just have to boost the levels and trick out the 2k freq level to make 'em pop. Also have to lower the a/c volume it's overwhelming

Yah, I mod'ed the voice of the co-pilot to show that he was in fact talking to ATC without it, he looks like he's just talking to himself. LOL

Remember, the colors are that way because I did NOT have TIME to color correct, not because I wanted to do something artsy. I'll leave that to Soderbergh. LOL

 

[TheatreGuy]

The comments keep coming! Thanks for letting me explain this stuff. Only happy to do so!


Not sure what you mean. this is the story straight from the outline:

1. lying in bed
2. falls asleep
3. has nightmare of crash
4. wakes up
5. news story tells of the crash he's having a nightmare about; it's actually real, not a dream, and how he is headed back to work next day after a year off
6. next day arrives
7. reaper dude gets 'em

No, please don't misunderstand. I understand you story. (and I really like it) I was talking about me getting confused the VERY first time I saw it I didn't know the guy was dreaming. To me, and maybe this is JUST me, the guy looks asleep when the camera pans over to him on the opening shot. Then the cut to a close-up shows his eyes are open and then he fades away. I was only suggesting that if he was asleep at the very beginning and then the next shot was a c/u on his face maybe wincing from the actions in his dream, the following shot on the plane would lead me to believe that this is a dream.

Again, maybe this is only me that feels this way. And I, not being close to your project prior to today, could not tell that the man asleep and the man piloting the plane were the same actor.

I really thought, the first time I saw your film, that the guy asleep was somehow involved in a bomb threat to blow that plane up. I though that he was having second thoughts about his decision to do so. I know that there are little airplanes next to his bed to tell me that he is into airplanes, but I just didn't knwo that the two guys were one in the same until he woke up and I could clearly see his face.

That's from the NTSB, it's a crash investigation recreation they do for all fatal commercial flights. watch the evening news next time they have a crash investigation. That's actually from a FedEx crash, if you look carefully and freeze frame it, you'll see the text at the bottom says "FedEx" I did not get a chance to change it. But it says AirJet at the top! Whoo hoo authenticity!

Well, that's cool that's authentic. I honestly have never seen an air traffic screen in a newscast following a fatal commercial flight. I guess you would know better than I. I just doubt that the news would show that one year later. And it doesn't matter to me that it is there, I was just pointing out things that I felt confused me. That shot may be authentic, but I would have been just as happy staying on the newscaster or rolling more footage of the crash. That was cool!

I've got that fixed! Instead of a tower I have the guys walking into the airport. I just couldn't get it cut in time and went with a still since it was easier. Ha! And the Captain audio is back. You can't hear it when he asks the co-pilot a question.


heh heh. everyone does. I love that montage. my opening scene was rather boring. (guy falling asleep). I've noticed if you don't get the viewer within 15 seconds, they will move on. so I put that wild opening/title in there to draw you in. I hope I did.

Excellent.

I hope you don't mind my observations. I just wanted to take the time and comment. Sounds like I annoyed you. But I know that you have a chance to show this in NYC and make changes. I thought that I would act as a test audience.

Good luck!

Ted

 

[FlintMI]

Darned internet! You did NOT annoy me! I'm the most laid back easy going guy ever. I was just explaining my reasons for stuff...

Everything I do had a specific reason.

Never thought the guy looked asleep on the opening shot! Haha! So I will lighten that up so he looks awake.

As for the TV newscast, catch anything with Bob Hager on NBC, he's always playing the NTSB recreation videos. Thankfully, these are rare. Aviation is very safe, unless you're number is up and Captain Death is flying your plane!

Ted you're my man! Great test audience. Almost 90% of what you've said here I'm taking to heart and fixing. Please tell me you'll come to our next NYC DVX/HVX user meeting! (TBA) :beer:

 

[Kyle Stebbins]

bravo!

 

[FlintMI]

Thanks Kyleman! My Duncan dawg. What did you love, like, despise, hate?

 

[ExtremeSleuth]

Wow that's about the only complaint?!?! Awesome. I figured you'd use your imagination and assume they went into a spiral dive or something. The aircraft was not cooperating and our "pilots" did a pretty good job faking flying the thing.

there were times where the audio was a bit touchy, but not too distracting for me...

You did a great job, and thanks for the cameo. We all were pretty freaked out when you walked on set.

Thanks for leaving the scythe at home this time.

I figured it may be too much for the squeemish on set... i wanted you guys in top form for my scenes

let me know when you get the other version of the film done, i'd like to check it out

 

[Matt Sconce]

This was good stuff. I had a hard time followng a bit of the script. I thought he actually had crashed at first and that it wasn't a dream, bu it worked out. I liked the locations and thought the acting was good. I liked the sound and music and thought the interior of the cockpit was well lit! Good stuff!

 

[FlintMI]

This was good stuff. I had a hard time followng a bit of the script. I thought he actually had crashed at first and that it wasn't a dream, bu it worked out. I liked the locations and thought the acting was good. I liked the sound and music and thought the interior of the cockpit was well lit! Good stuff!

Thanks man. Yah, I tried so hard -- it's really hard to do dream/reality stuff since so much has been done with that genre it confuses the crap out of people.

The story is simple: he actually crashed, was having a nightmare about it, because he's going back to work after a year off. The newscaster was my attempt at a greek chorus to let you know it was real.

What's funny is that I had planned to have another newscaster at the end tell you that the Captain crashed an empty plane; it appears to the rest of the world that he was suicidal at the end, (but it was the reaper). And the passengers, co-pilot, flight attendant -- everything -- on the second flight was actually a living nightmare made possible by the grim reaper who missed the captain in the first crash. It was the reaper's way of getting him cleanly without suspicion (in my world reality is not to be messed with too too much).

But that is getting pretty complex for a 6 minute short.