steve2bees
Active member
Soon, soon, Shawn. Hope I can snag some of your talent.
"This Is Death, Your Captain Speaking" a Horror entry by Phillip George/Shawn Chittle
- Thread starter zoopraxiscope
- Start date
jpbankesmercer
Director Mod
Best of luck guys.
TheatreGuy
Veteran
Shawn! CONGRATULATIONS on your film!!!!
I have enjoyed your thread from the beginning and then your film.
Thank you for the great discussions!
Best of luck to you! I hope you had a great premiere!!!
Been fun,
Ted
I have enjoyed your thread from the beginning and then your film.
Thank you for the great discussions!
Best of luck to you! I hope you had a great premiere!!!
Been fun,
Ted
Slimothy
Veteran
Hey Shawn,
I just watched this one and was immediately thrown off by the CC. I don't know if it was my computer or the compression but things seemed a bit to saturated and others too dark. Kinda like the "old movie" look. Maybe it was something you were going for, but I disliked the CC pretty much all the way through with the exception of the newscast. Where did you get the plane crash footage or was that VFX? Looked great. The skeleton didn't do it for me and alot of the sound needed work.
I couldn't really get into it, but you can tell that you guys have some skill. I just don't think it came through with this one.
TIm.
I just watched this one and was immediately thrown off by the CC. I don't know if it was my computer or the compression but things seemed a bit to saturated and others too dark. Kinda like the "old movie" look. Maybe it was something you were going for, but I disliked the CC pretty much all the way through with the exception of the newscast. Where did you get the plane crash footage or was that VFX? Looked great. The skeleton didn't do it for me and alot of the sound needed work.
I couldn't really get into it, but you can tell that you guys have some skill. I just don't think it came through with this one.
TIm.
steve2bees
Active member
I was wondering that too about the crash footage. Looked too real to me for vfx...
FlintMI
Well-known member
Slimothy said:
Thanks Slim! There was no color correction of any kind. I ran out of time. The final version is color corrected. Let me know if that looks better. See first page of thread for download link. The newscast was shot outdoors in natural light. The interior pilot scenes were lit with two 6" battery powered flo lights and the ambiance of the instruments. That's all. DVX sucks in low light and so it was boosted a lot in post.
Slimothy said:
Footage.
The skeleton is the same one they used for Charon in Clash of the Titans. I don't know why people don't like him, he's like $2,000 and I had to rent him as we didn't want to spend that kind of money. He's a real human skeleton and I don't know how more to make a skeleton look like a skeleton. Some wondered why I didn't treat him with some makeup or something, but that might have been too Tales from the Crypt which I didn't want to copy. I'm really sorry you didn't like him. I hope at least you didn't expect him.
And you're right, the sound sucked and I ran out of time. It was totally remixed and re-edited for the final version. Better to have a partially finished movie in than no movie at all.
Slimothy said:
Sorry you couldn't man! But, I wrote, directed, shot, cut, scored, etc. everything on this project myself (except for shooting the scenes with the grim reaper where I had DP Timur Civan do that for me as I was acting in it.) I love making mistakes and made a lot on this project and learned from them.
So what you see is a singular vision, and I'm to blame since you didn't like it!
FlintMI
Well-known member
Thanks again man, you're compliments and constructive criticism has definately helped me. It really really sucked that I ran out of time and had to do everything myself and had to put out a not-finished version but them's the breaks. I do know the Reaper startled some people at the screening, but I don't think they were really all that into it.TheatreGuy said:
But all in all, I thought for my first dramatic short avoided cliches, and told a genuine tale of horror that could have happened to anyone. No blood, knives, torture, and well, I guess some loved it but most didn't get it. :beer:
One thing is for certain, it's the most authentic aviation movie you'll ever see. The dialog, pilot actions, plot, etc. (except for the Grim Reaper guy obviously) were literally lifted from actual events.
Ted PM me your address so I can send you a DVD, mastered in 2.35 aspect and Dolby Digital.
Hey mang. Just givin yo uthe bump this film deserves. it was TONS of fun to make and even more fun to watch.
its interesting that your subconscious came up with this story in a dream. it was very efective i thought. ITs also kind of interesting seeing how much your living, in the airline industry, effects your life in general. its very nice knowing you, its like seeing the world through the eyes of a pilot. things must seem much smaller from up there.
its interesting that your subconscious came up with this story in a dream. it was very efective i thought. ITs also kind of interesting seeing how much your living, in the airline industry, effects your life in general. its very nice knowing you, its like seeing the world through the eyes of a pilot. things must seem much smaller from up there.
FlintMI
Well-known member
Wow thanks Timur. Your work on the final scenes really made the film at the end (for me anyway).
The Lexington KY crash popped into my head in a dream one night, and I wrote the whole thing in Notepad on my laptop on the F train from Manhattan to Queens, which took 28 minutes. I guess it lags a bit in the middle, but the endcaps of this film are so dramatic, I guess almost anything in the middle is gonna drag!
I was reviewing the BTS and you really called each and every shot perfect on those final scenes and are on your way to becoming a high dollar DP. Get that HD experience and start experimenting with HMIs, diffused lighting, China balls and I think you'll be unstoppable in NYC.
Did you download the final version?
http://www.shawnchittle.com/films/death_final.mov
right click save as.
I will burn you a DVD as I mastered it in Dolby Digital and both 4:3 letterboxed 2.35 aspect and 16:9 letterboxed 2.35 aspect.
The Lexington KY crash popped into my head in a dream one night, and I wrote the whole thing in Notepad on my laptop on the F train from Manhattan to Queens, which took 28 minutes. I guess it lags a bit in the middle, but the endcaps of this film are so dramatic, I guess almost anything in the middle is gonna drag!
I was reviewing the BTS and you really called each and every shot perfect on those final scenes and are on your way to becoming a high dollar DP. Get that HD experience and start experimenting with HMIs, diffused lighting, China balls and I think you'll be unstoppable in NYC.
Did you download the final version?
http://www.shawnchittle.com/films/death_final.mov
right click save as.
I will burn you a DVD as I mastered it in Dolby Digital and both 4:3 letterboxed 2.35 aspect and 16:9 letterboxed 2.35 aspect.
FlintMI said:
Hah! This is only funny to me bcause i had a long drunken conversation wit shawn one night about aspect ratios, and 16:9 ntive timelines.... God we need to get a normal persons hobby......
heh... OK never mind. lets make living off of cool things... like flying airplanes, and shooting movies...
mentatDUKE
Veteran
Hey Flint.
The score and saturated colors in this gave it a very 70s feel. It felt pretty creepy even though it was a comedy. The story and script left a lot to be desired but the part about the airbag was entertaining. Campy but could have been a bit more fun. I wish the acting was a bit more tongue in cheek. Sound and lighting could have been better unless that was deliberate of course.
Direction could have been stronger and more confident. Push your actors.
I want an mp3 of the score. There's something about it. Feels like Total Recall, Terminator, violent 80s stuff...
Very memorable. How'd the NY theater screening go?
Take care.
The score and saturated colors in this gave it a very 70s feel. It felt pretty creepy even though it was a comedy. The story and script left a lot to be desired but the part about the airbag was entertaining. Campy but could have been a bit more fun. I wish the acting was a bit more tongue in cheek. Sound and lighting could have been better unless that was deliberate of course.
Direction could have been stronger and more confident. Push your actors.
I want an mp3 of the score. There's something about it. Feels like Total Recall, Terminator, violent 80s stuff...
Very memorable. How'd the NY theater screening go?
Take care.
Norm Sanders
Script Wrangler
Just finally getting the time to copy the notes I compiled in a Word doc while watching the shorts:
Okay, I’m going to cut straight to the chase … that news cast was AMAZING! It’s got to be one of the best I’ve ever seen in a short, if not actually THE best … and that footage they were playing … how’d you get that and/or create it?! Amazing is the only word I have for it. However, it was SOOOO good that everything else paled in comparison for me. There seemed to be a lot of room for improvement in the sound, although the score seemed nice & appropriate. The script was also good, in that this felt like a MUCH longer movie than just 6 minutes … in a good way, like there was a lot accomplished in the short period of time. Good job … though I’m not sure any airbag or restraint system would have saved him from that fireball crash, lol. Just noticed the file size/MB was over limit, but I personally don’t care about that as long as it was within the 6 minute time limit, which it was.
Okay, I’m going to cut straight to the chase … that news cast was AMAZING! It’s got to be one of the best I’ve ever seen in a short, if not actually THE best … and that footage they were playing … how’d you get that and/or create it?! Amazing is the only word I have for it. However, it was SOOOO good that everything else paled in comparison for me. There seemed to be a lot of room for improvement in the sound, although the score seemed nice & appropriate. The script was also good, in that this felt like a MUCH longer movie than just 6 minutes … in a good way, like there was a lot accomplished in the short period of time. Good job … though I’m not sure any airbag or restraint system would have saved him from that fireball crash, lol. Just noticed the file size/MB was over limit, but I personally don’t care about that as long as it was within the 6 minute time limit, which it was.
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
The camera work in this gave me a feel of claustrophobia almost. There were a lot of tight shots and aside from giving a closed in feeling which I think worked well for the film, it also brought it in a lot more personally from the start.
EDITING:
For the most part I liked how this was edited. I liked how you used sounds, such as thunder to move the film and go on to another shot. A simple technique that works very well.
SOUND:
The audio mix was pretty good and all of the audio levels were in good range of each other, with nothing really overpowering the rest. In the beginning and a little at the end it was kinda hard to hear the dialogue. It sounded really muffled and just at times overpowered by sound effects. But it wasn't for the entirety of the film, so it wasn't a major problem.
SCREENPLAY:
This was a good idea to go with. It had potential and you used it. The only thing that was a little awkward was the ending, I think it was mainly because of the skull mask, but that was a choice you decided to go with. I'm not saying its bad, just not what I expected.
ACTING:
Most of the time everything seemed fine. There were a few lines here and there during the crash sequence that felt as if the actors were worried about playing their characters well enough. But for the most part I think they did a good job.
Overall, this was an interesting film to watch. Like I said, I think the idea was good and you did a good job of showing what happened. I didn't know where to put this, probably would've been appropriate for cinematography, but I think the mock newscast you did was done very well.
The camera work in this gave me a feel of claustrophobia almost. There were a lot of tight shots and aside from giving a closed in feeling which I think worked well for the film, it also brought it in a lot more personally from the start.
EDITING:
For the most part I liked how this was edited. I liked how you used sounds, such as thunder to move the film and go on to another shot. A simple technique that works very well.
SOUND:
The audio mix was pretty good and all of the audio levels were in good range of each other, with nothing really overpowering the rest. In the beginning and a little at the end it was kinda hard to hear the dialogue. It sounded really muffled and just at times overpowered by sound effects. But it wasn't for the entirety of the film, so it wasn't a major problem.
SCREENPLAY:
This was a good idea to go with. It had potential and you used it. The only thing that was a little awkward was the ending, I think it was mainly because of the skull mask, but that was a choice you decided to go with. I'm not saying its bad, just not what I expected.
ACTING:
Most of the time everything seemed fine. There were a few lines here and there during the crash sequence that felt as if the actors were worried about playing their characters well enough. But for the most part I think they did a good job.
Overall, this was an interesting film to watch. Like I said, I think the idea was good and you did a good job of showing what happened. I didn't know where to put this, probably would've been appropriate for cinematography, but I think the mock newscast you did was done very well.
FlintMI
Well-known member
Wow, I'm thrilled at this review. Thank you so much. But it wasn't a comedy!mentatDUKE said:
If you laughed, you were laughing AT ME. Ha ha. :crybaby: But that's OK. I kept the film very authentic and some people just don't know there are such things as airbags and controversy over putting stuff like that in airplanes. And one-survivor major accidents happen from time to time. (NWA 255, Comair 5191)I got a nice round of applause from the audience in NY. And I've seen them boo movies so I felt pretty good. Aviation disaster movies can be tough with the 9/11 thing hanging overhead, but people said they liked it.
The colors were not corrected so any hint that it was part of a vision is just coincidence; those colors were what the camera recorded. I did not have time to do CC.
Well, I wrote the script in 30 minutes on the F train to LaGuarida after I got a text message about the Comair/Lexington KY crash. That's when I wrote the whole thing from beginning to end, about a guy who survives, feels guilty, thinks he's lucky, then his number is up in the end after all. I haven't seen that story told before, and if it's been done PLEASE tell me... it does borrow a bit from The Twilight Zone and Fearless.
The soundtrack was also done quickly, this time in about 18 minutes. I did a little experiment trick with the guitar which I sent out to people to see if they liked it, and when they did, I sat down and did everything live and in one take. I just hit play on the computer and played what came into my head as the movie rolled. I then went back and thought the roof scene needed some blues riff, so I turned on my guitar amp and played a riff into the computer. Simple as that. Glad you liked it.
Check out the FINAL version of the film, I extend the blues riff on the roof scene and did some more stuff to the soundtrack. I'm glad you liked it!
The direction could have been stronger; we were pressed for time and did everything in just a few takes. Total filming time 8 hours for the whole project! :beer:
Envision said:
Thanks man!!! The newscast was totally made up to help explain the reason why he was having nightmares; it was my attempt at a Greek Chorus and because we see newscasts all the time, they are easy to fake. She's also a former newscaster and really nailed the part. I'm glad you liked it. I was hoping the "scanlines" was not too much but it seemed to make you feel like you were watching a newscast.
As for the oversize, the version that you saw was the first upload and I sent a smaller upload and they forgot to use that one.
You'd be surprised as to what they have in place now to save people on expensive private jets, for example. They even have anti-missile laser-based defense systems! Try to shoot the plane down, the missle can't lock on! Crazy!
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