M D Productions presents: 'Violet'

Hey Kevin, if you don't feel like it's ready, then probably wait until it is. And if it is ready, then don't worry about other people's bandwidth :grin:
 
Hey Tom and Brandon, thanks for the comments.

It really has nothing to do with the film being finished or not so l will just go ahead and explain the project.

The version of Violet that we have been working on is a feature development project. Its underlying purpose is to raise interest in the feature script and to provide our literary agent with a tool to help sell the project.

We have completed less than 40% of the scenes that are intended to go into the feature development cut with a TRT of just under 10 minutes. The version that I cut today is a very truncated slice of the feature development project. The reasons for the lack of progress on this are many but include my involvement in "Threading the Needle" as well as loosing a critical location due to my illness in December and a number of other projects that I was working on. I am also in the strange position that I can't allow our entry to end up on a DVD as it would violate the contract that I have with our performers.

So, I have decided that it wouldn't be fair to upload my cut with all the restrictions that I would need to impose upon it. It just isn't fair to use others bandwidth, so I am going to self host. I would feel bad if I didn't make something available to view, but I wanted to fully disclose the nature of what I am going to provide.

So, here is a link to a .wmv version of a trailer for Violet.

http://www.museelectronics.com/production/Violet.wmv (this is over 102 MB, so save it locally and don't try to stream it)

I will build a .mov version that is near the 40 MB limit that the fest has imposed and post a link to that version later. I would be happy to receive any comments that anyone cares to offer and promise to post a link to the actual feature development project once it is ready (likely in early April).

Thanks to all that have visited this thread and commented. Your support and comments have been very appreciated.

For myself and everyone involved in Violet, thanks.
 
Ey Kevin,

This is very nice! Looks great. Very professional, feature film style. :-) I like it. Can't wait to get to work on this one.

Cheers,
 
Thanks Sid, it will be a bit of time before we are even close to picture lock, but I am really looking forward to hearing what you come up with.

Brandon, thanks too for your comments and encouragement to post this. Hope you like it and looking forward to your comments.
 
Thanks for the kind comments and really glad you enjoyed it. Looking forward to seeing yours and everyone else's "official" entries in the fest.
 
Thanks and glad you liked Violet.

Yes it is non compete for a number of reasons, but not the least of which is the fact that it was shot under a SAG contract which would preclude its inclusion on the DVD. Another reason is that some of the footage (not in this very short cut) is from camera's that are not sanctioned (Super 8mm film and SDX900) however all the scenes included on this trailer are from the DVX.

Thanks again for watching.
 
Kevin,
I just want to say thank you, again. Just, thank you.

You can make a DVX look like heaven on the screen. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to follow this thread and soak up all the wonderful info. you so willingly share with the user's here. This is a definite thread to print and save.

I don't know you at all, but I must say, you are professional in every since of the word, on these boards.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm totally looking forward to seeing the finished version of this thing. August is such a long time away :)

Jason
 
Thanks Jason, that is so kind of you to write. I will try and keep the information flowing on this project as it progresses through both the feature development phase and hopefully as it transitions into a feature.

Thanks again, your comments really made my day!
 
Kevin,

I'm so pleased you have provided these links. I've previously told you how much I adore your cinematography as it emphasizes the serious difference between craft and technology. By the way, Blaine played TRICK for us today and I really appreciated how you made the low light stuff work so nicely. Tim commented on the flashlights and I, too, wondered if those were special instruments as they sure seemed to illuminate nicely.

One of my real wishes for 2007 is that you call in those FX favors I owe you (and that you give me enough time to do them the justice that your cinematography deserves!). Mainly, I'd just like to work on set with you again even if it only involves guarding your veggie sandwiches.
 
I absolutely love how this footage is looking, Kevin. It's really too bad that everything couldn't come together in time to have this completed in time for the festival. But at least now, there's no pressure pushing an arbitrary deadline on this. I can't wait for the next chance to go out and shoot. The tracking shots work really well in this piece.
 
Kevin, you know how I feel about your work... I've told you on this thread, I've told you in PMs and I've told you in person. You are an amazing Director of Photography! And not only that... you are a great teacher, a wonderful person and a heck of a nice guy!!!

I am so glad that you managed to turn Violet in this trailer. It deserves to be seen. It is just some of the most beautiful work I have ever seen on this site.

I want to also thank you again for allowing me to have an inside look at Violet. The script that your daughter wrote is thought provoking and moving. It really must be something for you to have your daughter, Courtney, involved in the industry that you love so dearly. And I can't even imagine how incredible it must be to have the opportunity to shoot her story, not to mention her. It has just got to be so rewarding for a father to look through the lens of his camera and create breath-taking and memorable images of his child.

And to comment on what really can't be fully appreciated in you trailer... the acting is lovely. It is natural, moving and sincere. Not only from Courtney, but the entire cast. I was spellbound with the footage you shared with me. I was sucked right into their world and wasn't ready to leave. I cannot wait for the completion of this film!

You should be very proud of both her and your own work.

Congratulations to both you and Courtney! Violet is just glorious.

Best to you,

Ted
 
Last edited:
Thanks Ted,

I am so moved by your comments. I couldn't be any more proud as a parent, Courtney is a true professional and I am thrilled to be working with her on Violet. In the beginning of her career I had the opportunity to watch her work as I was on set with her for most of her work. When she was 15 and received her legal 18 status (having graduated High School) she no longer needed a studio teacher nor a parent on set, so I was relegated to the duties of a driver (to and from auditions and jobs). I no longer had the opportunity to actually watch her act. I had to wait until a screening to see her performance.

Getting the opportunity to work with Courtney first hand is a great thrill for me. The entire cast that we have assembled are first rate working actors each with an impressive set of credits.

You bring up an excellent point about this trailer that we have cut for the fest, namely that it doesn't really show the performances of our cast. Based upon this, I have decided to show a few complete scenes of the longer feature development project to showcase the actual acting performances.

I will be posting a link to a few complete scenes in this thread a bit later today.

Thanks for pointing this out and thanks for placing your trust in me to DP Threading the Needle, it was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to work with you first hand. Watching you work with your cast was a true pleasure, you are certainly what I would call an actors director.

Thanks again.
 
Thanks Ted,

I am so moved by your comments. I couldn't be any more proud as a parent, Courtney is a true professional and I am thrilled to be working with her on Violet. In the beginning of her career I had the opportunity to watch her work as I was on set with her for most of her work. When she was 15 and received her legal 18 status (having graduated High School) she no longer needed a studio teacher nor a parent on set, so I was relegated to the duties of a driver (to and from auditions and jobs). I no longer had the opportunity to actually watch her act. I had to wait until a screening to see her performance.

Getting the opportunity to work with Courtney first hand is a great thrill for me. The entire cast that we have assembled are first rate working actors each with an impressive set of credits.

You bring up an excellent point about this trailer that we have cut for the fest, namely that it doesn't really show the performances of our cast. Based upon this, I have decided to show a few complete scenes of the longer feature development project to showcase the actual acting performances.

I will be posting a link to a few complete scenes in this thread a bit later today.

Thanks for pointing this out and thanks for placing your trust in me to DP Threading the Needle, it was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to work with you first hand. Watching you work with your cast was a true pleasure, you are certainly what I would call an actors director.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

This is beautiful stuff!

You guys to me already won the Thread Drama Award! :) I love to see that type of relations ships.

khmuse, I congratulate you for having that type of relationship with your daughter, I am sure is priceless.

I know we live in a culture with many broken families and young people are neglected of love from their mom and dad. I don't know you, but man, you make me proud to even be addressing to you under this circumstances.

I just got married in September and am very excited to be a dad in the future and when I see the role parents like express about their relationship with the kids... it boost my desire to grow the family :).

Keep it up, I am excited to your movie.

I am sure I will be very pleased with the results.

Cheers,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top