Jay Rodriguez
Coffee Member
Ok, just watched it. I enjoyed this one also. There's only two films that get a thumbs up from me and this is one of them.
EIGHTEEN SECONDS by Jack, Zac and Mac
- Thread starter macgregor
- Start date
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
coffee said:
Tough critic Jay
I agree this was a good film.
Jay Rodriguez
Coffee Member
lol, sorry brother but I know I'm tough on things like indie films. I've watched almost all of them once but when I'm done I'll watch them all again for a more in depth review and base it on that. I watched yours as well and I liked it. I thought it was a bit too predictable and the ending was cheesy in regards to the look of the crash but I enjoyed the overall film.
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Ah TTN 
I was a part of the crew, but that's really Mark and Ted's baby
I was a part of the crew, but that's really Mark and Ted's baby 
STORYTELLER32
Well-known member
I thought this looked fantastic (Mac shot it, gee, what a shock that it looked so good, eh?)
The visual nature of the story was engrossing. I saw the characters as both being lost in a sea of depression, unhappy in their lonely lives. Then when they met, a cloud seemed to have lifted for a brief moment and a mutual connection was made (not necessarily a love connection, but a recognition that they're in the same place in their lives and could help each other in some way). When the car hit the guy, that seemed to be all the woman could take and she had a heart attack from the shock. Instead of fighting for survival, she just gave in to it because her glimmer of hope was snatched away and she couldn't take it anymore (she might have even blamed herself in some small way too).
Someone tell me if I'm on the right track or if I'm looking too deep, lol...
This is my favorite flik so far. Kudos to the cast and crew. I'm waiting with baited breath to know how the compositing was done.
The visual nature of the story was engrossing. I saw the characters as both being lost in a sea of depression, unhappy in their lonely lives. Then when they met, a cloud seemed to have lifted for a brief moment and a mutual connection was made (not necessarily a love connection, but a recognition that they're in the same place in their lives and could help each other in some way). When the car hit the guy, that seemed to be all the woman could take and she had a heart attack from the shock. Instead of fighting for survival, she just gave in to it because her glimmer of hope was snatched away and she couldn't take it anymore (she might have even blamed herself in some small way too).
Someone tell me if I'm on the right track or if I'm looking too deep, lol...
This is my favorite flik so far. Kudos to the cast and crew. I'm waiting with baited breath to know how the compositing was done.
Doyle
Member
I've now seen all the films and since can't officially vote, I'll do it here in the threads of the films I enjoy. This is definitely a quality piece. Interesting story, good acting, good editing. And it kept my attention all the way through. Nice vfx at the end. This was either #2 or #3 overall to me. Well done!
And just to give my "Academy" list of winners (as I will also do in the various other threads):
Best Picture: Wasted
Best Cinematography: TEMPO
Best Screenplay: Wasted
Runners Up to Best Picture: TEMPO, Eighteen Seconds
Notables: Ajar, Not the Same, After Class, Middle Man
-Ben
And just to give my "Academy" list of winners (as I will also do in the various other threads):
Best Picture: Wasted
Best Cinematography: TEMPO
Best Screenplay: Wasted
Runners Up to Best Picture: TEMPO, Eighteen Seconds
Notables: Ajar, Not the Same, After Class, Middle Man
-Ben
18 seconds is how long it took Jack to finish under his desk. All I could think of was how bummed I was for the janitorial staff that night....
Seriously though everything has been said about this film and I love it too. I love art type films and I could easily see this coming on between films on IFC.
If the ending was just them looking at each other and the two smiles then fade out I would have been totally happy. No need for anything more dramatic than two people sharing a moment.
I am inspired and want to go out today and see if I can get similar looking shots with my old school DVX100a without adapters....
Sweet job!
Seriously though everything has been said about this film and I love it too. I love art type films and I could easily see this coming on between films on IFC.
If the ending was just them looking at each other and the two smiles then fade out I would have been totally happy. No need for anything more dramatic than two people sharing a moment.
I am inspired and want to go out today and see if I can get similar looking shots with my old school DVX100a without adapters....
Sweet job!
Darkline
Veteran
I had to chime in and say well done. To me this was only one of 2 films which drew you into a unque cinematic vision.
Yes the ending was predicatable, and maybe the love connection is a little overstated. However these are such minor flaws in the hands of someone with such skill and craft.
The problems to me with narrative and expectation are insignificant compared to the excellent execution of the short. I actually felt like I was watching a piece of cinema, not a movie, not a technically proficient piece, but cinema; an altogether different aesthetic that not many shorts or movies achieve. Even in the world outside of DVXuser its a rare achievement. Everything about it was pitch perfect. Watching 46 shorts in a row can leave you feeling a little jaded; but when this cropped up I stood to attention and felt I was in the presence of someone who knew exactly what they wanted to do.
I think this will get my vote (possibly one more contender) but overall this was head and shoulders above what I expected to see. This could have won not just in this competition, but any short film competition.
Yes the ending was predicatable, and maybe the love connection is a little overstated. However these are such minor flaws in the hands of someone with such skill and craft.
The problems to me with narrative and expectation are insignificant compared to the excellent execution of the short. I actually felt like I was watching a piece of cinema, not a movie, not a technically proficient piece, but cinema; an altogether different aesthetic that not many shorts or movies achieve. Even in the world outside of DVXuser its a rare achievement. Everything about it was pitch perfect. Watching 46 shorts in a row can leave you feeling a little jaded; but when this cropped up I stood to attention and felt I was in the presence of someone who knew exactly what they wanted to do.
I think this will get my vote (possibly one more contender) but overall this was head and shoulders above what I expected to see. This could have won not just in this competition, but any short film competition.
AmbassadorTex
Active member
Looks very, very good. Love the handheld shot of the guy in the airport - not overdone and leads right into that vague confusion of gates and hallways (how'd you get to shoot in an airport?).
Shot of the woman sitting next to the dryer looks like one of those menu screens on the "Lost" DVD's - cool "still" effect even though it's not + great sound.
I like the comfort you felt in really, really pushing the pointlessness of their lives (everything from loneliness to xeroxing nothing to sad, sad masturbation as an attempt to feel alive).
Wonder about the glances up to the skies...now think it might be a vague uneasiness or brief twinge of awareness of an "other." On first viewing, I almost expected that this was a lead-up to a shot of planes flying into buildings. I think that's a sign of how well you layer on a sense of dread (in a uniquely modern and urban language as opposed to horror-dread like Poe or Se7en, etc.) I was as anxious and involved in this film and its acceleration toward...???...as with few other films.
Sound design + simple tricks like the cutting board shot (you *know* she's going to cut herself but you still grmiace + pacing...it worked for me.
The preternatural connection between the two and missed meeting made me wonder if you're a Kieslowski fan?...
Big thumbs up on the use of score. I appreciated the courage to use stylized touches like the reddish flashes. Yeah - the collision isn't perfect, but I didn't care about that at all. You showed us what happened at the end of your story and did the best job possible considering the constraints of the situation.
Feels big - looks like film - simple idea expressed in interesting ways - a clear stylistic vision...that's a good movie.
(Of course the big question is: Really, with a *stormtrooper* watching?!? Show some respect, dude!)
Shot of the woman sitting next to the dryer looks like one of those menu screens on the "Lost" DVD's - cool "still" effect even though it's not + great sound.
I like the comfort you felt in really, really pushing the pointlessness of their lives (everything from loneliness to xeroxing nothing to sad, sad masturbation as an attempt to feel alive).
Wonder about the glances up to the skies...now think it might be a vague uneasiness or brief twinge of awareness of an "other." On first viewing, I almost expected that this was a lead-up to a shot of planes flying into buildings. I think that's a sign of how well you layer on a sense of dread (in a uniquely modern and urban language as opposed to horror-dread like Poe or Se7en, etc.) I was as anxious and involved in this film and its acceleration toward...???...as with few other films.
Sound design + simple tricks like the cutting board shot (you *know* she's going to cut herself but you still grmiace + pacing...it worked for me.
The preternatural connection between the two and missed meeting made me wonder if you're a Kieslowski fan?...
Big thumbs up on the use of score. I appreciated the courage to use stylized touches like the reddish flashes. Yeah - the collision isn't perfect, but I didn't care about that at all. You showed us what happened at the end of your story and did the best job possible considering the constraints of the situation.
Feels big - looks like film - simple idea expressed in interesting ways - a clear stylistic vision...that's a good movie.
(Of course the big question is: Really, with a *stormtrooper* watching?!? Show some respect, dude!)
Michael_Petro
Veteran
You guys really know how to make a movie! I was very impressed. top 5 indeed
hoofandmouf
Well-known member
nice work.
clean and modern (if not a little too heavily borrowed from the current envogue trend)
the film effects became a bit gimmicky... but hell? what isnt a gimmick these days right?
so far, its my favorite outta the bunch... props :beer:
clean and modern (if not a little too heavily borrowed from the current envogue trend)
the film effects became a bit gimmicky... but hell? what isnt a gimmick these days right?
so far, its my favorite outta the bunch... props :beer:
MojoTrancer
Well-known member
macgregor said:
Haha. Yeah you always get picked on pretty hard. And yet you still put your work out there for us to analyze, argue about, and abuse you over. I give you props for hanging in there.
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Mark Johnson
The Dude Abides
I was pretty sure that was a train station. Grand Central maybe?
what you mean three bearded men with a "targeting" contraption in an airport doesnt look suspicious?
haha that's a recipe to get tackled by several undercover Homeland Security Agents -- it's illegal to shoot on the subway pretty much ever; we did it - it's illegal too shoot in the street or sidewalk without a permit -- but there is no way in grand central, you would be detained immediately. Subway trains and stations are off limits post 911.Mark Johnson said:
Especially if these two terrorists are heading your film crew :shocked: :laugh:
Is Mac risking his life to get this shot? Or just to get that special feeling from being so close to Zac?
"Si Si Señor" :cheesy:
me and my HVX outfitted for a cold windy sandy desert shoot
Tom Marshall
Actor!!!!!!
Nice shots there, Jack. :beer: