PROMISED - A DahopaFilms Production

Billy Pilgrim said:
Very Soap Opera. Was that intentional?
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LOL! At first I wasn't sure how to take that. Then I checked the characteristics of American soap operas:

~Overhead spotlighting, or back lighting, is often placed directly over the heads of all the actors in the foreground, causing an unnatural shadowing of their features along with a highlighting of their hair. Back lighting was always a standard technique of film and television lighting, though it was mostly abandoned in the mid-to-late eighties due to its somewhat unnatural look. The technique has nevertheless persisted in soap operas.
~The rooms in a house often use deep stained wood wall panels and furniture, along with many elements of brown leather furniture. This creates an overall "brown" look which is intended to give a sumptuous and luxurious look to suggest the wealth of the characters portrayed.
~Daytime soap operas do not routinely feature location or exterior-shot footage. Often they will recreate an outdoor locale in the studio. Australian and UK daily soap operas, on the other hand, invariably feature a certain amount of exterior-shot footage in every episode. This is usually shot in the same location and often on a purpose-built set, although they do include new exterior locations for certain storylines.
~The visual quality of a soap opera is usually lower than prime time television shows due to ... the fact that soap operas are recorded on videotape using a multicamera setup, unlike primetime productions which are usually shot on film and frequently using the single camera shooting style. Because of the lower resolution of video images, and also because of the emotional situations portrayed in soap operas, daytime serials feature a heavy use of closeup shots.
~Soap operas often reuse the same blocking techniques. For example, if a romantically involved man and woman are talking to each other face-to-face, one character will inevitably turn 180° and face away from the other character while they both continue to have a conversation. While this would virtually never happen in real life, and is not seen outside of US daytime serials, it is an accepted soap convention.
~In US daytime soap operas, when a scene is about to reach a temporary conclusion and the episode is to transition to a new scene or take a commercial break, one character in the currently concluding scene will often be shown in extreme closeup and deliver a shocking announcement. No other character will respond and there will be no dialogue for several seconds while the music builds before cutting to a new scene. This kind of segue is referred to in the industry as a "tag." Additionally, in a construct unique to US daytime serials, the episode will frequently then return to this precise point in time after some intervening scenes, and the discussion will continue from the point where the revelation was made. Usually, however, when the discussion resumes the previously tense and dramatic mood created through music and closeup shots will have dissipated; the scene usually resumes in a relatively relaxed and sedate mode. The format of ending a scene to switch to other characters but to then return to the original scene at the precise time the viewer last left it is unique to US daytime serials.

Rocognizing almost none of these attributes (as admirable as they may be) in my short, I suppose the answer would have to be "Gee, no".:)
 
Hey thanks for entering this.
I enjoyed it.
I'm so behind on non DVxuser stuff I haven't had much time to see or comment on the films. But I did want to at least stop by and give you kudos for a great entry.
My only ding is that I think things could have been tightened up some. Shots of driving up to the house etc.
Was that a shout out to me in the Kitchen - small consolation I say given that you had teased me with getting the bucket head treatment at one point :( :laugh:
 
Jack Daniel Stanley said:
Hey thanks for entering this.
I enjoyed it.
I'm so behind on non DVxuser stuff I haven't had much time to see or comment on the films. But I did want to at least stop by and give you kudos for a great entry.
My only ding is that I think things could have been tightened up some. Shots of driving up to the house etc.
Was that a shout out to me in the Kitchen - small consolation I say given that you had teased me with getting the bucket head treatment at one point :( :laugh:
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Yeah yeah yeah. The driving scene. Sure it's unnecessary, but I'm driving a new Mercedes as a result (or will be as soon as the footage is picked up and aired unedited ten times by "a major national United States network" - at least that's what the contract says).

And yes - you got the kitchen scene kudos. Very observant. And seeing as how you won the prize, I guess that means you won't be having an unexpected house guest for two weeks in March. Congrats all 'round.
 
2nd review:

The intro on the red metal with the logo was nice, like in the banner.

I know its a bathroom, but sound i think could have been ADR'ed to get rid of the echo. A whole minute also felt a bit long for the bathroom scene. Acting was not very strong like most others though.

The care scene felt like a Mercedes commercial , i kept waiting for the MSRP to pop up with great lease rates. I would attribute that to both the angles and the music.

The music again felt canned and almost stereotypical of a DVX Film Fest. Focus was very good but camera movement felt robotic. Draining the life from the scene. The kissing here went long as well. Much like all the movies, i felt like 6 min was far too long of a limit, only because it felt like everyone was trying to reach the 6 min mark instead of trying to stay under it this time around.

Their plot of murder was not very believable, and will fool no cop short of Dept Fife. Another problem i had was the death scene. Ive never been stabbed, but i can be sure that he would become suprised than angry , not tired and paralyzed when stabbed.

Thats it.

maybe i should give a disclaimer before i get warned? ( i had to stop reviewing horrorfest because i wasnt being that positive, this is how i feel and i guess ill just post until im stopped again)
 
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Cynic821 said:
2nd review:

The intro on the red metal with the logo was nice, like in the banner.

I know its a bathroom, but sound i think could have been ADR'ed to get rid of the echo. A whole minute also felt a bit long for the bathroom scene. Acting was not very strong like most others though.

The care scene felt like a Mercedes commercial , i kept waiting for the MSRP to pop up with great lease rates. I would attribute that to both the angles and the music.

The music again felt canned and almost stereotypical of a DVX Film Fest. Focus was very good but camera movement felt robotic. Draining the life from the scene. The kissing here went long as well. Much like all the movies, i felt like 6 min was far too long of a limit, only because it felt like everyone was trying to reach the 6 min mark instead of trying to stay under it this time around.

Their plot of murder was not very believable, and will fool no cop short of Dept Fife. Another problem i had was the death scene. Ive never been stabbed, but i can be sure that he would become suprised than angry , not tired and paralyzed when stabbed.

Thats it.

maybe i should give a disclaimer before i get warned? ( i had to stop reviewing horrorfest because i wasnt being that positive, this is how i feel and i guess ill just post until im stopped again)
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Just popped in after a loooong night - glad I did to catch your views. Great thoughts on your part.

I respectfully disagree with you on the acting (or, if you're right, then it was the dumb-ass director's fault) and maybe the death scene (I intended a surgical strike to the heart via an upward thrust from the sternum resulting in immediate catastrophic blood loss and loss of consciousness - but who cares) but I think pretty much everything else you said I agree with.

And as for worried about not being positive - well, if you can't stand the heat ...:huh:

Thanks for your thoughts, my friend. Much appreciated.
 
My wife and I both enjoyed this entry. Here are my critical thoughts...

There's something kinda similar to a bullfight in a story like this. It's a story that needs to be told in broad and bold brush strokes with sharp contrasts. The characters need to be real pulp fiction archetypes.

They've got to be iconic. The male role needs to be somebody who exudes a toughness, machismo and masculinity like Dinero or Bruce Willis. Somebody you would never believe a woman could "get over" on. Somebody you might imagine being involved in the mafia as portrayed in the cinema...

Understanding the limitations on time for casting, I can't be too critical, but the central male role chosen didn't entirely convince me. Also, I found his soul patch a distraction. A flavor saver under the lip can be useful to a character in a longer form story on a larger screen. But in this, being shown on a small screen I was thrown away from the story for a moment. "Is that a shadow? Is that a funk patch?" I hope you won't be too upset my this critisism, I also criticized the creators of Heritage for an ear stud in the final moments of their film.

The women were convincing, but could have been a bit more vampish. Not as in vampire, but as in vamp... That Jessica Rabbit / Anita Ekberg / Julie London type, extremely alluring, but dubious in character, capable of anything and impossible to resist as they draw their prey like moths to a flame. I think these actresses could have accomplished this and in many ways did this already, but maybe a change in settings and wardrobe for the murder scene could have been more effective. A larger kitchen in an old chateau or villa - sexier clothing - a roast pig on the table with an apple in its mouth foreshadowing the slaughter of Erik... Hehe. Guess I'm getting carried away now. :) Guess I'm turning this into a Hitchcock murder kinda thing. :)

The minor story inconsistencies have already been brought up by others so I'm not gonna harp on those. Also folks mentioned that there was too much driving. I kinda liked the driving and the Cranberries style music underneath, but yea I guess this would have been better served time for developing characters and relationships. If the relationships were more established, the murder would have been more shocking...

Did I mention the camera work, lighting, SOUND and editing were excellent?

Thanks for taking some chances and reaching for greater heights! This entry is great entertainment and a great effort!
 
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Texture said:
My wife and I both enjoyed this entry.
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So why doesn't the member of the team whose opinion I truly trust ever post?:Drogar-Love(DBG):

Texture said:
...There's something kinda similar to a bullfight in a story like this.
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Well, you're half right ...

Texture said:
...The male role needs to be somebody who exudes a toughness, machismo and masculinity like Dinero or Bruce Willis. Somebody you would never believe a woman could "get over" on. Somebody you might imagine being involved in the mafia as portrayed in the cinema...
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er ... Bruce Willis (in his "with hair" or "without hair" period)? I appreciate the thought, but that wasn't the intention. All kidding aside, the intention was that the male character be a little wimpy, a little torn, a little confused, a little single dimensional. It was intended that there be room for doubt and interpretation as to what his intentions were in relation to the relationships with each woman.

Texture said:
... Also, I found his soul patch a distraction. A flavor saver under the lip can be useful to a character in a longer form story on a larger screen. But in this, being shown on a small screen I was thrown away from the story for a moment. "Is that a shadow? Is that a funk patch?" I hope you won't be too upset my this critisism, ...
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This is killing me. I actually had to ask someone what a "soul patch" was. Our (talented) actor actually has a tattoo on his left shoulder and I was at first mystified whether you had managed to spot it despite the expert makeup job that Claire did to cover it up! I've really got to ramp up my vocabulary so I can communicate with my hipper, non-English speaking NJ friends!

Texture said:
... The women were convincing, but could have been a bit more vampish. Not as in vampire, but as in vamp... That Jessica Rabbit / Anita Ekberg / Julie London type, extremely alluring, but dubious in character, capable of anything and impossible to resist as they draw their prey like moths to a flame. I think these actresses could have accomplished this and in many ways did this already, but maybe a change in settings and wardrobe for the murder scene could have been more effective. A larger kitchen in an old chateau or villa - sexier clothing - a roast pig on the table with an apple in its mouth foreshadowing the slaughter of Erik... Hehe. Guess I'm getting carried away now. :) Guess I'm turning this into a Hitchcock murder kinda thing. :) ...
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I only have one response to this comment:

Julie London? You're old enough to remember her? I am suddenly feeling soooooo much better about myself.:thumbup:

Texture said:
... Also folks mentioned that there was too much driving. I kinda liked the driving and the Cranberries style music underneath, but yea I guess this would have been better served time for developing characters and relationships. If the relationships were more established, the murder would have been more shocking...
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You liked the driving scene? Now you have totally lost all credibility!:beer:

And ... the Cranberries? Maybe the Raspberries (and I actually have a 1973 album of theirs ...) but not the Cranberries. Too contemporary.:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

Other than that, I agree!

Texture said:
... Did I mention the camera work, lighting, SOUND and editing were excellent?
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Sheesh! It took ya long enough!:undecided And coming from you, the sound reference both pleases and amazes me. Considering the source, this comment is the most gratifying received regarding this short.:Drogar-Happy(DBG):

Thanks E-man.

Now go gulp some Geritol and put on some Bobby Troup.:beer:
 
Texture said:
LOL! :smile:

Had to mention Julie. She's one of the best torch singers of the 20th Century even if most of her stuff was recorded before I was born! ...
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Yeah. right. And if I could backpedal that fast, I'd join the circus.

And I bet you are a big fan of Billy May, too.
 
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