Greek Battle Epic Film Trailer

T

thewill

Member
I was was recently the DP on an epic period film. "Marathon" It's an intense and in depth look at the myth of marathon, the 26.2 mile run from the plains of Marathon to the gates of Athens. We shot on two DVX's. Let me know what you think of the trailer. We will have a preview screening of the entire film sometime this summer in New York.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D5iEEOLAGw


Will
 
thewill said:
I was was recently the DP on an epic period film. "Marathon" It's an intense and in depth look at the myth of marathon, the 26.2 mile run from the plains of Marathon to the gates of Athens. We shot on two DVX's. Let me know what you think of the trailer. We will have a preview screening of the entire film sometime this summer in New York.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D5iEEOLAGw


Will
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Well... Some of the camera movements around the warriors was nice, but, Unless this is a spoof, the costumes and weapons were horribly hokey. I feel that it really is hard to get past that, given the serious nature of this film.
 
I agree with the post above but would add that a good voiceover artist is a must. With all due respect, this one sounded like a reference track that would go once a real VO was recorded. It would make all the difference on this.

sjc
 
the unfortunate downside of an "epic period film" is that it requires somewhat accurate clothing to be believable. these guys look they're wearing masks made of gold aluminum foil with a piece of red foam glued on top. that would be fine for a parody, but it comes up short for a serious film.
 
It has to be a parody. It's just seems way too mawkish to be a serious film. As everyone said, the costumes are just frightfully ridiculous, and it looks like the whole thing was shot in a park or something, and the voice-over is pretty cheesy, as are some of the lines/moments, like when the older man turns to the younger man, puts his hand on his shoulder and says something to the effect of "The fate of athens is in his hands". The whole thing just seems silly.
 
You could have a winner if this was a comedy. The costumes are perfect for a spoof type film. I think you need some CC as it looked very videoy. My favorite shot was the one after the title at the end when the guy jumped over the camera.
 
reminds me of something trying to be like 300 except with bad costumes and set design. it looks like it was in a park. i dont think the greeks or the "Gods" had perfectly cut grass back in those times i could be wrong. bad script and acting overshadowed the camera skills and movement.
 
I would try doing something about that color. It doesn't look film-ish, it looks video-ish. I can't describe it.

The costumes weren't so good, we all know that, but whatever, this isn't a hollywood film.

Fix the color, also avoid Youtube, it degrades the quality so bad. I hate watching videos on youtube, what is the point of paying so much for a camcorder when the quality is destroyed like that.
 
ugafan said:
the unfortunate downside of an "epic period film" is that it requires somewhat accurate clothing to be believable. these guys look they're wearing masks made of gold aluminum foil with a piece of red foam glued on top. that would be fine for a parody, but it comes up short for a serious film.
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agree 100%. immediately the costumes take me out of the film. there almost laughable. you don't have to have hollywood made costumes for it to look believable. the director should've focused more on a believeable location and better costumes.

the shots weren't bad.
 
Billy Pilgrim said:
It has to be a parody. It's just seems way too mawkish to be a serious film. As everyone said, the costumes are just frightfully ridiculous, and it looks like the whole thing was shot in a park or something, and the voice-over is pretty cheesy, as are some of the lines/moments, like when the older man turns to the younger man, puts his hand on his shoulder and says something to the effect of "The fate of athens is in his hands". The whole thing just seems silly.
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Yes yes yes. The whole thing is a comedy. Although unfortunately the "comedy" is lost in the trailer as the trailer serves as the setup to the short film, "Marathon." The film is about the legend of Marathon, in which a man runs 26.2 miles to warn Athens about the persians. That is what the film is: a slightly over the top "300-wanna be" trailer followed by, that's right, 10 minutes of a guy running, and a punchy, yet anti-climatic ending. I mean what do we expect going to see a film called marathon, that is if anyone goes to see it. I think it's a poke at the absurdity of certain Hollywood films with really no script but some ancient epic battle. They seem only saved by trick photography and CG. Story and script nearly become even less important than the lowest paid PA. At least that is the directors idea. He's yet to find out if it succeeds in its aim.
Some CC would be very nice I think as well. A real VO track too. Anyway thanks for honest feedback and I hope if anyone is in New York they'll come to watch the audience watch the film. They'll be what I'm watching. I'll post a time if there is a screening. I wanted to show it to some of the folks here to see what kind of reaction it got. I feel I can share this inside joke with the DVXUser community as this seems like a talented and intersting/interested group of people.

I originally thought it was an idea that could never work but am starting to warm up to the film being a sort of practical joke.
 
in that case, it could work!!!! it could work indeed but try and go a little more all out in the comedy... and with costumes like that physical comedy is a MUST!! :D
 
thewill said:
\\ That is what the film is: a slightly over the top "300-wanna be" trailer followed by, that's right, 10 minutes of a guy running, and a punchy, yet anti-climatic ending. I mean what do we expect going to see a film called marathon, that is if anyone goes to see it. I think it's a poke at the absurdity of certain Hollywood films with really no script but some ancient epic battle. They seem only saved by trick photography and CG. Story and script nearly become even less important than the lowest paid PA. At least that is the directors idea. He's yet to find out if it succeeds in its aim.
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Interesting that you don't sound all that excited for a film you worked on.

To be honest, the trailer was a failure for me. If it's meant as a comedy that should definitely have shone through. It actually looked like quite a bit of work was put into getting all those guys and the custumes (sucky as they maybe) so I really hope the actual film is better, cause it'll be a shame to waste all that effort.
 
Thanks nathan and jade. Yes physical comedy certainly comes in during the actual film. And the choice for the trailer to take itself almost to seriously was just that, a choice. The trailer can't show comedy in order to work. As the comedy comes in the expectation of a, perhaps over zelous and definitely under budgeted, attempt to create a period battle scene followed by an obvious joke on "us, the audience." I personally think the bad costumes work wonders. As an audience member I am thinking to myself, "are you serious?"
 
AHAHAH now i really find it funny.. the way you put it is good.


personally though, i think the trailer still failed. SOME kind of comedy needs to show through, and in this case it needs to be your tongue being bit off in your cheek! take it SOOO seriously, that it's ridiculous. You still need to go wayyy more over the top though or people will just get confused.

now im excited to see more of this.
 
So if it's a comedy, a really good serious sounding voiceover guy would push it over the top. Find someone with a really deep, gravelly voice and you'll have it.
 
ya no offense whatsoever, but the whole thing just looks a bit ridiculous.....the shots were not good in my opinion. looks like you didn't do any planning and threw it together on the day of.


change the colors too. the was nothing "epic" about it.

at all.
 
Oh yeah...My favorite part is that the costumes are made out of cardboard, paper mache, and gaff tape.

And true...it needs some CC bad and a new VO track. While none of that is in my hands for this project I am actually wondering if there is any online tutorials or some such thing to learn CC. I am working on a doc i directed in Africa at the moment and some CC is really important. (Bright hot african sun.) Or does anyone know a going rate for someone to CC a feature doc. I imagine I couldn't get some guy who does it on the side to do it for credit or anything but is $1000 a dream? I'm in NYC.

Thanks guys for honest feedback. I've been making films for a little under a year and i feel like reading this crazy site has saved and braved me many times.
 
I think it's great you've taken on such a ambitous project. I am expecting you learned a massive amount of what worked and what does not

I can agree with what is being said; costumes, cinemaphotgraphy, color palette and the acting

This would interesting maybe for a Discovery documentary while intercutting with historians maybe but as a serious entry it does come up short.

The actors are horrible; horrible, horrible, horrible. Why do they talk like they have something in their arse ?
 
Thanks...

I'm a bit confused though about what you mean for a documentary? You mean the marathon piece? A documentary about the greek battle, like a reenactment? It's a comedy though.
And you're damn right...i learned a lot and continue to do so everyday i work more. I'm excited to continue posting work and getting feedback from all the talents on this site.

Would any of you take a look, if you haven't, at my film trailer. Any feedback. This one is not a comedy and a cut of the film should be out soon.

here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Ck9xSq4y8
 
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