Walk Away Films presents SOMATIC DEATH

I am curious on how this one will go.
Brandon-this is actually only one part of the three parts I had planned for this. I added the VO just to give it some sort of story. It is basically going to be about a guy who does not have the guts to actually torture kids and only tortures dolls. The most pathetic of the most pathetic. He looks to a priest for solace in his post suicide halucinations who turns out to be himself. I will finish this one soon but I had to turn something in because I love being a part of these things.
 
visceral and haunting. seriously, let me know when you've finished - don't wait till Creepy Fest to share the rest.

review coming sooner or later; I wanna watch them all first . . . but for now - thanks for entering.

preston
 
In a fest that featured a lot of weak entries, yours stands above almost all the other qualifying entries. I wished you could find something better than voice over as it cheapens the images which were very good. GREAT music. It might have been better for the character to actually do the talking instead of VO, which is my only real problem with this. Good job. This is probably going to be in my top 3.
 
I absolutely love this one. I actually think this would have worked completely without any VO. This is a winner.
 
Loved the visuals in this, almost poetry on screen. I too thought the VO took away a bit and wondered how this would of played with no VO and have a final shot of him watching children play in a schoolyard. I am interested to see where you take it. Really impressive. Good stuff.
 
REVIEW:
Greg Johnson, you rule, man! One of my favorites so far. I knew from the opening credits that I was going to like it. I don't know how, I could just tell. Visually stunning, nice comp on the shots. Really fine work. Great job! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

FILMMAKER-TO-FILMMAKER:
Really liked this one, buddy. I chime in with the others, please let us know when you finish this thing. And yes, I agree that the VO KILLS IT! This one could definitely stand on its own if you worked it. How about putting a Sunday morning sermon blasting from the television in the background, something revolving around the theme?

BTW - A paper-mache mask made from pages of The Bible. F*CKING BRILLIANT! (I might have to steal that one. :evil:)

Tres cool! Great work!
 
I agree with what most people here say. Stunning visuals, but the voice-over kind of ruins it. After the fest, you should definitely expand it into a longer film, because it's definitely a very unique, original idea.
 
Wow, thanks everybody. I threw in that VO right on the last night because I felt in needed some story. I must admit I didn't much like it either but thought it might be too artsy weird for the crowd here. Should have stuck with my guns. Live and learn.
Funny because I have that shot over a guys shoulder with a playground in the background in my original script.
Thanks for the reviews
 
Didn't buy the VO. Sounded more like a college kid.

I admit that I laughed at the hockey goalie mask in the mirror. There was something about that shot - maybe the angle of his head, or the peering into the shot - but it just struck me wrong. Sorry.

BUT. I loved this short. The images of the dolls combined with the biblical references combined with the story as told by the narrator were very disturbing. Couple all of that with the cello running throughout and I thought it really hit home.

The images were crisp and I thought the color pallette was perfect for this - like the worn parchment of the pages of the bible.

Very, very nice and only one of two that I've seen so far that I will watch again after this fest is over.

Thank you.
 
Definitely visually interesting. Can't say I dug the paper mache mask (Rob Zombie just did the same thing in Halloween). The VO was a drag as stated by others. But the coloring, imagery and music were on target.
 
I will take full credit for coming up with the bible paper mache mask. I came up with this when the fest was first announced because I am always looking for ways so I can play multiple characters myself. I thought the bible would be a perfect way to take it as far as I could. If Rob Zombie did the same thing then it is purely coincidence.
I agree and am thankful for everything else that has been said.
 
this film was very poignant for me and stuck in my mind for a while after I watched it. I would shorten the VO to a certain few phrases that have more effect, and get a different voice actor, I think that would make this film even more disturbing. Very creative use of the wine glass, some of the images are just haunting. Nice work! (especially for a 1 man show)
 
I thought this was a very good and creepy film. Although the VO wasn't great (just because it didn't seem sincere in sections), but to me it told the story about this man and why he was doing what he was doing. I don't know how else you would have done that, unless you showed newspaper clippings or something like what somebody else suggested showing some kids at the end. But, this film was very haunting and real. Good story, direction and sound.
 
jazz dog you have some of the best, most professional cinematography in this fest.
I actually agree with Mark, you almost didnt need the VO, or maybe a little less VO, but it was certainly well written. Overall it's the images that really grabbed me, Well done!
 
Jazz Dog said:
I am curious on how this one will go.
Brandon-this is actually only one part of the three parts I had planned for this. I added the VO just to give it some sort of story. It is basically going to be about a guy who does not have the guts to actually torture kids and only tortures dolls. The most pathetic of the most pathetic. He looks to a priest for solace in his post suicide halucinations who turns out to be himself. I will finish this one soon but I had to turn something in because I love being a part of these things.
Click to expand...

INTERESTING! Ok... I get it now! That has a lot of potential if fleshed out a little longer... cool... keep us posted on more parts of this!
 
Good film. Some real nice imagery. Good imaginative use of those creepy little dolls! :)

I loved the mask - very iconic image. You have a real visual flair. Didn't like your choice of music - seemed to work against the visuals. Agree that VO unecessary.

Look forward to your next film... hopefully with more actors, and fewer dolls! :grin:
 
I really liked it Jazz Dog. Very creepy and very interesting character. You drew me into the mind of the character more than any other film in the fest and left me thinking about him. In my final three.

david
 
I found this interesting

You have some really interesting comps in this short. I wish you would have pulled back more and strayed from so many close ups, but overall, I found that most of them had some thought put into them.

The weakest point for me is the Voiceover. I think it hurts the short more than serves it. I'd consider rendering it minus that audi otrack and seeing how it plays out.

The color correction also did not work for me; too balnd of a pallette. Seeing more creativity in that area with desat on certain colors or oversat on ones would make a more pleasing visual piece I think

Overall; I enjoyed it and I think you did a nice job.
 
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