Tetris For Two - A Short By Ryan Thomas and George Manatos

So....I had my DVX laying around as I was frantically talking to Alan and just sorta freaking out about having enough time to compress, so I did what any normal filmmaker would do. I sat my camera on my table and left it recording as I continued to pee my pants on whether or not it would upload in time.

My sister came by and tried to talk to me about it logically, using math and stuff like that...but psh, I just wrote whatever she said off as pessimism.

My film is uploading now though, so it looks like this story will have a happy ending. (Knocks on wood.)

Basically, prepare yourself for the best BTS video ever, and of course a story that makes sense!
 
This was pretty good. Really well shot, you have quite the eye. I have to say, the acting took me out of it a bit (male lead) but not enough to dislike it.

I like the moment that you created.

Well crafted and well written.

Cheers,
 
Glad to hear you enjoyed it michael, I'll be checking out your film quite soon.

Three skinny pieces in a row to those of you who can find the camera.
 
Ryan, that movie looked really sweet man. Also I dug the music, it fit the piece really well and was real different sounding. The things that took me out of it were the acting and some of the story. I think you needed a few more minutes to establish your characters, the listening device, things like that. Otherwise I really enjoyed the look and sound of this piece.

Looking forward to the next one.
 
So...I'm going to take a wild guess at what's going on. You just watched the film. You're like, alright, alright, cool. But that music...man, you just can't get enough of that music!

This is where the ever so talented colugo comes in. A friend of mine stumbled across this album and said that I had to listen to it, he had never been so happy while listening to music before. Plus, it's called Music For People. I'm people...so it's music for me. It all made sense. Also, this is all free. He just wants you guys to listen, so no need to feel like you're killing his first born child downloading this album.



(click the photo to download)


It contains such classics as "Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a briefcase", "I was eating some delicious oats, but they're all gone now and it's making me very happy indeed" as well as "Hey little boy would you like ten oranges". (Haha, I kid you not. These are the names of some of the songs. I know. Crazy.)

It's a great little album, even if you don't like electronica. I suggest you all check it out.
 
That came out real good, I really enjoyed that. You got my vote.
Snorri Cam shot ftw!
Best Soundtrack Ever? I think so....

Also, I liked the creative audio, props to your audio guy, Alan right?

Btw, how long have you had that Mac Aquarium? That thing is amazing! I might have to do that to my G5 when it's done, but it just wont be the same...
 
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This was a fun film that jived with a lot of my sensibilities. Im a sucker for nerdy chicks that like video games (Mario Kart instead of Tetris though). Defintitely my kinda movie.

The beginning worked really well for me, but things started to fall apart once she was in his apartment and stormed off. What was she mad about? What did she see or discover that pissed her off? I didn't quite get that.

Also, the slipping on the pen didn't work for me either.

I liked a lot of the ideas in this. Just a few things kept me from really connecting with the piece. I hope to seem more from you guys anyway.
 
mentatDUKE said:
The beginning worked really well for me, but things started to fall apart once she was in his apartment and stormed off. What was she mad about? What did she see or discover that pissed her off? I didn't quite get that.
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She ended up seeing the device that he had used to listen into her conversations as well as heard her friends voice coming out of it. I guess that audio could easiliy be confused with you just being able to hear the other side of the conversation on the phone.

Thanks for the comments though. Hopefully a little bit of audio tinkering may help that part start to work better.
 
Nice work, chicks who play video games always add a plus to any film. I really liked the story you had, and the ending was very well done. Kinda like the Jerry McGuire line but done in a very original way that fit perfectly.

The sound design was one of the stand outs of the film, however I think if you would've played this back in the room and outside so the reverbs would've matched the location it could've worked a little better and been more natural. Just a little too clean to think it was actually being played in the room.

Acting was okay, didn't distract, but both the actors seemed a little uncomfortable on camera. But like I said, it wasn't distractingly so, just something to work on in the future imo.

Another thing I noticed, you may have wanted to show the actor how to at least begin to solve a rubiks cube correctly. Something I doubt many people would notice, but since its solved in the opening shot and based on the character you setup I would think he would be able to solve it. The first step you do is to make a cross of the middle pieces on one side, then the corners on that side, then work your way down to the middle level, and finally solve the last side. EXTREMELY MINOR note, but something I thought worth pointing out. (That overhead angle looked cool though)


The tilt down when he walks up the stairs onto the pencil looked excellent.

Very nice work overall.
 
Gohanto said:
The sound design was one of the stand outs of the film, however I think if you would've played this back in the room and outside so the reverbs would've matched the location it could've worked a little better and been more natural. Just a little too clean to think it was actually being played in the room.
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What do you mean playing back in the room and outside?
 
I believe Walter Murch calls it worldizing sounds. Basically design it however you like, then take a pair of good speakers to a location acoustically similar to the setting, then play the sounds back and re-record them. That way the natural reverb is heard. You can get similar results with a lot of work in post-sound controls, however that's just my preference. American Graffiti and Walk the Line are both well known for doing this.
 
Gohanto said:
Another thing I noticed, you may have wanted to show the actor how to at least begin to solve a rubiks cube correctly. Something I doubt many people would notice, but since its solved in the opening shot and based on the character you setup I would think he would be able to solve it. The first step you do is to make a cross of the middle pieces on one side, then the corners on that side, then work your way down to the middle level, and finally solve the last side. EXTREMELY MINOR note, but something I thought worth pointing out. (That overhead angle looked cool though)
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Do you mean show him solving it in the first scene?

If so, we actually had a scene right before we start the film where he solves the rubicks cube, then says "a minute 30, beat that gil". But...I don't know, acting wise it just wasn't there, so I ended up cutting it. Maybe I can find a way for him to solve it without saying the line though, because you're the second person to mention that.

That's how walter started out though, didn't he? He was the guy who had to go out to those locations, play the sound and record it himself. I always tend to do it in post, but I've sort of been thinking about trying that myself. Seems like it may end up being much more natural and organic.
 
Fantastic job! The fall was a little corny, but everything else was great ;p Oh, and I really liked the use of Tetris sounds for the soundtrack, very cool
 
I liked the concept of this movie, but I felt you could have done alittle more, but time restrictions suck. I'm not gonna say great score, but rather great soundtrack, since you were using "premade" music. Colugo has gained another fan here. Audio levels, alittle hot, but sounded great overall.

Again I really like the concept.

Goodluck to you all,

KenV
 
I find the last song to be hot, but it was beyond my control. It's hard judging all these movies, even harder than the last fest. So much quality everywhere!

Glad you enjoyed it. I also love the soundtrack, sounds very organic and original.
 
Great title and I love the last shot.

This was a wonderful quirky little romance. I really liked the characters - I thought both actors were great.

I really liked the look and mood of this story. Very well done.
 
Gohanto, I just realized what you were talking about and you know, you're definitely right. I should have showed him how to at least begin to solve it. It may be a little detail, but, then again...nothing is too small to look over. Thanks for the comment.
 
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