WHERE THE HEART LIES ... Johnson, Hyten, Golden & Bullis

Wow. That's the first thing I said after watching Where the Heart Lies. Very well put together, and one of the best shorts I've seen in a while. Loved the script, the acting, the editing, cinematography. I can tell there was a lot of time and effort put into this, and the film came out great.

Two thumbs up!
 
ZFarms Productions said:
Wow. That's the first thing I said after watching Where the Heart Lies. Very well put together, and one of the best shorts I've seen in a while. Loved the script, the acting, the editing, cinematography. I can tell there was a lot of time and effort put into this, and the film came out great.

Two thumbs up!
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Ok, man. Your quotes are on the DVD package for sure. ..... :)
 
you guys know how I feel about this film. I had the opportunity to see the script early on and it really has blossomed. The production value is about as high on this one as you will see in these fests and that meant everyone a the top of their game. I thought the acting really served the piece. Geoff really had great camera comp and movement and Tim's editing/directing really engaged the story. Congrats guys and I hope I will make it out for the next one.
 
Excellent work. As many have said before, lighting, compositions, sound, script, all great. I especially liked the Silence of the Lambs moment him knocking on the door then her getting up but the two locations being separate.

Nice work.
 
Hey guys, you really stepped it up on this one, to be sure. Put Geoff in a cage and keep him under wraps.

You know I love Noirs, and this succeeded as a modern noir nicely. Good acting, lighting, mood, all really nicely handled.

I have two small beefs: I thought the music a little too heavy. I thought the piece would have worked such a prominent score. The music was good and suited to the piece, and maybe I am just gettng picky, but I thought it just a tad overbearing.

Secondly, why blow the guy's head off? Seems like an aweful mess and risk when you can just run off with his wife. I didnt see anything like she gets the insurance money or any real compelling reason to risk jail(have you SEEN CSI? They will nail her!!!) So I was not sure why kill him and in such a sloppy manner under these circumstances. Especially have a guy so closely connected to him do it. I mean money seemed to be no object, so hire a hit man. And I did not see her (hot as she was) pulling the other guy's strings that hard.

Anyway, those are the only comments on an otherwise really polished and sweet piece of work. And on time!!!

Well done guys.
 
CRAP!

I just typed a full page of notes. Very long and scene by scene detailed, hit post reply, and the screen refreshed to inform me that I was logged out. CRAP.

I will try to recreate them tomorrow but I'm too discouraged and tired right now.

Bust suffice it to say for the time being

WOW. WOW. WOW.

Amazing work.

Can't decide if I'm more blown away by the progress or the great (with no asterisks) work.

Several members of your team commented on me making a big leap last fest with my last two films and I can honestly return the compliment without qualification.

Tim you are a full on JEDI now.

More for the rest of the crew and cast tomorrow, but all were excellent.
 
I loved the cinematography, but personally thought the story was cliche. It has that "I've seen this a bunch of times before" feel to it. When he was walking up to the door, I've already guess the twist. Great looking film though!
 
I don't want to just repeat comments here, so Ill keep it brief. I thought technically this piece rocked. Great images, GREAT sound (thank you), and some great acting. Nothing really stood out as sub par in any of those departments.

Again I just had some issues with the story. The twist at the end didn't really seem all that justified and it took me by surprise almost too much. Also I don't know if the twist with where the girl was was justified. I think she needed a little more depth.

Otherwise great work technically.
 
Not to give anything away lets just say I wasn't expecting the twist Love the last line of the movie. I Love everything about this flick
 
I enjoyed watching this film immensely and not just because Johnson told me to say that :)

The look was wonderful...but man, I so wanted to move that wine bottle ever so slightly (the one in front of the guest's face at the dinner party). It was a little dark in places but overall not too distracting. Very nice polished look and the sound design worked very well.

The lead actress gave a great performance, she was both convincing in the role and had a great screen presence. She completely outshone the others.

The story did have an "I've seen it before" quality but, then again, many films are just a variation on a theme.

Overall, the film is in the top three for me. I've watched almost everything else at this stage.
 
bosindy said:
... Congrats guys and I hope I will make it out for the next one.
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Jim, you know we are counting on having you out here this summer. To me you are sort of like Ted 2 and I was thinking how cool it would be if both of you New Englanders could come out at the same time to shoot.


Gohanto said:
... I especially liked the Silence of the Lambs moment him knocking on the door then her getting up but the two locations being separate.
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Gohanto, I admit that ever since I saw that scene in SILENCE I've wanted to use that device myself. Your kind words are appreciated by all of us Fat Monsters.

Mark Harris said:
Hey guys, you really stepped it up on this one, to be sure. You know I love Noirs, and this succeeded as a modern noir nicely.

...

Secondly, why blow the guy's head off? Seems like an aweful mess and risk when you can just run off with his wife. I didnt see anything like she gets the insurance money or any real compelling reason to risk jail(have you SEEN CSI? They will nail her!!!) So I was not sure why kill him and in such a sloppy manner under these circumstances. Especially have a guy so closely connected to him do it. I mean money seemed to be no object, so hire a hit man. And I did not see her (hot as she was) pulling the other guy's strings that hard.
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Mark, we consider you the NOIR guy around here and we talked about KATRINA several times while we were making this. So, it is especially gratifying for you to be pleased with something that treads in your playground.

Actually, your comments regarding these character motives and the killing itself are very valid. We wrestled with those same plot elements and had a lot of discussions on the set and in pre-production. Obviously, Jack is going to get caught given the sloppy crime and one could question whether that plays too over the top. I think the bigger issue is one of motive and whether you can suspend disbelief enough to buy the little twist at the end.

Tim was the one who pointed out a lot of these issues and the original script was changed due to his discomfort with a plot hole involving Jack and Lisa. His valid point was that if Lisa really would consider cheating with Sean, wouldn't Jack be displeased and certainly not willing to murder for her? Thus, by having Matt confide in Jack about his little e-mail ploy it allows Jack to tip off Lisa and presumably the two of them devise the little scheme to ambush Matt.

Whether or not you can buy that fix, it certainly wasn't told in the short and would have spoiled the twist if it was. I had a nice discussion with my sometimes mentor Jack Stanley, who has convinced me that things could be done at the conclusion to better tie up the relationship between Lisa and Jack. We actually DID shoot a bunch of stuff not used, including various versions of the final phone call and even a rather clumsy attempt by Jack to make it look like Matt was killed as part of a drug buy gone wrong. None of it really sold us and we decided to go with the more ambiguous and open ending you see.

This is the kind of stuff that is worth much more than prizes, plaudits or recognition and I again urge everyone to try their best to enter these fests because I don't think you can find a better way to grow as a filmmaker. I really thank you, Mark, for all you do around here and for bringing both talent and spirit to the community.

I am also aware that shooting somebody in a short film can be legitimately questioned as a too-facile crutch. Indeed, many criticisms of student films mention that having a murder or a hooker are overused cliches and I have to agree to a certain extent. We had our eyes open when we wrote this and decided we were willing to risk the charge of being trite in favor of putting together what we hoped would be a nice little thrill ride.

In truth, I would very much like to someday revisit the issue of the husband's pretending to be someone else via e-mail to test his wife. The whole concept actually comes from an embarrasing incident of my own years ago where I did just that to a former girlfriend. For a week we traded these increasingly steamy e-mails and IMs with her thinking I was an old college buddy. It was a surreal occasion because I not only saw the devious and unfaithful side of my girlfriend, I also saw some really kinky and erotic sides of her I was unaware of. Of course, when I got busted she saw a less than flattering side of my own and what was left of the relationship pretty much dissolved of course. We remained friends and I always thought that week of deception would make a great basis for a book or film.
 
Jack Daniel Stanley said:
CRAP!

I just typed a full page of notes. Very long and scene by scene detailed, hit post reply, and the screen refreshed to inform me that I was logged out. CRAP.

I will try to recreate them tomorrow but I'm too discouraged and tired right now.
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Jack, we would all very much appreciate if you can give us those notes in some form. You and your techniques were CONSTANTLY discussed by us as we worked on this. Without any b.s., I can truly tell you that our goal was to try and dissect elements that have given you such success here. Although we know we came up lacking in many instances, the fact that you recognized our progress as filmmakers is a huge win for us.

I am especially looking forward to having the chance to shoot with you and have you direct something that Tim and I can be part of with you. I am pretty sure we'll be able to pull that together and be able to get you out here to L.A. this spring or summer.
 
Huy Vu said:
I loved the cinematography, but personally thought the story was cliche. It has that "I've seen this a bunch of times before" feel to it. When he was walking up to the door, I've already guess the twist. Great looking film though!
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Appreciate very much your taking the time to comment and your observation regarding the story being cliche is a valid criticism. Our hope was that the element of the e-mail deception would elevate the plot above the "seen it before" level.

In any event, thanks for taking the time to watch and even more for taking time to comment.

smashedburrito said:
I don't want to just repeat comments here, so Ill keep it brief. I thought technically this piece rocked. Great images, GREAT sound (thank you), and some great acting. Nothing really stood out as sub par in any of those departments.

Again I just had some issues with the story. The twist at the end didn't really seem all that justified and it took me by surprise almost too much. Also I don't know if the twist with where the girl was was justified. I think she needed a little more depth.

Otherwise great work technically.
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I love getting feedback and I appreciate you giving these notes. It seems different people react very differently to this little story. I particularly like learning what DOES NOT work for people and it really inspires me, as a writer, to work on those elements in future projects. THANKS AGAIN Senor Burrito!

Dustin R. Rogan said:
Not to give anything away lets just say I wasn't expecting the twist Love the last line of the movie. I Love everything about this flick
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Ah, another quote for the DVD package! (just kidding) Seriously, I cannot tell you how much we appreciate you taking the time to leave such kind words. That last line was sort of "found" by Tim and the shooting crew as it wasn't in the script and I was down in the bar with Blaine and the grips drinking scotch. I, too, thought it was a nifty little ending and left enough ambiguity while also suggesting their relationship to tie things up.
 
disjecta said:
I enjoyed watching this film immensely and not just because Johnson told me to say that :)
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You left out the part about the writing being among the most lucid and evocative that you've ever seen. No Guiness for you now. Only bud ... and bud lite at that.

:)

Seriously, we want to figure out how to shoot one of these fest entries with you Steven.
 
Mark Johnson said:
Jim, you know we are counting on having you out here this summer. To me you are sort of like Ted 2 and I was thinking how cool it would be if both of you New Englanders could come out at the same time to shoot.
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Sorry Mark, one of us always needs to stay behind to stir the giant pot of clam chowda.
 
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