The Park Bench Trailer Is Uploaded! (shot with LetusX)

Well, this is where I stand on all above.

Having been a songwritter and producer as well as recordig artist all my life I am not new to criticism.

However my two cent on it is this:

1- Don't criticize a script you have NOT READ

2- Don't criticize a film you have NOT SEEN

3- Don't play film critics unless you ARE ONE.

4- Everyone has opinions.

5- Everyone is entitled to them, that doesn't mean they should always be voiced.

6- When I need criticism I ask for it and from people I know are THE BEST in their field.

For exemple, once I am done with the sound on my film I am taking it to my good friend Patrick, who just finished mixing the sound for the last TARANTINO film. I have asked him to help me figure out what I did OK and what I messed up with sound wise and help me fix it. Now whatever Patrick says is GOSPEL and I will do whatever he suggest. Patrick will be mixing my hotrod film for me, by the way, which is a great relief for me.

My other friend Allen Klein is part of the Academy. He gets to vote on films for the Oscars every year. So if HE picks my film apart, he has my blessings to do so.

Also: This short is NOT for sale. Noone has to spend a dime to see it. One can elect to watch it if they like the trailer or not watch it if they did not like the trailer, it is A-OK by me. As I stated it was a pure artistic endeavour, not meant to be commercial. I am kindly sharing it with you guys, you can decide if you want to see it or not, it makes no difference to me.

One last point I need to make: this is the 35mm adapter section, not the film critics section. I posted the footage here to show you what I was able to do with the help of the adapter, NOT to ask you to critic my trailer / film. But do feel free to comment on the adapter itself.

Also, when a person makes their first film, the polite thing to say would be "congrats on your first effort", encourage them instead of shooting them down. It would help the filmmaking community a lot more.

So there, I've said it.
 
Faith, everyone is a critic. Surely you know that!! I guess if you post on this forum make sure you are asking for opinions on how it looks. Otherwise people will always give their opinions. Think of them as people coming out of a movie theatre or drinking a beer after seeing a film. Sure they haven't made one but they will give their opinions anyway, of course I doubt they would say them to the director's face!

it looks great. Be good to see a higher def version
 
Hey, Deuce, give us a break!

Hey, Deuce, give us a break!

First you rail on Joakim and call Spyke a boy scout, then in your reply to Huy Vu you blame sound, luminance and too many pixels on Daily Motion. Then you drop the names of everyone you know in the industry.

This is your film - don't blame others for your problems.

Maybe you shouldn't post here if you can't take the heat. This is the most constructive forum I have ever found and I learn something every time I log on. I don't know a single poster by name and don't need to but I respect their judgments and opinions. Let your work speak for itself and listen to people like Douglas and Philip. I don't need to know their credits but I know from their writing that they know what they're talking about

You're a good DP, maybe even a great DP but don't tell us that or name everyone you know who thinks you are good.

Yeah, you've got some audio problems and the script could be better but you make good images. Are we only supposed to talk about depth of field in this forum? I checked and didn't see your trailer in any other forum.

So, in other words: If you can't take the heat...
 
i unno, if you post a film and want people to watch it then they are probably going to say what they thought about it whether you asked for it or not. We spend the time watching too, even if i don't type out my opinion i always have one, some people always type out their opinions and thats great, its how we learn. No one is perfect, don't just take criticism from "the best" they aren't always right. Of course its your film and your hard work and you can do whatever you want :)
 
Douglas Villalba said:
THIS IS NOT DIRECTED TO ANYONE.

Every artist's work is like the first time you fell in love.

You are so involve with all the problem solving that only you know what a great job you had to do to come up with what you got.

I know. I usually work on my own and even though I haven't made a movie I do make TV commercials and corporate work. Most of the time I work alone with no help at all. It is hard for me to see the minor mistakes I am doing because I am in LOVE again.

I recently did a job that had to be produced and finished the same day with the customers doing the the acting. I was so proud of what I had done that I posted it right away. Well, you know the rest. I had people that don't even use their real name finding mistakes all over it. How could they see anything wrong with it? I did a great job with what I had to work with.

I can tell you that at first I had the same reaction as Faith. After I had sometime to cool down and realized that I also had some heavy hitters make the same comments I decided to just listen to them and do the changes that they suggested and re-post.

Faith was brave enough to post her new baby and that is better than a lot of you that are always waiting to take that first step. It is easy to come here and hide behind a fake name without even posting you URL for other to see who you are and what you do.
Sure the film has thing that can be improved. I know that Faith will do them eventually.

The best way to learn is when you are critiqued.
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Don't assume that "a lot of us" have the CHOICE to post up. Most of the stuff I do is under confidentiality agreement and I won't be allowed to even speak about it until it's released to the public.

Just because we're posting other stuff doesn't mean we're not working. Be thankful that you can show the community what you work on, just don't assume that those giving you ADVICE and CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM is coming from a place void of experience.

Just as well, this is DVXuser - The online community for filmmaking. That means there are a lot of filmmakers here, not just audience members. We're all naturally inclined to see something and point it out than your average beer guzzling audience member.

They may not care, we do. It's inherent and that's what the community is about. That said, I rarely ever see anyone pointing out anything without offering up positive thoughts. A lot of people will just say "hey nice looking footage" altogether without saying what they really feel.

I'd say be thankful to those that are open enough to comment on your work, tests, etc because those are the ones that make you better at what you want to do (generally). You can get back pats from your family and friends all day.

Faith, there's some great looking shots in there. Congrats on finishing up your first short (phtoography, anyway).
 
Kholi said:
Don't assume that "a lot of us" have the CHOICE to post up. Most of the stuff I do is under confidentiality agreement and I won't be allowed to even speak about it until it's released to the public.

Just because we're posting other stuff doesn't mean we're not working. Be thankful that you can show the community what you work on, just don't assume that those giving you ADVICE and CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM is coming from a place void of experience.

Just as well, this is DVXuser - The online community for filmmaking. That means there are a lot of filmmakers here, not just audience members. We're all naturally inclined to see something and point it out than your average beer guzzling audience member.

They may not care, we do. It's inherent and that's what the community is about. That said, I rarely ever see anyone pointing out anything without offering up positive thoughts. A lot of people will just say "hey nice looking footage" altogether without saying what they really feel.

I'd say be thankful to those that are open enough to comment on your work, tests, etc because those are the ones that make you better at what you want to do (generally). You can get back pats from your family and friends all day.

Faith, there's some great looking shots in there. Congrats on finishing up your first short (phtoography, anyway).
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Kholi, some people just can't understand each other.

Are you agreeing with me here or are you answering my post?

I am leaning on that you agree with me because I clearly said that I wasn't answering any previous post. What gets me confuse is that you quoted me.

As of you not posting because confidentiality I know what you are saying. Most of my best national work I don't have releases for.

With that said, I want to encourage you to create something to post. I personally want to see the look you get with the LEX zoom at 27.3 mm with different lenses.

I learned a couple of trick from Faith's trailer and every clip that is posted here. I am sure that we can all pick up something from yours too.
 
My hats off to you Faith! film making is a hard and ##$ity thing some times because you put so much of yourself into a project and then you show just a bit and wham someone downs it, or gives you their opinion when you don't want it. Which is how things go. But I admire your responce and it is the right one, remember that no one should stand by and have anything that they love *&it on by anyone without putting up a fight(I'm sure you already know that). That is a natural responce from anyone who is really going to make it in this industry. Keep shooting, good luck on your feature-rock-Adam
 
Douglas Villalba said:
Kholi, some people just can't understand each other.

Are you agreeing with me here or are you answering my post?

I am leaning on that you agree with me because I clearly said that I wasn't answering any previous post. What gets me confuse is that you quoted me.

As of you not posting because confidentiality I know what you are saying. Most of my best national work I don't have releases for.

With that said, I want to encourage you to create something to post. I personally want to see the look you get with the LEX zoom at 27.3 mm with different lenses.

I learned a couple of trick from Faith's trailer and every clip that is posted here. I am sure that we can all pick up something from yours too.
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When I can post I will, certainly. =B I actually did post stills from something I'm doing for a friend but of course it's nothing structured. The point was, though, that you really don't have to see what other people do to open your mind up and put your feelings aside. Granted, feelings can get hurt but again it's a filmmakers community: we're gonna see what you probably already see or have not. Doesn't matter if anyone sees our work, if ya put it out there in a community such as this then that's what's gonna happen I think.

With the exception of one person in this thread, everyone's been pretty tactful. Just have to take the good with the bad!
 
spyke said:
Nice imagery but one cliche' after another in the script.
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After watching a trailer, I felt the same way.

I can understand that finishing that project boost your ego skyrocket, but with time you will realised ( I hope so ) that shooting a movie ( even a short one ) isn't a one-man-band, but team work.

On the DP side, you did a great job, but if you ask me, that way you loose to much energy, and failed on working with actors on acting.

"I hate you, I hate you"... that was really funny and I belive it was suposed not to be.

And at the end, with ( again cliche' ) dialog, I was hoping to see at least that guy is talking to a dead body.. That would rase me a question, what happened in the story and attract me to see the whole movie..

and after seeing the trailer, I am not interested into spending 10, 15 or 20 minutes of my life for watching your movie.. That way.. I can spend the rest of my life watching youtube all thay long, and actually have a better joy.

And agian.. Don't waste time for looking my posted grabs, footage or what accesory I own.. I didn't post any; I will when I would consider it is worthy.. and by that time, I will be sure that it is good enogh, and that I am prepared for all kind of critics.

I don't need to be the best cook arround, to know where serve the best pizza in town..

:beer:
 
Alright guys let's lighten up...

It's a first short and call me crazy but first shorts really don't tend to look and sound this good. I know my first short isn't half of what I've seen in this trailer.
 
Deuceofspades said:
....turns out I have a real nack for directing....
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Arrogance? Stupidity? The truth? Either way if you post things like that on a public forum expect discussion....

Definitions of forum on the Web:
[SIZE=-1]
  • a public meeting or assembly for open discussion
  • a public facility to meet for open discussion.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]I've seen the trailer, read about the film and staired at the grabs. Looks good. If a little cheesy.... [/SIZE]
 
1- Don't criticize a script you have NOT READ
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I don't think they are, they are reacting to dialogue in the trailer.

2- Don't criticize a film you have NOT SEEN
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They are just reacting to the trailer.
3- Don't play film critics unless you ARE ONE.
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I don't get it, you post something that you want us to take the time to watch, but you don't want to know what we think unless it's completely positive? How is that even going to be useful to you?

I know people that are in the Academy too and I wouldn't just take their opinions as gospel. I want to know what everyone thinks because they are my audience. A film critic is no more important than anyone else (and most of the time critics know less than you think). When people don't like something I've made it doesn't feel great but I take it as a chance to be more humble and realize that I am flawed and that each film is just one more step towards finding my voice as a filmmaker.

I think you are going to limit your potential if you don't open up to criticism. You don't have to agree with it but at least listen to it. Don't tell people to keep their opinions to themselves if first you ask us to watch your film. It doesn't make any sense for you or for us to spend time that way.


Marco
 
Holy cow!
I merely expressed my first reaction. I didn't say that your trailer was the worst I've ever seen.
I applaud the fact that you are out there making films, but you have to be able to take a simple criticism.
Keep shooting!
 
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Well, the good news is: After watching my trailer another 200 times, I still feel strongly about it. Although this is only one trailer, and I am going to make two or more variations of it probably.

The good news is I did get to play it to my friend Allen yesterday. Allen has been working for the film industry since the 40's. He is an OLD timers of Hollywood and basically has seen it all. As I mentioned he is a member of the Academy. He is also very direct and hard to please. He watched the trailer and I noticed he had a big smile on his face. About mid way into it he turned to me and said GOOD MOVIE ! It was a nice change because usually Allen is always yelling at me LOL. Last time he gave me the third degree when he found out I was about to start filming and did not have filming insurance. He did talk some sense into me and so I got insured. (ouch)

So seeing him smile after looking at the footage felt real good. He likes the film enough that he wants to become involved.

So as you see, different folks, different strokes.

Another American film critic based in Tokyo was sent the trailer through a friend of mine and immediately posted it on his blog. His caption was:

"This looks like it is going to be an intensely emotional film with a message."

Good to see he got it.

But as I said it doesn't mean everyone has to like it. Meanwhile if anyone has questions relating to the use of the LETUS EXTREME in the film, feel free to ask, that is afterall why I posted the footage in the first place (and sorry if I gave you the impression it was for any other reason).
 
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marco0782 said:
I want to know what everyone thinks because they are my audience.

Marco
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Other filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers are not the audience. Filmmakers are in competition with each other and that oftentimes clouds their judgement. Which is sad. The real audience are normal joe shmoes off the streets, people of all walks of life, that probably have never held a real camera in their hands in their life (and never will).

The best way to gauge things is to play the trailer to those type of people and make sure they know NOTHING of your project and are not industry related. Then ask them what they thought of it and make notes.

If 50% or more say the same thing, then it is probably true. If you get a bunch of different reactions, comments, then they basically cancel each other out.

That's how I personally go about testing things out.
 
Deuceofspades said:
The good news is I did get to play it to my friend Allen yesterday. Allen has been working for the film industry since the 40's. He is an OLD timers of Hollywood and basically has seen it all. As I mentioned he is a member of the Academy. He is also very direct and hard to please. He watched the trailer and I noticed he had a big smile on his face. About mid way into it he turned to me and said GOOD MOVIE !
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Deuce... you don't get it. Who you know means nothing. All that matters is your attitude and what you show us.
 
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