A 48hr. Film : Stock Lens : Documentary

MDCFILMS

MDCFILMS

Active member
Okay so this film festival called the akron independent film festival had there 1st annual make a film in 48 hours contest and we entered. Akron, OHIO

LENGTH: 5:30

We got the genre: Documentary
and we had to include:

dialog "and that's why they call it the rubber city"
and we had to use chopsticks used for something other than eating.

SONY HVX-200

ah gotcha.

We didn't win the competition, it was a bit of a let down. However I think it motivated the both of us to just keep working even harder.


Comments and Suggestions PLEASE, Before we put it on our site and the my and the book. oh and dvd.

So the film is HERE
you can either right click, control click and download or I think just click it and it loads a blank page with the file embeded streaming.

SOME SCREEN GRABS

jason1

jason2

jason3

jason4

jason5


SOME PRODUCTION STILLS

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We recently moved out of our house and live with a video production guy in Cleveland. That's where we sleep. Truthfully.
 
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more production stills

more production stills

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COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, ENCOURAGEMENT, CRITIQUES, ANYTHING PLEASE.
We want to learn how to make movies.
 
Pretty cool. Nice concept. Only one question: How did the cops know where to go? Cellular tracking from a satellite? Good work. Proves that you do not need an adapter to produce good results. Keep on shooting.
 
Anything?

Anything?

PLEASE. SPEND A SECOND and give us some feedback? Does anyone want to know the cost? Time Spent in Editing? Time to shoot?

We are eighteen years old and are asking YOU to help us? So PLEASE?

CRITICISM, ADVICE, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS? Anything? Is it too boring to watch? Should we cut it tighter or parts out? We want to put it on our website, so everyone else can see it. So PLEASE....you get the point.

Michael
 
Michael and crew. That is a nice attempt given the 48 hour parameters, and that you are 18. Given that you want feedback and critiscsm, constructively too.. here goes:


1. Your idea is derivative. It's been done, and done very very well. Check out this film: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/man_bites_dog/ Man Bites Dog is super funny, full of action, and worth checking out.


2. For saying it's a hitman film its lacking in action and doesn't really show anything. You could have done with a major 30 second montage of killings. Just one after another in all manner of ways.


3. You have way too much time set-up on shots that don't really lead to things. Much too much pregnant moments in long shots and wide shots. I'd say to shoot in match cuts so you can get in and out of the things.


4. Your action is way too distant. Your crew in the "film" should have been up there.. getting involved. Allowing for fun gags with POV stuff, intereaction and just plain fun.



All in all it's good, but it's stale in it's approach. You should get a lot looser with your shooting style and have some fun with it. Break some rules... Keep it going faster and harder and have some surprises. One of the best things I can say as far as knowing if you are on point and going into the right direction is to watch it with others... not really to see what they think, but to se how you feel about sections. When you keep thinking of things as being too slow or too drawan out, or if you hate sections, and also if you love sections and can't wait to get to that part, then you'll know what you have to do. If that makes sense. I mean, by watching it with others it'll make you more aware of what you think... because you'll be hoping and wanting them to like it, but you'll also be aware of what you really deep down like and don't like.


I'd serioulsy encourage you to rent Man Bites Dog. You'll see how crazy and manic and fun they took this concept. I'd say to loosen the necktie and do somethings outlandishly. Keep your beats moving and don't allow yourself to have pregnant and overbloated moments. Keep it going and don't pause. You'd also be better ultimately in doing pieces about what you know and what your actors know. I doubt if anyone knows anything about serial killing... so it comes off as a goof and something fake and not genuine. Stick to what you know and have fun doing it. Also, if you can get a 2nd camera to shoot with then that will help as well.



Cheers and hope this is what you were looking for. PM me if you want more.
 
I got bored with it instantly. Sorry man. I just thought it was unoriginal, the 'I'm a contract killer...' and he looks and overacts all tough...etc.. I wanted him to act and be DIFFERENT than all the cliche short film/gun/killer/overacting/ etc.. If you want inspiration for killers, please watch The Professional.

Of course I know you don't have the money to hire pro actors, but maybe you could play with the idea that sometimes contract killers might be into things that aren't so obvious. Like how that guy in the movie (The Professional) took such great care of his plants, and then he'd go out and execute somebody without overacting toughness (sorry to keep using that word- but I just find that amatuer actors so often do this) I think juxtaposition not only helps films, but is actually true in reality.

But let me say congrats on DOING IT. Cause it the end, that's all that matters. That you keep doing it. Because you can't learn if you don't do it. So good job on that.

Keep it up.
 
I started to watch MBD but the subtitles are all blurry and found it rather difficult to concentrate on the screen as well as try to work out what was written :(
 
thanks

thanks

Thanks everyone for the great long responses. We are taking them in. You write something, but there is never anything new under the sun! haha. So the writing needs work eh? Again thanks for the long responses. I'm so interested in watching that movie now. Take Care and hope to hear from you guys in the future!

Michael and Daniel
 
Michael, just be warned that it's got some gore and not for everyone's tastes and it's kind of hardcore... albeit, deep black comedy. It's a pretty cool little flick though for what it is. I think they made the film for 60K. I saw it one night with another crazy one, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Now that's quite something for sure.


Keep up the learning.. the positive attitude... take advice that works for you.. and you'll do fine. Just please don't decide to waste a ton of money and enroll in a scam school like Fullsail here in Orlando. You are doing what you need to do to learn...
 
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I'm getting that film mans bites dog or w.e. on netflix soon. FullSail for 60k or an entire HD video production business for 60k?

What A JOKE Fullsail is?(To Me) 60k + 60k = 120K that's a lot of money for Daniel and Myself to be in debt. You could probably learn more on dvxuser.com in all seriousness.

Take Care Orlando Dude, Thanks for the advice.
 
You are a wise wise man. Ask anyone who goes there or has gone there, why they don't advertise a faculty list or tell you who is teaching and give credentials.. Its because they themselves are recent grads.. Sickening. I went to college for 5 years, including 2 months in London for 20K total, and I was paying out of state rates...


keep it up bro and volunteer to work on other people's projects to learn more and to develop contacts and network. Start that now and it'll pay big dividends down the road... CHEERS


BTW. I believe it's more like 75K now. 1000 a month in payments for 10 years!
 
whats up with 18-24yrs olds all having the same dark hair van morrison hair-do, wearing hoodies, and pretending to be meaningful, full of teenage angst at the age of 18...i dont get it...

here's my advice, lighten up, and stop tying so HARD to make a film. dont look at other films for ideas, dont look at other directors for hints and tips...think about it - what makes a director stand out? the fact that he is original. flip the camera on, start shooting, and see what happens. to be totally honest - normal life is much more interesting that pseudo-psyched up flashy hollywood life...why? well, because the viewer can relate to it.
 
Justyn said:
You are a wise wise man. Ask anyone who goes there or has gone there, why they don't advertise a faculty list or tell you who is teaching and give credentials.. Its because they themselves are recent grads.. Sickening. I went to college for 5 years, including 2 months in London for 20K total, and I was paying out of state rates...


keep it up bro and volunteer to work on other people's projects to learn more and to develop contacts and network. Start that now and it'll pay big dividends down the road... CHEERS


BTW. I believe it's more like 75K now. 1000 a month in payments for 10 years!
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Thank You for calling us wise. We just listen to what people have to say. Most of the time they are trying to help and know what they are talking about. Wow about fullsail faculty. Only 20k for 5 years. Wow. Yes we try very very hard to network with good people and help out in any way we possible can on projects.
 
crobs808 said:
whats up with 18-24yrs olds all having the same dark hair van morrison hair-do, wearing hoodies, and pretending to be meaningful, full of teenage angst at the age of 18...i dont get it...

here's my advice, lighten up, and stop tying so HARD to make a film. dont look at other films for ideas, dont look at other directors for hints and tips...think about it - what makes a director stand out? the fact that he is original. flip the camera on, start shooting, and see what happens. to be totally honest - normal life is much more interesting that pseudo-psyched up flashy hollywood life...why? well, because the viewer can relate to it.
Click to expand...

We can not mentally lighten up. We sorta have to do this. It's a passion. In all honestly what advice is "stop trying so HARD to make a film?" I thought of the hitman idea, It was actually, I thought sorta "original". Hollywood is a business? It makes what people want to see which are all formulaic? with few exceptions? Right? I don't want to get lucky and have a decent successful youtube channel about us. I want to make films that millions of people see and feel.

These comments were very rude man? Why? The shaggy hair is because we don't have any money to get hair cuts. The hoodies are our apparel to promote our business and all that. I'm going to stop because I honestly feel I'm wasting my time.
 
MDCFILMS said:
We can not mentally lighten up. We sorta have to do this. It's a passion. In all honestly what advice is "stop trying so HARD to make a film?" I thought of the hitman idea, It was actually, I thought sorta "original". Hollywood is a business? It makes what people want to see which are all formulaic? with few exceptions? Right? I don't want to get lucky and have a decent successful youtube channel about us. I want to make films that millions of people see and feel.

These comments were very rude man? Why? The shaggy hair is because we don't have any money to get hair cuts. The hoodies are our apparel to promote our business and all that. I'm going to stop because I honestly feel I'm wasting my time.
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trial by fire man...theres WAY more critics in the industry than people who will pat you on the back. get used to it. heres some more constructive criticism (dont take it so personally next time) - the hitman idea is only original if you havent watched any movies for the last 30 years. and what i meant by "dont try so HARD to make a film" - it's like saying "dont try so hard to act" to actors who are overacting...make this about real life, and not some fantasy character that nobody in this real world has ever met before. take advice from earlier posts. hitmen are normal people too when they arent out killing. they arent badasses. wathing "the professional" was a good idea, but i would also recommend "matchstick men" with nicholas cage. has a very independent film feel, and he's the most down to earth guy just trying to be a good dad, but hes a professional criminal, so check it out if you really need ideas from somewhere.

was the rude or constructive? you can afford a $5000 camera, but not a haircut? ok ok, i wont dis your hair again, but that hair comment was a litle lame, kep up the good work (see, good with bad, filter it out bro)

- connor
 
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