Caldera - a story of revolution
- Thread starter dougspice
- Start date
aurantaurant
Well-known member
Once again...
I initially thought this was film. You're a master Mr. Spice. And I salute you.
I initially thought this was film. You're a master Mr. Spice. And I salute you.
dougspice
Veteran
I've got this hot new 19-page version of the script, a 10-part miniseries treatment, and a mostly-finished outline for a feature all ready to rock. Unfortunately I'm starting to believe this project simply isn't feasible in the next couple of years, so I'm trying to focus on other projects.
However, I guarantee you that insurgency in Africa, natural resource wars, and a pseudo-Cold War between the West and China will continue to be hot issues for the next couple decades, so this'll be in my back pocket ready to go.
However, I guarantee you that insurgency in Africa, natural resource wars, and a pseudo-Cold War between the West and China will continue to be hot issues for the next couple decades, so this'll be in my back pocket ready to go.
Dougspice,
You need to rethink this...I'm rarely impressed with a clip, but if you can keep this quality for an entire feature, you'd get my money. I know its difficult to get investors, but I think you've got enough to show them already. The clip is so good at alluding to the back story and promising a very dynamic film.
Look at the clip again. Admit it, there's some magic happening there. If you've got something better than this, sign me up for a pre-sale.
You need to rethink this...I'm rarely impressed with a clip, but if you can keep this quality for an entire feature, you'd get my money. I know its difficult to get investors, but I think you've got enough to show them already. The clip is so good at alluding to the back story and promising a very dynamic film.
Look at the clip again. Admit it, there's some magic happening there. If you've got something better than this, sign me up for a pre-sale.
egyptianboxer104
Well-known member
I would buy this feature.
If i owned a distribution company and had a 20 mil laying around... like to sleep on and stuff... i would def pay you to make it a feature.
I wouldn't mind sleeping on the hard ground for a couple of days
If i owned a distribution company and had a 20 mil laying around... like to sleep on and stuff... i would def pay you to make it a feature.
I wouldn't mind sleeping on the hard ground for a couple of days
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steviestefan
Member
Amazing footage, don't drop the idea. Not yet.
Actually what you meant is that African stories are almost realistic and would be hot selling in the next decade right? And i damn think so. Then am well positioned!
Except for the Western Eastern cold war, maybe more info on that.
Actually what you meant is that African stories are almost realistic and would be hot selling in the next decade right? And i damn think so. Then am well positioned!
Except for the Western Eastern cold war, maybe more info on that.
dougspice
Veteran
Well, at the time I shot this it was set with sort of a South American feel just because I felt that was more accessible to most viewers and it was easier for me to produce. But yes, Africa will be THE hotbed for ethnic warfare, insurgency, and power struggles in the next century. Already a very low-level sort of cold war is developing as China invests very heavily throughout Africa and the West starts to play catch-up.
It's a very interesting part of the world, as I'm sure you know, and most Americans are only dimly aware of it. But movies like The Constant Gardener and Blood Diamond and even Bamako are starting to change that.
It's a very interesting part of the world, as I'm sure you know, and most Americans are only dimly aware of it. But movies like The Constant Gardener and Blood Diamond and even Bamako are starting to change that.
steviestefan
Member
And you could make a good politician, fore sighting the cold war. (LOL)
j1clark@ucsd.edu
Veteran
I viewed your snippet, and for the most part the lighting looked good. As another has noted, 'framing' seemed to be a bit too tight in some shots.
The only real 'continuity' error that I saw was in the final sequences where the Over the Shoulder shot, from behind the boy to the man, the man has his hands more on the shoulder-arm of the boy. In the corresponding OS shot from behind the man, the man has his hand high up on the shoulder, almost to the neck.
There is one other sort of awkward sequence early on. Unfortunately my browser crashed after viewing the sequence, so I can give an absolute time value, but during the initial 'interview' phase between the man and the boy, you obeserve the 180 rule. Then you do a move around the boy to lead into a crossing of the line that 'makes sense'... all well and good... however, some of the cuts to the boy look awkward in this sequence, as if they were done on the previous line setup.
If I have time I'll see if I can get better seconds markers to indicate exactly where I'm talking about.
The only real 'continuity' error that I saw was in the final sequences where the Over the Shoulder shot, from behind the boy to the man, the man has his hands more on the shoulder-arm of the boy. In the corresponding OS shot from behind the man, the man has his hand high up on the shoulder, almost to the neck.
There is one other sort of awkward sequence early on. Unfortunately my browser crashed after viewing the sequence, so I can give an absolute time value, but during the initial 'interview' phase between the man and the boy, you obeserve the 180 rule. Then you do a move around the boy to lead into a crossing of the line that 'makes sense'... all well and good... however, some of the cuts to the boy look awkward in this sequence, as if they were done on the previous line setup.
If I have time I'll see if I can get better seconds markers to indicate exactly where I'm talking about.
dougspice
Veteran
Haha, okay. I appreciate the very attentive viewing.
For what it's worth I've never believed in the 180 Rule. I believe in the "180 Guideline", and I think it's totally valid to bend that guideline when appropriate. This scene is taken from Roberto's perspective, and I wanted it to feel slightly intimidating, confusing, and awkward. Of course, if I was shooting it again today I'd probably do something very different, but I'm not! Yet!
For what it's worth I've never believed in the 180 Rule. I believe in the "180 Guideline", and I think it's totally valid to bend that guideline when appropriate. This scene is taken from Roberto's perspective, and I wanted it to feel slightly intimidating, confusing, and awkward. Of course, if I was shooting it again today I'd probably do something very different, but I'm not! Yet!
j1clark@ucsd.edu
Veteran
If I were shooting 'intimidating' I'd probably have more shots with the man central in the frame, and the camera angled a little up, as from the boy's POV. For Man's POV shots, perhaps then rough cuts of the boy would communicate the boy's insecurity. Sort of if your going to step over the guideline... do an irish jig on it...
dougspice
Veteran
There's a million different ways a million different people might shoot a picture, but I've always tended to agree with David Fincher's take, which to paraphrase goes something like: "I see one way to shoot it, and that's the only way I see it." I tend to do just a little bit of extra coverage, just in case, but the angles and moves are all clear to me shortly after seeing most locations.
One thing I'm working on is taking that basic concept and trying to reconcile it with multi-camera, improvisational, performance-driven shoots where the actors and operators control the framing. I don't think the two are as diametrically opposed as it sounds, it just takes work to get one person's vision to connect with everyone else's.
One thing I'm working on is taking that basic concept and trying to reconcile it with multi-camera, improvisational, performance-driven shoots where the actors and operators control the framing. I don't think the two are as diametrically opposed as it sounds, it just takes work to get one person's vision to connect with everyone else's.
dougspice
Veteran
Hello everyone!
I know this thread has been dead for a long time but the process of this project continues! I am writing now from Barra, across the river from Banjul in The Gambia, on my way to Sierra Leone to spend 2 weeks researching for the big rewrite. I'm certainly going to get the details right this time!
Happy holidays everyone.
I know this thread has been dead for a long time but the process of this project continues! I am writing now from Barra, across the river from Banjul in The Gambia, on my way to Sierra Leone to spend 2 weeks researching for the big rewrite. I'm certainly going to get the details right this time!
Happy holidays everyone.
