24/7 - A ZazaCast Film

Existentialist said:
Hey zazacast,
Just watched your film. Wow, what an interesting trip.
I liked your blur effect on your shots, that was new.
Also the zoom ins and pan abouts were cool, you did it pretty well.
The story was a little hard to follow and George's acting was a bit dry, but all in all a cool flick. Hey, it's like Kubrick said, "the best thing a filmmaker can do is to get a hold of a camera and make a movie of any kind at all". I'm sure you learned a lot. Good job. Looking forward to your future creations.
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I already commented but I echo these statements. I loved the change at the end, and it was an interesting concept. I think the main tree dude definitely needed to be more mysterious. Work on some framing and cinematic camera movement and you will ROCK IT! Yeehaw!:2vrolijk_08:
 
Existentialist said:
Hey zazacast,
Just watched your film. Wow, what an interesting trip.
I liked your blur effect on your shots, that was new.
Also the zoom ins and pan abouts were cool, you did it pretty well.
The story was a little hard to follow and George's acting was a bit dry, but all in all a cool flick. Hey, it's like Kubrick said, "the best thing a filmmaker can do is to get a hold of a camera and make a movie of any kind at all". I'm sure you learned a lot. Good job. Looking forward to your future creations.
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Thanks for the comments...that's what I figured....I just wanted to make a film. I was on the edge about entering it, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I had to do this completely solo..and last minute one of my 'actors' (friend I thought I talked into doing it) backed out so I had to step in. It's really hard to do camera moves with your foot! That's why I tried anything I could to add a little motion to the shots in post.

The blur was just that...radial blur applied in post...using the color curves and the blur I was trying to get that flashback-type look.

Thanks again for taking the time to watch & comment, it is most appreciated!
Cheers.
 
ZazaCast said:
Thanks for the comments...that's what I figured....I just wanted to make a film. I was on the edge about entering it, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I had to do this completely solo..and last minute one of my 'actors' (friend I thought I talked into doing it) backed out so I had to step in. It's really hard to do camera moves with your foot! That's why I tried anything I could to add a little motion to the shots in post.

The blur was just that...radial blur applied in post...using the color curves and the blur I was trying to get that flashback-type look.

Thanks again for taking the time to watch & comment, it is most appreciated!
Cheers.
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Wow, good job! I know how challenging those can be.

Which one of the two are you?
 
Just thought I would comment. A lot of the observations throughout are ones that I would make so I wont repeat. Overall, I thought it was an interesting premise and the flip as he turned to your face was a lot of fun. Like a lot of shorts that I have seen so far, I think the biggest issue that you had was pacing. It seem to drag a lot. Just when the energy was up, it would drag again. This is one of the toughest things to do well, but once you get it down it will really serve your story. Kudos to you for getting in there and getting something done... you are one up on me! Good job! Hope to see more in the next festivals.
 
Existentialist said:
Wow, good job! I know how challenging those can be.

Which one of the two are you?
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I'm the younger one, the good looking one! LOL! (ha...I don't feel that young anymore) The older gentleman is my Father. The people I had lined-up to play these parts both backed out & I really wanted to make this happen. It took me a week to talk him into it and he only gave me a few hours to shoot everything. All natural light. He wasn't about to go to my locations...so I had to improvise and shoot in his kitchen. Bless him for helping me out.

Everything that could go wrong did and the original script was 12 pages...I was about ready to throw the towl in, but my daughter urged me to finish it best I could...and how can you dissapoint a daughter?
 
Man I wanted the guy to jump in that red car sitting there and tear off. I liked the music and the editing to it also. I thought maybe the talk about the trees and people could have been truncated a little since it did compete with the fast paced editing with the music. I liked that you went back and replayed the events to reveal the ending it just needed the middle to match the pacing of the rest of the story.
 
Thanks Beat... the car was originally in the script...but I had to cut somewhere to make 6 minutes (looks like I should have cut elsewhere)...here's a better look at my 'baby':
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Fookin aye. I love that beast. I used to have a 70 Challenger R/T second owner. Make sure your next flick uses that joint or else I'm going to have to.
 
Finally getting around to comment here. I liked the flick, it was really fast paced and slightly spaztic which while confusing at times made for some interesting visuals.

I liked the morph or cut or whatever it was from the guy turning around to your face, that was effective.

Keep it up :)

Oh and thanks for your help with the voice over, I didn't end up using it as i went with a darker, scarier kind of voice but i really appreciate you helping me out with that.
 
ZazaCast said:
Thanks Beat... the car was originally in the script...but I had to cut somewhere to make 6 minutes (looks like I should have cut elsewhere)...here's a better look at my 'baby':
1214262614.jpg
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Holy Frijolies! Now I know what my next short is about!!!!! Frickin RoadRunner is one of my favorite cars EVAR!!!!!!!

Was this your first film? I liked the idea. I agree with some others. I think not so much make anything shorter as get more specific with your shots. Decide what you want each shot to say and once it says it, move on. I think following that model, pacing will take care of itself to a large degree.

But keep on rockin it.
 
Mark Harris said:
Holy Frijolies! Now I know what my next short is about!!!!! Frickin RoadRunner is one of my favorite cars EVAR!!!!!!!

Was this your first film? I liked the idea. I agree with some others. I think not so much make anything shorter as get more specific with your shots. Decide what you want each shot to say and once it says it, move on. I think following that model, pacing will take care of itself to a large degree.

But keep on rockin it.
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Mark-
Yes...this was my first film ever (POP!)....in fact, I didn't even own a camera a few months ago. It was just something I've always wanted to do and I someday hope to make a film on the level of YOUR films (I still can't help thinking about your entry...it rocked!). I'm loving all the comments and feedback here this has got to be way better than film school.

You just let me know when you need the car...she's always ready to go...and man, let me tell you, she can GO! The old speedo's only go up to 120 and I've had it pinned many a time (Shhhh...). Nothing beats crusing along at 70, dropping it into 3rd gear and tromping on it. It just pushes you back into the seat...they just don't make them like they used to.
 
First, let me say I have not read all the other comments, so if I say something that's been said or explained a million times, I apologize.

It seemed to me like you were playing the younger man yourself. Perhaps you weren't. But that is the impression I got from the fact that in the chase scene all the shots of the young man were either feet shots or static shots.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to get at is that I really liked the shots of the old man walking through the woods. If you could have shot the younger man's shots the same way, I believe this scene would be much more effective. Those feet shots just don't work for me.

Much of the acting sounds like the actors are reading off the script. If the people were amateurs, and having problems, what might have worked would have been to tell them to paraphrase the script in their own words. That would help the lines sound more natural.

I enjoyed the opening sequence, but I did not want to have to see it a second time. A couple of shots from it would have been enough to remind us what had happened.

Anyway, this is honestly a really good first film. I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing your second.
 
Thanks Jason...I think you're right on the mark. I really appreciate the comments. I'm here to learn & have fun. Thank you for taking the time to watch & comment.

...Now, I think I need to wish you a belated Happy Birthday (and if not...Happy Birthday anyway, it's bound to come around sooner or later). I also want to say how much I enjoyed YOUR film. I'm still thinking about that garbage can shot, Loved it!
 
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This film was way better that my first film(s).

I agree the dialogue sounded read.

Loved the camera strapped to the actor looking at his face. They did that in PI and I always wondered how they pulled it off. Maybe you can offer me some insight?

Oh, and watch framing (too much headroom in some shots)

Thanks,
-Joe
 
conrad_johnson said:
This film was way better that my first film(s).

I agree the dialogue sounded read.

Loved the camera strapped to the actor looking at his face. They did that in PI and I always wondered how they pulled it off. Maybe you can offer me some insight?

Oh, and watch framing (too much headroom in some shots)

Thanks,
-Joe
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Thanks Conrad.
As I shot this myself...and I was trying to figure out some cool cut shots I could pull-off & be in them at the same time...I just adjusted the camera on the end of the tripod, flipped the LCD so I could see the framing, folded the legs and held it at my waist while I ran around the orchard. (..and let me tell you, it gets heavy in a hurry). That's it...no real magic.
 
The part I liked best about this short was when the old man turned into young when he put his hand on his shoulder. I would suggest that after that shot, ending with him caring for the tree would be stronger. For me, many of the shots were superfluous.

Scriptwise, I'm not buying the motivation of this guy. While he might be curious about why the older fellow is out taking care of the tree every day at the same time, what would make him think it had something to do with him? How much care does a tree require anyway? I think that the conversation contained an awful lot of dialog. If it were trimmed up, it could have more impact.

I'm getting the feeling that the idea here there's not only a parallel between the way the branches of trees grow and interact and the lives of people, but a magical connection between them, i.e. somehow if there's no caretaker of the tree that the people of the universe will become unbalanced and out of control.

I liked some of the shots, like the desk and the others when the younger man leaves the house.
 
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