Beginning Middle End Productions Presents...

Thank you, I appreciate that!

Yeah, Mara is incredible. I want to work with her again and actually give her something to say. She nailed the looks and hit it out of the park! What was really impressive, is that we did 5 takes of that dolly push, and we kept fudging the focus pull, but Mara was 100% on the look every time, and we never had to worry about her performance. Finally on the fifth take, Mark nailed the focus pull, and Mara looked amazing! Imagine what she can do when she has more to work with...
 
I REALLY liked this film.. I gotta admit, I've never been a fan of "love stories" but this one really grabbed me and held me. there was sort of an "Altered States" feel to it that I really appreciated as well. wonderful work.
 
My favorite so far. Great work. I was happy with the direction it went in that it became a love story. I hope you kept all those paintings and drawings. Great art direction.
 
mark_Cray said:
I REALLY liked this film.. I gotta admit, I've never been a fan of "love stories" but this one really grabbed me and held me. there was sort of an "Altered States" feel to it that I really appreciated as well. wonderful work.
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Haha yeah! That's my favorite part about the story... the twist is that it IS a love story...hehe. Glad you liked it!

smashedburrito said:
My favorite so far. Great work. I was happy with the direction it went in that it became a love story. I hope you kept all those paintings and drawings. Great art direction.
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Thanks! Yeah.. we have the art. We're actually gonna be auctioning off the art in a silent auction at our premier screening on the 9th. Since the Cella Gallery (the location we filmed at) is hosting the screening, it only seemed appropriate to showcase and sell some art too!

puckthemad said:
wow man. wow. I gotta watch it again.

wow.
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Wow is good, right?
 
Great work, and I'm sure there was a lot of work on this film... I was locked in begin to end...

on a side note the music may have over powered just a tad... I missed the last line..
 
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Really interesting story, and the use of art was very well done. Actually after the opening minute I wasnt getting much from it, but then it turned around and I really liked the way it played out. Was a good ending.

Visually there were moments that were great, and a couple that were OK. Sound wise I felt like thered been a low cut applied to the dialogue and it sounded a bit tinny.

A great concept, that scored well for me. You had a lot of varied locations which was nice, well done on the pre side as well.
 
Like how the sound design was integrated / seemless through the DVXleader, the Prod Company logo, to the film itself.

Like the shot choices and compositoins in the opening montage.

The glow on the shoulders in the doctor scene - I think you posted a raw grab and that was there in the raw footage? How did you do it - a filer I assume? If so what filter? I'm not totally sure how I feel about the look though in context of the scene. Almost too much maybe? But I don't know. Maybe it's spot on. Anyway, how did you do it?

SPOILERS (highlight to read)

The drawings coming alive worked well. I see those big eyes looking down at him, could be particularly effective if they moved to look at him as well? But pretty cool moment in the story here.

The gallery scene is well done particularly the reveal of his own portait when he steps out from in front of it there. Nice extended moment of dramatic irony and classically structured here where we know before he does what's on her paintings.

Nice push in with his declaration of love.

Now this is one of those fine line Twilight Zone ones. In terms of the ending ... I think I'm about 50/50 on whether I would have preferred to have it be rationally dismissed, as you have it, or have it be possible or implied that it could have actually happened. Especially in the context of this fest it might be better if there was no rational explanation. That's the way Serling preferred the series to go as well. The Twilight Zone pilot dealt with man in an isolation chamber that thought he went to see the movies in a deserted town with a beautiful young woman. Ine the pilot he's hauled off raving - his situation is completely explainable, he went mad under isolation. Serling didn't like the episode however, and when the Twilight Zone books were later published he changed the story so that the man found a movie ticket stub in his pocket as he was hauled away raving.

Here with your piece the doctor says "she's not real" or something and the main character says "I know". OK. completely rational explanation. He's mad and choosing to indulge the fantasy. But I think ... and emphasis on the word think ... it might have been cool to suggest that this actually happened. No he's not mad, his soul mate was out there obsessed with and drawing him and they finally found each other.

END SPOILERS

All in all I really liked this and thought it was really strong, as I suspected it would be. It was cut really well and told an interrestin story. In the beginning it's one we've seen before in some sense - the guy /artist /photogrpaher obsessed with a real or imaginary woman hopelessly drawing sketch after skectch, but you took that starting point and really went somewhere cool with it.

Very nice work
:beer:


You could I guess have your cake and eat it too and come down as evenly between the two choices as possible. Maybe don't have teh doctor say, she's not real you know, or have him say it but don't have the guy answer - dunno, just spitballing here.
 
Enjoyed the film a lot... great prod. value, good cast, good story... when the girl on the drawing came to life, I jumped... hehe. Nice ending too :) Really enjoyed this short.
 
Hey, loved the film. I've been keeping an eye on this one since you posted the first grabs... I'm definately impressed. I don't have much to critique... So I guess I'll just say that this one had my favorite story so far. My girlfriend and I watched half the films together and she stated that she enjoyed yours the most out of all the ones we watched. I always find it important to hear the what the non-film crowd thinks of a film... whether they boo or clap and all. We clapped for your film. :D
 
Noel Evans said:
Actually after the opening minute I wasnt getting much from it, but then it turned around and I really liked the way it played out. Was a good ending.
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Interesting... what particularly didn't work for you? We struggled with the scene in the comic book office and the boss... it was originally a lot longer... was it that scene? I'd like to know...

Jack Daniel Stanley said:
The glow on the shoulders in the doctor scene - I think you posted a raw grab and that was there in the raw footage? How did you do it - a filer I assume?

Now this is one of those fine line Twilight Zone ones. In terms of the ending ... I think I'm about 50/50 on whether I would have preferred to have it be rationally dismissed, as you have it, or have it be possible or implied that it could have actually happened.
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Great review man, I really appreciate the time you spent to give me notes.
Kevin (my DP) put a piece of pantyhose over the lens to achieve that glow. Normally you're supposed to put it behind the lens, but seeing as how it's not removable on the HVX, we had to put it in front. It worked out pretty well - it was definitely a stylistic choice we were mimicking from a scene in the film "Clockers"... check out this clip here.

As for the ending, I think you might have to watch it again, because it ends exactly how you suggested it should end - not the way you initially interpreted. The return to the doctor's office during the gallery scene is meant to be a flashback... it's used as a device to accent the catharsis that's reached when he sees the paintings. I understand that it causes confusion (and you're a case example of that) and it was something we struggled with in editing. Take a look at it again. "When the Doctor gives the line, "She's just a work of art," Arthur's response is meant to be as though he's answering simply to placate the doctor and leave the institution. It also is an acknowledgment about his feelings for her.. "She's a work of art!" That that doesn't register is my fault and it's been something I've had to explain numerous times. Take another look and let me know if it makes sense to you...

puckthemad said:
i have to gather my thoughts here before i watch this one again. just wanted to add one more wow.

wow.
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Haha I'm really glad you like it so much! It mean a lot to me!

Brandon Rice said:
Enjoyed the film a lot... great prod. value, good cast, good story... when the girl on the drawing came to life, I jumped... hehe. Nice ending too :) Really enjoyed this short.
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Thanks Brandon! I'm glad you watched it... I was secretly hoping you would after I read your review for Picture..hehe.

KOHR said:
Hey, loved the film. I've been keeping an eye on this one since you posted the first grabs... I'm definately impressed. I don't have much to critique... So I guess I'll just say that this one had my favorite story so far. My girlfriend and I watched half the films together and she stated that she enjoyed yours the most out of all the ones we watched. I always find it important to hear the what the non-film crowd thinks of a film... whether they boo or clap and all. We clapped for your film. :D
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Yay for girlfriends! I just watched bunch with my girlfriend as well... they really are the end all be all critics aren't they? It's either, "Ooo I like this one!" or "I'm BORED...NEXT!"
 
blindbuzta said:
Thanks Brandon! I'm glad you watched it... I was secretly hoping you would after I read your review for Picture..hehe.
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Well, I'm only able to comment on the shorts that really stand out to me... not enough time for every single one.... congrats again on a kickin' film :beer:
 
Loved this film! Every step of the way... the story is solid as is the acting. Great camera work, just the right amount of movement. Diggun' the dolly shots. Wonderful score and mix that only made the film that much better. Perfect pace.

This is easily one of the best films in the fest! Congratulations on a job well done.
 
I liked the journey you took us on. The art direction was fab- of course. Lot's of great shots, the Pantyhose shot, the intro dolly shots, the artwork CU's...
The music didn't work too well for me. It was more the sound of it, than the actual music. Mostly it was the chimes in the cue where he tears the pictures down, and again at the end cue.

I love his sly expression at the end when he says, "I know"

Really well put together and I thought the inter-cutting style worked beautifully.
Superbly done!
 
Very nicely done.

Amazing production value. I loved the framing and subtle camera movements. The shot of him looking closer at the artwork in the gallery was phenomenal. I dug the score as well.

Maybe the only thing that stood out was the overly glowing effect on the interview shots. Otherwise, this film really well shot and paced with a good story.:thumbup:
 
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