Hey Susanne! Thanks for your review! I guess you meant 180°Yes, I did! But I think I didn't use puzzle elements from other films. I had no other films in mind actually. And the good thing about filmmaking is, you can change for every film.
rogar-Thinking(DBG rogar-BlackEye(DBG rogar-KnockedOut(D
Yep I think with this film the let down is primarily with the story, however not enormously so but just in comparison to the great visuals and slick action!
I enjoyed this film, its one of the few i've come back and watched a few times - it has a clasic Hofer girl close up too! I'm going to have add one of those to mine i think (you romantic hofer...)
For me the FX ect was excellent, someone mentioned the claw effect not looking as real (i don't know personally it didnt raise an eyebrow with me!)
So it works overall, the VO if taken out, would let this piece act as a great promo for a post apocalyptic er vampire/demon movie
So Hofer your maintaining a good standard of filmmaking imo (this and your Timefest entry Aetas were excellent.)
I have to correct you a little bit though. You seem to confuse me with "Shawnous", the director of "Aetas".). But I take that as a compliment, because "Aetas" was a nice film aswell 
Well, the meaning of the bridge was left out intentionally.Glad you enjoyed and were entertained. Achieved my goal!
I always try to be different, thanks man!
Thanks Neal! I achieved my goal when you were entertained!
Hey man,
Just caught the flick. I thought this was a very fun entry. Lots of good stuff in here. The location was great. You got a horse???? Very very cool. The FX worked pretty well. The leg cutting and gun shots I liked. Maybe some better foley work on the gun shots, but otherwise I dug the FX.
For my money, the "claw" of the guy's chest didn't feel real. Maybe it was the amount of blood on it or maybe it was the fact that whenever he touched it he didn't seem to be hurting but rather running the motions of being hurt, so that didn't work for me.
Yeah, I am not completely happy with the wound either. Something to improve the next time.
Also, what is going on with your lead character? Not the acting but the story. I don't think we learn or know anything about him (aside from the fact that he doesn't think he needs help) and in the end he had his eyes opened? I don't think I caught the significance of that as it pertains to either him or the story.
Well, as said before, the story is not the strongest part of my film
Otherwise, I also loved the music and the make-up. Great stunt work a nice look to the piece. The story just left me a little dry. But thanks for showing and it's fun to see the difference between this piece and No Air. Can't wait to see your next piece.
Thanks man!
hehe - You must have had pretty bad weather over there
Was great to regenerate. Especially for my eyes... not staring at a screen is sometimes quite good.
From the first appearance of the "dvxuser" bumper I was enthralled by the score. Herman once again has hit one out of the park. Amazing score from start to finish. Beautiful work.
Herman did an amazing job! It adds so much to the film! I was listening to the Pirates of the Carribian soundtrack all the time while editing and working on the VFX. So i was really thrilled when I got Hermans score!
I know most people commenting haven't dug the VO, but my quibble is mainly the content. Starting out with a somewhat trite and ironic "It was definitely not Frank's best day ..." really made me expect something campy and possibly comedic. I think it does a disservice to what is an amazing heavyweight production. I do get the fact that this is a slice of something bigger. However, I think a VO at the outset could set that up nice for the viewer and avoid confusion on the part of those expecting a turnkey plot. I'd recommend an opening narration that is more enigmatic and serious ... one that clearly implies that entire acts of this film have already taken place.
Interesting thoughts you've got here Mark. There are so many things I would change now.
Opening scene with the horse: OMFG!!!!!!!!!!! I had to get clean pants after she dismounted and I saw those effects. Absolutely the best scene of the whole fest. Seriously. What an opening. I see that you are going to comment about VFX soon and I would request that you send me a PM when you do because I'm anxious to hear! Beautiful work. Simply beautiful.
Will do so. Going to post a bit about the VFX soon. It is not that complicated, but alot of work, because it is repetitive. Took me like forever. Lots and lots of motion tracking and masking.
Then we get to the first battle and I'm out of control! I'm yelling at the screen "F*ck yeah!" I was stunned with how great this is on so many counts. The editing is paced wonderfully and the VFX of her falling/being shot are incredible.
Definitely one of my favorite scenes
I liked the guy's accent a lot and especially liked the little touch of him blowing the barrel of his pistol. Great line ... "Yeah ... you would have kicked her ass in a minute." Fabulous. But, as I mentioned, in my first viewing the VO had me thinking this was going to be totally campy and the humor of his "I told you beeetch ..." and this exchange twisted my expectations that direction so that the rest of the film was last satisfying when you didn't inject more humor.
No need to tell you how much I'm in awe of these locations. Jeeeez Louieeeeez, this is an incredible sumptuous production. I know that you have specifically said that you blew off the story intentionally to focus on the aspects of the project important to you. However, I'm going to kick your ass if the next fest does not concentrate on story, dude, because this would be competing for the big prize, in my opinion, if you had crafted a complete story arc. Your camera work, editing, score, stunts, VFX and grading are top drawer. I cannot say enough about how impressed I am with you, Simon. This is simply an amazing piece of work.
I will only enter the next fest if I am completely confident that my story is strong. And you've got every right to kick my ass if the story is not any good
Great leg chop off dude! Whoa. Once again you have really pulled out all the stops.
Would have preferred seeing a different shot for them emerging from the deep forest rather than the reverse with so much bright sky. Feels like you're shooting at a different time of day and in a different location rather than conveying that they are coming out of a dark forest. Minor point, but I was so into your location and the dark lighting that I think a better transition would help between these scenes.
Once again a very good eye Mr. Johnson. Definitely something to improve.
You astound me with your physical stunts dude. I want to push you off a cliff just to see you fall.
Haha, you didn't even see the really cool stuff
The problem is to implement stunts right into a film. And I actually don't wanna act myself. It was a disaster on this one. I was not prepared, because I had not time to do so. My delivery was aweful. I am so glad I could impove it with ADR a bit.
The transformation of your guy into the 'monster' is incredible. That you did this on a few hundred dollars is astounding. You need to get your reel together and go make some serious bucks shooting commercials dude. I had no idea you were this accomplished at VFX.
I wish I could dude! I would be all over it, but I think I am not experienced enough at all.
The reveal of the girl with the axe is priceless. I'm yelling at the screen again; "HOT DAMN!"
Just a slight disconnect for me in that she does this great windup and with the guy in the foreground we're quite oriented in space so that we know she needs to take another step to bring that sucker into his skull. However, you cut to the impact and we get none of the delivery of the blow. Your "strike" shot is a lockdown so I would have loved to see you rig something up for her to actually strike and then composite in the dude. He's completely motionless so it would have totally worked and I think people would have gasped to see her physical motions as the blade actually impaled something. Still totally works for me, but I just would love to have seen the actual blow through that means or another.
You know, I wasn't happy with the axe hit aswell. I realized it while editing, but there was no chance to reshoot.
Pretty nice particle effect when she pulls the blade out.
All in all this was astounding, Simon. You are ready for the major leagues with your production values.
And, no dammit, I haven't found the socket yet. Don't give that away yet. I want to find it on my own.
Haha! It is there, but not really obvious this time
DO give a VFX breakdown, though. I am very enthused to see that. Gorgeous work.
Coming soon.
The Dude
It consists of a stunt and VFX tests I did in the development stages of "Falling".
