FEATURE: DEUCE OF SPADES - How I made a period full feature film all by myself on ZERO budget
- Thread starter Deuceofspades
- Start date
Deuceofspades
Veteran
My routine is as follows:
Film on week-eds, usually two full 14 hour days (or nights LOL). Then edit what I filmed that week-end on Monday thru wed. Meanwhile, line up everything I need to film the following week-end.
In some weird way I am in pre-production / production and post production simulteaously.
And what's weirder: It worked for me.
I have been very LUCKY that so far I have never had to reshoot anything.
On occasion I will run out of of day light and will have to finish a scene later, or will have the desire to elaborate on a scene.
Ex: teaser #2 below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GA8sgt_x5c
that scene was initially going to be just a quick scene filmed in one afternoon. I had lined up the 50's vintage cop car that day for 2 scenes so I could only devote a half day for each scene. It took me a year to line up the cop car and 50's cop for free
. Anywhoo, we filmed it in one afternoon. I edited it and liked it so much I decided to improve it. We returned with the two jalopies and filmed inserts, such as the 50 ford hood flying open and him pulling over, kicking the rock etc... Also, the guys close up when they talk and shake hands, as well as all the shots showing all 3 jalopies racing.I then came back one last afternoon with just the roadster and my two actors and filmed the close ups of Johnny and Tommy in the deuce, as they race.
(ex: "Oh shi* Johnny! we got a black and white on our tail!" etc...
I then put everything together. I still have to do some work on the footage to match contract between master shot and close up shots on the black and white section, but for now it is a neat teaser that the hotrodders have loved immensely.
"Is there a problem officer?"
LOL
The road I filmed on is only 500 yards long and has trees only on one side. The other side has a large parking lot filled with big rigs... Not exactely period correct LOL... I managed to give the illusion trees were on both sides, that the road was wide and went forever LOL...
As for my front hood car mount? A doggie bed with two bungee cords... HAHA!
(no, I am NOT kidding).
Ah the magic of movies!!
Deuceofspades
Veteran
UPDATES:
Today I was finally able to open the video files filmed with a small HD panasonic camera of behind the scene. I still have a couple problems to resolve until I can successfuly edit the footage in vegas and share some of it with you. You will be able to see me filming (with nearly no crew and very very little gear)... Fun stuff! So Stay tuned, as the saga continues...
Meanwhile a few more screengrabs:
The scene below was filmed in two days. Parts of it was filmed at night with artificial lighting, and other shots were filmed at Twilight, with just enough light to get image. This is raw footage grabs, nothing has been color corrected, graded yet etc...
I had to frame low on the first 2 shots because there is a freeway running behind the strawberry field and you could see modern cars passing by (sigh)... Not very period correct. I do like the perspective and the lines converging...
Today I was finally able to open the video files filmed with a small HD panasonic camera of behind the scene. I still have a couple problems to resolve until I can successfuly edit the footage in vegas and share some of it with you. You will be able to see me filming (with nearly no crew and very very little gear)... Fun stuff! So Stay tuned, as the saga continues...
Meanwhile a few more screengrabs:
The scene below was filmed in two days. Parts of it was filmed at night with artificial lighting, and other shots were filmed at Twilight, with just enough light to get image. This is raw footage grabs, nothing has been color corrected, graded yet etc...
I had to frame low on the first 2 shots because there is a freeway running behind the strawberry field and you could see modern cars passing by (sigh)... Not very period correct. I do like the perspective and the lines converging...
DC
Cinematographiliac
Faith, I'm looking forward to seeing this!
And maybe we might see you on Dec 13th at the next meeting??
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=153005
And maybe we might see you on Dec 13th at the next meeting??
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=153005
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Ah
YOu and I can hold each other's hands and cry on each other's shoulders LOL...Actually it is not so bad, filming on week-ends and editing during the week... I kinda like it. Not sure I would enjoy filming everyday for 4 weeks straight and then be all done. I know that is the NORMAL way to film, but I am used to the Abnormal way and that feels NORMAL to ME :huh: Go figure LOL.
Now want to hear something even WEIRDER?
I started writing the sequel.
I need help (and therapy... Lots and lots of therapy LOL)
Deuceofspades
Veteran
thank you Kohli... I must however clarify a thing: I can't say that I am ambitious per say. the project is ambitious, because of its length and teh challenge of doing a period film on zero budget, but what drive sme is not ambition, it is passion. This film has become my whole life (for the past two years)... And I must say I have never been happier and more fulfilled in my life.
All I ask is that I remain healthy and alive so I can finish this film.
What an adventure this has been... What a great adventure.
Ted Spencer
Veteran
That's the spirit! Go Faith!
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Having a great week . Northern Europe biggest hotrod magazine is making a write up about my film. :thumbup: I got Gene Winfield's racing team to donate labor to help me rewire my hotrod and get it back on the road (it is partially down right now due to bad wiring issues)... They are donating parts as well. Today I got one of the best bracket fabricator in the country to donate a prototype braket to mount my new generator on my deuce. This means I will be the very first person in the country to use that bracket. I am pretty excited!
Yesterday I met with Tom Frizt who is a renouned car and motorcycle artist and he is talking about painting several large size oil painting of some of the key scenes in my film. To become posters to sell to promote the film.
I've been walking around with a silly looking GRIN all day LOL... Makes up for all the weeks of stress, lack of sleep, lack of food spent filming the flashbacks!!
Meanwhile, last week-end, the jail set was flipped around and the back side of the walls covered in new skins and painted. We also built a glass wall. This is to become the Hospital waiting room which is the very last flashback scene left to film.
:beer:
below:
Volunteers help nail the skins
I build the glass wall:
here it is, now done:
We then paint the walls:
Fun stuff !!
Today I was able to import the behind the scene footage and it no wlooks normal (not squeeshed). So I am going to try to cut a little video this week-end if I can to show a bit of my behind the scene doing my thing.
if all goes well I will be able to share it here soon. Till then,
HAVE A HAPPY THANKS GIVING EVERYONE!
. Northern Europe biggest hotrod magazine is making a write up about my film. :thumbup: I got Gene Winfield's racing team to donate labor to help me rewire my hotrod and get it back on the road (it is partially down right now due to bad wiring issues)... They are donating parts as well. Today I got one of the best bracket fabricator in the country to donate a prototype braket to mount my new generator on my deuce. This means I will be the very first person in the country to use that bracket. I am pretty excited! Yesterday I met with Tom Frizt who is a renouned car and motorcycle artist and he is talking about painting several large size oil painting of some of the key scenes in my film. To become posters to sell to promote the film.
I've been walking around with a silly looking GRIN all day LOL... Makes up for all the weeks of stress, lack of sleep, lack of food spent filming the flashbacks!!
Meanwhile, last week-end, the jail set was flipped around and the back side of the walls covered in new skins and painted. We also built a glass wall. This is to become the Hospital waiting room which is the very last flashback scene left to film.
:beer:
below:
Volunteers help nail the skins
I build the glass wall:
here it is, now done:
We then paint the walls:
Fun stuff !!
Today I was able to import the behind the scene footage and it no wlooks normal (not squeeshed). So I am going to try to cut a little video this week-end if I can to show a bit of my behind the scene doing my thing.
if all goes well I will be able to share it here soon. Till then,
HAVE A HAPPY THANKS GIVING EVERYONE!
Lost Skies
Member
Oh wow! This is awesome!! I can't believe I haven't seen this thread until now!
It's weird though- I work in a TV station and I had to do the Thanksgiving shift, so most of my night literally is waiting around browsing the internet. As with any holiday, I was thinking of my brother-in-law, Pete, who passed away last year... and I came across this thread (great member name, by the way- that's what drew me in).
Pete LOVED old cars. He would restore them and enter them into car shows and he knew many of the hot rodders around here. I have quite a number of fond memories as I'd tag along with him to junkyards to find old parts or entire cars he could see if he could restore. His boys now work his tools and work on their own cars. I wish he would have been able to see this movie, he would have loved it.
Kudos to you, Faith. I'm extremely impressed with your passion and your vision. I'm even more impressed with your resourcefulness and seat of the pants way of just simply DOING this movie. I love the attitude of "ta hell with it- lets get this show in the road". It's the way I've been wanting to shoot my films, and I am very inspired by all the work you've done.
I'll be watching this thread with quite a bit of interest.
Just... wow!
It's weird though- I work in a TV station and I had to do the Thanksgiving shift, so most of my night literally is waiting around browsing the internet. As with any holiday, I was thinking of my brother-in-law, Pete, who passed away last year... and I came across this thread (great member name, by the way- that's what drew me in).
Pete LOVED old cars. He would restore them and enter them into car shows and he knew many of the hot rodders around here. I have quite a number of fond memories as I'd tag along with him to junkyards to find old parts or entire cars he could see if he could restore. His boys now work his tools and work on their own cars. I wish he would have been able to see this movie, he would have loved it.
Kudos to you, Faith. I'm extremely impressed with your passion and your vision. I'm even more impressed with your resourcefulness and seat of the pants way of just simply DOING this movie. I love the attitude of "ta hell with it- lets get this show in the road". It's the way I've been wanting to shoot my films, and I am very inspired by all the work you've done.
I'll be watching this thread with quite a bit of interest.
Just... wow!
Ted Spencer
Veteran
To the mods: should this thread be moved to the "User Films" forum, next to its siblings "Corrado", "A Lonely Place For Dying" et al? I bet there are lots of folks who have little interest in 35mm adapters that are missing out on Faith's great blog...
Just a thought : )
Just a thought : )
Lost Skies
Member
I second the motion- it'd be easier for me to find
Deuceofspades
Veteran
I second the motion- it'd be easier for me to find
I am not sure how "moves" work... Does an archive copy of the thread remain here and a duplicate copy of it placed at the new location and then I just post on the new location and this old thread remains "dormant" ?
Cause if we just MOVE it how will people who bookmarked it find it and I also fear that people looking into adapters may not find the info and feedback I left here regarding using the LetusX + HVX200 combo to shoot this film...
But if we can keep an extra copy of thread here, that would point to the new area, then I'd be up for a move... I'll go pack my bags right now LOLOL...
While my hotrod is down for repairs and I am not filming for a couple weeks, I took thsi opportunity to do the ground work for a sequel plot and story line. It was very easy to create because everything was already set up in the first film and the character are now quite developped. I was able to complete the task in just 5 days or so. Wrote all my ideas down... It was really FUN to imagine all kinds of new scenarios and situations Johnny Callaway would have to deal with and this time I knew what to avoid when imagining a scene :aka: Oh let's not do that it is going to be a ***** to film.. Or: That would work fine I already have a location lined up for this scene etc etc etc ...
I figured it can't hurt to have a sequel script ready, just in case
. The story kinda lands itself to a sequel anyway... So I'll work on it on my spare time... (what spare time? LOL) and have fun with it...
Billy Pilgrim
Stye in my eye
It looks like you're giving birth and filming at the same time. After reading this entire thread, I wouldn't be surprised if you could give birth and film it with an HVX and adapter while pulling focus, all at the same time.[/badjoke] Seriously though, this is pretty cool what you've pulled off. I'm getting ready to attempt a no-budget period piece myself (one that takes place from the '40s to the '80s) and your achievement is definitely inspiring. I wish you and your project the best of luck.
Ted Spencer
Veteran
I think what would happen is that the thread here would become a single post called "My Full feature...etc...MOVED", and would contain only a link to the new location in the "User Films" forum. Anyone whoi bookmarked it here would find it, and be one click away from the thread in its new location.
I don't know if you've taken a look in that forum, but it's got several other great threads a lot like yours by other filmmakers, full of their experiences and wisdom. I go there often and then here, to follow yours. It's really the place that a thread like this is meant for, IMHO.
All of the other films discussed in that forum have extensive technical detail regarding cameras, 35mm adapters, lenses and all kinds of other gear. You'd be in good company, and as I said earlier, I think you'd see a lot more people following (and contributing to) your blog there.
As far as the move itself, if the powers that be decided it was a good idea, a DVXuser moderator or administrator would do it. You wouldn't have to take any action yourself.
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Deuceofspades
Veteran
A few more screengrabs today:
This was shot at a vintage gas station which was in Transformer and quite a few other movies. Studios pay quite abit of money to film there, but the owner is a friend of a friend and was sympathetic to my cause and willing to help. I was very lucky to get the gas station for an entire day. Traffic made it very hard to film because the sound of teh cars is not period correct. Filming in between culster of cars passing, was quite a challenge. But we did pull it off.
the scene ends up with a quick street dragsrace which was filmed a month later on a deserted 1/4 mile road closed to traffic, run and gun. A cop car arrived as we were wrapping and just looked at our camera and boom, looked at the jalopies, still lined up for the race and looked at us and then said: "Nice cars! Well, I'll let you finish your business" and left.
rogar-BigGrin(DBG)
That day, I found God > LOLOLOL...
Period correctness issues and a sun in my lens forced me to frame a bit oddly but it still was cool to shoot both jalopies burning rubber at the same time and taking off in a big roar.
This was shot at a vintage gas station which was in Transformer and quite a few other movies. Studios pay quite abit of money to film there, but the owner is a friend of a friend and was sympathetic to my cause and willing to help. I was very lucky to get the gas station for an entire day. Traffic made it very hard to film because the sound of teh cars is not period correct. Filming in between culster of cars passing, was quite a challenge. But we did pull it off.
the scene ends up with a quick street dragsrace which was filmed a month later on a deserted 1/4 mile road closed to traffic, run and gun. A cop car arrived as we were wrapping and just looked at our camera and boom, looked at the jalopies, still lined up for the race and looked at us and then said: "Nice cars! Well, I'll let you finish your business" and left.
rogar-BigGrin(DBG)That day, I found God > LOLOLOL...
Period correctness issues and a sun in my lens forced me to frame a bit oddly but it still was cool to shoot both jalopies burning rubber at the same time and taking off in a big roar.
Billy Pilgrim
Stye in my eye
I AM giving birth.... To a film
Ha, you're a clever one. The grabs look great. I like the last one especially.