"VOICES" - Feature Film - HD/Letus35 - Comedy

[Charlie06]

Yeah.. How do you get on cable? hahahaha

I liked it jls4.

It's nice to see you back up all of your articles and use a lot of the stuff that you mention in them.
The very shallow dof was REALLY bothering me in the scene by the mailbox, you'l notice comedies don't take it that far. Besides that, the letus did it's job great, and it makes your work seem very professional. To me, the funniest shot in the whole three clips wasn't dialogue, it was a shot in the mailbox scene, when there is a wideshot, and the woman comes into camera. It was a funny angle!

Remember it's a comedy, and the cinematography for comedies is different than dramas, as in action, as in thrillers and horror. Each of the setups in each genre add to the actions and dialogue in your movie, use it to your advantage.

As far as all the black actors, you lit them up real nice That gave you extra brownie points in the first 10 seconds of the card scene.

On the actors wanting to get paid, HAHAHAHA.
Expected .

It looks like a winner to me.

You're doing what a lot of us wish we were doing. Shooting a feature. Until May it is for me !

I'm really hoping we get to collaborate together.

Charlie.

 

[filmman]

How to get your movie on cable? You call them and ask them if they want to see your movie.

Getting a film out into distribution is the hardest part of filmmaking. I'm beginning to think of it as 99% of the process.

 

[jls4]

I liked it jls4.

It's nice to see you back up all of your articles and use a lot of the stuff that you mention in them.
The very shallow dof was REALLY bothering me in the scene by the mailbox, you'l notice comedies don't take it that far. ...

Remember it's a comedy, and the cinematography for comedies is different than dramas, as in action, as in thrillers and horror. Each of the setups in each genre add to the actions and dialogue in your movie, use it to your advantage.

On the actors wanting to get paid, HAHAHAHA.
Expected .

It looks like a winner to me.

You're doing what a lot of us wish we were doing. Shooting a feature. Until May it is for me !

Thanks Charlie. I see you're making more rounds these days and commenting more - cool! Yeah, I wanted the DOF not to be as shallow, but I couldn't close the iris for lack of light. I was just used to it by the time we did the Mailbox scene that I just forgot. But I do thank you for the comments, it does help me to think about things.

Yeah, I pretty much what I talk about. haha And all I do is talk - so I guess I'd better back it up. May hunh? well that might not be that bad. I might be able to do May - we'll see.

How to get your movie on cable? You call them and ask them if they want to see your movie.

but who do you call? What do you say? If you can elaborate - teach me like I was 10 years old. Tell me everything - don't assume I know anything - cause I don't! :beer:

 

[Charlie06]

Thanks Charlie. I see you're making more rounds these days and commenting more - cool! :beer:

Since people commented on my thread, I owed to return my opinion about other people's work.

I'd like to know more about the production

I want to pick you brainn!!!!

 

[Charlie06]

i.e. what camera did you use
what lighting equip
what tripod
what audio
!!

 

[jls4]

Since people commented on my thread, I owed to return my opinion about other people's work.

I'd like to know more about the production

I want to pick you brainn!!!!

I think you've picked it... hahaha Not sure what else is there besides strained noodle.

Lighting equipment We were all tungsten 3 - 1Ks, 3 - 650s, 3 - 300s and 2 - 150s. Audio I already talked about it.

what no one ever asks about is Grip! --- ooooooohhhh. For grip we had 2 silks and 3 flags, plus a couple c stands and heads.

 

[filmman]

Call the cable networks, like Showtime and HBO, and ask for Acquisitions. If you know the name of the head of Acquisitions, that's better. So do some research to find out who's the guy or gal who actually makes the decisions.

Whoever you reach, they'll probably ask you to send them a screener. So send them the DVD with cover letter. I know it's usually a shot in the dark; but if you can get an interview out of it you'll learn something about their acquisitions policies.

Don't be surprised if they ask you right away, "Who's in it?" It's not good, man, to make a movie without movie stars in it

If they ask you, "what's the budget," don't say, "under a million." LOL It's a dead give away that you made it for nothing. And don't use the line, "if you include the deferred..." They don't care about that; deferred doesn't count.

You did say "ten year old", sorry if I went under that

But seriously, J., I think you should concentrate on DVD sales. Do a finished product and take it around to Mom & Pop DVD rental stores and put up a sales page online and get yourself a cart program for taking in credit cards. Sell, sell, sell.

 

[jls4]

Call the cable networks, like Showtime and HBO, and ask for Acquisitions. If you know the name of the head of Acquisitions, that's better. So do some research to find out who's the guy or gal who actually makes the decisions.
...

But seriously, J., I think you should concentrate on DVD sales. Do a finished product and take it around to Mom & Pop DVD rental stores and put up a sales page online and get yourself a cart program for taking in credit cards. Sell, sell, sell.

I'm not the Door to Door type. I'd rather take a small pay day and start a new project. As long as I sell Straight to DVD, I always can recap my money later with TV. This is how I see it, once I get one good movie going, there are going to be those who want to see all my work. Then I can get my old work shown on TV - and get paid again. I think it takes too much time and effort to Sell on your own. I'm not getting any younger.

I appreciate the advice and you never know I may have to do it. So I'm not saying it's bad advice, I'm just trying to avoid it. I know a guy who made over $650K selling CDs of his Girlfriend's album out of his car. But it took him over a year, he had to invest in Cars, Gas, Flyers, and help. He probably spent $200K to make the $650K, plus a year of time!

Thanks again on the networks. I just went out to BET and they said you have to have an agent. Maybe what I need to do is use "Voices" to try and pull an agent and let them open a few doors for me.

 

[Charlie06]

find the edge of your movie, then exploit it
No door to doors for me, I'm 19, who I'd have some time to spare, unlike you *giggles*
BUT, i'd go for the small sell and hopeful recoup in T.V. !

 

[jls4]

Happy V-Day!

Looking for a few critiques. Finally got a poster together - we're also looking to change the title from "Voices" to "Comin' Correct" because of production issues.

So love to hear what you think. I have thin skin, but it's better for me to hear it now than later. Also a few stills from the movie. This was our first time using the Letus. I think overall we did okay for people not used to Shallow Depth of Field, but we definately have a few soft shots.

 

[mentatDUKE]

Glad you're almost finished w/ this JLS.

Regarding the poster: would it be too late to get the actors back and do a new photo shoot specifically for the poster? The reason I ask is due to the fact that the main characters look too happy.

It's as if you're saying to the potential audience, "This film has no conflict".

I'm assuming this is a romantic comedy. If that is the case, maybe it'd be a good idea to take a look at the posters from the various rom coms of the last 10 years. If my memory serves correct, they:

1) Usually have only one character on the poster. In this case, the character usually looks visually interesting. How absurd does Steve Carrell look in the "40 year Old Virgin" poster? Eddie Murphy in the "Coming to America" poster is wearing an "interesting" outfit and is sporting one of his trademark goofy grins. John Cusack is doing a spoof of a Beatles album cover in the "High Fidelity" poster, etc.

2) If there is more than one character, the poster essentially tells the story in broad strokes and the conflict is evident. See: "Knocked Up" (the poster of the couple in the doctor's waiting room) and "Deliver us from Eva" (Gabrielle's looking pretty difficult there, isn't she?). "Meet the Parents" (father in law w/ the lie detector)

So if you want multiple characters, try to tell a story w/ the poster.

If you want to focus on just the protagonist, make sure that he is really expressive and interesting looking.

Since you likely have an ensemble cast, perhaps use images of them to help tell the story visually within the poster in broad strokes OR think of an iconic scene or situation from your film and convey that with your poster.

Good luck!

-A fan

 

[troopercooper]

Flipside opinion:

No conflict. Everyone happy. Nothing told. Just lots of pretty smiley faces inviting you to participate in the story.

 

[jls4]

It's as if you're saying to the potential audience, "This film has no conflict".

I'm assuming this is a romantic comedy. If that is the case, maybe it'd be a good idea to take a look at the posters from the various rom coms of the last 10 years. If my memory serves correct, they:

1) Usually have only one character on the poster. In this case, the character usually looks visually interesting. How absurd does Steve Carrell look in the "40 year Old Virgin" poster? Eddie Murphy in the "Coming to America" poster is wearing an "interesting" outfit and is sporting one of his trademark goofy grins. John Cusack is doing a spoof of a Beatles album cover in the "High Fidelity" poster, etc.

2) If there is more than one character, the poster essentially tells the story in broad strokes and the conflict is evident. See: "Knocked Up" (the poster of the couple in the doctor's waiting room) and "Deliver us from Eva" (Gabrielle's looking pretty difficult there, isn't she?). "Meet the Parents" (father in law w/ the lie detector)

I do have some shots like the what you're talking about. I'll try to do a mockup of a poster that way as well and see what everyone things. I have the lead looking weird and both of the conflict women (his wife and the girl who wants him) staring at him with various looks. Maybe I should give that a try?

 

[jls4]

Flipside opinion:

No conflict. Everyone happy. Nothing told. Just lots of pretty smiley faces inviting you to participate in the story.

This was more of what I was thinking - like "Breakin' All The Rules" poster with G. Union everyone is kinda happy on the cover. But I don't mind making another poster based on what MentaDuke is saying. At least have something to compare and contrast.

 

[jls4]

Anybody else want to comment? Poster on page 3

 

[ESTEBEVERDE]

Love the long haired chick in the bottom right corner.

Like I said before she really really wants me! :beer:

The poster is ok.

Not great.

Not horrible.

Maybe you should give it a bit more of a go and do a more Hollywood style.

The clips are great and the poster should be too!

 

[jls4]

Love the long haired chick in the bottom right corner.

Like I said before she really really wants me! :beer:

The poster is ok.

Not great.

Not horrible.

Maybe you should give it a bit more of a go and do a more Hollywood style.

The clips are great and the poster should be too!

Thanks. I'll give it another shot. Can you elaborate on what you consider "Hollywood style"?

 

[Martay]

Can't view them at the moment (from this computer), but will try to check them out later.

-M

 

[ESTEBEVERDE]

Thanks. I'll give it another shot. Can you elaborate on what you consider "Hollywood style"?

It's hard to say.

Maybe a bit more mystery instead of just the actor line up.

The one you have is great for a playbill just not a movie.

Maybe check around on the boards and see what posters did get great reviews.

Also, it's totally ok to have someone else to do your poster! :beer:


I hope I get to see your whole show when it's released!

 

[jls4]

Also, it's totally ok to have someone else to do your poster! :beer:

Are you volunteering?

If anyone wants to volunteer to do a poster for me, let me know. I'd love to delegate this reponsibility onto someone else. Don't have much money, but I'll be starting on a new project soon, so you get to join a "completing" team.

I hope I get to see your whole show when it's released!

You and everyone else is welcome to come down to Atlanta to the premiere. After that hopefully I get some film fests. Maybe Martin can hook me up with the Atlanta Film Festival.... hint. hint.