"MOMENTS" – a film by SABI

TWO NEW 'MOMENTS' PODCASTS (in the bay with JOSHUA NITSCHKE)

TWO NEW 'MOMENTS' PODCASTS (in the bay with JOSHUA NITSCHKE)

Thanks for the posts! In webisodes 3 & 4, we go into the bay with Joshua Nitschke, cinematographer and editor on Moments - a film by sabi. He describes his challenges with the improv material, as well as the camera pointed in his face. He offers insight into his understanding of the director / editor relationship.

We all loved the rough cut, but no one is harder on Joshua Nitschke than Joshua Nitscke, god bless him:

www.sabipictures.com/moments

k

Zak Forsman said:
that's the old, pre-production poster. here is the current incarnation.

momentspostserlgv51med.jpg
Click to expand...

fun fact: the photos of the characters were taken on set with an antique Poloroid camera (it's in one of the shots in the webisode) - and was created by Daniel J. Carmody (the writer/producer of the project).
 
kevinkshah said:
fun fact: the photos of the characters were taken on set with an antique Poloroid camera (it's in one of the shots in the webisode) - and was created by Daniel J. Carmody (the writer/producer of the project).
Click to expand...

That's really cool, how did you guys digitize them?

And I read that entry on the site about the Woody Allen interview and thought I'd share a different opinion from Steven Soderbergh.

From this interview http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.12/soderbergh.html

"What's the biggest impact technology is having on filmmaking?
When the changeover from film to digital happens in theaters in five or 10 years, you're going to see name filmmakers self-distributing. Another thing that really excites me: I'd like to do multiple versions of the same film. I often do very radical cuts of my own films just to experiment, shake things up, and see if anything comes of it. I think it would be really interesting to have a movie out in release and then, just a few weeks later say, "Here's version 2.0, recut, rescored." The other version is still out there - people can see either or both. For instance, right now I know I could do two very different versions of The Good German."
 
Last edited:
Dan scanned the Polaroids. He didn't tweak them at all digitally except to make them look like the actual Polaroid (very minor contrast adjustment). The actual polaroid prints are gorgeous, and I'm still not sure the digitized version does them justice.

I don't know how Erik feels about multiple versions of a movie, but as an editor I don't like that idea at all. I think that if you feel that you can honestly release two versions of the same movie then you haven't explored the footage enough - at the end of the process of editing you should be convinced that the cut you have is the best cut that you can make from the footage that you shot.

I hate alternate endings for the same reason - how can you not know what you want? What the right ending is?
 
Interesting, i see where you are coming from. I never thought about it in terms of alternative endings, which I've never been keen on. However, with editing being the only aspect of cinema that shares no connection with any other art form, I can see how a creative or as Soderbergh puts it, radical, editor could come up with two very different movies from the same footage. I think that releasing both of them would serve the audience more than anyone else. For example, this is coming from Soderbergh, but he has always released only one version, so I'd assume he has finished editing and chosen what he finds to be the best cut, but if there were to be another cut that is a very different movie, like in the case with The Good German, people may find more pleasure or get more out of the version Soderbergh decided not to go with.
 
Dan has posted a great post on the development of the script for Moments; you should check it out. Not being involved with the writing of this project, I found it very insightful.
 
Last edited:
Virum said:
I hate alternate endings for the same reason - how can you not know what you want? What the right ending is?
Click to expand...

I don't think they don't know which version they want, I think it's more about what does the "audience" want. I personally love the director's cut to Blade Runner, but I can see why they first went with the Theatrical Cut. Many times the commericalized viewer wants things wrapped up tight, but the filmmakers want to tell a story that may not be so wrapped up - something to make you think.

I like different versions of movies - one for every Jane and John Doe and the REAL version from the filmmaker. I liked "Miami Vice" at the theaters, but when I went to buy the DVD the director's cut was on sale so I bought that. and I'm glad I did. Over 20 more minutes of story that was cut out because the movie was running long. I understand why they cut it back, but I'm also happy to see a cut that is the "real" thing direct from the filmmakers.
 
jls4 said:
I don't think they don't know which version they want, I think it's more about what does the "audience" want.
Click to expand...

Eh, I hate that just as much. When you change something you care about just so that sells better, it changes your art to nothing more than commercialism.

Tell the story you want to tell...if people like it they like it, if they don't they don't!
 
Momentsredux.jpg

​

Hey Everyone,

This is rather sad and pathetic but I have written only ONE comment on this short film's thread... this reflects extremely poorly on me. Okay, so let me explain that I am not a dvxuser regular. However, this is changing for the better. Anyways, I would like to thank everyone who has taken a small gander at this thread and for everyone who left a kind comment! THANK YOU! I originally had mixed thoughts about dvxuser. I thought that people here just wanted to brag about their films in the most narcissistic way. In regard to that, I have been proven utterly wrong with a poor misconception... this also reflects poorly on myself yet again. It turns out, that everyone here has AMAZING films to share and a very positive attitude behind it! In truth, dvxuser is VERY friendly and has alot of supporting filmmakers. I LOVE THIS!!! So thank you everyone for being friendly and so supporting.

As many may know, Moments has reached picture lock. The film to me, has been a living, breathing and organic process. If anyone has not tried editing their own project several times with several endings,openings, middles, then i suggest to try it :) and by several I mean more than 15 times. In all honesty, it helps explore the film in EVERY possible way. The only downside is that you watch the film over and over again and you begin to get tired of it. Yes, this is prevelant factor. However, the end results prove nearly flawless. Furthermore, editing a film to explore rather than to reach picture lock shapes the film in it's most truthful way to tell a story. It also helps perfect the art in time and dedication. I will be the first to admit, Moments took some time to reach picture lock and to some filmmakers time is a horrible factor. Everyone always wants to see the end product without actually trying to get there. We often see an award and a glorious film that makes people cry with tears of joy and passion. However, I will also be the first to admit that Moments has not turned out like that. I do not see a glorious film. I do not see any awards. I do not see people crying with passion either. However, what I do see is an honest film that tells not a set and stone story, but a moment in which all of us have in our lives. This concept is a universal one. Everyone has Moments...everyone.

This is what the creators of Moments set out to do. As one of the filmmakers, I had no desire to make an award winning masterpiece which would send me to fame and fortune. I had the desire to share an honest glimpse into the lives of average people. I do not mean to sound negative with all the "I dont think this will be etc." But, the goal was not to be anything but a truthful film...that's it. And to say that this is a glorious film would not be truthful because there is no one universal truth as to what is gloriously good or bad. After watching Moments numerous and numerous times I know that some people will like it and some people will hate it. I'm not sure if there will be a strong middle. probably not. This is not a typical short film. It is a film that challenges the way stories are told and for this I'm very glad to be apart of this project. And as Lars Von Trier would mention, it is important to have your own voice as a filmmaker. Who are you? Are you just another filmmaker? or are you a true creator that creates rather than to imitate and regenerate the same material over again.

Let's hope not!

Once again, thanks everyone!
 
Last edited:
Lately, Joshua (editor) and myself have been playing around with color. Our initial goal was to show the color as a symbol. One story reflected warmth and the other had colder tones. However, this is currently changing. The Jamie/Michael story looks like a polaroid picture... something old and thought about in memory. And the other feels like something in the present and does not carry such distant colors.

I hope we can convey this properly. Any thoughts?
 
nice updates. we love herman. josh let me know when you are ready to take Moments into Sabi to do final color.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top