LOOK AT ME - Sprocketboy

The part that really got me was when she was trying to open her mouth. The ripping and tearing combined with the music and sound fx and camera work made my skin crawl. The heightened tension there was fantastic.

Although I find it hard to relate to someone that is such a bimbo as to throw all logic out the window and do something like that, it was still enjoyable.

The lighting overall was great. The dentist office looked quite "disney channel" to me. That's not a bad thing, just made me think of it as I watched it.

From your title and premise I was expecting something completely different and much more cliche. You surprised me with an original idea that was put together very well. Kudos!
 
yeehaanow said:
The part that really got me was when she was trying to open her mouth. The ripping and tearing combined with the music and sound fx and camera work made my skin crawl. The heightened tension there was fantastic.

Although I find it hard to relate to someone that is such a bimbo as to throw all logic out the window and do something like that, it was still enjoyable.

The lighting overall was great. The dentist office looked quite "disney channel" to me. That's not a bad thing, just made me think of it as I watched it.

From your title and premise I was expecting something completely different and much more cliche. You surprised me with an original idea that was put together very well. Kudos!
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That comment about the Disney channel look is interesting. I don't think it did, but the sappy piano music could have triggered that thought.

I don't like cliches, but usually all material is derivative of something else. I'm glad I manage to steer off the cliche path. It is great to have your input. Thanks.
 
Disney Channel? What? Did Disney buy out Barbie?

Maybe it was the clean, perfect aesthetic that did it. Disney productions have no flaws, just a stylized and clean look, so maybe that was the thing.
 
puckthemad said:
Maybe it was the clean, perfect aesthetic that did it. Disney productions have no flaws, just a stylized and clean look, so maybe that was the thing.
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It could be. I did sanitize the locations Missy stepped through, and the DP followed the ideas I had concerning the lighting in that location. I wanted Missy to be the most well-lit person in the room.
 
You attention to detail is astounding dude. And with her being the best lit person in the room it emphasizes the title even more: Look at Me...
 
Hey Alex,

So, here is my late review of your film! :) Obviously, this is just my personal opinion on everything so take it all with a grain of salt (...maybe two or three grains actually). :thumbsup:

First of all, I totally agree with Rodney...you have an exquisite attention to detail which I think is important as a Director! I really like the way you work. Having followed your thread since the beginning I like that you are willing to undertake big projects and have the motivation to follow through and get it done.

The locations were great. I think you did a good job of letting them supplement the characters rather than distract from them.

Production value was through the roof as well! False set of braces, a dentists office, massive homes...geez!

And I think you have the right idea as far as getting a strong crew to make the film. With something of this scope my guess is it would have been near impossible to make this film without the crew you had.

As a Director I think you have a very good sense of what you need and how you want to tell the story visually! That is a good thing...makes it much easier when you get to editing!

There are so many things you have done well it would take several pages to list them all! So, take great confidence in the fact that you guys have the talent and skills necessary to make a strong film.

Now the critiques... :embarasse (sorry, I hate offering critiques...especially for a film that is so well done)

I think the weakest element of this for me was the script. The style of the story never seemed to have a coherent focus...it started out thriller/horror, went towards comedy, dipped its toes in melodrama and then ended back in thriller/horror. I don't think it is always bad to combine elements of different genres but I think it makes it hard for the audience to get into it. If the audience feels "Ok, this is a comedy" then they can get on board. Likewise with other genres. But if it keeps changing I think they feel caught off guard and have trouble catching back up.

I don't know if you ever saw "Hancock" with Will Smith but I think that movie suffered from this. I actually enjoyed the film but I think everything (marketing, 1st half of film, etc.) geared everyone towards a comedy and then when it changed gears I think it threw people... :)

The other thing I wasn't crazy about was the music...I think you referenced this a bit in a previous post so I won't belabor the point...but I didn't feel like it fit for the most part. I did like it at the end but the piano piece mid-way through...didn't work for me. :undecided

Overall I thought the actors did a good job! I felt like the script might have given them some difficult lines to pull off but I think they made it work.

Technically, I think you are definitely on the right track! Looked good. Sounded clean! I'm personally a big fan of the lens adapters (or the RED which I can't afford) but I know those can be pricy.

I think you guys have a strong showing here! On your next film I think if you get a really strong story you have everything in place to make it happen.

Best of luck!!!

(I hope after reading all this I don't come off like the world's biggest choad...if so, I apologize in advance!) :dankk2:

- Daniel
 
pia12254 said:
(I hope after reading all this I don't come off like the world's biggest choad...if so, I apologize in advance!) :dankk2:
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Three-quarters of the way down, I called a hitman to pay you a visit. Then when I reached this final line with the apology... I called him off, but I still have to pay him. :(

Seriously, I appreciate you taking the time to watch the film and review it at length with thought. Many of the criticisms you raised has nagged me, even during the editing phase. Some of the reviewers in this thread were to the point but not clear and others skirted around it. Your honest opinion helps.

The genre change was a personal decision. Its something I would not do on an expensive feature unless it worked of course, but it usually doesn't. I did see Hancock and I know what you mean. I thought in a film of this length it couldn't do much harm. Think again. :huh: You can't mix genres short or long.

The writers are reading this thread often, so I'm sure they are planning on pulling your teeth out one at a time. :Drogar-Evil(DBG): They are first time writers and I am guilty for coming up with the creepy ending. But, that's me.

I'm glad you mentioned the music in that section because every time I listen to it, I cringe, and then get use to it. We required more time to work on that. I did like how it played from Missy indulging herself in the kitchen to the very end.

Lens adapters? Nah. I want a camera with a clean DOF. Either RED, or a Varicam HD 2700 or 3000 with good glass. If I can't have those I will shoot it straight, without an adapter. Too much work for half-baked results.

Your other critiques are well taken. Choad or not, your good in my book. Thanks.:beer:
 
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I liked this. It has a similar feel for me as Cold Calls, which obviously did very well here.

Some great shots in here. Especially loved the pocketmirror reflection shots. Very cool.

Your actress was very good, and very pretty. I worry that the movie verges on showing off her body for no reason other than eye candy. Just be careful it doesn't come off as superfluous.

Also in that first scene, because of the angle it almost looks like the boyfriend is looking at the camera.

Love that you got braces made for her, and all the other great production design that went into this.

At 3:40, I can hear someone say "Action."

The scene where she's in bed starts off with the phone in focus. Why? It doesn't ring until after the alarm goes off.

Cool idea for a story. The character is well constructed and her descent is fun to watch.

I think you could have kept a lighter tone to her glueing her mouth shut, and kept the story the same without verging away from the tone you've set up.
 
jasonthewho said:
Your actress was very good, and very pretty. I worry that the movie verges on showing off her body for no reason other than eye candy. Just be careful it doesn't come off as superfluous.
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I never thought it did. I have a feeling you have a dirty little mind. :evil:

jasonthewho said:
Also in that first scene, because of the angle it almost looks like the boyfriend is looking at the camera.
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The DP and I are careful about things like this. The shot looks very good to me.

jasonthewho said:
At 3:40, I can hear someone say "Action."
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Someone else pointed that out earlier in the thread. In my haste to upload the 2nd version of the film before the fest started, I missed deleting a bad cross-fade at that point. As Herman Munster would say, "Darn it. Darn it. Darn it."

jasonthewho said:
The scene where she's in bed starts off with the phone in focus. Why? It doesn't ring until after the alarm goes off.
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It doesn't have to. Its an establishing shot that we will return to when it makes sense. A technique used in countless films. Foreboding. I know I sound defensive, but this is something I am sure about and wouldn't change.

jasonthewho said:
I think you could have kept a lighter tone to her glueing her mouth shut, and kept the story the same without verging away from the tone you've set up.
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I have a tenancy to go darker. You have a valid point here and a point well taken. Thanks a bunch for watching.
 
WOW! This was humorous in spots, but when you stop to think about it, really, REALLY dark as well. It can go to show just how far someone will go for vanity (even the calendar had an appt for consulting with a plastic surgeon), all they know or care about is how they look, etc. The lips tearing & bleeding at the end totally had me cringing & on the edge of my seat.

The talent did a fine job, with the lead doing better as the film progressed, and the boy friend seemed to play the rich, aristocratic spoiled brat pretty well (assuming they're both from families of intense money - how else could she afford a place like that, at such a young age?).

Technically, this was a well made film, and an overall solid outing in my opinion.

Also laughed out loud (nearly expected it, in a way), that once she got SO depressed about her perfect white teeth, that she'd make a move to stain the heck out of them with chocolate cake & red wine!
 
Norm Sanders said:
The talent did a fine job, with the lead doing better as the film progressed, and the boy friend seemed to play the rich, aristocratic spoiled brat pretty well (assuming they're both from families of intense money - how else could she afford a place like that, at such a young age?).
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Thanks for the acting kudos. I've also known people, in their early twenties, living this life-style in Malibu and Topanga Canyon. I would crash at their place sometimes and they would leave me the keys. Its not far fetched.

Norm Sanders said:
Technically, this was a well made film, and an overall solid outing in my opinion.
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Coming from you... this is a BIG compliment. Thank you, sir.

Norm Sanders said:
Also laughed out loud (nearly expected it, in a way), that once she got SO depressed about her perfect white teeth, that she'd make a move to stain the heck out of them with chocolate cake & red wine!
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I had other planned shots that would have taken this to the extreme (heavy drinking, drugs, house gets messy), but the meter ran out and we had no more quarters. I think it would have helped some viewers into the following scenes.

I'm glad you enjoyed the show. :)
 
I'll bet your dentist writers are anxious to get another production going, given the quality of what you;ve pulled off here. How much would you estimate your final budget to be?
 
puckthemad said:
I'll bet your dentist writers are anxious to get another production going, given the quality of what you;ve pulled off here. How much would you estimate your final budget to be?
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They are anxious and they learned a lot from all the reviews, critiques and comments. They are already scheming about writing another script. But, the next endeavor maybe a project penned by me, or another friend of mine.

As for the final budget, I don't have any final amount. We haven't counted up all the receipts yet and I don't have most of them. I'm willing to guess over $1000. Many of the participants came from out of town. We fed people for almost 2.5 days (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner). We paid for some rental equipment and all transportation. Rochelle (Missy) wardrobe, hair, nails, etc are over $100. Locations and camera equipment all FREE. Many props for FREE. The cake costed $5.95. The rental of audition & rehearsal space in NYC came to about $88. These are just some figures.

The next one will probably cost a lot less. I wish I could do it for nothing.
 
Dude, that is still awesome. There are guys I know who've gone out and spent like $10K and their short didn't turn out half as good as this did and had problems all over the place. You did great for the budget and the production quality is awesome. You can easily claim you spent $10K on this and people would believe you.
 
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