.:*~*:._.:*~*:._"Mordere" .:*~*:._.:*~*:._

SPOILERS.

Nice work fellas.

I always like your directing Aram, you have a way of setting mood with shots and editing that I will never have. (thank god I don't direct)

The storytelling was fantastic, I was hooked from the beginning, and I didn't realize till I was done watching that it was double the length of the other films I've been watching....Awesome work!

On with the review:

I love the dudes in the pickup with the cock-blocking and the whatnots, good writing.

I love how cool-guy's hat falls off as he goes back in the window, funny stuff for such a cool guy.

I loved the cinematography, but thought some of the framing and compositions could be a little better. I realize it's tough when your actresses differ in height so much.

Yelling and slamming on the fence is very intense...Good work.

Nice dolly at 5:40

That was one scary ass shooting scene whoo. Love the shot of the boots kicking.

Oscar winning dying scene, 'nuff said.

Lighting in car at 8:50 kicks my ass, love it!

Cool ending, wouldn't have expected that.

Overall very nice work.

Can't wait to see the next one!

Thanks,
-Joe
 
Joe,
thanks a ton for the compliments. I never thought of being considered a good director so your words are inspiring. This is the first time I really wanted to just direct and pay attention to the characters and for you to recognize it helps me to think I did something right. I really love that you didn't feel like you were watching a short that was twice as long as the others.

As far as the framing issues, we shot so damn fast we only got one take of some shots and I know Mike wanted to get more takes to fix up framing. I had to make sure we had enough coverage first since we had a time limit on one of the actresses so I was listening for performances first and if they got it on a first take we moved on. I gave them total freedom to act it as they felt it should be and I don't think I ever made them re-do anything unless it missed a mark on positioning.

The car scene we shot in front of my house and its basically 3 lights. 1k through the front off to the passenger side, 300 through the back off to the passenger side. We had to lift the back window up to get the highlights on the seats. And a 150 through the drivers side back door for highlights on the seat and side of head.
I'm glad you liked the ending and didn't say oh, its just a thrown in twist. :)
 
Thanks Joe. Really glad you liked it.

There was a slight lack of communication between Aram and I. I ended up framing for 16x9 on the shoot, but we ended up cropping for anamorphic in the edit. Few shots actually suffered from this and we found the sacrifice worth the cinematic feel of the anamorphic screen. :thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
Yeah, and I even wrote real big on top of the shot list "frame for anamorphic". DOH!!
I'm happy all the way around though. I can't wait to do our next one cause I know its going to be fire.
 
First off: I really dug the film.

First Impression: Your Credits TOTALLY BETRAY the quality of the film. I'm only being so overtly critical cause you pulled off the rest of the flick so well. But you have to haaave to do something about the opening titles. They were just way to... something looking. the rest of the film has quality lighting, acting, directing....

In my opinion they'd do a lot better running as small lower corner text over the car scene. Since it's kinda an introduction sequence....

Otherwise, I really liked it.

At first I didn't get why you had the opener in the car. Didn't seem to serve the larger story, until it realized it set up a "why the F is that girl chilling in this part of town" vibe. Dug it. The acting is great as well. Thought I was watching The Wire for a second.

I also liked the reveal. I think it took a little too long to get there (the flick could run a good 60 seconds shorter), but it was a very satisfying conclusion. LOVED the shots of the amusement park. Set the mood perfectly.

Just peeeeealse change the credits. It will take the movie up to another level. sorry i'm so hung up on that. I helped screen film festival entries for a san francisco fest and when sifting through hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of shorts, you need something in the first 30 seconds to get your attention. The film is great, you need to get that across earlier! :D

Great Work!
 
Hey Bryce,
I totally know what you mean. We actually have a few establishing shots we need to get in the beginning and the credits will play over them when the film is finished. I'm really glad you liked this and hope you like future shorts from us. I think the wire is the only show that keeps it real in the streets as far as the language and demeanor of the characters. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment and I will take your advice when its time to do the credits over again. :)
 
Beat,

cool. I was worried I might have come off overly harsh. Good luck on the next draft of the film. Hope to see it.
 
I would kill the opening car shot even though it rocks. I thought the dialogue was well done and built up to the freakin awesomest and most poweful death scene I have scene in years. I actually teared up at it. The actors were GREAT and the ending was AMAZING! I literally sat there with my jaw dropping and saying "Whoah". Nice movie!
 
I've tried downloading this thing 4 times. I can't get the whole thing. I get to about minute 9 and it cuts out. I'll try again.
 
Matt...I don't know what to say. One of my goals as a film maker was that I wanted to make some one cry and if I can do that, I have done a good job. I always thought that would happen like 10 years from now.
Wow. Thanks dude.
 
WOW... this was a great film. I really, really enjoyed it. Excellent job! I was totally pulled in...and the twist at the end...fab!!!

This was an incredible film and you should be very proud of this work.
Can't wait to see what's next....
 
Finally got around to watching this, excellent work!

Loved the car scene, very cool. The lighting seemed quite good throughout the entire movie. I really liked the shots and framing choices. Excellent.

The ending threw me a little, but not in a bad way.

Nice work.

Mike
 
dude, I really don't know what to say except: bloody brilliant.

And i LIKED that we had that anime moment where we could see that the girl was invloved in the mugging... then when she got shot it was a definite WTF moment. had me wondering what the boyfriend was thinking... made the reveal even so much more.... delicious...

excellent work. can't wait to see the next installment.
 
Very nice work. Some of the writing and acting was a little iffy, but overall very solid. No question that the cinematography was amazing.

My biggest disappointment with the film is that I am 100% convinced this could have been edited into a 6 min film that still would have worked. Maybe not as well, but it definitely would have still worked.
 
Definitely didn't see the ending coming, but I liked it. Gotta watch again and see if that changes the way I see things. I loved the faces and people swimming in darkness. So many shadows and nothingness. Added a great mood to the film. I'd give it a 10 if I had the opportunity. Nice work. :)
 
Thanks guys for the complements. I'm really glad you are liking the movie and especially the end. It had so much potential for people to say WTF, it was going good until they "threw" in the ending (don't want to give it away) for a cheap twist. We hoped that all the nuances through out the movie all pointed to the end and then made sense all at once. Even hoping for a second viewing to see what people may have missed where they might say, now I should have gotten it from that hint or oh sh1t, thats why she did that kind of thing and walk away thinking about the film.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top