"AWAKE" dvx user premiere, first 1.5min

Alright I watched the whole movie a little while ago but I've held off on posting anything because I didn't know what to say. But heres sorta what I think. I really liked the cinematography throughout the whole thing. That was the best part of the whole piece. What I didnt like was the acting and the lack of story I guess you could say. Still it was very interesting but I'm not sure what you were trying to say with this one.

Sorry if I was harsh...I really did like it
 
Hey Stefan,
thanks a ton for the private showing of the final flick. All I can say is it's an outstanding bit of work, quite beautiful and sensitive - a fact I think seems to have escaped some folks, but hey, it's all a matter of taste. Love the story - a man who's dreaming of being normal, loved, and lost all at the same time. Soundtrack is fab and very complimentary to your cinematic visuals.
I personally don't think we see (or have the patience for) films where you just should sit quietly and watch for the sake of watching. That said though, I'm not a fan of films without some kind of narrative - if it's too arty I just get lost.
My 2 cents worth. Best of luck on the festival circuit - I really hope you get some deserved recognition for you efforts. It's certainly got me inspired to work towards something as good. And personally, I didn't find the lack of professional talent at all distracting. I think they did a fine job.
 
I am really impressed with it! I thought the editing and color correction were awesome. You had some very nice special effects. While I didn't completely understand what happened at the end, I was drawn into the film and definitely watched all the way through. I really liked all those tight/close up shots you had through out the video. It really went well with the style of film you were going for. I also thought the "dreamy" parts were nicely done with the people around him moving very quickly.

I am guessing you used voice overs for the people speaking? It seemed to be a little off so that was a tad distracting.

Also, just in case someone hasn't mentioned this already, in the credits you thank the people of "DVXuser.cor"... is that some group I am not aware of?

Awesome job! I hope you will explain a little more of the story so I can understand what happened in the last half.
 
Well, I really do have to thank all of you for the interst in this film, never did I think I would get 80 someodd posts about this. Anyway, the purpose for this post is to announce that all of the free screenings for the film have been completed. I have sent out the final links tonight, and ended up with about 65 viewings total, a little more than I had planned, but much appreciated none the less. I have to take the film down, so I am sorry to those that were not able to view it, however, I hope to have the DVD done by mid October, including behind the scenes footage and a look into how this film was made. Again, I greatly appreciate the enthusiasm, and critiques, I have learned alot from this experience and take all of your comments very seriously, there is no such thing as bad feedback. Thanks for taking the time to post, and don't let this post disscourage you from posting more feedback, if you are one of those that I just PM'd.
 
Hey there Stef

I'm probably the last one to critique so here you go. My very first impression of the film was that it looked beautiful. Teh color correction was really stunning in the dream shots, not to mention all the fast motion. As a look experiment, its excellent!

The way you orchestrated some of the camera work was very creative - the matching cuts of the hand to bridge the dream and real world works well, the twist in the hospital was a surprise too.

I was drawn into the film immediately and watched it all the way without getting bored. In terms of the negative, I would have to say that I didn't quite understand the theme at the end. But that's just me. What I thought you were trying to say was that the guy was a homeless bum all the time and was imagining the whole thing.

Anyways, I think its a great job, very professional. I'm sure you will do well at the festivals! thanks for the honor of a pre-screening

-young
 
Hey there thanks for sending the link! I watched it all the way through... Good work on the visuals. The bizarre stuttering effect was interesting to watch i also liked how you selectively chose red as the color pass. My favorite scene is man inside square. Although i didn't understand why he passed through it? Perhaps it is just a montage of his dreams, in that case there are no boundaries. Who cares about acting. Good work on the visuals!
 
Hi Sharky, I would have to echo what most of the guys are saying... You definitely have a unique style, I loved the effects and the photography. The acting could have been better, but I see that you commented on that already. Good luck in the festivals!
 
Hey Scharky

I hope I'm not repeating anything that has been said. I meant to post this a month ago:

The items on the nightstand in the opening shot seem staged to me. I think It would have looked better if the items were not spaced so symmetrically and the glass was not so full. I think it would have been more believable to have some change, receipts etc crumpled and strewn about. Then again it’s a dream so maybe it should look this way?

At 5:40 in the clear box you can see the white stripe on the ground which makes me think the scene was done in a parking lot.

I really like the next scene with the veins crawling up his arm and face.

At 7:30 the scene on the bench everything just looks right. All the colors, framing, natural light make this scene by far my favorite. Is this Pioneer Square in Seattle?

The music really adds to the film. I think all the right sounds were in all the right places.

I think this film could go any number of ways at this point. The reality in the film that seems the most believable are the scenes in the city with the main actor dressed in winter clothes. I think If I were to continue the plot of the movie I would go in this direction..: The main actor is a bum. He either has a mental condition or a drug addiction that keeps his mind ½ in reality and ½ in dream world. I think I would continue the plot as a battle of the mind with him trying to find reality. He has friends and family that want to help him, but because of his condition/addiction he pushes them away. He doesn’t know who really wants to help or hurt him, so he starts creating this fake reality that in his mind that takes over true reality. By the end of the movie he is always extremely happy because he has made this false reality for himself that has everything going his way. At certain points in this progression he wakes up abruptly in true reality because something drastic really does happen. For example he is walking in the mountain on a sunny day looking around enjoying the scenery, when he all the sudden looks down to his leg which is gushing blood. He snaps back into reality with his leg still bleeding and a dog gnawing at it. At the end of the movie you pan up from his smile. You know he is in his dream world and as the camera pans back further you can see that he is in some sort of mental hospital, but you are happy that he his happy.

-Kevin
 
Wow, kevin, very insightful response. Thank you, you actually followed my frame of mind very closely. It was wierd to see this thread pop back up, but I guess that is a good thing. I love that you took what I have presented and then expanded upon it in your own mind, as this was really the point of the movie. It may not have come across as clearly as I wanted it, as Barry and others had stated, but I wanted the viewer to continue to think about this character after the movie was over, so thank you for going down that road.
I am applying some finishing touches, mainly audio to the film, and the DVD should be done next month, i will make a posting when it si completed.

Oh and by the way, yes that is Pioneer square. It was odd to shoot there, as there were many homless people there, however they were very inviting and open to what we were doing. I explained the premis of the film to various people there, and actually had a few of them enter the scene as extras, unfortunatly, it just did not fit in with the flow of the film.
 
loved the old trailer he posted a while back - missed this one....

maybe u can make it a .torrent file if you are worried abt bandwidth?

(hehe.... the film maker himself making a torrent of his work - lol - the irony! :) :)
 
If you have aim RED I can send you the full version

I liked the film, especially because we have a similar taste in some things artistically, but we differ enough so that it's not boring for me to watch (if that makes sense).

Things I was feeling in reference to the film:

The audio - felt too fake, maybe work on ADR and whatnot

Little let down by the ending - the character wishing he could just have a normal life, but being pushed into the situation he's in (being homeless) sort of wanting interaction but being stuck on the outside looking in.

I felt that same theme connected with the dreams - everybody else moving fast and him being out of synch - that's atleast what I was trying to convey when I used the same effect in my music video for endless blue...

Same idea when he's inside the box, trying to get out, to experience something (touching)

But I'm not sure how clear that will be to some people, or if any of those points are things you intended
 
Thanks for the review monte. As for the rest of you who missed the film, I am sorry, but I do have a new website up for the film, with a new (revised) trailer (for promotional purposes), so if you want to check out the new trailer, maybe that will hold you over until the DVD is released. here is the link

http://www.stefweb.net/awake
 
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