FEATURE: Canadian Independent Film "Cody Fitz"

[Comix]

Hey fellow DVXusers. Been a little while since I've been here, but I'd thought I'd share a film we recently just wrapped and are now in post production. I'm a 19 year old director from Calgary, Alberta up in Canada who's been doing shorts for a few years and decided to make the jump into a feature. We shot the film over 17 days in July on Red MX and currently cutting in Premiere with the whole Final Cut situation. We're a fairly new group of filmmakers mostly between the ages of 15-20 who've mostly played around with prosumer gear with 35mm adapters and more recently SLR's but wanted to push ourselves a little bit production wise.

The film revolves around two childhood friends who've recently moved out on their own. It takes a look into young adult life and the appearances of people compared to who people actually are.

Here is a teaser trailer we just released and below are some bts and stills!

Thanks and hope to hear from you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU6xotoDR6w

Behind the Scenes

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[Comix]

Stills

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[Frankersten]

Looks great can't wait to see it! How will it premiere? Online, DVD, film festivals?

 

[Kegan]

Told you over on REDuser, but great job man. Should be really inspiring for those itching to make a movie and not sure where to start. Maybe you can go a little bit into how you started the production, collected any funding you may have had, recruited your crew, etc. I'm sure a lot of DVXusers would find it helpful.

Kegan

 

[Comix]

Yeah for sure. We're looking at a festival run throughout early 2012 to pry our chances at getting some kind of distribution situation going.

I wrote the script back in late 2010, and had been saving up as much money as I could personally over about a year. We applied for a government grant and ended up getting it. Our budget was pretty minimal >30k but our whole cast/crew was volunteer and we did all our own catering etc. We cast mostly out of three universities in our City by going to the drama programs a few months before the shoot and working with the programs to rent a room and meet most of the actors. Our crew was fairly broad from people I'd met on sets, to recommendations from other filmmakers. Our director of photography was a young guy by the name of Ryan Jenq who's from the New York area who flew up for the shoot. (www.ryanjenq.com). We'd met through a film festival a number of years ago. It was mostly just going out and talking to people to see interest for getting people involved.

There's a film society in our city that I'm fairly active with so we got most of our gear at a discounted rate.

 

[teresadecher]

Looks cool. Awesome to see other young filmmakers out there!

 

[craigbowman]

... mostly played around with prosumer gear with 35mm adapters ...

Well Faith Granger made the single best feature movie I've seen to date out of this community and it was shot on an old HVX200 with a 35mm adapter. It was also her very first movie as she had just barley picked up a camera. However, she is one of those rarest of all people, a natural born filmmaker.

Making a feature is by far your best teacher! Keep going there guys.

 

[drapeama]

I'm a 19 year old director from Calgary [..] We shot the film over 17 days in July on Red MX and currently cutting in Premiere with the whole Final Cut situation. We're a fairly new group of filmmakers mostly between the ages of 15-20 who've mostly played around with prosumer gear with 35mm adapters and more recently SLR's but wanted to push ourselves a little bit production wise.

Just that!!
I wish I could have been able to do such when I was your age, but it wasn't possible for me at this time...and life happens, so I'm now only a pro-hobbyist at best!

Seriously, it looks really nice, especially shot on a RED! The only thing I'd like to point is the lighting in the bed scene...looks like they're doing it will all lights opened! Otherwise it looks great!

 

[Comix]

Not trying to diss the prosumer gear at all. I own a Canon XH-a1 and loved it over the years. One of the best purchases I've ever put down.

Thank you for the kind comments.

 

[Zblock]

Yeah great stuff. So many cool shots. Love the underwater one.

 

[Comix]

Thanks zblock!

 

[Frankersten]

Did you guys have a written screenplay for this before you submitted the documents for funding?

 

[Marlon Ladd]

Great trailer. You can't really tell too much what the film is about, but it's still engaging. It looks really pro and you had some really nice cinematic shots, great locations and what looks like some great actors.

 

[CharlesPenfold]

This looks visually stunning and as a filmmaker watching the trailer I am very impressed at the entire production but watching the trailer as an audience member I wouldn't pay to go and see this film as I have no idea what it is about or who the character are, if you ever want this film to be noticed by the majority of movie goers who are use to seeing professional quality images you have to give them more than you did in that trailer (unless of course you are Terrince Mallick). Having said that you have to be happy with your film yourself before you can expect the audience to be, which is fantastic but just don't expect a trailer like this to get you much attention or get noticed/picked up by a distributor with no positive ratings/quotes, awards or big names attached to it.
Also I assume the look of the film was somewhat inspired by the work of David Fincher which I really dig.

I look forward to seeing more from you, terrific stuff.

 

[Comix]

Alright Charles, I know it took me a little longer but here is our theatrical trailer. Thanks again everyone for the feedback!

Frankersten: Yes. I had our screenplay, budget, shooting schedule etc ready when we applied.

We're a few days away from picture lock and are starting audio mixing and color correction next week. Really stoked.

Cheers!