Cinecollage

I'm torn calling it "new" or "innovative."

Putting actors in front of existing assets isn't new. Forest Gump "shook" JFK's hand almost 20 years ago.

I can agree with this could be a first using historical photos in this manner, or even a movie that uses entirely historically photos... So that is something to talk about, but I just don't think this is a revolutionary new filmaking technique.

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Secondly, I don't think it works. Maybe the finished, full length film is better, but to my eyes it looks like video actors keyed on top of old photos. Great for movie day in jr. high history class, or PBS, but it doesn't look appealing to me for theatrical release.
 
This is basically what Sin City was doing right? This time they just used historic material... big deal, can't really see the hype at all.
Big heavy sci fi movies do this all the time; Avatar, Prometheus, Cloud Atlas.... heck even Ugly Betty uses green screen with existing footage. It's just an excuse for cutting back on spending.
 
I think it is exciting for History teachers & PBS. I think it is cool that they're doing a historical movie with as many historical assets as possible, but outside of that, not so much IMHO.
 
If it's done well, it's fine, but done poorly it's distracting and takes away from the story. The clips in the trailer were pretty bad composites.
 
A brand new breakthrough in filmmaking, probably not. Innovative, maybe, in the context of this particular story and set of historical photos. Quality of composites, meh, based on what I see in the trailer. Those might not be finished quality work, though. The bottom line for me is that it looked interesting and would hold my attention. It could be a worthwhile experience just to see those old photos presented in the context of a coherent story. If the script is decent and the story deserves to be told, I could be persuaded to watch this.

- Greg
 
I wasn't impressed either, as mentioned maybe the finished project will be better. Thing is just that you are mixing HD with old photographs, they won't match I think. What could help is if they do a reversal for the sake of the story (help create the gaps for our imagination to fill), degrade the new HD footage to match more closely the old photographs.
 
Did not like it even a little bit. If you want to tell your story in a historical setting but have no budget for historical sets I guess it's better than not telling your story?
 
I think the story telling technique can be valid, and this might have a compelling enough story to make the piece worth watching. The problem is that if it is not done really well, it is distracting, and takes away from the viewing experience. I understand why they are doing their project they way they are doing it, they are getting their film made by whatever means they can. If the audience cringes at the bad composites, they aren't getting lost in the story telling, and that is bad.
 
it looked very cheesy. like someone said above...PBS. acting was not compelling on the few finished scenes they showed so could have contributed to the rest of the cheesiness.

i wouldn't rush out to see this.

david
 
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