CLEAR SPACE - Written & Directed By Matt Harris

I'm going to jump off the wagon. I really think this genre is getting OLD. Everyone in their grandma grabs a camera and thinks they can make the next Blair Witch. Of course Matt you could've done a better job with that one, but what I'm saying is that they are getting old. That being said you did a good job of making this all look real. I wasn't really sure of the film crews intent, but that didn't trip me up. I did wonder why you didn't just push past that lady and leave. Hiding in the closet was strange place for a man to run. :) I do think that you lost a chance to create a real jump in the closet..it took a little long to get to the dude and then a sound or scream would've really ramped up the jump factor. Mad props for acting and carrying the camera. I wonder how many times you ran into something. :) Great job.
 
Keaton, I just a posted a message to you in the 000689.mov thread, but i'll reply here as well.
I knew someone was going to rail against the faux-doc style,and it would make sense that it'd
be a writer. Until you study this genre, you may not realize that there is an art to it, in the shooting,
acting and especially the writing. it's not just "grabbing a camera". It's about trying to create something
realistic, and i've seen plenty faux-docs that fail.

edit: not trying to say mine didn't fail, but i find the style and genre very fun and freeing to make.
 
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Dern it Matt, you were at 90% and taking it to 100% may have been a simple trip to the Halloween store or some time in the garage coming up with prop screw driver. Another thing, the eye patch versus a gaping hollowed out eye maybe more effective. One of my favs so far.
 
Matt Harris said:
Keaton, I just a posted a message to you in the 000689.mov thread, but i'll reply here as well.
I knew someone was going to rail against the faux-doc style,and it would make sense that it'd
be a writer. Until you study this genre, you may not realize that there is an art to it, in the shooting,
acting and especially the writing. it's not just "grabbing a camera". It's about trying to create something
realistic, and i've seen plenty faux-docs that fail.

edit: not trying to say mine didn't fail, but i find the style and genre very fun and freeing to make.
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I think you did a fine job. I guess when you get something wrong it just stands out like a sore thumb, so maybe this style is less forgiving than others.
 
I totally agree with everyone, thanks for all your reviews and comments, I'm just trying to get better at this style, all your feedback helps.

taylormade - I tried to add the blood squirt but i totally failed, I just couldnt make it convincing. any tips for me on how to do it?

taylormade - the noose, good call, I think a digital noose would have worked but i just didn't know how to track it in. That's the tough thing
with the handheld camera whipping around, it makes tracking difficult.

Mobie / taylormade - I'm no practical effects guy, so i did what i could. Because the shot is long, I was lucky enough to get the camera drop / body roll all timed as well as it did, the female putting the screwdriver into my eye... again, I was just lucky to get the shot. know what i mean? But yeah it could sure be better. next time!

aj thanks for saying i expanded on my last entry, i really tried to have more of a story and more characters and a better ending.

taylormade / keaton - the toughest part to film was that 2 minutes near the end where i'm running around and seeing all sorts of stuff. You can write that stuff on paper, but filming it and blocking it, all while trying to do it in one take is just plain hard. I wish i could have done a few things better. I think i will take both of your advice and i'll redo the sound design in the closet so when you see the bad guy, there's more impact.

Mobie - good call on the hollowed out eye instead of the eye patch, i need an effects guy, cause i suck at that.

tvirus - you raise some good points. the song in the car is edited correctly, but the hihat is 1/32 so it masks the edit. good call though.
i do disagree though, I thought the woman delivered her lines just as I wanted, but that's just me.
 
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Finally.. an entry that got me on nerves end. (and i'm proud to admit half the films #iwantmytimeback card had been applied)

Its one of those first person doc/fake dramas that, yes are seen and tried and true abused, but you did it nicely and very cleverly.. You created a WONDERFUL sense of space in the camera in the upstairs bathroom. I would look left of screen, then right of screen, back to the left and kept waiting to see what happened. Even the characters were actual 'characters' and I enjoyed watching them progress on screen.

Then, I followed your lead through his apartment journey and I was happy to see the outcome. I'm not sure this film could have been pulled off in a 'conventional' moving making style, but non the less entertaining. I applaud your efforts as you expand your abilities with every entry.

I hope the next fest you'll continue to wow us with something never experienced before.
/j
 
Yep! This one is my favourite among the entries and actually gave me goosebumps and a jolt of terror!

Wonderful acting. Totally believable. Excellent work!
 
Not a fan of the camcorder viewpoint. So she called civilians for a strangler who is her Dad? They're ghostbusters? He is telling the other guy how he died within earshot of the daughter?
I like the spirit lady. Acting good so far. Divining rods? Thought those were for water? I think you are supposed to hold them down farther so they can move to the side.
The CGI was no the best, but thats okay for a short. So he takes off running after his bud, keeping the camcorder steady? He hides in the closet? Duh - the monster will open the door.
Still filming as he escapes. Hit from behind, dropped/sit down the camera, then a few seconds later fell? What was that a knife in the eye or something? Liked the daughter twist.
So what were their jobs? Why did the one guy go zombie? Quite a few open plot points. Good luck.
 
Not a fan of the camcorder viewpoint. - How come?

So she called civilians for a strangler who is her Dad? - No, she answered an ad to be on a reality show.

They're ghostbusters? - No, they are reality show producers who are seeking out something scary to pitch to tv networks.

He is telling the other guy how he died within earshot of the daughter? - Yes, he was just filling him in, it's not a secret.

I like the spirit lady. - Thanks, that's my mom.

Acting good so far. - Thanks.

Divining rods? Thought those were for water? - No, they are for seeking out metals and evil spirits.

I think you are supposed to hold them down farther so they can move to the side. - No, my mother is a professional. She was doing it correctly.

The CGI was no the best, but thats okay for a short. - I suck at CGI.

So he takes off running after his bud, keeping the camcorder steady? - Yes, professionals always keep the camera steady, even when running from poltergeists.

He hides in the closet? - No, he ran into the nearest door which happen to be a closet.

Duh - the monster will open the door. - The ghost did not open the door this time. The ghost was already in the closet.

Still filming as he escapes. - He was adamant in capturing the whole thing, he was the best camera op of all time.

Hit from behind, dropped/sit down the camera, then a few seconds later fell? - Yes, he struggled to stay on his feet but the blow was too powerful and he eventually fell.

What was that a knife in the eye or something? - Screwdriver. The same screwdriver the santa clarita strangler killed himself with.

Liked the daughter twist. - Thanks.

So what were their jobs? - They are reality show producers who are seeking out something scary to pitch to tv networks.

Why did the one guy go zombie? - He was hanging (same way the strangler killed himself) from an invisible noose.
Digital noose to be inserted soon, obviously this concept didn't work as well as i'd hoped.

Quite a few open plot points. - It's actually pretty tight, not too much open, sometimes you have to watch things a few times to get them.
I know I pick up on something new every time I watch some of my favorite films.

Good luck. - Thanks for watching and commenting.
 
Thanks for answering why they went there, because I couldn't figure it out. I thought they were ghost hunters too.
 
Well dang, this is at the top of this page right under my movie poster!

Synposis:

CLEAR SPACE is the story of two reality TV producers who attempt to shoot a sizzle reel to pitch to networks,
about the ghost of the Santa Clarita Strangler, a local urban legend.

Why this movie is personal to me:

The inspiration for the script came from elements of my life that surround me. I took a few different concepts and mashed
them together and tried to keep it all as organic as possible. My mother, who you see in the film, really is a full on psychic
(professionally). The reality show producers are based on two of my very good friends who produce some big shows, and
they hire me to shoot sizzle reels. So me being the camera op in this was just an extension of what I do for a living.
So this movie was very fun for me to make, because I actually knew a little bit about what I was directing!
 
A sizzle reel is a 6 minute presentation that you present to a network, for them to judge whether the concept should go to pilot.

So the reality guys were making a sizzle reel.
 
Yes Joe, she said "you will place right behind a strange man who makes dolls for a living". I think she meant dollys!
 
ZazaCast said:
...not Readers! :shocked:
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Michael Anthony Horrigan said:
It's said. Out loud. In the movie.
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Well i'm just glad we all now know that this ain't ghostbusters 3!

If I did have them be paranormal experts I woulda had them waiving around evf meters.

did you know you can buy those things for $99 on amazon?
 
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