ZazaCast
Major Contributor
...yes... and written in the 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.
CLEAR SPACE - Written & Directed By Matt Harris
- Thread starter Matt Harris
- Start date
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.
Matt Harris
Veteran
kumbaya!
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
Yes. My post that you quoted was directed at the writer who didn't listen to the spoken word.
I guess you were implying that he ignored the written word as well.
Double :evil: :evil:
I guess you were implying that he ignored the written word as well.
Double :evil: :evil:
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
Nothing but peaceful vibes here. Unlike your dastardly evil movie.
I'll tell Bill Murray that he won't have to come out of retirement.
Matt Harris
Veteran
I was gonna make a bill murray joke too!
Damned good entry, Matt.
I think I'm partially swayed because I'm writing a found footage feature right this very second.
The only things that bothered me were:
All the talking behind the camera sounded stilted and fake. Is there a possibility of getting another guy to VO for you?
The speed ramps are a more distracting than straight up jump cuts, for some reason no matter how many jump cuts you do in found footage material it works
The end was a little too campy for what you had setup, but that's a personal opinion
I'm rewatching this one so I can learn some editing techniques when it comes to the aesthetic.
Thanks for uploading and participating, man. Genuine creeps and thrills right here.
Oh also, for my own info: were those actors or average joes and janes?
I think I'm partially swayed because I'm writing a found footage feature right this very second.
The only things that bothered me were:
All the talking behind the camera sounded stilted and fake. Is there a possibility of getting another guy to VO for you?
The speed ramps are a more distracting than straight up jump cuts, for some reason no matter how many jump cuts you do in found footage material it works
The end was a little too campy for what you had setup, but that's a personal opinion
I'm rewatching this one so I can learn some editing techniques when it comes to the aesthetic.
Thanks for uploading and participating, man. Genuine creeps and thrills right here.
Oh also, for my own info: were those actors or average joes and janes?
Hell yeah to that. It's JUST as difficult to write a script for one of these as anything else, especially when you have to adhere to certain rules.
There isn't any "cut to: amanda sitting by herself in a room scared"
You have to get the camera there logically.
So much more.
Keep doing what you're doing, Matt. S'like people saying Zombies are dead....
Well, they are, but get a clue, they aren't going anywhere any time soon.
Matt Harris
Veteran
Thanks Kholi!
I was the camera op/actor, and the only thing i really ADRed was when we walked into the garage and i said a few lines like "you know how he died right?".
yeah you're right, good ear, that was not so great. I thought I did a decent job with the rest, but this was pretty run and gun and honestly it was 2 takes at most so there's certainly room for improvement on my part.
I think i only speed ramped it when i got out of the closet because i had walked too slow and the footage was boring. so i added some shake and ramped it up to maybe 300%. It's not great, but way better than leaving it the way i shot it.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, I know this short is rough around the edges but i was just experimenting, I look forward to your film!
I was the camera op/actor, and the only thing i really ADRed was when we walked into the garage and i said a few lines like "you know how he died right?".
yeah you're right, good ear, that was not so great. I thought I did a decent job with the rest, but this was pretty run and gun and honestly it was 2 takes at most so there's certainly room for improvement on my part.
I think i only speed ramped it when i got out of the closet because i had walked too slow and the footage was boring. so i added some shake and ramped it up to maybe 300%. It's not great, but way better than leaving it the way i shot it.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, I know this short is rough around the edges but i was just experimenting, I look forward to your film!
Shawn Philip Nelson
Veteran
Bravo Matt! Really solid entry here, I definitely feel this is top 3.
I've watched every entry of this fest, and this and AJ's were the only two that gave me any sort of chill. Want to know something?
. My 2 and 4 year old sons were watching the entries with me, and let them watch the others in confidence, but half way through yours I paused it and sent them out of the room...
To be fair, the last minute didn't really work for me, i dont thnk it lived up to the intense mood you'd set up. I think your ending would have been more solid if she had no inexplicably picked up the camera to put it on the bed.
so bravo man, really stellar work here
I've watched every entry of this fest, and this and AJ's were the only two that gave me any sort of chill. Want to know something?
. My 2 and 4 year old sons were watching the entries with me, and let them watch the others in confidence, but half way through yours I paused it and sent them out of the room...To be fair, the last minute didn't really work for me, i dont thnk it lived up to the intense mood you'd set up. I think your ending would have been more solid if she had no inexplicably picked up the camera to put it on the bed.
so bravo man, really stellar work here
It's all good. Honestly, it's a short and they're small quibbles. It works.
It's weird because at first I'm like "Man, apartment?"
But when that other lady came up to the car, started talking, then you ge tinto the apartment and that chic is messing with spirits and junk...
I'm like "Oh hell nah they're about to get killed"
I used to hate the found footage stuff, but now that I'm almost finished with my script Im in love with the possibilities.
You just schooled me in how to edit etc. Good work dude.
It's weird because at first I'm like "Man, apartment?"
But when that other lady came up to the car, started talking, then you ge tinto the apartment and that chic is messing with spirits and junk...
I'm like "Oh hell nah they're about to get killed"
I used to hate the found footage stuff, but now that I'm almost finished with my script Im in love with the possibilities.
You just schooled me in how to edit etc. Good work dude.
How did you handle audio by the way?
From the other thread ,I went over to check out what you said and I said this exact same thing to someone the other day. It isn't a fad, it's here to stay. Reality shows and YouTube did that, not just Blair Witch.
This is just what it's going to be and you either don't do it or embrace, but to think that it's gonna vanish? You just aren't paying attention.
I'm pretty jacked up now! Can't wait to start shooting.
Ido have to say, though, after consuming a ton of these things over the past few weeks (so many nightmares)
Last Exorcism and Troll Hunter were the worst of them all. Last Exorcism broke convention so much (cutting to actual cinema style coverage? Come on man) as I expect Chronicle will as well.
And Troll Hunter was just too boring when the actual Trolls weren't around.
Lessons to be learned.
I'm pretty sure this style is here to stay. It's not gonna die. not when PA3 made $54 mil last weekend.
heh, you are NOT gonna like mine then Keaton, but i gave you a "like" on facebook today so be easy on me.
In all seriousness, this genre seems to be getting pigeon-holed into a "devil / satanic" theme what with paranormal activity, rec 1 & 2 and the excellent "the last exorcism". I give Brickhouse credit for not going the satanic route (although that may contradict a previous post of mine), and I myself didn't go the satanic route either.
But i think the faux-documentary will forever have it's place in cinematic history because we are now a generation where everyone videos stuff everywhere they go. As a writer, I have had fun figuring out the genre, and i think when you tackle it Chris, you will have fun too. Just don't so satanic horror.
Catfish, Cloverfield and District 9 did some nifty faux-doc stuff that was interesting and not just "satanic" horror.
From the other thread ,I went over to check out what you said and I said this exact same thing to someone the other day. It isn't a fad, it's here to stay. Reality shows and YouTube did that, not just Blair Witch.
This is just what it's going to be and you either don't do it or embrace, but to think that it's gonna vanish? You just aren't paying attention.
I'm pretty jacked up now! Can't wait to start shooting.
Ido have to say, though, after consuming a ton of these things over the past few weeks (so many nightmares)
Last Exorcism and Troll Hunter were the worst of them all. Last Exorcism broke convention so much (cutting to actual cinema style coverage? Come on man) as I expect Chronicle will as well.
And Troll Hunter was just too boring when the actual Trolls weren't around.
Lessons to be learned.
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Matt Harris
Veteran
Shawn, that's really funny you told your kids to leave the room, i'd have done the same.
I agree with you, the first half is pretty cool, i knew what i was doing. But once the **** hits the fan,
that's when it got hard for me to figure out the blocking, the scares and the deaths. It was pretty hard.
But as for the very end, not sure if this will sway your opinion, but my intention was this:
The woman answered an ad for reality show producers to come to her house, so she was almost orchestrating
her own documentary looking to honor her father and capture it all tape. Therefore, she picked up the camera and
filmed herself speaking to her father at the end. Ultimately making her the producer of this doc.
Anyways, that's what I was going for!
I'm glad you enjoyed it though.
I agree with you, the first half is pretty cool, i knew what i was doing. But once the **** hits the fan,
that's when it got hard for me to figure out the blocking, the scares and the deaths. It was pretty hard.
But as for the very end, not sure if this will sway your opinion, but my intention was this:
The woman answered an ad for reality show producers to come to her house, so she was almost orchestrating
her own documentary looking to honor her father and capture it all tape. Therefore, she picked up the camera and
filmed herself speaking to her father at the end. Ultimately making her the producer of this doc.
Anyways, that's what I was going for!
I'm glad you enjoyed it though.
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
I wish I had time to write up a full review (perhaps soon), but I wanted to chime in with my thoughts on this one.
I liked it. Quite a bit, actually. It's easily in my top 5.
My only real disappointment is I felt it was a bit too telegraphed. From the moment the one guy mentions the "strangler," I knew pretty much how things would go. There were still great surprises, shots and shocks along the way, to be sure. But I would loved to have seen the two guys go in not really knowing much about this woman or her story, and have them gradually (and terrifyingly) learn more about it as they go. That, to me, would really have helped ratchet up the suspense, making the ultimate payoff that much stronger.
That's all I have time for at the moment, but great job to everyone involved!
I liked it. Quite a bit, actually. It's easily in my top 5.
My only real disappointment is I felt it was a bit too telegraphed. From the moment the one guy mentions the "strangler," I knew pretty much how things would go. There were still great surprises, shots and shocks along the way, to be sure. But I would loved to have seen the two guys go in not really knowing much about this woman or her story, and have them gradually (and terrifyingly) learn more about it as they go. That, to me, would really have helped ratchet up the suspense, making the ultimate payoff that much stronger.
That's all I have time for at the moment, but great job to everyone involved!
Matt Harris
Veteran
Thank you Stephen! All good ideas, good feedback.
Matt Harris
Veteran
Kholi,
I always use a Canon 60D and the brand new rode video mic pro. The 60D trumps the 7D (IMHO) because of the flip out screen and manual audio.
It's a perfect combo because you lower the audio gain on the 60D, boost the +20db switch on the rode videomic pro,
and then the videomic pro sounds like a "shotgun lav" as i call it. The rode videomic pro is like $220 and came out 2 months ago.
When doing found-footage or faux-doc, the audio should sound somewhat amateur, it's more realistic.
If everyone was lav'ed, then everyone's audio we be the same volume at all times, thus giving us no feeling of "space" within rooms.
By using a boom (which is not too practical for this genre) or shotgun mic, we get that amateur feel of "whomever the camera is pointed at will sound loudest".
People further away will be quieter, and this actually works for this genre. Does that make sense?
I always use a Canon 60D and the brand new rode video mic pro. The 60D trumps the 7D (IMHO) because of the flip out screen and manual audio.
It's a perfect combo because you lower the audio gain on the 60D, boost the +20db switch on the rode videomic pro,
and then the videomic pro sounds like a "shotgun lav" as i call it. The rode videomic pro is like $220 and came out 2 months ago.
When doing found-footage or faux-doc, the audio should sound somewhat amateur, it's more realistic.
If everyone was lav'ed, then everyone's audio we be the same volume at all times, thus giving us no feeling of "space" within rooms.
By using a boom (which is not too practical for this genre) or shotgun mic, we get that amateur feel of "whomever the camera is pointed at will sound loudest".
People further away will be quieter, and this actually works for this genre. Does that make sense?
This is EXACTLY what I thought I would have to do, man. I am so happy that you confirmed this.
My plan was to run a pair of shotguns on the Epic and externally phantom power them, so they run audio right into the camera and there's no sync.
I sent you a PM, but I'll probably be hitting you up a lot in the very near future as I get into pre-pro and production!
Matt Harris
Veteran
so they run audio right into the camera and there's no sync.
BINGO! life is easy.
I sent you a PM
Yup, will respond when i get off work!
BINGO! life is easy.
I sent you a PM
Yup, will respond when i get off work!
Charli
cool little "title"
The male actor driving was believable. It felt like a paranormal docu video. I don't understand why the guy went into the other room and not follow in with the camera man? The "mask" too I thought was a bit much.
I also didn't like the camera "conveniently" falling next to the camera man (a bit too "Blair Witch") for me. I did believe the both women, acting was organic. I did like the ending just the same. This was more of a hit than a miss. I liked that you started the short straight up. I am not a fan of homes as locations but this one had no choice due to the nature of the story.
I wasn't scared, but it had it's moments.
I also didn't like the camera "conveniently" falling next to the camera man (a bit too "Blair Witch") for me. I did believe the both women, acting was organic. I did like the ending just the same. This was more of a hit than a miss. I liked that you started the short straight up. I am not a fan of homes as locations but this one had no choice due to the nature of the story.
I wasn't scared, but it had it's moments.
Three Billion Seconds
Active member
SPOILER- read after you view film
At first the camera guy sounded like a famous actor and then faded as heard him speak more. His last name rhymes with alienator. Captured reality very well at start and midway thru , not sure how but something was lost and can’t figure it out and then again not sure how you got such good reality at start. Maybe because it felt like he knew where to run and where to look for scary stuff and then when he found it tried to show us in a scary way. When he was knocked down wow did one feel sorry for him in that instant, then it was taken right away by the suction, its tuff to say because anything you do could or could not take away from the reality. Envious of how good it looked.
At first the camera guy sounded like a famous actor and then faded as heard him speak more. His last name rhymes with alienator. Captured reality very well at start and midway thru , not sure how but something was lost and can’t figure it out and then again not sure how you got such good reality at start. Maybe because it felt like he knew where to run and where to look for scary stuff and then when he found it tried to show us in a scary way. When he was knocked down wow did one feel sorry for him in that instant, then it was taken right away by the suction, its tuff to say because anything you do could or could not take away from the reality. Envious of how good it looked.
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