Same. It's a good thing because I miss focus ALL THE TIME when operating as well. xD
Corrado Part II
- Thread starter taormina
- Start date
Same. It's a good thing because I miss focus ALL THE TIME when operating as well. xD
Martay
Veteran
I saw Bad Ass last night and can agree with some of the critique from the members here.
Still, not a bad effort from a relative novice. I do think the story itself could have elevated the movie to more than an average crime movie and my main issue was that it just wasn't compelling for the most part as a viewing experience.
Again, though, tremendous kudos to Adam for making it happen. It worked out well for him obviously.
I'm sure he'll strive to learn from any shortcomings from this movie as he goes into his next effort.
-Martin
Still, not a bad effort from a relative novice. I do think the story itself could have elevated the movie to more than an average crime movie and my main issue was that it just wasn't compelling for the most part as a viewing experience.
Again, though, tremendous kudos to Adam for making it happen. It worked out well for him obviously.
I'm sure he'll strive to learn from any shortcomings from this movie as he goes into his next effort.
-Martin
FrankJones
New member
Adam put a trailer for the new movie up on his website that he linked to here. The lead's a little marble mouthed. ("You can rob what you can't hide, sunshine!") But aside from that, production values look pretty good. I'm guessing 80 percent of the budget went for guns.
http://vimeo.com/19020605
http://vimeo.com/19020605
Martay
Veteran
Yeah and fight choreography
Wasn't that the wrestler Steve Austin?
He's doing fine
-M
I've spent some time going back through this and the original Corrado thread and what Adam has accomplished is nothing short of amazing. For all the chatter and discourse over cameras and codecs, at the end of the day it really comes down to pushing as hard as you can to get your project done with whatever tools you can.
Ted Spencer
Veteran
Pretty sure you know it was actually the old cliche: "You can run but you can't hide[, sunshine!]".
And yeah, the trailer: Bang bang bangity bang bang bang.
And *then*:
Whackity kickity smash-ity bang bang...
Ahem...
I hope Adam's got an actual story this time. I mean that seriously - I really do hope so...
Last edited:
mentatDUKE
Veteran
Wow. Aesthetically, a huge leap past Corrado. I'm looking forward to this.
Ted Spencer
Veteran
Right, but I've seen "Corrado", and uh...well...
...please check my review a couple pages back (if you haven't already) for the details on at least *one* man's opinion regarding that...
Last edited:
Ted Spencer
Veteran
Gotcha. I interpreted your comment the opposite way...oops.
Yes, exactly. Aim as high as possible - always. Especially where story/script is concerned. The only 'cost' of a great one is the time it takes to make sure it is one...
Ted Spencer
Veteran
Of course.
But going ahead and making a bad movie, especially a feature, which can easily consume 2-3 years of one's life (I know - I've acted in a few of them), aside from its value as a technical exercise, is nothing short of a colossal waste of time and money. And it's what happens, in spite of almost every filmmaker who does so's obliviousness to the fact, about 99% of the time.
If you're committing years to making a feature, failure to ensure it's based on a great story/script is about as smart a plan as building a beach house in Erosion City...
Last edited:
I totally understand. Heck, I used to say this exact thing for these exact reasons. But as of a few years I no longer do. I mean, yes, you are right - up to a point. But I've known way too many folks who were so gun shy about making sure their script was "perfect" before they shot anything, their whole career opportunities passed them by. To which you might reply: well that's still better than making a bad movie. But note - you of all people should have noticed this, because it is you who reviewed Adam's movie. It was not a good movie by any stretch of the imagination. And the sub-par script was a big part of it, exactly as you predicted (and I would have chimed in, once upon a time). AND YET. What is the end result of this "bad movie"? He gets to make another one, and gets to evolve as a filmmaker. That was the point of my initial post in this thread - we can (and should) criticize this effort for all their faults, but in my mind, they were all more than made up for by the film actually being shot in the first place.
At this point, I'd almost go in the opposite direction. My advice would be: shoot. Shoot as much as you can. Don't wait. Waiting is for suckers. There are always reasons to wait. Some wait for the right camera. The right time in their lives. The right actor, DP, producer. Until the script is in great shape. And so on. But guess what - it's more important yet to do it. Action is always the better option - you may not win every time, but without it, you are assured to never win. So I'd rather shoot something than nothing. A completed bad movie is better than a perfect unfilmed script.
But to bring it into balance - yes, of course you should try to write/get the best script possible. But don't forget, time is money, and time is also life. So don't wait. At some point, you must say GO! And d*mn the torpedoes.
Staven
Well-known member
For all intents and purposes, the result of Corrado should not equate to Adam getting to make another movie, especially one with an 8.4mil budget (as per imdb). Maybe Corrado has turned a profit and made investors happy enough to invest in larger scale films, but if the film itself was a selling piece to make future movies then we as a society are in a world of trouble.
What you said can be harped on as true - a "just do it attitude", but there are many that also strive for artistic merit along with just making a movie. Hell, Aronofsky just backed out of an enormous pay day and greater fame because he'd have to give over some creative control.
I'm not sure if you - Old Corpse, has seen Corrado or not. I'm curious if you'd hold the same tune after watching it. I like that attitude too, but in certain instances it doesn't hold up. Had it not been for Adam's epic thread none of us would even know or care about the film. It would merely be talked about on imdb by a handful of people discussing how many minutes they lasted before shutting it off. But as it stands Corrado created big shoes for itself and unfortunately they fell apart in minute one of the film when we are lead to believe that maybe Corrado is a serial arsonist.**
As for the talk of the script... I'm certain he must have met a million compromises while shooting it, not unlike all of us indie filmmakers come across. But he also had people to pay and was under the gun time wise. As a first time feature director - plus basically being the sole producer on the film, I'm certain he was in over his head and the final film is the result.
I also cannot believe that ANYTHING Sizemore said was scripted. I'm really curious about this and would love to know how much of what Sizemore said was in actuality from the script. I just don't see Adam writing a part where the only thing the lead bad guy does is sexually harass his real life wife.
The biggest lesson I've learned from Corrado, something Adam basically hammered over our heads:
NAME ACTORS = DISTRIBUTION
Corrado on the merits of story, acting, set design, cinematography, AUDIO!! - should not have gotten any distribution, yet it did. And if you saw the overseas dvd cover it's just a Giant Picture of Tom Sizemore and the title. Enough said.
IMO Adam's strength lies in producing and he was brilliant to target an actor who was on a bit of a slide. Someone looking to make a straight to dvd flick - keep your eye on TMZ, there might be a known actor who hits a snag or two and could use the boost of work on a film they might normally pass on.
As for Hangar 14, kudos to him on getting to keep making films and for clearly having a more professional looking film this time around. As much as I wish to make A List movies, I could also handle a career making fun B Grade Action Flicks - and it looks like that's what Adam is getting to do.
Adam's tale should continue to be an inspiration to all us aspiring filmmakers... just stick to the thread, avoid actually watching the film.
**in the opening sequence when we meet Corrado and he voice overs how bad of a guy he is, they steal shots on a street corner. Nothing interesting happens. They could have used a police car driving by, sirens ablazing to infer he's outside the law... unfortunately the only thing they came across was a firetruck... but still used it.
Last edited:
Barry_Green
Moderator
Not disputing that such a possibility might exist, but -- that's not what Adam did. Sizemore didn't work on Corrado for "a nominal fee." If I remember correctly, Adam called up Sizemore's agent, asked for his quoted rate, and paid it. Full retail. Because -- as soon as Adam had Sizemore under contract, he had a movie that would sell, period. Which, apparently, turned out to be absolutely true.
Staven
Well-known member
You are correct, I'll edit what I said as it suggested that Adam got Sizemore for a nominal fee and that's not what I meant to imply. What I meant to imply was that targeting Sizemore at that time was genius and that if someone is looking to try and land a name star for their low budget feature it might be prudent to go after someone when their market value has dipped a bit, but is still a well known commodity. As I recall he put forth a generous offer to attain Sizemore's services and he landed him, then after landing him it opened doors to other actors and opportunities (exactly what you said...).
Staven
Well-known member
I do not think that's actually the real trailer for Hangar 14. Looks more like just a quick throw together of some clips to show people.
Mickey Munday
Well-known member
I remember Jeff saying that and I do not remember seeing that on Film Specific. I *thought* he was talking about Corrado when he said that -- which I thought was around $275k? Toward the start of the thread I coulda sworn he said he only had one investor and it was some guy who he met while working his day job selling yachts. I don't remember Adam ever saying he had to "beg and borrow" money from his friends who he had to eventually pay back....or maybe it's been so long that I've just forgotten the details of the story...he couldn't be talking about the Hangar 14 project because Adam got the funding through presales.