Deadline

[Marlon Ladd]

Thank you Marlon, appreciate your feedback and criticisms. Its funny the shovel hitting the head sound, I went over and over it looking for the right sound - I always felt a little uncomfortable with everything - deep, more tinny sounding etc etc. So its interesting you picked that, almost like picking my itchy spot.

I also originally had the rain much louder. But it was interfering with some other undertones I wanted to come through. But yeah the rain sound was running all the way through, even in the interior scenes it was there. But now you mention it, I want it to be louder.

Yeah, I would put the rain sound louder, because it adds to the visual of the scene so I think it should add to the audible of what we hear as well. Yeah, I think you should mix probably two or three sounds for the shovel/head sound, because you want to hear a sort of crack and then also a faint ding almost like metal hitting metal, but softer. Sometimes the selection of sound effects that you can buy online or that come on CDs are limited, so to get it like you want it you might have to go record some foley. I can't tell you how many times I've had to do that. Just go hit somebody over the head with a shovel. LOL! JK!

 

[Noel Evans]

Oh sorry Marlon didnt see your reply. Actually I layered three sounds to get the hit on him, one deep, one tinny, and another a little bit less hit like but had the more crunchie sound, maybe I can just adjust those layers to get it.

Although listening to it on my studio monitors its pretty darn hard and loud as it is.

 

[Matt Harris]

Great job Noel, this was a total throwback to tension-based hitchcockian thrillers. I love the score and the set design and all the cinematography.
I read through your thread so forgive me if this has been asked: the naked girl at the beginning, was she really naked or did you add in her nipples and remove her clothes in post?
I loved your credit sequence and the editing is amazing, so i went frame by frame and noticed the flashcut.

 

[Marlon Ladd]

Oh sorry Marlon didnt see your reply. Actually I layered three sounds to get the hit on him, one deep, one tinny, and another a little bit less hit like but had the more crunchie sound, maybe I can just adjust those layers to get it.

Although listening to it on my studio monitors its pretty darn hard and loud as it is.

Do you listen with headphones, because that helps tremendously sometimes. You might have everything you need with those three sounds if you turn one of the other ones up.

 

[Noel Evans]

Great job Noel, this was a total throwback to tension-based hitchcockian thrillers.

That was the aim, so Im really glad you mentioned it.

I love the score and the set design and all the cinematography.

Herman did a fantastic job, matching the score up to what I gave him as a spec and the images and of course producing a great piece of music full stop.

I read through your thread so forgive me if this has been asked: the naked girl at the beginning, was she really naked or did you add in her nipples and remove her clothes in post?
I loved your credit sequence and the editing is amazing, so i went frame by frame and noticed the flashcut.

Yes you are partly right.

She was shot with bandaids and I did a really quick transpose on the stills knowing they would be literally momentary flashes.

Thanks for watching.

 

[dwyz]

There's a clear talent at work here behind the camera and the wheel of the car.
I wondered if i'd misunderstood the story due to the beautiful cinematography but I see most people had the same problem.
Still enjoyed it though, specifically the car and rain scenes, very atmospheric.

 

[MrKilloran]

Great cinematography and you've crafted a psuedo-hitchcockian thriller.

You have a beautiful lead actress and she does a wonderful job with the material.

Love the silhouette of the knife in the backseat of the car.

Bravo on shooting in the rain and having it end up so good.

It works well but it feels really broken up, like threads aren't all there. I understand you did a lot of cutting to the piece to fit it in to the 6 minute time frame [I did the same thing] and it shows [connection to killer, husband/bf plotline, etc] which is unfortunate. I'd love to see the piece as a whole. Great work!

 

[AmyO]

Camera work - beautiful as always! Opening credits were great. Loved the rain scene. I, too, lost the thread of the story, and so the lead's final line didn't make any sense to me, even after a second viewing. But the atmosphere in this film was amazing. Nice job, Noel.

 

[filmcritic]

This submission by far is my favorite submission of this contest. Amazing lighting, I want the phone number of the DP asap. No joke the lighting in this film blew my expectations right out of the water. Astounding acting. I could and have watched this many times. Which is why I had to go get my magnifying glass to find some things to nitpick at. I didn't like the editing right before the car crash, though it did a good job of jarring the audience so not sure I would change anything there. Loved the hand with the knife briefly coming into view. The gaging felt fake. The audio at the beginning was muffled but from what I have heard that may have to do with the uploading process. I think if I had heard the shadowy figure in the beginnings audio the story would have made more sense to me. I am still left with some questions like who the shadowy figure in the beginning is, and why is this killer after her? I think it had something to do with the obvious fact that she is a reporter and the title is deadline but had difficulties with the audio clarity. All in all this film is the most visually astounding of the entire competition. This is a fantastic example of how filmmaking should be done. Eagerly looking forward to seeing more of your work.

 

[Noel Evans]

Thanks all for the comments. Filmcritic Im the cinematographer and director - so comments there greatly appreciated. Can contact me through PM here if you want a contact

If there were audio issues its in the download. I had a cast and crew viewing of some of the films Saturday night. And whilst they are biased they did mention through a little talkie at the end that our audio mix was one of the best.

And on that, Marlon, headphones are never good for doing an audio mix unless they are open, such as the Grado Labs. I use professional calibrated studio monitors.

 

[Noel Evans]

And an honorable mention goes to Deadline by Noel Evans which was safely in the list of finalists, but is exhibition due to his being a moderator.

Well the end of the journey for thrillfest for deadline. But not the end of the road. Deadline will have a new extended cut over the next 2-4 weeks with many tweaks so I can send it out into the world. Thanks to everyone who watched, enjoyed and were a part of this fest.

 

[Chris_Keaton]

Thank you! I'm glad I could help out.

 

[Matt Harris]

Congrats guys, obviously you can sleep tight knowing you would have placed had you not been mods.
And thanks Noel for modding the fest as well.

 

[Noel Evans]

Chris was great to work with you. I will read that script when I get a moment to absorb it. You can add this to your credit list

Thanks Matt. Glad to assist and good luck in the extended journey.

 

[Darkline]

Noel could you have retired your mod position for a few weeks to claim a finalists slot? I know it's worn ground but I have no objection to mods being eligible for placing in these fests.

 

[Noel Evans]

Noel could you have retired your mod position for a few weeks to claim a finalists slot? I know it's worn ground but I have no objection to mods being eligible for placing in these fests.

That question has never been asked before, but I guess you could. Im fine with it though - made a short, lots of people enjoyed it, I was part of a fest with some great entries, had lots of fun etc etc.

 

[Matt Harris]

made a short, lots of people enjoyed it, I was part of a fest with some great entries, had lots of fun etc etc.

thats the attitude i use every fest. agreed.

 

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Well the end of the journey for thrillfest for deadline. But not the end of the road. Deadline will have a new extended cut over the next 2-4 weeks with many tweaks so I can send it out into the world. Thanks to everyone who watched, enjoyed and were a part of this fest.

I would be interested in seeing the new cut. Keep us posted.

Mike

 

[Noel Evans]

Shall do.

 

[Darkline]

That question has never been asked before, but I guess you could. Im fine with it though - made a short, lots of people enjoyed it, I was part of a fest with some great entries, had lots of fun etc etc.

Yup this is the most important part, no question. I come back to this fest over others because you're surrounded with filmmaking peers, and the feedback from them is perhaps more important than that of a normal viewing audience. If this was just a website which listed the winning films then it'd be no fun at all.

However there was a thread a while back with Jason/Jack discussing whether mods could place in fests if they retired their mod priviliges for the duration of the festival. I can't remember how it turned out!

Look forward to your longer cut.