FEATURE: DEUCE OF SPADES - How I made a period full feature film all by myself on ZERO budget

Congrats Faith, that is great to hear. Yes, it is weird watching your project with an audience the first time. Sometimes subtle things that we thought would work well totally go over an audience's head. And other times, little insignificant things that you thought wouldn't matter become huge. That is why test screening is so popular today. Just remember to keep your vision of the story intact, don't let your audience dictate how you cut the film, but do take their feedback to heart.

You have a very promising future as a filmmaker, I think you have what it takes to be a success at it. When is the LA DVX User screening?

Dan
 
puredrifting said:
Congrats Faith, that is great to hear. Yes, it is weird watching your project with an audience the first time. Sometimes subtle things that we thought would work well totally go over an audience's head. And other times, little insignificant things that you thought wouldn't matter become huge. That is why test screening is so popular today. Just remember to keep your vision of the story intact, don't let your audience dictate how you cut the film, but do take their feedback to heart.
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Yes I so much aggree, most of the changes will be implemented to achieve what I was tyring to achieve (and failed to) (ex: I did overdubbs yesterday to raise levels of some of Johnny's line - that we could not really understand - he spoke too softly and they are hard to hear) (other ex: fixed my forture cookie and resolved my tree problem)... I agree that you cannot let the audience make yoru film for you, but it is good to know what the problem area may be, and then one can decide if they want to do something about it or not... Right now the film storyline plays out beautiful as is, despite the fact it is a bit long. My biggest decisions will be whether I want to start hacking into scens / delete scenes or let it be, let the film breathe and not worry about it unless it becomes released on a bigger scale to a larger public. (theatrical release - dream on Faith!! HA!)

Currently 92% of my small test audience stated they wanted to see a sequel. And that they wanted to buy the DVD. Looks like they want to see it again :). Which is a good sign!


puredrifting said:
You have a very promising future as a filmmaker, I think you have what it takes to be a success at it. When is the LA DVX User screening?

Dan
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Hey, that's an idea :)... maybe we can have a dvxusers meeting and screen eth film, I do have a projector , although I'd love to see it in HD, like from a hard drive or something... the quality was so much less, on my older big screen TV, contrast was not there, colors were faded boohoohooo... It still sucked you in like a black hole... There was not a dry eye in the audience that night.
 
UPDATES:

Wanted to share this feedback I got today from one of my test Screening attendee. He is not a very talkative guy, not the type that rants and rave. In fact I kinda tought that maybe he didn't enjoy the film all that much because he didn't say much afterwards and left soon after the showing... And I thought... Well, can't win them all LOL... So Imagine my surprise when I find this email in my inbox this morning:

( AND THIS IS WHY I WANTED TO MAKE THIS FILM !!!!!!!! )

"
Hey Faith,

I've been digesting the info from your movie since the viewing. Call me crazy, but I've been so affected that Right now I feel like I want to build something Excruciatingly fast and powerful, then push it past its limits just so I can suffer the agony and displacement that your characters have shown lead to such a fulfilling reward.

The last scene of the film, I was about to turn into that tasmanian devil cartoon character and totally spin out in yer living room. I mean literally, the message that I got was the power of love. You nailed it down so hard with this production Its made me wanna burst into flames just to recover that one most prized gift. WOW.

Deuce of spades is the shi*! Congratulations Faith, this movie is going to find its place in history. Your story line and the layout of events is super intelligent, the shifting of the camera speed was my favorite aspect, and the dream sequences were a total acid trip ;). This project is a winner.

-Ian"
 
Faith, let me know when you want to come to the Northern VA, DC metro area. I'm absolutely sure there is an audience for this film around here.
We could all start a 'Paranormal Activity' sort of buzz, getting people excited to see it.
 
puredrifting said:
Too cool Faith. It's nice when your work really reaches your audience.

Dan
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if I may quote fellow dvxuser Robert Eldon (hope you don't mind Robert) , he sent me an email yesterday and said this:

"Faith,

Thank you for inviting me to the special screening and the privilege of seeing your pet project, your baby, Deuce of Spades! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film from beginning to end. I teared up at least three times. It had just the right amount of drama, humor, tragedy, excitement, despair, and redemption.

What you have accomplished is nothing short of amazing! I've seen many films, studio blockbusters and independents, and I must say that this exceeds the expectations of an independent film, although it has elements of an independent, it is exceptionally unique in it's story, presentation and cinematography. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it. (...)

I'm actually having dreams of scenes from the movie, ha! :) "


If the film can make a spectator dream about it at night, that means it really touched the psyche !!

Yesterday, while reworking some of the scenes, I found myself more affected than ever emotionally, now that I have seen the entire movie. It is such a powerl film, in its drama and emotions, it is hard to shake it afterwards. It grabs a hold of your soul and doesn't let go easily... I am still under the spell.
 
Fantastic feedback on the film, Faith! Way to go!

I'm dying to see it... Have you got any screenings planned for the NYC metro area?
 
Ted Spencer said:
Fantastic feedback on the film, Faith! Way to go!

I'm dying to see it... Have you got any screenings planned for the NYC metro area?
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Too early to plan screenings yet, but I can tell you this: People are contactting me wanting to screen the film, so the chances of screening the film are coming to me, and I assume it is only a matter of time until one in your area comes up.

So far I already have lined up England, Denver, Missouri, North Carolina, Los Angeles, New Zealand, Germany... Whatever comes my way... :) I will post dates and location on my website and try to post them here as well... None of above are for rigth now though, mostly 2010.
 
WOW, the Deuce is Loose! Sounds like Flarduh* is the place to be this weekend!

Since I live in the middle of frickin' nowhere I'll have to take a trip someplace to see it!

Waaaaaaaaaay Cooool Faith!!





* How native Floridians like to pronounce Florida.
 
CGI chots are converging to me at the very last minute, everyone is workig hard to make the deadline. Frank , in Germany has been shooting Cgi shots at the rate of one an hour : he must be hard at it on his side of teh globe... Chris just dropped off his travel drive with all the fire shots on it.

I will be tackling the CGI shots in an hour or so :)))... Can't wait to see what they sent me!!!!!!!!!!

:))
 
Sumfun said:
It's about 1.5 hours away, but I'm there! Looking forward to seeing the film, and meeting you if you're going to be there, too.
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Way cool!

No, I won't be there, I'll be on the dry lake with a French editor, he is doing a feature story on DEUCE OF SPADES... And since I don't fly anyway, and Jerry (my production assistant) was dying to go, I am sending him instead.

It will be good to retreat far away from everything and disconnect. This way I won't be anxious about the Test Screening. Although, since last Saturday, I am no longer worried :)... Just excited to share the film with a larger audience and get the feedback forms to see where I am at market wise.
I have already implemented a load of improvements, deleted one scene and tightened a bunch others... Improved on several more... Right now I am all done with my first batch of improvements / fine tuning and ready for the show, except I am missing a couple CGi shots that didn't download correctly. Hope Frank gets my email in time to resend them so I have it by dawn. Need to render this puppy but need to watch it top to bottom one time first to make sure no Vegas glitches are present. That alone will take 2.5 hours, rendering is about 6 and burning DVD about 1 hour (or less) = 9.5 hours until I get the DVD (if all goes well).

Jerry will pick it up from me around midnight tomorrow... He flies out at 8AM Friday morning. As for me, after three "vacation" (yeah, right!) days, I have to go back to the office (???????? what the heck??) and play the dayjob stiff - AGH.

Looking forward to SLEEPING friday afternoon / night !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Nathyn said:
Hey Faith, I sent the questions to you.

-Nate
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Yop, saw your email in my inbox, will read it Monday :)

Going back to sleep now. I had dinner at 2Am last night and lunch at 7PM... Sleeping in shifts of 3 hours every 10 hours... Seems to work well... Boy my body clock is all screwed up now.

What I really need it THIS: :bath:
 
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