FEATURE: DEUCE OF SPADES - How I made a period full feature film all by myself on ZERO budget
- Thread starter Deuceofspades
- Start date
Deuceofspades
Veteran
What's Kelly's last name and do you know what part she has in my film? (sorry I have around 150 actors & extras - but i think I know who your friend is)
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Home sick nursing a cold. Guess I caught my death at the last shoot. Rats. This has put a damper on my progress. I've been sleeping a lot, no apetite nor energy...
:undecided
Better get well soon cause to quote my character in the film:
"d**mn it! I don't have time for this s**t!"
Meanwhile, got a new review in Finland. I had no idea, but a "spy" of mine located in that country scanned the article, translated it and emailed it to me hehehehehe...
TRANSLATION
Deuce of Spades is ready
The Hotrod Movie Deuce of Spades is now ready. The no budget American made movie represents the true spirit of hotrodding and according to filmmaker Faith Granger it is a tribute to all who where there in the good old days and created the American hot rod scene. In the real life the filmmaker put everything on the line for the movie, including her own pension savings. The movie was created with the help of volunteers, and everything was donated, including the actors time and talent as well as the cars.
In the story a modern day hotrodder finds a unopened letter while working on her car. The film takes you back through a series of flashbacks to 50’s dragstrips and hotrodding. A Test Screening version of the movie was shown at a big car events in America last October and the reaction was very good. Distribution for the movie has not yet been finalized but you can order in advance a copy of the film at www.deuceofspadesmovie.com . The release target date is around January 2010.
:undecided
Better get well soon cause to quote my character in the film:
"d**mn it! I don't have time for this s**t!"
Meanwhile, got a new review in Finland. I had no idea, but a "spy" of mine located in that country scanned the article, translated it and emailed it to me hehehehehe...
TRANSLATION
Deuce of Spades is ready
The Hotrod Movie Deuce of Spades is now ready. The no budget American made movie represents the true spirit of hotrodding and according to filmmaker Faith Granger it is a tribute to all who where there in the good old days and created the American hot rod scene. In the real life the filmmaker put everything on the line for the movie, including her own pension savings. The movie was created with the help of volunteers, and everything was donated, including the actors time and talent as well as the cars.
In the story a modern day hotrodder finds a unopened letter while working on her car. The film takes you back through a series of flashbacks to 50’s dragstrips and hotrodding. A Test Screening version of the movie was shown at a big car events in America last October and the reaction was very good. Distribution for the movie has not yet been finalized but you can order in advance a copy of the film at www.deuceofspadesmovie.com . The release target date is around January 2010.
Deuceofspades
Veteran
MOVIE POSTER, REVISITED...
Back to working on my poster.
Went to high res, and worked on elements some more, with goal of increasing the emotional drama of the image.
Currently have two slight variations, let me know which you prefer and why.
below is the latest version (TAG NAME : WITH BLACK SMOKE)
Below is a previous verson with older letter graphic and red sky (TAG NAME WITHOUT BLACK SMOKE)
Back to working on my poster.
Went to high res, and worked on elements some more, with goal of increasing the emotional drama of the image.
Currently have two slight variations, let me know which you prefer and why.
below is the latest version (TAG NAME : WITH BLACK SMOKE)
Below is a previous verson with older letter graphic and red sky (TAG NAME WITHOUT BLACK SMOKE)
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Hmmmmm. I just compared teh two versions myself, as posted above, and right off the bat I noticed that top poster guides the eyes towards the deuce because of the 2 inverted Vs. the V formed by black smoke above deuce and the V formed by lines left of deuce and letter below deuce. Also logo stand out better on top poster, because of bettr contrast with black smoke.
So I think I like top version better, more dynamic and pulls you in. But I await your feedbacks.
I NEED SOMEONE REAL GOOD TO PAINT HIGHLIGHTS ON THE DEUCE so red sky and fire are reflecting on it... Can anyone help or know someone who could?
So I think I like top version better, more dynamic and pulls you in. But I await your feedbacks.
I NEED SOMEONE REAL GOOD TO PAINT HIGHLIGHTS ON THE DEUCE so red sky and fire are reflecting on it... Can anyone help or know someone who could?
jasonthewho
Veteran
I'm torn between the two. The letter feels more natural and flowing on the bottom one, but I do like the visual flow of the top one.
I'd be curious to see a version with no leather look except for on the title.
I'd be curious to see a version with no leather look except for on the title.
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Mike, I just replied to your email 
El Director
Veteran
first one
Deuceofspades
Veteran
OK, today I made one more variation of poster (this one with a kiss on right side)
So here is the recap of 3 variations: Let me know which looks most like a movie poster, which you like best and why.
1- WITH KISS
2 - SAME WITHOUT KISS
3- SAME WITHOUT BLACK SMOKE AND WITH MORE PLAIN BACKGROUND
So here is the recap of 3 variations: Let me know which looks most like a movie poster, which you like best and why.
1- WITH KISS
2 - SAME WITHOUT KISS
3- SAME WITHOUT BLACK SMOKE AND WITH MORE PLAIN BACKGROUND
Deuceofspades
Veteran
I tried that already and found it became too busy. I will play around with different images on left to see if this dea could work, maybe with the right image.
As far as being uneven, the poster was left heavy (red roadster, big tree) while on the right there was nothing but Johnny, hence the idea of putting a small image, with the girl in it, on the right....
Anyone care to give input? It would help.... even if just to say which one you like best, as a general audience so I can get a larger number of polls...
First the original poster is not left heavy. Yes, the red roadster and the tree are on the left, but see how big Johnny and his deuce are? That more than balances the picture. So I think the original poster is well balanced.
Since your movie is more about romance than about cars, I think adding the kiss is appropriate. The "love" theme may also interest more people who see the poster. I think the kiss picture looks good, but it does throw the picture off balance. I agree there's not much room on the left side. You might want to try moving the tree to the middle if you want to add something on the left. And I'm not sure what you would put there. Maybe something representing another theme from the movie, such as betrayal or perseverance. Or maybe just a picture of some hot legs
Hey, sex sells.
Or, if you move the tree to the middle or to the right, you'd have more room on the left for a bigger kiss picture. A more prominent kiss can help sell the film. But if it still doesn't balance out, you may want to consider moving (dare I say it?) the logo, too.
Or just forget the kiss and have a balanced picture.
In the top 2 pictures, the 2 borders of the letter lead your eyes straight to the car. But if you try to read the letter, your eyes go right off the page. In the bottom picture, the 8 lines of writing lead your eyes go right to the car and Johnny keeps you from falling off. It also looks more organic and less Star Wars-like. But it's not a big deal either way.
Probably what bothers me most is that Johnny has a crease down the middle of his t-shirt. But maybe that was the style back then...
Just my $.02.
Duke M.
Veteran
I vote number 1 with the kiss, but I like the writing of the letter standing up, rather than just looking like the road texture.
I didn't perceive the blackness as smoke, but either way it helps the logo have more punch.
Number 1 with the letter standing up would introduce all of the key elements, or trigger all the recollection points for someone that knows the story line, without giving it away.
:thumbsup:
I didn't perceive the blackness as smoke, but either way it helps the logo have more punch.
Number 1 with the letter standing up would introduce all of the key elements, or trigger all the recollection points for someone that knows the story line, without giving it away.
:thumbsup:
Deuceofspades
Veteran
First the original poster is not left heavy. Yes, the red roadster and the tree are on the left, but see how big Johnny and his deuce are? That more than balances the picture. So I think the original poster is well balanced.
Since your movie is more about romance than about cars, I think adding the kiss is appropriate. The "love" theme may also interest more people who see the poster. I think the kiss picture looks good, but it does throw the picture off balance. I agree there's not much room on the left side. You might want to try moving the tree to the middle if you want to add something on the left. And I'm not sure what you would put there. Maybe something representing another theme from the movie, such as betrayal or perseverance. Or maybe just a picture of some hot legs
Hey, sex sells.
Or, if you move the tree to the middle or to the right, you'd have more room on the left for a bigger kiss picture. A more prominent kiss can help sell the film. But if it still doesn't balance out, you may want to consider moving (dare I say it?) the logo, too.
Or just forget the kiss and have a balanced picture.
In the top 2 pictures, the 2 borders of the letter lead your eyes straight to the car. But if you try to read the letter, your eyes go right off the page. In the bottom picture, the 8 lines of writing lead your eyes go right to the car and Johnny keeps you from falling off. It also looks more organic and less Star Wars-like. But it's not a big deal either way.
Probably what bothers me most is that Johnny has a crease down the middle of his t-shirt. But maybe that was the style back then...
Just my $.02.
HAHAHA I'll be darn, you are right! I;ve been so busy looking at the composition i forgot to iron Johnny's shirt LOL - I can easily fix that. So tomorrow I'll post anotehr version of poster with ironned T-shirt (really Johnny you could look a little more respectable dude!) and the other letter layout, so we can compare. I'll leave the kiss hwre it is, I don't want to move the tree nor the logo, but will try some different images up left see if I find one that works and balances things out.
Keep the imput coming they are very helpful.
jasonthewho
Veteran
I'm going to repeat some things I said in an earlier comment, sorry in advance.
I still prefer the letter from the third version.
I still would be curious to see a version with no leather texturing, except for on the title.
I like the kiss, but it bothers me that it is the only image with a partial opacity. I think adding another partial opacity image to the other side would solve that, while also balancing the poster.
Perhaps you could make the title slightly smaller, to give more room for the new image on the left (and increase the size of the kiss).
I still prefer the letter from the third version.
I still would be curious to see a version with no leather texturing, except for on the title.
I like the kiss, but it bothers me that it is the only image with a partial opacity. I think adding another partial opacity image to the other side would solve that, while also balancing the poster.
Perhaps you could make the title slightly smaller, to give more room for the new image on the left (and increase the size of the kiss).
I have to be honest here. I think I would like to see a more simplified version of the poster. All the ones you have put up so far have been very busy. While some times that can be a good thing. Often times some of the best movie posters are the simplest ones. Just my opinion though.