Ex1 Feature Trailer KERBEROS

K

Kely

Active member
I know my friend and fellow actor Stan Harrington will probably post on the forums as well, but I tend to post with an eye for technical details as well as story and acting, and this is an EX1 feature shot with an extremely small crew and a single stock Ex1.

Kerberos_Banned_sml.jpg


KERBEROS trailer is up - this an extended version - near 3 minutes - and uncensored.

It's a pretty good representation of the micro-budget feature we made. Thanks for all the encouragement over the 2 years it took to make the movie!

Thanks for watching KERBEROS

respects - kely

http://www.fuczm.com
 
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Holy **** dude. This was all shot on a stock ex1? It looks amazing. You really are an inspiration. When can we expect to see the full film?
 
I think the film will definitely be screening very soon...Kely went to England to do some sound work because of a unique opportunity to work at Twickenham (I hope that's how it is spelt) but it's finally ready!

Cheers,
Stan The Man
 
The cinematography looks awesome. Was it just with the stock lens?

My critique of the trailer: It seems like there is too much blood and bullet holes etc being shown. It's just way to heavy handed for a trailer. Most Trailers hint at the violence, but don't usually show the graphic stuff. They show guns being fired, but they don't show the bullet hitting or blood coming out of a wound. Not that I'm shocked or anything like that. I like violence as much as the next guy. But from this trailer, it looks like the movie is only punching, stabbing & shooting, and I have no idea what the story is. I don't want to see a snub film - I want to see a story. What does the protagonist want? Who is the protagonist, and who is the antagonist? Who's the main character - goor or bad? Why does everyone shoot each other so much? And it appears you tell us in the trailer that the girl indeed gets rescued because you see her in the car stroking her heart pendent - as if she is no longer in danger. Anyway I'm not trying to be a dick or anything. There is a fine art to trailers, and I know nothing about the movie from watching it other than you used every gun shot the movie has, cut together to make the trailer. It needs something like "She was a girl in over her head" "He thought he was out of the business for good" "They would stop at nothing to get what they wanted" Everyone looks like bad guys except the girl.

Abbreviate the story ark in the trailer. Don't show bullets hitting, or bullet holes in cheeks, or blood covered shirts, or people definitely dying (that removes suspense when you see the actual movie).

Just my opinion as a movie lover! I have no reason to criticize the work other than on what does or doesn't work for me as a consumer. Good luck with it man! I would be proud to come out with work this technically nice with my li'l old EX1!

Cheers

Chad
 
Chadfish said:
It needs something like "She was a girl in over her head" "He thought he was out of the business for good" "They would stop at nothing to get what they wanted"
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Seriously!?!? That's so 80s...

I agree though, I'm not saying you need a Voice Over... But I'd like to see more story intro than people dying/fighting in most of the cuts.

Then again, this movie called Ninja Assassin just came out...
 
Hey - Thanks guys! I can agree with some of on all most all points. Still, this is meant to stir things up with a bit of excitement - it's the "extended red banned" version after all. Couple quick things; I don't even consider the movie itself to be an action movie - it's very story driven and with some strong character development on three major characters. I admit it's hard to see on this first version - this is slanted a bit more for the "Rambo crowd".

This is not even close to "every gunshot the movie has" or punch or fight. This is us pushing the limits of our very small budget and crew. And last, "Everyone looks like bad guys except the girl" - Exactly! No innocents in this one!

I appreciate the comments - both positive and negatives. Soon, I'll cut another trailer that is much truer to the nature of what we set out to do and the tone I feel the movie really has. Your comments and ideas will help me shape that I am sure!

Here is the first trailer I played with long before we finished filming - I'm sure there will be several other versions before I'm done :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBoBUVbB5ic

Thx again to all!

Respects!
 
Rock on man!

You didn't clarify - does the EX1 have any lens adapters? It looks pretty clean. Is that what you meant by "stock"?
 
Sorry - no lens adapters. Single camera shoot - Ex1, first generation, standard fixed lens, Color grading in AfX, rendered and processed as 16 bit uncompressed tiff.
 
I love the cinematography, but I think the sound mix needs work. All the dialogues are mixed way too low, as are the SFX; better ones would really have elevated the violence. Having that same song drone on and on in the background really kills the flow as well and it's also completely distracting.
 
To quote Gonzales in The Right Stuff, "You know, Mr. Shepard, me and my friends think your Jose Jimenez imitation is A-OK. But what you're doing with it is B-A-D."

"You know, Mr. Kely, me and my friends think your cinematography is A-OK. But what you're doing with it is B-A-D."

Great-looking shots, but the story leaves a LOT to be desired. Whatever happened to plot, suspense, tension, climax/buildup, and surprising twists with resolved loose ends? Real storty-telling is all out the window.

Guys.. it's NOT about the camera!
 
I'm gonna chime in on this and I am part of this film so you could say I am a little biased but this trailer, as Kely stated, was created to excite and draw attention form a particular crowd...I, as someone who has been entirely exasperated by the lack of interest in story telling by the industry, encouraged this trailer. All I see on TV these days is trailers that say nothing about the film but only try to draw you in on the effects or names or anything else they think will peak curiosity...Some comedies merely play their only funny jokes, Movies like Mission Impossible showed the only action sequences in the movie although it was actually an espionage film with little action...even box art is geared toward sensationalism rather than content. If someone doesn't like the cover, they won't buy it regardless of the content...that's what distributors keep telling me...one even removed the award winning lead of one of my movies from the poster and coverart to replace her with a model who had an under 5 role because she was white and beautiful...I'm not arguing with any of you...just pointing out that there was a reason for this trailer being put out the way it was. Most movies have various trailers of different lengths and content now...and even when you've done yours, the distributor will often cut their own too...

Just my 2 cents...

Stan The Man
 
I agree 100% that a movie is should be about story! I will not agree that a trailer should. For me a trailer should be about establishing a general feel and excitement and a bit of WTF?

Still, not dreaming or arguing that this is perfect trailer - or a perfect movie. This trailer was made to appeal to a certain group - what I call the "Rambo crowd". Won't be for everyone! And the response from that crowd has been awesome.

This is only a fraction of the action, but is meant to emphasize that aspect for that crowd. I am confident that it does.

It was also made to let some of the bands that gave me music - 4 from AU - 4 more in the UA - know that their music was being used on what looks like a big production. That's also why the mix is slanted toward the music on this one. That band, Fastrack from Melbourne, is jumping for joy and it fits their fans as well.

Like many films, I'm sure I'll have several versions, each emphasizing different feels and takes on the movie as a whole. None will tell the whole story, give away the ending, or replace watching the movie. Eventually, as Stan said, when it's sold to a distributor, they'll cut their own, and in turn many times when that is brought to individual countries and territories, they will in turn cut it again to fit the market and demographic they will deem best just as there will be several versions of cover art and posters done to fit whatever they think will sell.

Thanks again for watching and the comments. I hope to keep getting better and am working hard at it! Luck to all!
 
More thoughts on the Banned trailer edit:


I think the Rambo crowd could still handle a little info about what is actually going on. I don't think it needs to be all or nothing with the violence. I think it could have 1/3 less gun slots and still be horrifically violent. Rambo guys still like to know why someone is getting shot I think. Rambo was a hero, a victim, and a bad-ass. Just one hint about what all the violence is about would go a long way. Is it drugs? Is it the girl? Is it a bank heist? Even though this is geared towards violence lovers, plot lovers will most likely be sitting right next to them when they come across this trailer.

I don't know what the movie is about, so I can't really offer more constructive criticism than that.
 
Yeah I don't think the violence is a problem at all...and the visuals are good, but it would be handy for a trailer to give an idea of what the film is going to be about.
 
Seriously, those are good points and I do take it all to heart.

I post on these boards, and others, for 3 primary reasons.

1. To show off our work. Not just mine, but awesome talents like Stan who deserve whatever recognition he can get where ever I can get it for them. Someday soon, he and and some of the others won't need me at all.

2. To share the lessons I learn. Which is why I continue to post so much about filming, the post production process including editing, color grading, fx, and sound, and delivery. I put up a lot of examples and tutorials that I hope have some value to those who are searching.

3. And to learn. This is a one man post production effort until our final sound mix that I finagled in London. If fact. our entire crew, even on production was usually only a couple of people at a time, with me running, kicking every bodies ass, searching for locations, mixing up my formulas for blood, doing make up, directing, and the other 100 chores you all know about when you make a film. Even the scenes I am in, like most of Stan's productions, I am directing while acting, and even doing much of that camera work in those same scenes.

So this is my chance to learn and adjust by getting your feedback - both and bad - positive and negative. To get opinions and expertise from those outside of this production who know things I want to know, have opinions I value, and make me look at this with outside eyes before it is unleashed on the general public.

My thanks to all!

Back to it! Kely
 
I understand what your objectives are, and, to a degree, I suppose you've achieved them, but if this sort of plot/theme/violence is really THAT popular in America, one has to wonder what that says about our culture--have we lost THAT much civility that this sort of film would be tolerated, much less rejoiced?
I can imagine all the drug gang members will favorite this film, but what about civilized people? I can't show this trailer to any of my associates as an example of what can be achieved with an EX1 because the content is so... uh, how can I say it? ... off-putting, that all I would get back are "we couldn't watch because of the violence", or, "what's the point of this?"
For me, this just underscores what makes indie films not worth watching.
 
basspig said:
I understand what your objectives are, and, to a degree, I suppose you've achieved them, but if this sort of plot/theme/violence is really THAT popular in America, one has to wonder what that says about our culture--have we lost THAT much civility that this sort of film would be tolerated, much less rejoiced?
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Are you serious? The state of cinema in this country is sad beyond belief. Take a look at what's happened to the horror genre, for example. The latest trend is toward what is commonly referred to as "torture porn." Films such as The Devi's Rejects, the remakes of Halloween and The Last House on The Left and most others are just a showcase for grisly realistic rape, torture and murder. Apparently filmmakers think that sort of **** is scary. Personally, it makes me ashamed to be a horror fan. I go to the movies to have a good time not to come out feeling like I've just witnessed a mass murder. Movies like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday The 13th, and Evil Dead were over-the-top fun, not realistic portrayals of serial killing. Storytelling is being sacrificed in the name of realism.

It's not the violence in this trailer that bothers me. It's the fact that you get no sense whatsoever of what the movie is about. The quick edits of close up shots give no direction to the fight scenes. I had no idea what I was even looking at. The 70's kung-fu sound effects don't really fit in a modern action thriller either. It may very well be a solid picture but you'd never know it by looking at this. It's more like a music video based on the soundtrack of a movie.
 
Yes, we've lost alot. No one makes horror like it was forty some-odd years ago. The Haunting of Hill House, some of Sir Alfred Hitchcock's films, and even more recently, films such as Poltergeist and Brainstorm, are psychological thrillers that deliver more on story and still leave enough to the imagination without overusing special effects or blood and gore.
I agree that the problem with the trailer for Keberos is that it's really hard to tell what the film is about. A voice over with a little synopsis of the conflict would have helped.
 
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