FEATURE: Hahajakal

brendan_pr

brendan_pr

Active member
Hey there,

My name is Brendan Petersen, I am an independent filmmaker from Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Currently I am working on a film called HAHAJAKAL about a young woman named Jenna Knowles who is in her mid-twenties and still lives alone with her parents. She hasn’t found a clear direction in life. One day her parents leave for a trip to Peru and she is alone in the house. She finds a mysterious SD card labeled ‘HAHAJAKAL’ and an ID of a woman named Diana in the basement. On the SD card she discovers footage of what she believes to be a murder, and they look exactly like the woman on the ID. This leads her into a dark and mysterious journey to find out what happened to Diana and who recorded the strange footage.

Check out the 5 minute Indiegogo campaign video:

Thank you for your time,
-Brendan Petersen
Founder of Darkslide Pictures
 
JPNola said:
Maybe it is just my personal taste, but find the work to be lacking something.
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This is a video that we put together as a proof of concept and to show the atmosphere we are trying to achieve with the film. It's a different take on doing a pitch video rather than a talking head which I've tried before and am personally growing tired of. Thanks for your feedback!
 
brendan_pr said:
This is a video that we put together as a proof of concept and to show the atmosphere we are trying to achieve with the film. It's a different take on doing a pitch video rather than a talking head which I've tried before and am personally growing tired of. Thanks for your feedback!
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I was being sarcastic. You apparently failed to post any link to the video. The link is what is lacking. :undecided
 
Spartacus said:
So is this just advertising or are you looking for any kind of feedback?
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yeah, I don't like it when the forum is used to advertise for personal projects. That may have in part been a reason for my sarcastic response over his error in linking to the piece.
 
So an Evangelist film about a group of people who do parkour fighting the pope who wants to take over the world can post and get 300 replies but I can't share my story without it being 'advertising?'


Here are the rules displayed to the public on your forum 'Chronicle the progress of your project here. (formerly "User Films")' Am I somehow breaking these rules by trying to share my film? I don't have the ability to read your mind. So if you want me to follow some imaginary rules you make up because you decided you don't like my film you will have to clarify that somewhere where I can actually see it. No where in that does it say "post here only if you need feedback, and not just to chronicle the progress of your project."

Sincerely,
-A user who has posted on this forum for years the same way they always have, doesn't enjoy passive aggressive bullies pushing him around, and if you don't want me to post on your forum I will take my stories somewhere where I won't get attacked by passive aggressive dickheads?
 
brendan_pr said:
So an Evangelist film about a group of people who do parkour fighting the pope who wants to take over the world can post and get 300 replies but I can't share my story without it being 'advertising?'


Here are the rules displayed to the public on your forum 'Chronicle the progress of your project here. (formerly "User Films")' Am I somehow breaking these rules by trying to share my film? I don't have the ability to read your mind. So if you want me to follow some imaginary rules you make up because you decided you don't like my film you will have to clarify that somewhere where I can actually see it. No where in that does it say "post here only if you need feedback, and not just to chronicle the progress of your project."

Sincerely,
-A user who has posted on this forum for years the same way they always have, doesn't enjoy passive aggressive bullies pushing him around, and if you don't want me to post on your forum I will take my stories somewhere where I won't get attacked by passive aggressive dickheads?
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Is there a like button? Cause I like this.
 
User Guidelines for this section:

"We have designed the "USER FILMS" section as a place for folks to post PRODUCTION DIARIES and BEHIND THE SCENES on the making of their shorts, features, music videos, commercials, etc.

It seems as though this section has become a "catch all" for a number of threads without anything but "watch my video" or "what do you think about this clip?" (These kinds of threads should be in their appropriate clip forum). We would like this section to get back to what it was originally designed for. "


I think it inarguable that your post was not a production diary or behind the scenes of the making of your feature. It clearly was a "watch my video" post of the sort the guideline says is inappropriate for this section. Your post was exactly what the guideline says the site operators want to get away from.

You didn't chronicle the progress of your project, Brandon. You didn't "share your story". You summarized the plot and then linked to the trailer. As I understand the site owner's intent for the section, it is for filmmakers to share their filmmaking process so that others can learn from that.

What was the intent of your post if not to generate interest in your film / generate traffic for the trailer and the website for the film that you have included in your tag? An advertisement that has now appeared in this thread no less than 4 times.
 
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brendan_pr said:
So an Evangelist film about a group of people who do parkour fighting the pope who wants to take over the world can post and get 300 replies but I can't share my story without it being 'advertising?'
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Thanks for the plug. It's over 700 replies btw ;) Actually, I'm glad we're calling this forum out now. I haven't spent much time here lately because I'm getting tired of all the "My friends and I shot this, tell me what you think" and "Help fund our movie" posts. There's really not much in terms of production diaries anymore, which IS what this part of the forum is supposed to be about. Tell us some history. What's your background? How'd the movie come about? Is the script done? How long did it take to write? Tell us the story of the story.
 
I do agree that BTS and production related posts are helpful and valuable to the forum. But I also think that there should be a place for folks to post finished work, whether it be to get feedback, or simply just to share with others. After all, we are all in the film/video industry to some extent, and I personally enjoy getting exposed to member's work I may not have been able to otherwise.

However, it does seem like the guidelines in this section are exclusively barring posting finished products without BTS and Production related posts. Perhaps, if so many folks seem to want to share finished works or works in process, it would be helpful to either change the rules, or add a new section or prefix that would allow folks to do so. This way, anyone who specifically is not interested in seeing new works by forum members can simply avoid that section.

To the OP, I see you are posting new films every year, with little to no feedback. Whatever the case may be, you are clearly a dedicated filmmaker with drive and commitment. I wish you all the best and keep doing your thing! I liked your log line, and think it has a lot of potential in the genre...even though I haven't been able to see the video on the OP.
 
Hey everyone, just thought I'd pop back in and say that the film did get finished. Here is a trailer for it on YouTube

If you are interested in finding the whole film you can find it at www.hahajakal.com


El Director said:
Thanks for the plug. It's over 700 replies btw ;) Actually, I'm glad we're calling this forum out now. I haven't spent much time here lately because I'm getting tired of all the "My friends and I shot this, tell me what you think" and "Help fund our movie" posts. There's really not much in terms of production diaries anymore, which IS what this part of the forum is supposed to be about. Tell us some history. What's your background? How'd the movie come about? Is the script done? How long did it take to write? Tell us the story of the story.
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Personally, I like to let my films speak for themselves. I consider myself a filmmaker first and foremost, and so I'm most interested in people watching my films rather than knowing my personal process. I went into as much detail as I felt comfortable in the original post. I am an independent filmmaker, and I'm from Thunder Bay. And at that point all I had was that concept video. So, it's what I shared at the time. You have some good suggestions about things to share, but at the moment I have enough of a struggle to get my films made. I don't really have time to do much of a diary or extensive behind-the-scenes, and I don't really have any extra hands to help do that currently. Once I have completed one project, I am usually focusing on getting the last one out there and planning for the next idea. I have often wished I had more time to do more behind-the-scenes, but so far it hasn't happened. We are pretty much in the middle of the woods here in Thunder Bay, with not much of a film industry to speak of. As I said, for the most part, I like to let my films speak for themselves. I'm not the type that likes to go into great detail about it past wanting to share it.
 
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I wish I had the time to watch all the movies I desired, like this one. Unfortunately, like you, I am short on time... so I feel you. And like you, I only had the time to write a short post here, not really about the movie. I made a sandwich for breakfast - at first I was thinking open faced, but I only had one piece of cheese left, and it was cheddar, which I usually buy at TJ's, the spicy version, but this one was not the spicy version. So I felt the sandwich was a little light, and to bulk it up, I added another piece of bread on top, this way it was no longer an open face. Anyway, I don't want to go into too many more details (butter was involved), as I'm not in a position to share my process too much, I just concentrate on making and eating the sandwich. I too wish I had someone to help me out, maybe actually make the sandwich itself, and I could concentrate on just eating. But anyhow, it is what it is, and I wish you the best based on this trailer and dodgy lighting. Today for dinner, I think rice will be involved, as soon as one meal is made, I have to plan on the next, a never ending cycle, like your filmmaking, so I sympathize. Take care!
 
OldCorpse said:
I wish I had the time to watch all the movies I desired, like this one. Unfortunately, like you, I am short on time... so I feel you. And like you, I only had the time to write a short post here, not really about the movie. I made a sandwich for breakfast - at first I was thinking open faced, but I only had one piece of cheese left, and it was cheddar, which I usually buy at TJ's, the spicy version, but this one was not the spicy version. So I felt the sandwich was a little light, and to bulk it up, I added another piece of bread on top, this way it was no longer an open face. Anyway, I don't want to go into too many more details (butter was involved), as I'm not in a position to share my process too much, I just concentrate on making and eating the sandwich. I too wish I had someone to help me out, maybe actually make the sandwich itself, and I could concentrate on just eating. But anyhow, it is what it is, and I wish you the best based on this trailer and dodgy lighting. Today for dinner, I think rice will be involved, as soon as one meal is made, I have to plan on the next, a never ending cycle, like your filmmaking, so I sympathize. Take care!
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Worst story about a sandwich I've ever read, 1/10. I found your post quite hard to get through, which is almost impressive considering how little you actually said with so many words.

Then, you put down the lighting of my film at the end of your terrible story about a sandwich, because you are a coward, so you have to hide your criticism deep into a poorly thought out joke. You made sure to put it at the very end too, because you had to make sure to waste my time reading your terrible attempt at being witty, and can't just come out and say it like a person who isn't full of themselves. Whatever makes you feel good about yourself, I guess?

It's a new one for me, usually people compliment my lighting. Based on how convoluted you make a simple story about a sandwich, I'm not sure you're in any position to tell me how to convey a story.

Here's my imdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6485236/?ref_=tt_ov_dr

And I managed to do that while living in the middle of the woods in Canada. You live in L.A, the film mecca of the world, what have you managed to do?

Not that it's a competition. But, when someone is criticizing me, I like to know what their credentials are so I can know if what they are saying is worth any salt.

Genre veteran Helene Udy who also lives in L.A said that the screenplay that the film is based on is very original and unique. To me, she is someone who is worth their salt.

If it bothers you this much that a user that's been on this forum for 9 years is posting his film in the USER FILMS section of this forum, that you have to go out of your way to write pointless and convoluted stories about sandwiches in protest, it's no wonder Internet forums are so dead these days. I suggest you spend as much time working on your own films as you do writing terrible stories about sandwiches and perhaps you would be less bitter about the fact that I want to share mine.

If you have any intelligent and constructive criticism to offer about my supposedly "dodgy lighting," I'm all ears. Although, I doubt you're one who knows much about creating an atmosphere. If you want to keep making snarky and arrogant posts for no reason and come across as extremely jealous, that's cool too. Whatever floats your boat, I say.

Now, this is the part where you act like your overtly sarcastic and condescending post wasn't as antagonizing as it is because you probably can't even commit to a fight you went out of the way to start yourself.

If the idea behind this USER FILMS section is to help others learn through the process of filmmaking, then the notion that one can't learn that process through watching a finished product is completely asinine. Even by your own logic it makes no sense. Why is it that we watch films in film history class if we can't learn from watching them? Not every production can afford access to extensive BTS material. That is a reality, there's no need to be condescending about it.
 
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Thank you, brendan_pr for your interesting post. The handful of sentences I wrote, resulted in a very lengthy reaction from you, full of emotion, contradictions and real pain.

There were a lot of ways you could have responded, and what you chose speaks for itself. I guess you didn’t see my post as a learning opportunity to see the reaction you're causing with your behavior, and instead, I got the most expected kind of lashing out from you. Oh well.

I did not check out your “credentials” or proffer mine - a silly approach to any work of art. Should your work not find success with audiences or critics, does that mean you’ll run to every theater to berate the audience and ask for their qualifications? What about you - don’t you trust your own judgment? Why are perceived “qualifications” relevant here - does that sway you? If you hear a Famous Mathematician pronounce 2+2=5 are you going to be influenced by his supposed “authority”? That’s a quick way to go broke :)

I don’t know who “Helene Udy” is, but I wouldn’t care if JHC himself floated down to announce this or that about a film/script or whatnot. I much prefer to make up my own mind and most audiences trust their own reactions too - as the old quip goes, whom are you gonna believe - Distinguished Authority or your lying eyes? Based on this, I guess it makes little sense for me to delve into the details of what I found problematic about the lighting, as it would not be of any interest to you, my not being Deakins and crucially my not admiring your lighting, as that immediately disqualifies me in your eyes.

Anyway, I got lost amongst the numerous faults you found with my character, an almost infinte wealth of traits - “coward”, “full of himself”, “jealous”, “angry”, lacking in wit, ability to tell a story, condescending and on and on and on - quite a lot you’ve managed to gather about me based on those few sentences dealing mostly with a cheese sandwich. It was very high energy and entertaining. Sadly, at the end of all that, I still don’t understand how what you said about me pertains to your film, or my reaction to the lighting. Maybe you think I have an angry coward’s view of lighting? I'm going to nominate this for the best new descriptive of a DP's work - "you lit this like an angry coward, Thomas!".

Be that as it may, I agree that one can learn a lot from just watching a movie - a pity you merely threw a link to the trailer into the forum, where it landed like a slaughtered goat. People post their work asking for feedback - you clearly were not interested in feedback, so I guess it’s a form of advertising for you? Rather a disrespectful use of the forum. A clever - strike that - a reasonable filmmaker would have at least taken the opportunity to hear feedback to his work, but you - no. You’re interested in fighting - and you are right - I am not (signed: Angry Jealous Coward All Around Bad Bad Man Etc. :))

It’s just disappointing - same post, different reactions. Some would see an opportunity - where certain others see nothing but a reason to fight. Your posts in this thread immediately caused negative reactions among many here on this forum, what with its naked self-interest and FU attitude, all gimme, gimme, gimme. I wasn’t sure you intended to come across that way - and so my post was just a brief opening to see how receptive you were, and I guess you gave your answer, yikes.

You seem to harbor a lot of anger and lash out at what you perceive as attacks. I just want to tell you that I have no hostility toward you, and take no offense at your response to me - and as a sign of no hard feelings, I’ll go ahead and favorite your post, and hope others join me in this.

Best wishes for you and your film! Take care.

P.S. I rather like the title of your movie - I'd check it out just based on that :)
 
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After putting my film hobby on ice for a couple years I came back to poke around, and see OldCorpse is still at it.

Very few people can handle honest, intelligent criticism. Rarer still are people able and willing to give it. Cheers, friend.
 
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