Hotel room scene

C

citycyclone

Member
I'm just posting up footage of a 4 min scene I directed for an actor demo reel using the DVX100A. I haven't mastered the sound yet, so the sound is not best quality and kind of low volume (you might have turn up sound some to hear everything). Anyways, I'm aware of the sound so no one need to point that out since we're getting it done. I just posted it the way it is for quality of footage and direction cretique (spelling?) Thanks!

http://citycyclone.com/videos/demoreel.wmv

Also, please cretique the acting as well for the actors would like to hear feedback. Thanks!

Will
City Cyclone Entertainment, LLC
 
not bad citycyclone
I'm no expert in judging acting, but I thought it was pretty good

your direction was good as well. liked the hand held feel.

Just curious, what did you use for lighting and getting sound?
 
Thanks for the input lloydc. For lighting I used 2 indoor balanced lights, and used the 2 lamps in the video for back light mostly. for sound it wasn't that great because normally I have a sound guy there with me, this time it was only me so I ran the camera and had to boom my sound. I ran the sound into a mixer and then into the camera. Sound could have come out a lot better, but I created a lot of post work on sound because of my lack of a sound guy. oh well.
 
CityCyclone:
It was a bit hard for me to follow. I am an actor and have been getting scenes shot for my reel (also have been producing them). If it were me personally using the material, I would just use the stuff about the Loony Toons on my reel. I believe the look would be better if the walls weren't so light. The guy has blonde hair (like myself) and is wearing a white shirt which doesn't help in seperating him from the background. Maybe a shade on the lamp on the table. It was distractingly bright. For your actors' sake, they should keep it short because agents lose interest fast. After about 35 to 40 secs tops, a reel should cut to another piece of their work.. Infuse as much production value into that little bit of time as you can, and it could appear that the scene wasn't shot for them, but was actually pulled from a feature film on the indy level. That is my approach because most actors who use reels have had small parts on features, soaps, and tv shows that theyedit into a reel. Tough competition because their stuff has a lot of production value. Some good reels to look at can be found at www.reels4artists.com Go to actor's reels and look at Glenn Fitzgerald's. That is what I am using as a guide for mine (for things like pacing, etc.) Hope that is usefull...
 
I couldn't play it! It basically said "catastrophic error" gee, my laptop sucks! I see it tommorow at work!

Word!
 
jasonstogz said:
CityCyclone:
It was a bit hard for me to follow. I am an actor and have been getting scenes shot for my reel (also have been producing them). If it were me personally using the material, I would just use the stuff about the Loony Toons on my reel. I believe the look would be better if the walls weren't so light. The guy has blonde hair (like myself) and is wearing a white shirt which doesn't help in seperating him from the background. Maybe a shade on the lamp on the table. It was distractingly bright. For your actors' sake, they should keep it short because agents lose interest fast. After about 35 to 40 secs tops, a reel should cut to another piece of their work.. Infuse as much production value into that little bit of time as you can, and it could appear that the scene wasn't shot for them, but was actually pulled from a feature film on the indy level. That is my approach because most actors who use reels have had small parts on features, soaps, and tv shows that theyedit into a reel. Tough competition because their stuff has a lot of production value. Some good reels to look at can be found at www.reels4artists.com Go to actor's reels and look at Glenn Fitzgerald's. That is what I am using as a guide for mine (for things like pacing, etc.) Hope that is usefull...
Click to expand...
jason, thanks for the input! The only reason it went this long was because I planned on using the whole thing for another piece for my self, that way at least they could extract maybe the part they want to use, and I can use the footage for other things as well, not just their reel. I agree with you 100%, the part that should be shown is the part that benefits the actor the most regarding their acting. I just filmed it for them, guess I'll leave it up to them what they want or don't want to include in their reel. I'll check that site out though, point them to it. Thanks for the tips on the lighting too, I'm still weak on the DP part, gota keep an eye for things like you said, regarding the white t, the background, and the light used with it all. good call. :)
 
I watched your piece again last night. With a second viewing, it sunk in more. Its true that it is better for the actors to have too much than too little. Then they can just use their strongest, most effective bits. Another thing I was thinking was that it would have been really nice to cut to what is happening on the TV. It would break things up visually and give the audience visual backup for some of the comedy in the dialogue. Check out the "George Clooney" short film that has been posted in this section in the last couple of days. They use some really nice cuts to the TV in that one. As far as the acting goes, I think the only thing missing is an overall action that ups the urgency a bit (so that the tv watching is more secondary) Possibly, the girl would be trying get ready to go somewhere else or do something in which a time constraint is imposed on her. Then, the little debates with the guy in the scene become more frustrating to her. Then, when she becomes caught up in Loony Toons it means more because it is pulling her away from what she really needs to be doing (I don't know. Maybe she has to go pay their drug dealer in an hour before he kills them both) The dialogue would very well be all the same, but the actor has a internal motivation the puts more forward momentum on the scene. When these simple things become obsticles in a urgent situation, the audience will be engaged. Sorry to ramble on so, but I like the jist of your project...
 
The pacing is off in this short. I understand that it's for the actors, but you could stilll make this pop a little more with some creative editing. There are far too many periods of complete silence in the film. Cut those lag times bag and increase the pacing.

As far as shooting a reel for actors, in the future, you should definitely push in on them more now and then, don't be afraid of the closeup, or the over the shoulder conversation shot. It looks professional and will really show off the actor.

Nearly every amateur film is comprised of medium or wide shots which are incredibly dull. Take some chances!
 
lots of good info here you guys are letting me know. The TV thing is something I thought about, but the problem was at that momment there wasn't anything on tv to match what she was talking about. lol. I might just film a tv and cut to it later.
I agree with the pacing thing too. I do feel that there is too much waiting time for the "feel" of the scene. There is suppose to be some sense of urgency and kind of paranoia and the way the scene is paced currently in there cuts down on that. I'll go back to editing and see what I can do to fix that up. Close ups... check, I'll push in further with future shoots. Good call. Thanks guys, these are all very helpful tips and advice.
 
I thought the dialogue was pretty bad and seemed really ad-libbed. Wasn't really sure of the point of having someone in the closet (I liked it, you should have gone with it more). But my main gripe was the dialogue, if were trying to go with a Tarantino type of conversation, you need to use some better vocabulary.

Also when the girl was talking about revelations, she waived her arms too much it seemed like she was compensating for lack of ability to show emotion (thats mostly on her end though), but as a director you should see that.
 
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