I got my first review!!!

Re: I got my first review!!!

I love how your website was put together.
Here's a review from me. "I like it!" -BLUESPIDER
 
Re: I got my first review!!!

Fantastic news. Just finishing a feature is is a huge accomplishment, but a good review in a "real" publication is nice validation.
 
Re: I got my first review!!!

Congratulations. Haven't seen the movie (don't live in CA), but viewing the trailer and reading about the process of making the film I know that a good deal of effort and craft went into it. Can't wait 'till you get a distributor so that I can see it for myself.
 
Re: I got my first review!!!

Just curious,

Did this reviewer see a film blow up of the film?

Joe Kell
 
Re: I got my first review!!!

Fantastic - what a great early Christmas present for you - well done mate!! :D
 
Re: I got my first review!!!

[quote author=kellyboy link=board=nws;num=1102585395;start=0#6 date=12/09/04 at 09:16:31]Just curious,

Did this reviewer see a film blow up of the film?[/quote]

no, a dvd. i'm not sure how the image is going to hold up on a 10ft tall screen. it certainly holds up on my screen at home (4.5 ft tall). i suppose it really has to do with the viewer's distance from the screen.

zak
 
Re: I got my first review!!!Zak,

Re: I got my first review!!!Zak,

Congrats. The film looks really interesting, as does the web site. Great to see projects with this type of philosophy getting made, hope it gets distribution. Can you post more about the production process? It'd be interesting to get as many details as you're willing to share on how the film was shot - both in terms of DVX settings & blocking, lit, audio, posted, blown-up, budgeted, financed, etc.

Again, nice job, really seems much more planned than many other improved projects, looks like it shows.

Stu
 
Re: I got my first review!!!

Congratulations and I wish you all the best with this feature. I thought the trailer looked very interesting. If I was in Cali...I'd see it!
 
Re: I got my first review!!!Zak,

Re: I got my first review!!!Zak,

[quote author=DrHST link=board=nws;num=1102585395;start=0#11 date=12/09/04 at 12:32:00]Congrats.  The film looks really interesting, as does the web site.  Great to see projects with this type of philosophy getting made, hope it gets distribution.  Can you post more about the production process?  It'd be interesting to get as many details as you're willing to share on how the film was shot - both in terms of DVX settings & blocking, lit, audio, posted, blown-up, budgeted, financed, etc.

Again, nice job, really seems much more planned than many other improved projects, looks like it shows.

Stu[/quote]
well, lets see. we started with a very simple ensemble idea: a party. for six months we explored and developed characters with the actors in improv sessions. two writers took from those sessions and created a structure for the film. scenes, character arcs, everything was written except for dialogue. when it came time to shoot, the actors were given opposing objectives (sometimes simple, sometimes complex) for each scene. by this point the cast new their characters so well, they were freed to from the 'schtick' actors often rely on, and able to 'be in the moment'. this resulted in a great many surprises and very real moments that often changed our expectations for the story.

55 hours of dailies were edited down to 91 minutes over the course of six months. one editor would cut and each week a core group of seven would meet to discuss the edit, give feedback. some pick-ups were done during this time as well when the film clearly needed something.

as i said we shot on three dvx100's, MP of -6 (i believe) and underexposed 1 to 2 stops to be "pushed" during color correction. sound was done with two boomed audio-technica's and occasionally wireless lavs going to a mix board and then fed back into the 'A' camera. the audio was routed to channel 1 and channel 2, however channel 2 was recorded a few db lower in case of the unexpected shout, scream or laugh, or slamming of a door. color correction was done with Digital Film Tool's Digital Film Lab plugin (a bargain!). score was recorded by a jazz group (www.tierneysutton.com) in a studio. final stereo mix was done in my own facilities in final cut.

some of the best comments have been a USC cinematography professor mistakenly assuming it was shot on 35mm. also, many have asked who we went to for such a great mix. we didnt even use pro tools!
 
Re: I got my first review!!!

Zak,

That's a lot of collaboration you have at a lot of different levels. Amazing you came up with something that looks from the trailer to be very focused, not like a film-by-committee or a bunch of actors waitning to do their star turn/audition. A few more questions, if you're feeling generous. How long a period did you shoot over? How about lighting? Mostly practicals? Did you do a blow up, and did you shoot 24pA?

Looking to put together a project with an improvisational bent this year, so all info much appreciated.

BTW, I've been coveteing DFT's film tools, maybe this year for that too.

Stu
 
Re: I got my first review!!!

[quote author=DrHST link=board=nws;num=1102585395;start=15#17 date=12/10/04 at 07:59:17]Zak,

That's a lot of collaboration you have at a lot of different levels.  Amazing you came up with something that looks from the trailer to be very focused, not like a film-by-committee or a bunch of actors waitning to do their star turn/audition.  A few more questions, if you're feeling generous.  How long a period did you shoot over?  How about lighting?  Mostly practicals?  Did you do a blow up, and did you shoot 24pA?  

Looking to put together a project with an improvisational bent this year, so all info much appreciated.

BTW, I've been coveteing DFT's film tools, maybe this year for that too.  

Stu

[/quote]

Stu / Hunter,

well, this project was never expected to get this big. it was an experiment to explore "collaboration" before going into a real project. for that reason, we shot 24P (Normal). we never expected to go beyond video. no blow up has been done. I'll leave that to a distributor if it gets picked up.

lighting was mostly chinese lanterns on boom poles. sometimes someone would move it with the action. often it was attached to a c-stand. we also used kinoflos to supplement exterior light. all our practicals all had 15w bulbs put in so they wouldnt overexpose too much.

days shooting... 90% of the film was shot in six 14-15 hour days at the party location. the other 10% were scattered over weekends doing pick-ups while we were in post.

email Digital Film Tools and tell them you're a non-profit organization (we actually were) and they'll give you a 30% discount.
 
Re: I got my first review!!!

What kind of deals did you make with your cast? Did they get more than just a credit and material for their reels because they contributed more than just performances? I ask because I'm trying to figure out what's fair and equitable if I ask talent to help build the story, even though the issue of $ is sadly almost always moot.
 
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