January DVXfest Shorts

Re: January DVXfest Shorts

[quote author=michaelcorvin link=board=movies;num=1107319181;start=30#33 date=02/02/05 at 18:18:19] I agree that my actors did a great job and that the weakest of the group is the coach (played by me, the director).  [/quote]
Michael -- I thought you weren't bad. The lead actor, in my opinion, had peaks and valleys in terms of delivery, but you were pretty consistent. While I was watching it, I thought the thing that was missing from the coach was a little more character -- slicked back hair, a vintage shirt, and even more attitude.

BTW - the B&W boxing shots looked great.

Young -- somebody learned some AE! ;) I loved it and I can't wait for the tutorial. I want to know EVERYTHING. You have a great style that really incoporates a lot of pop/youth culture.

Disjecta -- it was nice to finally get a narrative from you. I thought this was really funny and I think your voice/delivery is Sedarisesque, as mentioned before. My question is how do you pay the mortgage on that house!? Are you in the cocaine biz?
 
Re: January DVXfest Shorts

poip[quote author=Gabe link=board=movies;num=1107319181;start=75#80 date=02/04/05 at 12:47:03]
My question is how do you pay the mortgage on that hous!? Are you in the cocaine biz?

[/quote]
the snow looks the same in miamiz !

John, your zombiez movie lookz promising. I hope you'll keep your mask until the end of the movie
 
Re: January DVXfest Shorts

Okay, feel like I'm coming to the party a little late, but here's two more cents in the piggy bank...

Below the Belt:
I declare you the winner (well for my vote that is). I don't think the lead male's acting was spotty at all. At the first bell he was sure of his game, then it was clearly established he was in way above his head and this girl was out of his league. Soon his confiidence got weaker and weaker, then the great pep talk from coach and he's flailing like Rocky only to get sucker punched in the end by the smile. KO baby!!

And the runner up:
How do you feel about people.
I liked how this one turned from the initial impression ("Oh look another cute bear talking short") to a plunge into the abyss. Very unexpected, and really kept you off balance for the remainder. Even though Luz Cruz acknowlegded this was an eleventh hour submission, it doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for this piece at all. The extemporaneous dialog really slices to the bone. Sometimes you capture magic without even realizing it. Don't let the fact that you've alienated alot of people discourage you. Most people recoil when they are introduced to concepts they aren't accustomed to. The lighting is really dark, and you indicated you were surpised in post, you should go back and reshoot the truck in on the bear with a preturnatural beam shining on it, this would add to the spookiness. If I had to venture a guess I'd say the guy was relieving the bear's pain, but in reality he was attempting to vanquish his own demons for being the meth head that killed his girlfiend's unborn baby.

Okay Disjecta,
Techically once again you've demonstrated your superior firepower, (I admit that I'm one of the annointed unwashed masses that have sung your praises here many times before) but I think this piece needs to be tightened up a little bit. It roars out of the gate, but sags a little in the middle. Overall I realize it's a light hearted piece clearly crafted in the name of fun, but at the same time I know you are a perfectionist, and even comedies need to be refined, and in the end prove to be one of the hardest genres to conquer. I really like the shots going from Premiere work environement to full screen movie mode. Nice touch.

P.K.
I know this is an "art piece" but call it what you will it's still a one trick pony. The drama needs to be amplified a little more, as it sits now it's a slow passage of time marking the ho hum demise of a relationship. You've shown us a carousel, but what we need to really see is the emotional roller coaster of the relationship soaring to heights, then crashing and burning. The strobing effect was a little distracting too. I know you've been toying and tinkering with the twirlcam concept, you're onto a good thing, but keep refining your approach.
 
Re: January DVXfest Shorts

Brad, you should write reviews for a living!

"You've shown us a carousel, but what we need to really see is the emotional roller coaster of the relationship soaring to heights"

How long have you been waiting to pop out that gem? ;D
 
Re: January DVXfest Shorts

Ah.. a-hem....thanks Monte. 8) I hope I didn't come off as pompous and pretentious, I really liked everyone's work and the criticism is meant to be taken in a positive light!
 
Re: January DVXfest Shorts

Sorry Greeches, didn't mean to leave you out of the mix, I just ran out of beer and energy at 3:30 in the morning when I was working on the other ones. I'm going to watch TR again, and then whip something together!
 
Re: January DVXfest Shorts

Okay, on with the show, here we go!:

Timed Romance
This one plays against type brilliantly. The gregarious narration tone of our, shall we call him “anti-hero” disguises and belies his true nature. Typically the creep character is so locked up inside they could never approach and strike up a conversation with the object of affection. At first glance I thought their dinner was just him insinuating himself into her life in his fantasy world, but when reflecting deeper I think he’s outgoing enough to actually have landed a dinner date with her. At that point they reached a fork in the road- She had no feelings for him, and he skittered off into stalker land. Great shot going from attic peep hole to next floor below! I like that you left the ending open to interpretation, obviously we know she didn’t throw open the curtain, then go “oh this is the most romantic thing ever!” but to have shown her screaming would’ve been so typical. Thanks for not doing that. Great show Greeches!


Bobo Robot v. Ninja Wang
This one gets the special effects honorable mention for excellence. This feels like a video game adapted for the big screen, the problem is we walked into the living room after the gamer is just sitting there with his finger on the fire button. Most video games at least have a starting screen that lays out your mission. Maybe you could graft a storyline card onto the beginning. At least we’d know who to root for. Who does Bobo work for? Is Ninja Wang, a rogue drug trafficking ninja whose ying has given over to his yang? Incorporate a story into your amazing graphics and you’re there my friend!!

Great entries by all, and keep raising the bar! (just not so high that by the time I put something together it'll be crap!)
 
Re: January DVXfest Shorts

thanks for the review. :) In the final piece you will get more detail to what is actually reality and what is fiction.
 
Re: January DVXfest Shorts

CONGRATS DISJECTA!

dont know if anyones reading this anymore but here are my own thoughts on this months entries

but first, thanks to all the kind words for those who didnt mind the lack of story so much (i swear there must have been 30 people who complained about no story)...in case you are all wondering why there wasnt one...wait till i come out with a tutorial and then you'll know...literally each shot took somewhere between 3-8 hours to make, so that'll give you some sense why the film was so short...

Timed Romance - overall - nice twist, though it wasnt immediately clear - I thought some of the narration could have been cut out - my own personal taste is to have less telling and more showing, though I know its hard to tell a complex story in 5 min or less. Some of the shots were unecessary, like cutting back and forth on a subject from multiple angles, it brings attention to itself and took me out of the film for a moment, overall nice job though!

Full circle - yay I love teh effect. I agree with most people, went on a little too long, and it lost my interest after the first two minutes. its a very nice narrative style though, could convey a great deal of information in a short period of time...could even substitute a classic montage!

How do you feel about people
- this one had a huge impact on me. in fact I had to turn it off because it made me sick. Main reason being that it reminded me of the Nick Berg beheading video that I watched (to my regret, cant remember being more upset or disgusted than after seeing that vid) - but LuzCruz you did a good job of bringing out the creep factor (especially with the voice)...so if that was your intention then you succeeded

Being Disjecta
- had a lot of fun with this one, really liked it, I can tell a lot of work went into this one. no real complaints about this one, a deserving winner

below the belt
- the metaphor cross cutting was a clever thing to add in this...I didnt find it funny though, sometimes the dialogue seemed to drag a bit in the middle, and I was confused momentarily in the knockout punch at the end, but after thinking about it for a few seconds I understood it. I was thinking maybe add a bit of a buildup with a sound effect and a dolly into the girls face or something right before the climactic shot of the knockout punch. just a timing thing. overall I enjoyed this!

cant wait to see what comes out this month!
 
Re: January DVXfest Shorts

Bradbro - thanks a lot for the kind words! i actually take the alienation about this as a compliment.. in concept, you weren't supposed to know how to feel about this short (hence the title: "how do you feel about people?").

Young - sorry it made you sick :-[. just to let you know, nick berg didnt even enter my mind when making this. but yes, i was trying to make the atmosphere weird and uneasy. so, thanks!
 
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