John Lyons' Hunting Camp DVD

Your Website on the production of your movie and the trip to the NY festival is awesome! Its a good inspiration for many people working on their movies and to all the DVX users
congratulations!
 
I saw John's "Hunting Camp" when he first released it, and I thought he did really well. Some of the cinematography was very, very good! And overall it's a lot better than most films I see at festivals.
 
Hunting Camp Review

Hunting Camp Review

The film arrived today and I must say, I was impressed from the moment I opened the padded envelope.

The packaging alone is top notch and professional. I don't know if John used a service or if he did it all himself. Either way, great presentation.

The DVD is surprisingly packed with features that you would mostly find on big budget studio DVDs. Aside from the film, there is an included soundtrack cd, trailer, gallery, Behind the Scenes and a gag reel.

The film itself is exquisitely photographed and fairly well acted. Many of the actors did MUCH better than 3/4 of some of the Indie films I've seen in the last year or at any recent festivals. I have to say that the casting was pretty good for this level of a film. The lead female - very luscious. Worth the purchase alone. Come to think of it, all of the female cast was pretty hot...Something we should know here John? As for the male leads, 99% of their acting was believable and actually pretty good. There were only a few choice occasions where their style or demeanor seemed to change but not to a level that would be considered deplorable...Just tweekable.

How John pulled off some of the photography was a shock to me. Usually a big NO NO with video is a shot of someone in front of a window. Blow out is almost a definite yet somehow John, not only shot a character in front of an UNTREATED window but he did it without loosing details inside and outside.

It's obvious to me that there was a lot of preparation and planning around this film. Care was taken in every aspect of this film. That alone is something to be commended.

The story is good but made better with the way it was told. I actually was caught aghast in some of the final moments of the film. Some brilliant misdirection was created with the editing that made me go one way and didn't see the other way creeping up behind me.

Lighting was very good especially with the lighting he had to work with and locations he used.

Locations were pristine and perfect for the film.

Camera movement was EXCELLENT and it was wonderful to see someone take the time to let the camera help with the story.

My BIGGEST PET PEEVE is usually the terrible sound in films of this level...With this film IT WAS NOT THE CASE. The dialogue is clean and VERY well recorded. Sound Effects and Foley would have been one more thing - in fact the ONLY thing that was missing or could have been improved but what the heck, I'm sure he didn't have a 100k budget. Regardless of some minor sound problems (and I mean MINOR) the film is GREAT.

Overall, I'd give this project 5 stars. Everything about it was interesting and entertaining for a genuine movie experience. Expect more orders soon as my crew will have this as a mandatory watch.

This film is one to be compared against. Hopefully, this will raise the level at which DVX Films are produced.

VERY GOOD WORK. You definately have a future in film.
 
NSFILMS,

thanks for the full-on review! i really appreciate it!

let's see if i can give some more info:

all the art on the website (design) and in relation to the 2-disc set (covers, labels) was done by Lyons Den Productions' own Dorota Swies (p.s. - she was the secretary in the office scene).

i authored the DVD myself and Diecaster Studios handled the soundtrack (Trevor Huster, "Steve" in HUNTING CAMP, owns and operates the studio). Let me know what you think of the soundtrack when you get the chance to spin it, as well as those hidden features if you forgot to go hunting for those!

I went through a company called Custom Flix. Much like the others out there, we sent them the art and masters and they printed and replicated. I went the home-made route my two shorts before this one and wow, that's a LOT of work!

The female cast, hmmmm, I am just a lucky guy to know each of those talented and lovely ladies! :) Thanks for noticing the window scene in the office, that was hell but, I wanted to see if I could do it. Why? Perhaps stupidity? The budget really comes down to just the total cost of equipment. Now that's not counting the production of the 2-disc set at Custom Flix (because that wasn't a cost in making the movie). But if you didn't want to count equipment in the budget, it came to about $250 MAX (and that's probably exaggerating). But I think that low of a number would make people shy away assuming it's just a "home video", not that $4,000 looks like a big production though!
 
International orders link...

International orders link...

For those International DVXers interested in purchasing the Hunting Camp 2-disc set (remember it's region free!), I thought I would let you know that Jarred has updated the page here with separate US/Canada and International options...
 
HC receives Best of the Fest recognition!

HC receives Best of the Fest recognition!

Orders are continuing to go out as soon as I get them in (or the day after at the latest), just not posting in this thread anymore unless I have news or someone posts a question/comment...which reminds me, anyone care to weigh in on what they thought of the movie? the soundtrack? the set? I see some people have been Rating the film over at IMDB.com, thank you for that, as of now we are sitting at 8.0/10!

In the meantime, I have news!!!!!

HUNTING CAMP was just selected as "Best of The Fest" in the 47th Rochester International Film Festival! This is quite an honor! My wife and I attended the festival in May and the selection of films was top-notch. Audience members had ballots to vote for their three favorites in the festival and the Best of the Fest selection came directly from these votes.

So if you live in or around Rochester, NY and missed the fest, you might get another chance to see some of the films: "Each year the RIFF purchases selected festival winning films for showing throughout the year in the Rochester area. Our audience survey indicates that your entry was one of the audience favorites. We would like to consider your entry for inclusion into the BOF collection...The BOF collection is shown at no charge to schools, clubs, libraries and any other interested organizations."

Thanks again to everyone on the forum for your support!
 
Congratulations! That's great news about the BOF. What does it mean by "each year the RIFF purchases selected festival winning films..." ? Does that mean they buy your movie or pay you for it's use?

Good luck in future festivals and congratulations, again.
 
Thanks PK!

They offered to buy a DVD, VHS, and mini DV copy of the movie for their collection but I am going to send them out free of charge. All of their events and screenings are free (including the festival) and open to the public and the only way they make $ is by donation.

They really are a great group, the fest was a fantastic experience. Again I recommend everyone submit to this festival when it comes around again. The city really supports independent filmmakers. I can't say enough good things about this fest.
 
Eliot yours and Sheila's went out this morning (I will drop you an email as well)! Thanks very much! Let me know whatcha thought!
 
I have the dvd -at last.

I have the dvd -at last.

After many attempts to get the dvd, I finally have it, and feel it´s something that belongs to me. I love it.
nstfilms said it all. A beautiful photography and convincing acting.
The scenes I like the most are : when Jake is marrying Susan, at the beginning when Steve opens the door to his friend, and the take of the horses, and the scene in the river, and... in one word: everything.

John, you must be more time in your next movie as an actor. You looked fine!.
 
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