"Make Sure" - Student Short

karapetkov

karapetkov

Well-known member
This is a short parody we did [5 min.], using the HVX [no 35mm adapter].

http://www.vimeo.com/674683 [SD & HD]

The DP is Alexander Richter [Filmarche, Germany] and I'm to be held responsible for writing\direction\editing.

Comments\critique about anything are welcome.

P.S. The short is in no way connected with this brand of... :happy:.
 
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.......interesting. very abstract. i didn't really follow it until the voice started talking at the end. maybe you want to give us some mellow music in the background because it was dead silent most of the short. i thought my volume was messed up.

nice images though. what kind of dolly did you use for your opening shots? what did you use for your moving shots in the subway?

pretty good for low light scenes also. what was your lighting setup? did you use an onboard light as well?
 
Yes, music is in the works, ... or more like ambient sounds. The overall ambiance is quite silent yes, have to work on that too.

The opening shots were handheld :), because of budget problems. Then used DeShaker for VirtualDub to stabilize the footage - if you look closer you'll see slight degradations, but it's way better than the shaky shot I had. This tool is amazing and free.

In the Subway we had a real dolly alright. But I stabilized it too, cause i couldn't afford dolly operator - the DP and assistant DP had to do the job.

Then used a camera stabilizer for the CU of the guy. DP operated it too, but I haven't stabilized it, I like it as it is.

Lighting setup - mostly Arri Junior Halogen and HMIs for some shots [the roof].
 
Yes, we used lights in the subway, except the dolly shot, revealing the station. There the DP decided that no lights are necessary. And yes, we put a crane up there, it was fun. :)
 
WOW.... I'd say that you have some really beautiful shots in there.. Great fluid moves and nice compositions with atmosphere and really put together very professionally overall... Nice visually.


BUT, you have done the most overdone and trite video that every film student does. Seems like everyone.. (including yours truly regretably when I was 18) does a suicide video. You did surprise me with somewhat of a pro suicide piece so that was shocking and surprising. The ending was different and I'd give you that... so overall ya did add something different to it....

Personally I wouldn't be using a colt though, but that's another matter... Wat did you do this for?
 
Thanks for the comments.


Well, this isn't much of a story, actually. The only supposedly original element I added was the "Colt - father of suicide" thing, which is supposed to be fun.

But it was my first shooting, where I can use something more than a MiniDV handycam and a set of garden lamps :).

Something like a "first fight" or "first blood" [I don't know the exact expression in English]. First attempt in shooting with serious equipment, lights, complicated locations, competent crew, etc.

So, I wanted us to make it as good as we can, and I also wanted to check whether I am ready for more serious projects that I have.

These are the main reasons why I wanted to do it. I don't know about the result [the audience will judge], but i sure feel more confident now and I learned A LOT about filmmaking and the HVX200 workflow. This is an awesome camera!

I hope to apply to some student festivals, but we'll see what happens.
 
well you have some great skills then and looked really nice. I liked the rooftop stuff and could you imagine what a shot you could have gotten if you had a 40' pro crane... Man alive....


Nice work overall and the camera is awesome. For the first time, my personal camera is good enough, ya know. Don't have to wonder.. hey how good it would look on film or on a varicam. We finally have something in a price point to own. Sure I've rented SR3s and 535's and a varicam.. but this little bugger I own so tha'ts the sweetest thing..


congrats and if it doesn't get into festivals.. who cares. They are agenda and finance driven anyway as I saw them from the inside and it's really kind of disgusting how they operate... but don't give up makin' em... and have fun
 
Nice looking shots. Everyone's allowed to experiment throughout their career, and especially since this is your first "real" move, I'd say keep going. You'll only get better and better!

I especially like how the noose scene plays out.

Thanks for sharing.
 
Justyn said:
congrats and if it doesn't get into festivals.. who cares. They are agenda and finance driven anyway as I saw them from the inside and it's really kind of disgusting how they operate...
Click to expand...

Man, I know what you mean... it's the same sh$t everywhere, I guess. But here it's worse...
 
Mickey Munday said:
how do the festivals operate why is it disgusting?
Click to expand...

Well, things are often arranged previously in festivals and there isn't a real competition or anything. Money, lobby, contacts - politics in general. And the winners aren't the best movies but those with influence or insiders in the festival's administration.

Spoils the event usually.

I hope there are exceptions, though.
 
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