SHORT: Marginal change (working title)

A

aram

Well-known member
Last time I made a short I dropped it in here and got some sincere feedback. This time I am trying to go more with the supposed spirit of this section and expose the development process of a very amateur short.
 
Last edited:
Due to corona virus Marginal Change is out, Dealing is in.

Being brief, it is a love?connection?friendship? story between a dealer and a client (Blame High Maintenance), where the client gets worse over time and the dealer eventually cuts the client off.

The script and shotlist (both still being worked on) can be seeing on this folder if you are interested.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gY6TJ_n-w6r7U6zdG37RFiSdmDB0US86
 
And I have started shooting. No colour grade is final. I'll be putting tests, half baked cuts and other stuff here.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeJnFMD7dOIYKobB-vrT-3ESo00wI4Bjv

Feedback is welcome. Also, I have a Dell UP2516D and an iDisplay Pro. The contrast after I calibrate is crazy, which in the past has led me to grading with too low a contrast. I have looked at the video with sound on my phone and it is still pretty intense, but then I look on a different monitor (which I know is rubbish) and there's almost no contrast.

How do people go about this incredible inconsistency between people's screens? What is the target?
 
Last edited:
More progress. Ignore the sound.


This one is the same, but I did not desaturate the shadows.


And this one is too extreme and I am not happy with



I think I like the desaturated shadow look best and will try to match that look in the future.
 
Last edited:
Moving forwards, some more shooting and a temp assembly of shots to see how it goes. Ignore the sound, of course.
 
Sound still not finished, but the three phone calls that happen in the short are mostly done. I am now thinking that the second and third phone call should have been shot differently to represent the evolution in the relationship of the characters, but oh, well.

 
And more progress, enjoyed the editing. Used a song by a friend. I like it, but as he himself points out, it feels very 2008, so not sure if to keep it.

 
Thanks to you for the many useful posts. Has that Eizo come yet? I was looking at reviews of the ASUS PA32UCX today but it looks like it is a bit of a disappointment.
 
And one step closer. Three more shots that I want to take before I start messing with sound and colour.




It has taken so long that with whole lockdown situation both actors (AKA me and my partner) have put on weight and their hair changes length if you pay attention.
 
Principal photography almost done. Just one more shot to take this weekend! Started playing with the colour and it is a nightmare. Lesson learnt: after testing keep your lights in the same place if you can and keep the intensity even if you think it can look better with some "minor" changes, because matching the shots is going to be hell afterwards.

Anyway, almost freeze on the visuals

 
Last edited:
Final cut for the Rode Reel competition done.


The first cut was 4:16, so some awkward sacrifices had to be done to get it down to 3 minutes, but in some ways, I feel it is better like this.

Now time to do the BTS.
 
And it is now submitted to the Rode Reel competition.

https://myrodereel.com/watch/8702

If anyone is kind enough to vote for it (although looking at previous winner, I do not think my odds are very good).

Also, what an embarrassment the clipping and poor mix in the BTS, don't watch that!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top