My first fest "Betrayed"

Michael, can you point me to where I can watch your film?

I saw this earlier when I was just devouring films and taking it all in. I want to watch it again and give you my critique.

Please PM me if you can direct me. I use a mac and have been using mirror 2 (until suspended) then mirror 4 (which won't show your film) and lately mirror 5/6 (but don't see it listed there)

Thanks!

Ted
 
Wait a minute!!! I can't find it anywhere!

What's going on?

I have comments for you but I really wanted to see it again.

I have to head out for the evening but I'll check when I get back.

Weird!

Ted
 
TheatreGuy said:
Wait a minute!!! I can't find it anywhere!

What's going on?

I have comments for you but I really wanted to see it again.

I have to head out for the evening but I'll check when I get back.

Weird!

Ted
Click to expand...
ITS back YEAH!
 
This is the first one that started getting me pumped. Loved the aggression and the music. Felt like sticking it in the bigger surround system and just f...n crankin it. This thing gets me going and wish it was longer. Friggin loved it and it will find a home in my bigger system for sure. Gotta go play this again. Right on.

edit: I have a tech question. How did you do the camera shot 1:46 thru 1:57. Where it is outside the car, moves up and pans in?
 
Last edited:
Raptor365 said:
This is the first one that started getting me pumped. Loved the aggression and the music. Felt like sticking it in the bigger surround system and just f...n crankin it. This thing gets me going and wish it was longer. Friggin loved it and it will find a home in my bigger system for sure. Gotta go play this again. Right on.

edit: I have a tech question. How did you do the camera shot 1:46 thru 1:57. Where it is outside the car, moves up and pans in?
Click to expand...

DUDE YOU MADE MY DAY :)

Heres the Van SHot

At this point I am hanging out the van side door holding on to the roof rack with one hand and the DVX in the other. I tell heather dirve about 20 and look straight ahead. well that was bad advice cuz she didnt look at the speedometer she was pushing 45-50 MPH. YIKES! but I thought it looked cool
 
Hey Michael!

It's BACK!!! :)

I am glad that I got to watch your film again. I must tell you, for your first film, I think you did good. (It isn't easy, is it??? :) ) But you told a story from one end to the other and that in itself is a huge accomplishment!!!

I liked your story and I liked your attempt to do some original shots. My favorite is the Van shot. I was wondering the same thing and then saw the above post. ARE YOU CRAZY??? OMG!!! I may do that with a cheap-o camera, but I can't believe you did that with your DVX. I hope that was the last shot you needed for the fil, just in case!!! (but I am sure that I know the answer to that!)

It MUST be covered by insurance... wow! Risky, but what a great shot!!!

I also liked the very simple but effective camera circleling the girls and girl disappears shot. I wasn't expecting it and it worked.

The music rocked. I felt it and I liked it.

The story was told and I like the idea.

I think that the writing and performances could be better.

I think that the camera work could be better. There were some nice shots... the ones mentioned and some not, like the move in the kitchen with the guy getting beer, the guy walking with the camera low to the ground and others.

And the lighting could be better. I felt that a lot of the images were flat.

Overall, I thought that you did a good job. I hope that you are going to make more films and I look forward to watching you grow!

Good job and congrats!!!

Ted


PS - the monopod on a mic stand looked pretty damn steady!!! Nice work!!!
 
Thanks for checking it out and commenting

*** ARE YOU CRAZY??? OMG!!! I may do that with a cheap-o camera, but I can't believe you did that with your DVX. ****

I'm crazy

*** wow! Risky, but what a great shot!!! ***

My personel favorite as well that and the end seen with the gun.

*** I think that the writing and performances could be better. ***

This bugs me to no end ( NOT your statement ) The scenes behind the van after heather sees jason in the tub was just thrown in there to make sure the story flowed. I had originally had an inside the van scene and it was worse.... I think the circular mation scene carli acted really well.. I guess what i'm trying to say is If I wrote a smidgen better it would not have seemed so flat.. Carli screen tested really good and when i get time I'm gonna post some of it... .... Another problem I had was what I wrote was not what you see in the Film I kept changing it cuz It didnt look right or something.( I'm new)

What I was trying to do was keep the camera and the scenes moving trying to make sure people who watched never got bored, and kept watching till the end, even if they didn't like it(obviously this material doesn't suit evryone) I hope I got that cuz then its fine tuning to make better stuff.

***PS - the monopod on a mic stand looked pretty damn steady!!! Nice work!!! ***

You should see the shots without out it .. It's amazing how different they are..also I found that holding it with one hand worked the best.

Thank again MR theatreguy
 
Michael I read your 'trying to move the camera around not to get people bored'...I understand your thinking but I've been there myself and in my opinion, camera movement and change of angles/frames doesnt always make for a more interesting movie. My advice would be to stick to your script even though you'd feel it would bore some coz like my english teacher used to say, the first thing that comes to your head will always be the right thing, second guessing will only get you to a dead end. Of course I m not suggesting trying to perfect your work, but dont underestimate your vision. Also, camera movement means nothing by itself. Static scenes that have a great dialogue or extreme tension in their content can make the viewer hold on tight to his chair. And to use a metaphor since its been a while:

Which is more interesting, watching an F1 car do a whole lap from all the angles and helicopter views etc, or just see a static shot from the start/finish line where a car makes a move to another to pass it?

Hope I'm not getting boring with my metaphors...lol.

:)
 
I hope this review comes off more as constructive rather than harsh. But, here goes:

TONS OF TALENT here behind the camera. You definitely have a knack for shooting. I think a previous reviewer said it reminded him of late 80's/early 90's New York indies. To me, it also kind of had a Gregg Araki vibe to it.

But there were just a little too many horror film cliches. The script was little too vague as to the main characters motivation. And I really didn't like anybody in the film (not the actors, the characters I'm talking about). I just assume they all off each other and the world can get on with itself.

It kind of reminded me a bit of a music video with a narrative storyline.

But again, I think the talent is there. You just didn't have a very good script/story to work with here.


John G.
 
To comment on the camera movement issue... MY FILM HAS ONLY ONE MOVING SHOT AND THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT!!! The TILT up onto my face at the end was not shot like that to be use but I liked it, needed it and used it.

My point is, though I don't have a perfect film (I knew that I wouldn't... not on the first try!) but not having a crew limited me on camera moves. So, I created the "movement" with editing and pacing.

Just throwing that out there! :)
 
*** TONS OF TALENT here behind the camera. You definitely have a knack for shooting. I think a previous reviewer said it reminded him of late 80's/early 90's New York indies. To me, it also kind of had a Gregg Araki vibe to it. ***

I think you are being a lttle to harsh there MR .....:) thanks dude appreciate that comment.

*** But there were just a little too many horror film cliches. The script was little too vague as to the main characters motivation. And I really didn't like anybody in the film (not the actors, the characters I'm talking about). I just assume they all off each other and the world can get on with itself. ***

I decided after my first intial test shoots to make it sorta generic (told the cast the same thing) and work on the camera

*** It kind of reminded me a bit of a music video with a narrative storyline. ***

sorta what I was thinking.. I think some aspects worked and others didn't.

*** But again, I think the talent is there. You just didn't have a very good script/story to work with here. ***

thanks for your comments :) and I gotta work on that script writing since everyone brings it up must be something to it :)
 
*** Which is more interesting, watching an F1 car do a whole lap from all the angles and helicopter views etc, or just see a static shot from the start/finish line where a car makes a move to another to pass it? ***

Depends on how you do it I watched a chess game filmed and it was great... as theatre guy proved static shots and creativity with no camera movement can work great..


(edit) hey thats creepy i posted this- then look theatre guy posted about what i was posting about... wierd huh? :)
 
Hey Michael, came back to post something that I forgot and just read your comment above... that is creepy!!!

I wanted to tell you that I love, love, love your "production company" logo in the beginning! That is very cool.

Ted
 
TheatreGuy said:
Hey Michael, came back to post something that I forgot and just read your comment above... that is creepy!!!

I wanted to tell you that I love, love, love your "production company" logo in the beginning! That is very cool.

Ted
Click to expand...

made it myself I did :) actually i was messing around with particle illusion trying to figure it out and I made the logo. Then I named myself PhoenixButterFlyFilms from the logo.

thanks
 
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