My first Short "The Phone"

R

RobbieD

Active member
Hey all a newbie to the DV World!

Okay, I wasn't going to post this because it's my first attempt at making something with a DV camera.  

I purchased a Panasonic PV-GS200 a few months ago because I got interested in shooing something...anything.  Maybe to shoot home movies maybe more someday.  Well I know this is not a very professional video camera but it was a 3 CCD so I thought it would be a good start.

Anyways, one night I suggested to a few friends that we should just go shoot something because I wanted to practice putting something together after shooting something 4-5 times at different views. (I had never done this before)  I purchased Studio 9 for a good starter into the world of DV editing with the intention to buy something better down the road if I enjoyed what I was doing.

Well we got to the location with no script, no lighting and only a tripod, video camera and the Azden ECZ-990 mic (just a basic zoom microphone for a consumer camera).

With all the fun I had putting this together with my friends I am now ready to start learning more, becoming better and hopefully one day produce stuff as good as most of you are posting on DVXUser.  Let me tell you a lot of you have inspired me in more ways then you will know with what I have seen you do with a DVX and good editing, lighting, audio etc.

I have my DVX100 coming tomorrow with a glidecam 2000 and the AT897 shotgun mic so I think this will be good to start with at a more professional level although I know as I continue I will upgrade and upgrade as I learn...

Okay now to the clip.

Remember there is no lighting, only a cheap mic (mounted on camera NOT boom) and we just shot and I thought about more of the story as we went on...kinda fun :)  I have no experience so please watch this from the point of view that this guy knows nothing about moviemaking and it was his first attempt.  

What I would like to know is what kind of lighting I should have used?  Tips to improve on the shots, audio tips, acting tips...anything.  Do I have any potential?, should I throw in the towel?

http://www.lookforitonline.com/downloads/dv/PhoneShortG.wmv

Hope you get a laugh....

Thanks all for your input.
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

Hey RobbieD Don't throw in the towell. You took the time and have a desire to do this and for your first short this wasn't half bad. It had me laughing in a couple of places. I love when the guy flicks the fire bell cos I do it all the time. White balance was an issue I think. Maybe color correction in post. Acting was good if these guys never acted before in any pro sense. All in all I enjoyed it. Keep it up. ;D
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

Wow, I didn't expect that! :)

Thanks, like I said very first try with a consumer camera.

I didn't join this forum or read about filmmaking until after the short so I am learning a lot each day here and around the web.  Also, I have ordered Barry's book and DVD and am looking into other resources other than DVXuser.com.  I will have my DVX tomorrow so I can hardly sleep and will probably not sleep..don't want to miss UPS.

You mentioned white balance and color correcting but I don't even know how to do that yet.  I am hoping to get together with someone from my city for a one-on-one tutorial on the DVX and basic shooting skills and I think I will be miles ahead.

Again thank you for your comments and I feel good knowing that it is a good start from someone that knew nothing when he shot, directed and edited it.

Regards,

Robbie D
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

I am a big fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm! I think it's amazing how each show has no script, no lines...just a basic story board. It's quite hard to do tho...
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

It looks like your having fun and if that part is true, then DON'T worry about "throwing in the towel". It's far from perfect, but if you wait for "perfect", then you end up doing NOTHING. You have a certain flair. The script wasn't that tight, but then again, writing is SUPER hard. My favorite part in the film was when the guy leaves the Office and then "flicks" the firealarm. I also loves watching the out-takes. :D

I've never shot Indoor scenes so please don't take any of my criticism to heart. The main thing is to keep practicing and you can't help but to improve. If this is your first attempt, then you definetly have potential ! :)

--Bop
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

hey man, its not bad at all. good job on your first film.

congrats on getting a dvx as well.

one thing that you should learn about is line of action. example...
you have 2 guys talking in that room. if you draw a straght line from one guy to the other, that becomes the line of action...and the rule is that you shouldnt cross that line with the camera...crossing it can make people confused...because now you have characters looking in the same screen direction to each other...or whatever...is causes disorientation....it gets even more complicated when you have more than 2 people talking to each other..cause the line changes and moves from one person to another. you always here people on movie sets go...you crossed the line...or, no we cant do that shot cause it crosses the line...kinda like ghostbusters...never cross the streams...cause its bad...having 2 people talk to each other, while looking in the same direction, when they are obviously supposed to be looking at each other is bad. there are a bunch of other rules that apply to the line as well....like..you can change the line of action...by having the camera move across the line...not within a cut, but actualy moving it in the shot...from one side of the line to the other. also, you can change sides of a line by going to a shot that is perfectly square to an actor.

anyway, i bring this up cause yuor short crosses the line ALOT. anyway, good luck man!

peace!
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

Thistlebop thanks for your input.

I appreciate all your comments. Yes this was the very first video and there was no script!!! We just starting with Monty walking in and improvised as we went along. Sure we fell into certain lines but there was no plan and no lines...

Also, no lighting and no boom or lavs just the zoom mic on the camera.

It's nice to hear comments on a "test" before you get really serious as I will be when I GET MY DXX100 in a few hours!!!! I am not sleeping tonight...can't miss the UPS man ;)

Thanks again for your comments...I will be posting more with the DVX very soon.

I love to make people laugh so I think I will concentrate on comedy first and work on other types down the road.
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

Rich Lee,

Thanks for your input!

When I started with this I thought hey let's get as many angles as possible so I have lots to work from.  I know that I put many different angles in the Short and I have looked at it and I do not like when Monty and Shawn are looking right into the camera.  Since then I have watch a lot of movies and tv to see what you are talking about.  That line.  

I will have to read through your post a few times to really get "the line" issue but I value your expert opinon.  You have shot some amazing stuff so I thank you for taking the time to help out a newbie and share your comments.

**** UPDATE *******
6 HOURS LATER

I get the "action line" now! Thanks I had just bought the book "Filmmaking for Dummies" and it was in there. He shows it with pictures so I could understand faster. Thanks again for pointing this out. Get smarter and smarter by being here...
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

Robbie,
Dude, your short made me smile man. All I can say is just keep doing it. Keep it up playa!
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

BLUESPIDER thanks for the words of encouragement.

I am staying up all night tonight because early in the morning the DVX100 is coming and I'm ready to explore...

I know it's not very well done but if it makes a few people laugh then I'm happy.

Again thanks man.
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

RobbieD - the book 'Filmmaking for Dummies' was the book that told me about the DVX100 in the first place!

Don't think I'd have know about it else... ???
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

Ya not a bad book for the newbie. Also, check out "$30 Film School" Amazing book about putting together a digital movie on a very very low budget..he is really funny too.
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

Damm border....UPS now says it's coming tomorrow.

AHHH another day I have to wait for the DVX
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

Faster to hire a drug smuggler to bring it back on the return trip :)
 
Re: My first Short "The Phone"

Ya, I'm going to have to find one of those "border jumpers" because after 9-11 they double check everything. Maybe they took it apart looking for drugs or a microchip.
 
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