OTHER: My web series "...And Then Everything Changed."

J

jond76

Member

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to invite you all to view my ongoing web series "...And Then Everything Changed." www.thechangebegins.com

It deals with ordinary peoples first encounters with the living dead at the onset of the apocalypse.

I'm shooting with a GH1 along with the kit lens, a 50mm f1.8 and a 28mm f2.4

I also have a Halo Rig but I haven't shot with it yet.

I'd love some feedback (be gentle) and if anyone lives in Houston, some zombies!

www.thechangebegins.com

Thanks!

Jonathan
 
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U know, personally I am bored with the zombie genre. It's just so 2009, can't we all come upnwith something more creative? Like wedding films? I love wedding films, but they just pay the bills. And zombie films do too. So please don't ask me for creative input. It no longer exists in the genre. I understand the distinction bout my creative work & what pays bills. Zombie films r bout making money, not creativity.IMHO. Pls prove me wrong.
 
Ha ha. Well I can see that point of view. Personally, I'm making zip on this endeavor so it's all about my love of zombies. It seems too often now zombie stories pick up months after everything happens, and to me the first moments can be the most interesting. Also, the zombie apocalypse is to me is like any other large scale disaster, everyone has a story to tell. Thats what I'm trying to tap into.
 
Yeah, I don't know if Zombie films necessarily pay the bills.

Teaser looked pretty cool. How long will the shows be? Keep 'em short.

-M
 
Martay said:
Yeah, I don't know if Zombie films necessarily pay the bills.<br />
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Teaser looked pretty cool. How long will the shows be? Keep 'em short.<br />
<br />
-M
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I got three episodes up if you're interested. Each are under 5 min. One is right around 3 min.
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8string said:
U know, personally I am bored with the zombie genre. It's just so 2009, can't we all come upnwith something more creative? Like wedding films? I love wedding films, but they just pay the bills. And zombie films do too. So please don't ask me for creative input. It no longer exists in the genre. I understand the distinction bout my creative work & what pays bills. Zombie films r bout making money, not creativity.IMHO. Pls prove me wrong.
Click to expand...

I respect your opinion, but I also respectfully disagree..what I will agree with is that when people want to make a quick buck, they can turn to zombies because they're an easier sell than most other genre's. But there's still creativity left in the Undead universe. "Left 4 Dead" "Dead Rising" (both video games I know) World War Z, and The Walking Dead...

I think all movies are "about making money" unless they're strictly made as "artistic masterpieces"...if you choose a genre, you probably are doing it to target it's fans, to get them to spend their money. But I will agree that like you said "The proof is in the pudding"..

By the way I'm not targeting you, it's just that I'm a huge zombie fan (obviously making me bias) and I get tired of hearing people talk so bad about the genre, but even more so, I get tired of the crap movies that people put out on youtube that have killed people's opinion of the genre as well.

Now, on to the short, or trailer as it were: Obviously it was just a teaser so there's not much I can go on, but I will say that it LOOKS good (quality wise)..and also looks interesting based on your synopsis AND the scenes I saw. Not only that but I'm actually filming a short based on this same premise at the end of this month...I feel like that "beginning" phase is ignored far too often in zombie films!
 
Jesus, welp I watched the first 3 episodes, starts off pretty much EXACTLY like Blood Thirsty (My short/feature)...first and second episode are almost exactly alike including the muted TV during the initial news report. Although the info trickles in a little slower. Other than that it amazes me how close the first 5 minutes of our work is, I guess it's true what they say about great minds thinking a like. I like this because it shows that you truly are a zombie fan (taking this approach)..the same reason I chose it, it's the most undeveloped part of each zombie film, although usually the most interesting in the beginning of all zombie films. I like the fact that most of the characters are fleeing the zombies rather than facing them head on, that's another thing Blood Thirsty has, makes it more realistic. I just showed my partner this and we're both in AWE at how close the two works are, but at the same time inspired because we haven't filmed yet and this is kind of showing us how cool this has the potential to turn out.

In short, I LOVED the first 3 episodes, create character introductions..it's the small things in horror that please the fans, just this little bit of teasing has made me care about the characters I've been introduced to so far. I dunno if that's your intention (I assume so since you remind me of myself)..and that alone has already put your vids/series ahead of so many others trying to do this...
 
Thanks a whole bunch, CR! This being the internet, I expect to be picked apart and torn down (sometime fairly, often not), but your good review and others like it help drive me to keep making these and keep getting better.

It is pretty funny how our works are so similar. Like I said above, while I love seeing cities in ruin and civilization in shambles (the imagery is always fun), I really like to see how it all falls apart in the face of crazy plague. People having to turn on their friends ad loved ones, etc.

So thanks again. Episode 4 should be this Monday if all goes well. Good luck with your project!
 
Indeed, I think "The Crazies" (2010) did this fairly well in the beginning..I love that aspect, that "WTF is going on look on peoples faces when it all hits the fan.

And yes indeed it's funny how our works mirror each other, but it's mostly in the scenario's..my short follows one main character though...originally I wanted to do something like this, and then set up a feature..I really do like how not only have you shown different aspects, but you did a great job of having people in "normal" situations and having the action take place realistically...I especially liked in Episode 2 with the running woman and the guys reaction...and in Episode 3 the girl seeing the hurt woman on the side of the path...

Very nice how one minute stuff is just normal then BOOM it goes down, no warning (for the people in the situation)
 
Oh yes, thank you for the well wishes, I can't wait until Blood Thirsty joins "...And then Everything changed" on the boards...good luck to you my friend, I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting Episode 4-5-6-7...maybe one day as zombie fans we can work together on something epic!
 
I watched the first 2 episodes last night. I will kinda agree that the zombie genre is a little overdone as of late, but that doesnt mean you cant create something meaningful and exciting with in it. I personally love the genre, but i rarely see what i consider to be good examples of it. I did a class exercise once where we had an hour to go come up with a "supernatural" story, cast classmates and shoot something. I went and did this, and it came out pretty cool, for such a short project, i chose zombies since IMO they are the easiest if you dont have a lot of time for effects.

Some notes on your project

I liked how at the beginning of episode 1 you decided to show your character interacting some, to give some sort of insight to the character, I thought the activity she was doing could have been a little better though (talking on the phone isnt always the most interesting activity).

Once you got to the action, i think it went well.

I couldnt tell if the characters were all dying or getting away in the end to see them again later.

If they make it, then it could be cool, i like how you setup the character in episode 2, and show him reacting to the situation he is in (before he realizes what is going on) you get to see what type of person he is.

My fav short of all time, (in fact i woudl even rank it in my top 3 zombie movies of all time even though its a short) is Plague by Matt Simpson (you can find it on vimeo). Its long for a short (about 17 mins if i remember), but worth the watch. The story he weaves is just amazing, I wish more big time directors would take the time to make something like this, instead of just endless Resident Evil movies that are awful and not even scary compared to the games.

I applaud your dedication to the project, you are working in houston? What side of town do you usually work on? What gear are you using?

Some notes about the actual piece, i noticed some overexposed shots that could have been better, also some jarryness in the car. Keep practicing and youll get better.

jon
 
Thanks for the notes. I know I have areas to work on, and a lot of times I'm running around trying to keep filming days short (they are typically done in one shooting day @ 4 hours). Some janky shots are unavoidable.

I've seen Plague and found it enjoyable.

The cliffhanger ending are on purpose and you should count on seeing these people again.

I shout in mainly northwest Houston in and around the Cypress/Katy area. My equipment is listed in the OP., and I'm piece-mealing my way to more equipment :)

Thanks again for the input! Its all very helpful :)
 
Noice.....

Ya know, when I saw episode 1, and saw her grab the gun I was like "eh, here we go, everyone knows how to use a gun in zombie films"

Then when this episode started I was like "she is way too comfortable with that gun"....but by the time it ended I was like ...."hmm, ok makes sense why she'd be comfortable with a gun"

Loved the built up tension and suspense through the use of sound (glass cracking beneath the feet etc)...obviously the bullet hits need work, unless I'm missing something..the zombie chick that got shot, there was I guess a "smoke" effect when it hit her, but no blood splatter...so it looked like white blood clouds.

Also one little tidbit which I guess is hard to notice until post and sucks if you only have a few takes to edit from but, when the chick is walking around the building the gun constantly switches between her left and right hand each time there's a cut..nothing major but I picked up on it.

More common scenes between our shorts, I see the phones don't work...seems like the first thing to go in a global pandemic is always the phones! lol...good job man, I look forward to more of your work and I can only dream Blood Thirsty is half this good and engaging!
 
Thanks! Believe it or not it was easier to make practical head hits than it was to the body hits. I hid the blood layer under the dust poof so there is blood there. It's not how I'd prefer to do it but I was pressed for time.

I noticed the gun switching hands too. Oops. I figured in the second we don't see her as she rounds the corner she could have switched :)

Thanks again for the input. Glad you are enjoying the series!
 
Here we go! Another two weeks, another episode.

Here is Episode 2:


Today's new episode (5) is a direct sequel to Episode 2:


Hope you enjoy!
 
Lot's of action this week, that was awesome...and I'm all for knocking kids the **** out! lol

I liked this episode so much I checked out a the girl that did the voice acting and I might get her for my short! :-D
 
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