"New Hire"
- Thread starter AJ Brooks
- Start date
A refreshing change of pace for an otherwise dark fest. This was light hearted and enjoyable. I didn't really like the villain and i thought his character didn't really grow or change. I thought the new boss was cool (some nice acting there AJ), he was definitely the most enjoyable part of the film. Comedy isn't action, it's reaction and the new boss definitely had good reactions.
Fun to watch. Good job.
Fun to watch. Good job.
Dustin R. Rogan
Silent Bob's Evil Twin
first off AJ...nicely done again!
really only thing that bothered me was that damn shiny thing on his lower lip...i kept wanting to flick it off the compy screen
Simple, Clean and Great IMHO
Rogan
really only thing that bothered me was that damn shiny thing on his lower lip...i kept wanting to flick it off the compy screen
Simple, Clean and Great IMHO
Rogan
Lynchenstein
Well-known member
Spoiler:
Tim Joy
Veteran
Nicely done. Other than the differing eyelines, which bugged me a little, I thought this was very enjoyable. Very good acting on both parts. The writing was good too. It's always hard to sit 2 characters down and just have a conversation, without adding in guns and fx and all, so i applaud you on a well-told and simple story that got many a laugh from me.
Ryan P. Kelly
Well-known member
Loved this AJ! Watched it twice...which is suprising considering it is a dialouge piece in one location. Great Job!
lawriejaffa
Veteran
(Might Contain Spoilers)
This film almost perfectly encapsulates the popular 'crowd-pleaser' entry of any festival - its popular, accessible and comedic. There is however more to this film than simple comedy - the veneer of dark humour and delicious characterisation imbued by our unemployed demon was a welcome surprise (which stood out among a number of cliches found among most entries ie. anything starting with a girl with duct tape or a guy handcuffed to a radiator or something!)
The flash cut to our villain - and the surprise at his appearance (he's an indomnitable figure isnt he) was perfect. I had a chuckle and from that his personality and characterisation (effectively enhanced by the straight man of comedy interviewing him) worked brilliantly. The film flowed well - in particular the little cut to the 'especially the fat kids' worked - not because of the line itself but because of the authentic charactersiation and delivery of the villain.
The only thing holding this particular film back a little is the strength of the script (now that doesnt mean it isnt already capable) but with a few darker streakers, a zappier pace, and some extra sly jokes, this film would rise from a dark crowd pleaser into a more sublime comedy.
The strength of ths film really lies in the charactersiation, actors and the generally capable script. I personally rated this film the highest not because it creates within itself cinemas greatest innovation but because it succeeds in every level capably and almost becomes something quite special!
Delightful addition to the festival.
This film almost perfectly encapsulates the popular 'crowd-pleaser' entry of any festival - its popular, accessible and comedic. There is however more to this film than simple comedy - the veneer of dark humour and delicious characterisation imbued by our unemployed demon was a welcome surprise (which stood out among a number of cliches found among most entries ie. anything starting with a girl with duct tape or a guy handcuffed to a radiator or something!)
The flash cut to our villain - and the surprise at his appearance (he's an indomnitable figure isnt he) was perfect. I had a chuckle and from that his personality and characterisation (effectively enhanced by the straight man of comedy interviewing him) worked brilliantly. The film flowed well - in particular the little cut to the 'especially the fat kids' worked - not because of the line itself but because of the authentic charactersiation and delivery of the villain.
The only thing holding this particular film back a little is the strength of the script (now that doesnt mean it isnt already capable) but with a few darker streakers, a zappier pace, and some extra sly jokes, this film would rise from a dark crowd pleaser into a more sublime comedy.
The strength of ths film really lies in the charactersiation, actors and the generally capable script. I personally rated this film the highest not because it creates within itself cinemas greatest innovation but because it succeeds in every level capably and almost becomes something quite special!
Delightful addition to the festival.
ZazaCast
Major Contributor
Another good one AJ...a very enjoyable film. :thumbsup:
You and 'Bob' both did a great job, I think the ring light was a cool idea and adds that weird reflection in the pupil...nice. Love the writing. The timing was perfect too.
"No, I like children...except for the fat ones." Classic!
I'm kind of on the edge about the music throughout the whole piece... on one hand, I liked it and it kind of reinforced the comedy...but on the other hand, it was distracting me at times.
Nit-pickin', there was one shot where Bob leans in and he's out of focus that grabbed me. I wonder... was the boiling water bottle the iPhone footage?
This is one of my personal favs... cheers to the cast & crew. I'll be watching this one many more times in the future (it's a keeper).
You and 'Bob' both did a great job, I think the ring light was a cool idea and adds that weird reflection in the pupil...nice. Love the writing. The timing was perfect too.
"No, I like children...except for the fat ones." Classic!
I'm kind of on the edge about the music throughout the whole piece... on one hand, I liked it and it kind of reinforced the comedy...but on the other hand, it was distracting me at times.
Nit-pickin', there was one shot where Bob leans in and he's out of focus that grabbed me. I wonder... was the boiling water bottle the iPhone footage?
This is one of my personal favs... cheers to the cast & crew. I'll be watching this one many more times in the future (it's a keeper).
Chris Messineo
Veteran
Excellent film.
I can't wait to share this one with my class. It's a great example of how a film doesn't need to be complicated to be well done and entertaining.
I thought both of the actors were really fantastic. The Dark Applicant was appropriately creepy and the New Boss was incredibly natural and I loved his reactions.
My favorite line/moment was: "Determination, unblinking resolve, and strong hands." It made me laugh out loud.
The sound was spot on and the score really enhanced the whole film.
Lastly, the edit was great - the quick pace kept it snappy and entertaining.
A few small suggestions:
- I really wanted a stronger reaction shot after "No, I enjoy it."
- The shot of the beach felt a bit forced.
- The ending with the boiling water was fun, but I think there should have been something a little more subtle there.
- Some of the compositions looked a bit off (e.g. the wide shots of the interviewer his head is too cut off in some shots).
But honestly, those are all very nit-picky. This was really great and definitely one of my favorites in the fest.
I can't wait to share this one with my class. It's a great example of how a film doesn't need to be complicated to be well done and entertaining.
I thought both of the actors were really fantastic. The Dark Applicant was appropriately creepy and the New Boss was incredibly natural and I loved his reactions.
My favorite line/moment was: "Determination, unblinking resolve, and strong hands." It made me laugh out loud.
The sound was spot on and the score really enhanced the whole film.
Lastly, the edit was great - the quick pace kept it snappy and entertaining.
A few small suggestions:
- I really wanted a stronger reaction shot after "No, I enjoy it."
- The shot of the beach felt a bit forced.
- The ending with the boiling water was fun, but I think there should have been something a little more subtle there.
- Some of the compositions looked a bit off (e.g. the wide shots of the interviewer his head is too cut off in some shots).
But honestly, those are all very nit-picky. This was really great and definitely one of my favorites in the fest.
AJ Brooks
Well-known member
Yes, the shot where Dirk leans forward and comes out of focus was of course the take I would have to use. He didn't lean forward in the other takes (hence the reason it was out of focus since it wasn't planned) but there was something about him leaning in that made it a better take so I used it over the "in focus" takes.
And yes, for whatever reason I thought the deadline was the 9th so I was rushed to shoot something for the missing "boiling shot" and the only camera I had that could do HD was a GoPro or my iPhone...so the iPhone won.
Thanks! And as for the delivery of the "except for the fat ones" line... that was the first take of him saying that line (we had an alternate line that wasn't working) and I noticed a funny misconception that I didn't realize during shooting.
Dirk, the dark applicant, finished the take and Chris, the DP, immediately requested another go at that line for his own reasons, not because it was a bad take. Dirk interpreted that as his performance was poor, because the moments after the take while still rolling he said, "oh yeah, I kinda delivered that line into the floor." So all of the following takes he said the line forcefully and clear, but it didn't have that funny aside quality of the first take where he said it to himself. Which is the take I loved because it makes you think about why he hates the fat ones, what's his story, was he picked on by them as a young small demon child?
Just an interesting observation of how sensitive actors are to the verbal and non-verbal feedback of the director and crew.
Thanks a lot, AJ... this actually made me laugh out loud at work. Great acting by both of you guys...good comedic timing. I enjoyed watching it a second time and caught even more jokes the second time around.
Glad to hear you guys are enjoying it a second time around, and even watching it a second time. That's a big compliment in my book. Thanks Ken!
Thanks Chris! And as for the "no response" from the interviewer (me) after the "No, I enjoy it" line... I decided to make certain "jokes" go under, without a response from the interviewer because I found the tempo and humor worked better if several of the clues went under the radar. So when to show a reaction and when to let it pass under was played around with a lot, and I just went with what had better pace.
Again, thanks for the reviews everyone.
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Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
This seemed to me like each actor was shot separately. Almost as if in two different locations. Not saying that was the case, but that's how it felt to me.
The best part was the writing and the applicants performance. He said some great lines but I felt like the response to some of those moments were hit and miss.
That's why it feels to me like they weren't working off one another. Either that or the wrong takes were chosen in editing.
There was just zero reaction during some great moments from across the table. If that was intentional (I'll read back and see if it was covered) I think it may have been the wrong choice. Even their eye-lines seemed off to me?
Aside from that the lead was great. He fit the role PERFECTLY. I really enjoyed his performance. Some funny stuff.
It was shot well enough and the sound was also pretty good. Kudos on getting another done.
The best part was the writing and the applicants performance. He said some great lines but I felt like the response to some of those moments were hit and miss.
That's why it feels to me like they weren't working off one another. Either that or the wrong takes were chosen in editing.
There was just zero reaction during some great moments from across the table. If that was intentional (I'll read back and see if it was covered) I think it may have been the wrong choice. Even their eye-lines seemed off to me?
Aside from that the lead was great. He fit the role PERFECTLY. I really enjoyed his performance. Some funny stuff.
It was shot well enough and the sound was also pretty good. Kudos on getting another done.
AJ Brooks
Well-known member
Yeah it was an editing choice. Almost every strange response evoked a look or reaction from the interviewer but in editing I found the pace worked better if I just let some of them slide by and instead have the audience be in on the joke and not the interviewer. It became a bit redundant and predictable to have a funny look every time the applicant gave a strange response. And also it worked in to the build of the interviewer figuring it out.
Thanks for the comments.
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
No problem. As mentioned earlier by others, the lack of reaction to lines like... "No, I enjoy it" (might not be the exact quote) just seemed like a mistake or an odd edit. Did you guys film this together or was each actor shot separately at different times? Just curious.
AJ Brooks
Well-known member
It was shot together. The lighting is much more dramatic on the dark applicant as well as a straight on shot, converse to interviewer whose is more natural looking and an off angle not so shocking "looking close to the camera" shot. I wanted his shots to be more imposing and surprising when we cut to him so it's pushed right up to the line where we questioned whether it would match or not.
And yes, the "No I enjoy it" line was intentional for it to pass by. I played with it both ways and it was just funnier (at least to me) when he didn't notice it.
And yes, the "No I enjoy it" line was intentional for it to pass by. I played with it both ways and it was just funnier (at least to me) when he didn't notice it.
Chris_Keaton
ScriptFEST Mod
I don't know what it is, but all the films I've been able to see have been great.... but this one was no exception.
I liked it. It looked really good and the acting was great. I'm envious. I wish I could write a one room two person banter script that worked. Great Job!
I liked it. It looked really good and the acting was great. I'm envious. I wish I could write a one room two person banter script that worked. Great Job!
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Chris Lukeman
Member
Chris Messineo covered pretty much everything that I was thinking of. I liked it and the score stood out to me as the perfect complement to the applicant- classy, refined, and a bit sinister.
