"Nine to Five Ninja" by msconce

[Matt Sconce]

I was highly entertained! Everything about it was fun. Sometimes having a comical look on something can be more enjoyable than getting all serious and dramatic. Thanks for a comical time.
-Shanyettarogar-Evil(DBG):

That was the goal! I am glad you liked it! We decided to take a comical approach (tongue in cheek style) to the superhero thing. We wanted to have a comedy action movie. I think we made a pretty good combo of the two. I hope everyone was able to laugh from this and enjoy the camera work, lighting, music, etc. :cheesy:
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[Matt Sconce]

I am so loving this contest!

 

[Heather]

Yeah for 9 to 5 Ninja!

Yeah for 9 to 5 Ninja!

Hello!!
This is msconce's wife. I am so proud of my hubby. He's done a lot of little videos for our family and church, but the look on his face when he got his DVX and was able to make his dream come true, was priceless. I know it's truly a love for him. When I saw the final product of 9 to 5 Ninja, (I was one of the grips ) I was stunned. The look of the DVX first of all, is so professional looking! It's just an amazing camera. The film itself, and in a non-biased opinion, turned out wonderfully! I could watch it over and over. The lighting and the camera angles and shots, make it look so professional. I'm so very proud of my man! thanks!

 

[Matt Sconce]

Hello!!
This is msconce's wife. I am so proud of my hubby. He's done a lot of little videos for our family and church, but the look on his face when he got his DVX and was able to make his dream come true, was priceless. I know it's truly a love for him. When I saw the final product of 9 to 5 Ninja, (I was one of the grips ) I was stunned. The look of the DVX first of all, is so professional looking! It's just an amazing camera. The film itself, and in a non-biased opinion, turned out wonderfully! I could watch it over and over. The lighting and the camera angles and shots, make it look so professional. I'm so very proud of my man! thanks!

:love4: Thanks babe.......*blushes*

 

[Matt Sconce]

This is Master Johnson A.K.A. "Nine to Five Ninja" I would like to thank all of you for the great comments so far. It is very encouraging. It has been such an honor working with Matt Sconce. He is so gifted, talented, and professional. Not to mention a great Martial Artist in his own right. I look forward to working with him on future projects. See you at the movies!!
:dankk2:

Just to let you all know. Master Dave Johnson was amazing to work with. I was a little concerned (since this was my first film) about directing actors. he made it effortless. He takes direction well, never complains, and is there even if your shoot stretches to three in the morning.........which it did........and he had to drive an hour home. He definitely added to the amazing group of people that worked on this film. I enjoyed his line "You forget so quickly" the most.......rogar-Evil(DBG):

"The Scotsman" here.

What can I say about "9-5 Ninja?" I got a call from msconce one day asking if I have my kilt handy, and the next thing I know we're filming a short. It was fun, and there are some things I'm sure we'd all change about it, but as a first effort I'm pleased.

Thanks for the comments and keep them coming. There will definitely be more films in the future, possibly with llamas. Or platypi; I hear they're non-union.

Where's my agent?

The Scotsman was great as well. I definitely think it will be Platypi for Horror fest! Rabid, stinking, viscious, poisonous, mutated Platypi! Aww I just gave away my secret plan of Horrorfest domination....:furious3:

 

[jsemperparatus]

Eeeevil Platypi?

Eeeevil Platypi?

Sounds very funny. Back to 9-5 Ninja...

What made you choose to make your hero just a seemingly normal business guy?

Also... Wombats... evil wombats would be good.

 

[Matt Sconce]

There will definitely be more films in the future, possibly with llamas. Or platypi; I hear they're non-union.

 

[Matt Sconce]

Sounds very funny. Back to 9-5 Ninja...

What made you choose to make your hero just a seemingly normal business guy?

We wanted the viewer to be wondering what was coming. We wanted to establish that he was an average guy until he received his (Bat Signal) "the knife in the tree" He then donned the Bandana of Power and saved the day.

 

[jsemperparatus]

I loved the knife part!

I loved the knife part!

We wanted the viewer to be wondering what was coming. We wanted to establish that he was an average guy until he received his (Bat Signal) "the knife in the tree" He then donned the Bandana of Power and saved the day.

One of my favorite parts is the "fwop-fwop-shhunk!" of the knife hitting the tree and the, "Mastuh... You are needed!" Then the 9-5 Ninja grunts. THAT IS SOOO FUNNY!!!

Nice job writing.

 

[Matt Sconce]

One of my favorite parts is the "fwop-fwop-shhunk!" of the knife hitting the tree and the, "Mastuh... You are needed!" Then the 9-5 Ninja grunts. THAT IS SOOO FUNNY!!!

Nice job writing.

I would have loved to have a follow focus for this scene or a 35mm adapter so I could get a great rack focus from the master to the knife. We added the Master you are needed" line because we felt like people would think the ninjas had thrown the knife at him. We definitely didn't want that. We wanted people to know it was calling him to action. I love that part too!

 

[jsemperparatus]

I like the way 9-5 Ninja 'appears'

I like the way 9-5 Ninja 'appears'

I would have loved to have a follow focus for this scene or a 35mm adapter so I could get a great rack focus from the master to the knife. We added the Master you are needed" line because we felt like people would think the ninjas had thrown the knife at him. We definitely didn't want that. We wanted people to know it was calling him to action. I love that part too!

Another part I really like is just as the Scot is shouting, "Laddies... leave me be!" the 9-5 Ninja appears in the background, the evil ninja looks back, and then when the evil ninja looks again he is way closer. I laugh when the evil ninja makes his 'ninja-esque exclaimation at his closer presence.

One of the great strengths of this fine short is the fantastic use of sound effects and the overall tying together of the sound appropriately to all important movements.

Even the removing of the 9-5 Ninja's dress coat is perfectly crisp adding a measured effect and displaying even 'clothes removal expertise' Kind of like Superman.

This is a great short!

 

[Blaine]

I got quite a few chuckles from this one. Your sound design was just right. Loved the Hong Kong martial arts sounds. I was waiting for one of those Hong Kong snap zooms (my term, I'm not sure what the correct name is), with accompanying sound effects.

My only beef is that I felt the fight scenes were over choreographed. There was no spontaneity to their movements and at times moved a little slow. You might have been able to solve this by speeding up the fight in post.

 

[jsemperparatus]

I agree with you on the fine sound.

I agree with you on the fine sound.

I got quite a few chuckles from this one. Your sound design was just right. Loved the Hong Kong martial arts sounds. I was waiting for one of those Hong Kong snap zooms (my term, I'm not sure what the correct name is), with accompanying sound effects.

You are so right. That was one of my favorite parts too. When the Scot runs off shouting "FFRRRREEEEEEDDDOOOOMMMM!" did you notice the perfect way the sound rolls away. Nice work. I think that the subtle humor is actually perfected by the great use of sound in this one.

This is one funny flick. In that vein, the smokey bear part at the end is the perfect tongue in cheek way to show the cliche hero doing what is needed each night.

 

[Matt Sconce]

Another part I really like is just as the Scot is shouting, "Laddies... leave me be!" the 9-5 Ninja appears in the background, the evil ninja looks back, and then when the evil ninja looks again he is way closer. I laugh when the evil ninja makes his 'ninja-esque exclaimation at his closer presence.

This was accomplished by using the tried and true method of Z99 and then F-stopping to the proper exposer. We did this for all the depth of field shots in the film. We were too poor to afford a 35mm adapter, and I think it worked out better this way. If we had the adapter, we would have had to light the night shots brighter, and we had already exhausted our light supply. This definitely was filled with humor. We hoped people would find it funny when the ninja is distracted by the "freedom" yelling Scotsman, then turns to find the master right behind him, grunting in comical ninja fashion.....

We also thought it would be funny, that the ninjas would not recognize who the 9-5 was until he put on the headband.

One of the great strengths of this fine short is the fantastic use of sound effects and the overall tying together of the sound appropriately to all important movements.

Even the removing of the 9-5 Ninja's dress coat is perfectly crisp adding a measured effect and displaying even 'clothes removal expertise' Kind of like Superman.

This is a great short!

Well thanks there. Almost all the sounds you hear were done ADR. We recorded them in a living room and using a nylon jacket for the whooshes and such. The strikes were made by balling up the jacket and hitting my palm. The others were made by modulating vocal sound effects.

 

[Matt Sconce]

I got quite a few chuckles from this one. Your sound design was just right. Loved the Hong Kong martial arts sounds. I was waiting for one of those Hong Kong snap zooms (my term, I'm not sure what the correct name is), with accompanying sound effects.

My only beef is that I felt the fight scenes were over choreographed. There was no spontaneity to their movements and at times moved a little slow. You might have been able to solve this by speeding up the fight in post.

Is the snap zoom, where it rapidly jumps to their eyes glaring or something? If so, we almost put those in, but could not fit them in the time. We made this under the 5 min mark, before the time was extended.

I can understand the choreography comment. This was my first attempt at putting a fight on film. Some things could be sped up and could turn out well, but all in all, I am pleased with the way it tunred out.

Thank you for the comments.

 

[jsemperparatus]

IT is funny that the evil ninjas can't recognize 9-5 Ninja...

IT is funny that the evil ninjas can't recognize 9-5 Ninja...

This was accomplished by using the tried and true method of Z99 and then F-stopping to the proper exposer. We did this for all the depth of field shots in the film. We were too poor to afford a 35mm adapter, and I think it worked out better this way. If we had the adapter, we would have had to light the night shots brighter, and we had already exhausted our light supply. This definitely was filled with humor. We hoped people would find it funny when the ninja is distracted by the "freedom" yelling Scotsman, then turns to find the master right behind him, grunting in comical ninja fashion.....

We also thought it would be funny, that the ninjas would not recognize who the 9-5 was until he put on the headband.



Well thanks there. Almost all the sounds you hear were done ADR. We recorded them in a living room and using a nylon jacket for the whooshes and such. The strikes were made by balling up the jacket and hitting my palm. The others were made by modulating vocal sound effects.

I was reminded of the old Superman TV show where Lois Lane can't tell that Clark Kent is Superman just because he wears glasses. The one where the evil man from the future shouts "DUH!, DUH!" at Lois Lane and calls her the 'stupidest woman in the world' for not recognizing Superman.

I liked it when the evil ninjas can't recognize 9-5 Ninja and he says, "You forget so quickly!" as if he has kicked their butts before. FUNNY!:nads:

 

[Blaine]

Is the snap zoom, where it rapidly jumps to their eyes glaring or something? If so, we almost put those in, but could not fit them in the time.

I was thinking of where you go from a medium closeup to a tighter closeup, extremely fast, almost like a jump cut but not quite that fast.

 

[jsemperparatus]

The Chinese martial arts movies used that cut alot

The Chinese martial arts movies used that cut alot

I was thinking of where you go from a medium closeup to a tighter closeup, extremely fast, almost like a jump cut but not quite that fast.

Fast but smooth cuts like that are used in Chinese martial arts films. Weren't they also used in spaghetti westerns?

 

[Matt Sconce]

Fast but smooth cuts like that are used in Chinese martial arts films. Weren't they also used in spaghetti westerns?

hmmm...maybe...*hears the sound of tumble weeds rolling by*

I was thinking of where you go from a medium closeup to a tighter closeup, extremely fast, almost like a jump cut but not quite that fast.

I see. I think they used this in kill bill. Thanks for the comments!

 

[Michael T]

I liked it and the smoke was a nice touch. I'd like to see it full blown so as to appreciate the dark shots and how crisp they seem to be.