"Nine to Five Ninja" by msconce

msconce said:
I think they used this in kill bill.
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I can't remember, but I'd be shocked if they didn't the way Tarantino was paying homage to the martial arts films.
 
The etheral smoke/fog really ties together the super hero

The etheral smoke/fog really ties together the super hero

Noct said:
I loved all the smoke effects you had going on. The ninja outfits look superb. You had a great atmosphere going on. I was entertained by this short.
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The fog just seems to appear when the 9-5 Ninja appears. At times it wafts from his head and over the field of battle. It turned out really nice.
 
Michael T said:
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.
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I thought the images looked good in my LCD on the DVX100b while we were shooting. Like my former cameras, I expected the image to lose quality when shown on my 50inch LCD tv. I finished 9-5 Ninja, put it onto a DVD (by reinserting the pulldown) and thought "Well, it is compressed onto DVD, but hopefully it looks okay on the tv..." I played it and sat there in awe. there was no noise on the image. That was from a DVD! When I plug my camera into the LCD TV, it looks beyond phenomenal! This camera blows my mind!

I shot on the f5 scene file and turned the color temp to -3. Other than that, it is stock images, with magic bullet2 filters "Echo Blue" on them for the night scenes, and "Basic" on them for the day scenes. Thanks for the comments! I appreciate them greatly.:dankk2:
 
Great Camera angles!

Great Camera angles!

Kholi said:
...In regards to the fight scenes again, I noticed a very intuitive and or rather prepared camera. As in... the camera moved at the right timed actually covering the action. I really applaud you guys on that, the camera op, director. fight director. and dp. Great job. By the by, I noticed that your footage was rather clean. Good job on that as well.
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I agree. The use of high medium, low and very low angles give the viewer a special way of watching the action. It is almost like we, the viewers, are able to fly around the action viewing it from many positions, like gods.

That alone makes this one of my favorite shorts of the fest.
 
jsemperparatus said:
I agree. The use of high medium, low and very low angles give the viewer a special way of watching the action. It is almost like we, the viewers, are able to fly around the action viewing it from many positions, like gods.
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That was my intention, and I am glad it translated well to the screen. I wanted the camera to give that feeling. When the ninja runs, you run with him, when the kicks drop low, so does the camera. That was the intent.
 
The quiet hero matches the secret identity

The quiet hero matches the secret identity

mrpunch said:
I thoroughly enjoyed the way the fight was filmed. Amazed actually! The low camera on the shot where he flips them both was awesome, and the way it cut with the preceeding and after shot was superb!
I would have liked for him to maybe say something while he was in the office. The manager was over excited and I didn't know why. But it fits with the mood, once the mood is set with the ninja dialogue. Maybe having the lead say something in that voice as he walked away or was leaving the office would have set that more.
Was the smoke added in post or did you use something while filming?
Hats off to the fight coreography and the shot selection!
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It is interesting that the 9-5 Ninja doesn't reply to the boss. As a person who has worked in an office environment, you know what the boss is saying and thus don't need to hear anything there.

The 9-5 Ninja hero is just like us in that he calmly takes the crap that is being dished out at him. Yet, he still has 'Harmony' as the sign in the background slyly says. A little window on the soul of the 9-5 Ninja.

I really like that way the 9-5 Ninja makes a sound only when he is 'donning his hero persona'. That matches with the brilliant way this is writing the hero as a subtle cliche hero. Along with his even appearing at all trouble... even kid playing with fire.
 
It's fun, but I've seen it before. I kept wanting something orginal to smack me in the face. You have ninjas...go off. I do respect (a great deal, I might add) the fact that all of the combat was practiced in detail.
 
spidey said:
very 80's but the ending destroyed the movie with the smokey the bear thing.
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Sorry you feel that way.:crybaby: I guess it depends on how serious people take the movie. We were trying to make a comical tongue in cheek movie. The Nine to Five Ninja not only saves Scotsmen from Ninjas, but protects our forest and youth :) . I may have a quirky sense of humor, but I love the last line. But I must admit, you either love it or hate it and I knew that when we put it in. Thanks for your honest opinions.
 
Matthew B. Moore said:
It's fun, but I've seen it before. I kept wanting something orginal to smack me in the face. You have ninjas...go off. I do respect (a great deal, I might add) the fact that all of the combat was practiced in detail.
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A super hero Ninja Master that gets his power from a magic headband, saves Scotmen from ninjas and protects the forest is not original??


I am sorry you did not find what you were looking for in our short, and I thank you for the honest comments. :) I respectfully disagree, and think our film is incredibly original.:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
I've seen too many asian films.

Pardon my mechanical donkey.

Your ideas are original, but your story telling is what I'm talking about.
 
Matthew B. Moore said:
I've seen too many asian films.

Pardon my mechanical donkey.

Your ideas are original, but your story telling is what I'm talking about.
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I see, thanks for clarifying. And I will definitely pardon your mechanical donkey....
donkey_robotandboy.gif
 
Good, bad, ugly? Loved it, hated it, want to marry it? Let us know what you thought, as it helps us become better film makers in the future. Thanks!
 
Matt,

I have no idea why I thought I had already posted my comments, but apparently not.

Of course, now the feedback is so huge that I may be repeating, but in any event ...

The stuff I really liked:
  1. I thought this was nicely shot and really well lit.
  2. The music was very good and fit the mood. Well done.
  3. Dolly shots. Love 'em.
  4. I thought the method of the hero getting a knife-message about someone in need of saving was great. Makes you wonder where the thrower was ...
  5. Really funny line from the Scot. But ... (see comment below)
  6. Your lead actor was very good. Nice job finding him.
  7. The pacing was good throughout. And it kept my attention. Good job.
Now for the stuff that I had to think about:
  • Let's talk story for a sec. Why the office confrontation? What did it add? Was he getting fired? If so, why? Was it a method to get him out of the office? If so, I don't think it was necessary (see next comment)
  • You cut from a day scene where he gets the message to save the Scot, to a night scene of the fight. Did it take him several hours to get there? Hmmm.
  • Now about the Scot. Funny line. It worked. But soon thereafter we get the "Only you can prevent forest fires" line. The latter line seemed like a throwaway to me and wasn't, IMHO, worth the set-up. I would have quit with the "Freedom!" line, or added more comedic lines to emphasize the comedy. But maybe that's just me.
  • Parts of the fight scene worked for me and parts didn't. Loved the slow-mo and sped up parts. Loved the dual flip. But some of the other parts seemed too staged (like the one where the hero ducks the kick but seems to start going for the duck before the guy starts to kick). Please don't think this is a huge criticism - just an impression.
  • The ending with the hero taking a swing at the viewer was a little trite for me. Again, maybe that's just me.
Really liked this effort.

I read above where your wife commented about how proud she is of you for this. She should be.

Thanks for making this, and for letting us comment.
 
Dahopafilms said:
Matt,

I have no idea why I thought I had already posted my comments, but apparently not.

Of course, now the feedback is so huge that I may be repeating, but in any event ...

The stuff I really liked:
  1. I thought this was nicely shot and really well lit.
  2. The music was very good and fit the mood. Well done.
  3. Dolly shots. Love 'em.
  4. I thought the method of the hero getting a knife-message about someone in need of saving was great. Makes you wonder where the thrower was ...
  5. Really funny line from the Scot. But ... (see comment below)
  6. Your lead actor was very good. Nice job finding him.
  7. The pacing was good throughout. And it kept my attention. Good job.
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Wow, these comments above encompass so many of the things we were striving for, it feels good to know they worked. I am hoping others feel this way too. We put a lot of effort into the pacing, lighting, cinematography and editing so I am glad they turned out well.

Dahopafilms said:
Now for the stuff that I had to think about:
  • Let's talk story for a sec. Why the office confrontation? What did it add? Was he getting fired? If so, why? Was it a method to get him out of the office? If so, I don't think it was necessary (see next comment)
  • You cut from a day scene where he gets the message to save the Scot, to a night scene of the fight. Did it take him several hours to get there? Hmmm.
  • Now about the Scot. Funny line. It worked. But soon thereafter we get the "Only you can prevent forest fires" line. The latter line seemed like a throwaway to me and wasn't, IMHO, worth the set-up. I would have quit with the "Freedom!" line, or added more comedic lines to emphasize the comedy. But maybe that's just me.
  • Parts of the fight scene worked for me and parts didn't. Loved the slow-mo and sped up parts. Loved the dual flip. But some of the other parts seemed too staged (like the one where the hero ducks the kick but seems to start going for the duck before the guy starts to kick). Please don't think this is a huge criticism - just an impression.
  • The ending with the hero taking a swing at the viewer was a little trite for me. Again, maybe that's just me.
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I completely agree, after reviewing the fight that the actors go for the blocks and reactions before the actual strikes are thrown. I should have seen this as a director and informed them of it...ARG!:crybaby: The last line was a gamble. I find it hilarious and get 50/50 reviews of it. Ah well, I guess I can't please everyone......but I want to anyway!!!!

Dahopafilms said:
Really liked this effort.

I read above where your wife commented about how proud she is of you for this. She should be.

Thanks for making this, and for letting us comment.
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You are welcome. We enjoyed making this movie and hope, although many have remained silent, that the people who watched it were entertained as well. Thank you to those of you who have helped us with your feedback. We always look forward to more.
 
Well, I have voted and am off to film a wedding. I'll be back on monday to respond to whatever posts have come my way. Thank you for the feedback already given!
 
hey man -- funny weird short with some pretty nice camera moves and lighting

I iked the dolly crossfade from the bed to the bathroom for example.

I would have liked if the story had envloved him being a nine to five ninja vs. working nine to 5 and THEN being a ninja, as it was, each hafl was unrelated and you didn't get full comic potential out of it as you would if they da job had interfreared or intruded into the ninja storyline or vice versa


nice fight coreography

then end shot of the kid is one of the best in the fest with the smoke and all, but not a lot of people notice great shots in a farce to bad because that one was awesome.

nice job, I was entertained and i laughed and it was different,

thanks
Jack
 
When this ended I thought, "What the F%#K?" and then I realized there was a smile on my face.

I liked it. Good job!
 
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