OMG! Fan makes his first action film!

Nathyn

Nathyn

Low Budget Ninja
After reading my book "Action Filmmaking", Kempo instructor Tim Bulot (who used to make martial arts instructional videos) is making his first action film. He sent me a scene. They're filming with the Sony Z5 and the Z7. He says the fights will become more complex as the plot unfolds. This is so freaking cool. There's also some great instructional vids on his youtube account:

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I AGREE

-Nate
 
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Jason Ramsey said:
at least they're out there trying and doing :)

later,
Jason
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Absolutely true, but that doesn't mean they necessarily should.
Nathyn's description was shall we say... enthusiastically optimistic ?
If you ever heard me sing, you'd thank me.:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
Pookie said:
Absolutely true, but that doesn't mean they necessarily should.
Nathyn's description was shall we say... enthusiastically optimistic ?
If you ever heard me sing, you'd thank me.:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
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What does this even mean? Yes I am happy to see someone read my book and be encouraged to start their first film.

I was inspired after seeing El Mariachi in film school, but didn't know where or how to start. To my knowledge this guys has no film training aside from instructional vids. I'm pretty proud of him. I wish I had the courage to simply get out there and do it, but I didn't. It took me ten years so mad props to him.

As for alluding to it being $#!T, I'm sure you're a successful director somewhere with a string of hit features. Sorry we're not all you and amazingly some of us are even beginners. But here's a heads up, next time how about you be a little more specific about things? That may actually be helpful. Thanks for the constructive criticism.

-Nate
 
Nathyn said:
What does this even mean? Yes I am happy to see someone read my book and be encouraged to start their first film.

I was inspired after seeing El Mariachi in film school, but didn't know where or how to start. To my knowledge this guys has no film training aside from instructional vids. I'm pretty proud of him. I wish I had the courage to simply get out there and do it, but I didn't. It took me ten years so mad props to him.

As for alluding to it being $#!T, I'm sure you're a successful director somewhere with a string of hit features. Sorry we're not all you and amazingly some of us are even beginners. But here's a heads up, next time how about you be a little more specific about things? That may actually be helpful. Thanks for the constructive criticism.

-Nate
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OK.

Blown highlights, never a good thing to see, should learn the camera first above all.

Too many zooms (5 in a 2:12 clip). Zooming is something that (at best) needs to be used "very seldom", and even then needs to be re-thought.

Very strange framing (9 seconds of the back of a head), the "bad guy" sneaking up from behind the car, a shot of the guy sitting in the car driving away (doesn't seem to fit).

The driver looking directly at the camera.

The mystery knife shot (where did it come from).

Too many shaky handheld shots that don't work.

The car parked in the background at 1:44 looks amazingly like the car that drove away at 1:28.

Your enthusiasm about this clip is confusing. You say he read your book, but you don't seem to see the poor techniques. I understand he's new to action films, but perhaps you should help him out with some of the details he's missing, I assume if he read a book you wrote, you'd want to see him adjust some things to improve his work. You called this clip "so freaking cool", but it's maybe, not so much.

Encouraged to start their first film, yes, but blind praise can be worse than none.
 
I went to film school and my first film had everything you mentioned and people still thought my film was cool and at the same time gave me constructive criticism about my work. My next film fixed many of those problems and I ran into other which will be fixed in my next film. And if my enthusiasm is confusing then I guess you're easily confused.

My suggestion in my book is that people come here for support and promotion of their projects, but no one wants to hear "It's $#!T". That doesn't help. And I don't think "so freakin' cool" counts as blind praise, it was a reaction to seeing him starting a project after reading my book and seeing him put his martial arts into effect (he's a real instructor in the arts). I know you probably believe if someone isn't a pro they shouldn't make films, or don't deserve to but it's his money and time. These aren't professional actors, he's not a pro either. He's learning as he goes and to me this clip is "freakin' cool". It's my opinion.

In fact the "shaky" shots were great for the fight so that's obviously just your opinion. The close ups did work as his focus is on the full body of the art. he got close ups on the faces and medium shots on the full body work. In most martial art films you don't get full body. In our original exchange I suggested this after seeing his instructional video and I try to do the same in my films as well, even though I also use the quick cuts. He said that was something he was planning.

As for the knife, it's no mystery, it's in the attacker's hand when he attacks. The knife is knocked away. When the fight is over the main guy picks up the knife and tosses it away. How is that a mystery? It seems pretty cut and dry to me. As for the car in the background it's a continuity error and we've all done it. So why would I not be excited over this just because the guy is a beginner. You make no sense here.

The other stuff comes with time, but I know being the old pro don't remember your starting days. How much you making now days, a mill or two a film. If this film isn't perfect and he goes on to sale and promote it then I say more power to him. He's learning by doing just as I do. It's very different on set then in film school. You're all alone calling the shots and handling almost every detail. And this is a great clip for someone with no former education in film save what he read from a couple of books.

And to end, I hope I never get to the place my success or knowledge takes the life and fun from what I do, so much so I can't give props to a novice filmmaker even if they aren't so perfect. I'd rather help them than try to show off how I'm much smarter than they are. I just don't think you need to stroke yourself at the expense of a newbie filmmaker. And again, it's a freakin' cool clip.

-Nate
 
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The comments were in reply to your post, about someone reading your book and shooting an "action film" as a result.
The clip was described by you as "so freaking cool", yet this clip wasn't posted by the filmmaker, but rather by the author of the book "Action Filmmaking" that inspired him. You refer to him as someone "who used to make martial arts instructional videos", and as such, it implies that he is not a novice to video work, but simply advancing into "action films".
His martial arts videos show he does indeed have experience with the camera and it does show, but to transition into "filmmaking" needs more than OMG! and so freaking cool praise. I assume he wants to be taken seriously, and as such needs real feedback from the author who's book he's learning from.
Your description set up a certain anticipation that this clip simply failed to deliver on.
I assume that as the author of the book that he followed (and apparently a film school grad yourself), you would understand the need for realistic feedback. OMG and freaking cool aren't actually helpful information to a developing artist, unless they come from your parents.

As for the comments I made, they simply offer (yes) my opinions.
 
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