---[] One Percent []---

Geoff_R said:
Creepy stuff man :) Enjoyed it and admire the simplicity. You developed a solid flow with the camera moves and editing. Always a fan of your work! Keep it up man. Thanks for sharing.
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Geoff! Thanks so much. I commented on your film early on. Great stuff.


hoz said:
really loved how you used the camera to move into each shot. especially the bedroom in the beginning, loved the fish tank shot. don't mind me just shooting out my thoughts as they come... like the story and the ending, felt really poltergeist and thats a good thing. the tv shot was cool when it kicked on. the acting was good too. maybe a bit off here and there and i'd tell you where but i don't want to spoil the story by giving it here... oh, really loved the staircase shot too! there's a lot of good things here and i like how you made a simple house come alive like a character. really cool.

good job!!
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Thanks! It was a real challenge to try and turn the mundane into something interesting but I gave it a go. Who knew so many people loved fish! :D

Thanks again,


MAH
 
Man I wish I hadn't watched this right before bed! Excellent - great pace - creepy - beautifully shot. The intro scenes were especially great - you established the vibe so well so soon. And when she says 'It's your turn now' smiling at the end - wow - chilling stuff! I love that you just cut to outside then, leaving us thinking. I like thinking :)

Only one little niggle - and I only say this because I think it's a great film - but I'd cut either the water splashing scene or the drinking water scene - both serve the same narrative purpose. The drinking water scene is probably more dramatic and prettier...up to you though of course. Just a thought! Oh and also I'd maybe chop up the phone call a bit - do some sharp cuts as its a bit flat compared to how awesome everything else is - and the near crying is a little unconvincing.

But honestly those are little niggles. I loved this. Great great job. You're a real pro. (As in professional) :)
 
hoz said:
...the tv shot was cool when it kicked on....
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Just a quick comment on that part: These flat panel TVs don't power on immediately when you hit the "on" button. There was like a 5-8 seconds delay before the static would appear. It was fun to try and time it so that it would come on at the right time -- it's not like we were using a chronometer or anything...we just winged it until it worked.

Anyway, I'm really glad that people are responding so well to your entry Mike. I witnessed how you worked on this one and you definitely have a strong grasp on what needs to be done, and the end result speaks for itself.

cheers man !
 
Most festival entries have me concentrating on the production values (or flaws). While watching this short, my mind was simply focused on how it was sending shivers down my spine! You reached right into my childhood nightmares! And all this on an HV20?? You certainly put that camera to fantastic use- bravo, and damn you for creeping me out when I go to sleep tonight!
 
Sarah Daly said:
Man I wish I hadn't watched this right before bed! Excellent - great pace - creepy - beautifully shot. The intro scenes were especially great - you established the vibe so well so soon. And when she says 'It's your turn now' smiling at the end - wow - chilling stuff! I love that you just cut to outside then, leaving us thinking. I like thinking :)
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Thanks, Sarah! Thinking is good. I like. :)



Denis Haineault said:
Just a quick comment on that part: These flat panel TVs don't power on immediately when you hit the "on" button. There was like a 5-8 seconds delay before the static would appear. It was fun to try and time it so that it would come on at the right time -- it's not like we were using a chronometer or anything...we just winged it until it worked.

Anyway, I'm really glad that people are responding so well to your entry Mike. I witnessed how you worked on this one and you definitely have a strong grasp on what needs to be done, and the end result speaks for itself.

cheers man !
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The pleasure was all mine. Denis showed up and was eager to do whatever I threw at him. Whether it was holding the boom or lying on the floor with the remote and turning on the TV at just the right moment. Another tidbit for that shot, I framed it just so that Ian's head blocks out the input display that pops up in the top right corner of the screen for a few seconds. I figured it would look better without it in the shot. Seems to have worked.

Thanks again, Denis.



dcarstens said:
Most festival entries have me concentrating on the production values (or flaws). While watching this short, my mind was simply focused on how it was sending shivers down my spine! You reached right into my childhood nightmares! And all this on an HV20?? You certainly put that camera to fantastic use- bravo, and damn you for creeping me out when I go to sleep tonight!
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Comments like this mean a lot! They really make me feel like all of this was worth it. I'm not going to lie, I would love to have a Red. Hell, I would love to have a GH1 or a 7D!

But the fact is that it doesn't really matter much in the end. Well, maybe a little in a technical forum like this. :)
I'm just glad that you were sucked in and enjoyed the ride. Sounds like I may have creeped out a few people, that was the goal.

Thanks so much for all the reviews.

MAH
 
Great Job. I really appreciated how many setups you got in 6 mins. It really adds to the cinematic to switch from shot to shot. Almost lost me at the "Ring static" but it was creepy as hell when, "We were talking like this when it..." I liked the way you tied together two events across time. Did you write this as well?

Very cinematic look out of an HV20. I was the DP for Justin Durban's 'Bits and Pieces' with my 7d and loved the flexibility it gave us with lighting etc. If you have this much talent it's worth the investment IMHO. Overall a success via 'Chills up my spine' and if it kept going for another 84 mins I would have stayed glued to the screen. And that is really what it is all about when it comes down to it, so good job.
 
Michael -

Good stuff. Period. Liked the sound design and the pacing. You certainly turned a house into a crypt of memories the father was trapped in. As a father to a beautiful daughter myself, anytime the theme of a flick has to do with losing a child - it impacts me. The first few effects shots were seriously cool. Honestly, LOVED the eye in the tiny piece of mirror in the jewelry box. The only time I didn't fully believe the lead was when he found his daugther back at home in the room. I don't know why but the loss, sorrow, joy, disbelief that would manifest in that moment seemed too thin. Not an easy scene to pull off for any actor, but that was my only real issue. CHEERS.
 
johnhafner said:
Great Job. I really appreciated how many setups you got in 6 mins. It really adds to the cinematic to switch from shot to shot. Almost lost me at the "Ring static" but it was creepy as hell when, "We were talking like this when it..." I liked the way you tied together two events across time. Did you write this as well?

Very cinematic look out of an HV20. I was the DP for Justin Durban's 'Bits and Pieces' with my 7d and loved the flexibility it gave us with lighting etc. If you have this much talent it's worth the investment IMHO. Overall a success via 'Chills up my spine' and if it kept going for another 84 mins I would have stayed glued to the screen. And that is really what it is all about when it comes down to it, so good job.
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Love your avatar. :thumbup:

Thanks, John! Yes, I wrote this one. Appreciate the comments. In the end I actually only used 4 minutes as I tend to put too much in and try to jam everything into 6. :)
After seeing your work in Justin's piece I may have to make that investment. You shot a beautiful looking movie for sure, no doubt.

Thanks so much.

Mike
 
lyonfilms said:
Michael -

Good stuff. Period. Liked the sound design and the pacing. You certainly turned a house into a crypt of memories the father was trapped in. As a father to a beautiful daughter myself, anytime the theme of a flick has to do with losing a child - it impacts me. The first few effects shots were seriously cool. Honestly, LOVED the eye in the tiny piece of mirror in the jewelry box. The only time I didn't fully believe the lead was when he found his daugther back at home in the room. I don't know why but the loss, sorrow, joy, disbelief that would manifest in that moment seemed too thin. Not an easy scene to pull off for any actor, but that was my only real issue. CHEERS.
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Thanks, man. I really dig your work and appreciate the feedback. I have a young daughter myself and know exactly how you feel.

Justin nailed the eye for me! He tried it a few different ways and I think this was the best choice. I love it.

MAH
 
Michael Anthony Horrigan said:
Thanks. I'm looking at the 7D and the GH1. Both seem like great little cameras.
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I've been looking into these cameras myself. They are quite affordable and give you a big bang for your buck. Keep in mind to buy good glass. That's where things can get a little pricey. Three prime lens and a zoom. At one point I was hot for the GH1, but now my attention is drawn to the Canon Mark II 7D. Its within the same price range as the GH1 with all the features and then some.

Its time to leave that 35mm adapter behind.
 
Sprocketboy said:
Damn you! I bet you can turn straw into gold. :lipsrseal
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No. I wasn't trying to brag or anything at all like that. I just never had the opportunity or the pleasure. Not for a short film anyway. Tinkered with a Brevis once for about an hour. Liked what I saw.

I just won't get any benefit from your original 35mm statement is all.
That's what the smiley was about. :)
 
Great entry as always, Mike. It may just be that I have examined your work more closely than most others here in the DVXUser fests, but you do seem to have one of the most recognizable styles. And just to be sure, following on from twitchy fingers in the Führerbunker, we now have the Musical Box in One Percent :). I didn't catch the VFX (the alien in the mirror and the spaceship shadow) first time round but maybe that doesn't matter - the story works very well in any case, and they are there if you notice them or want to look for them. The little girl's closing line is great and, in my opininon, very well delivered - part of the chill comes from that little half smile she makes. At first I thought you could have ended the film right there, it's got such a great punch, but now my attention has been drawn to the spaceship shadow... well, I don't know... but I understand why you wanted that final scene. Herman Witkam's sound and score worked really well, the acting seemed good - great job by all.
Cheers
Jason
 
Thanks, Jason. It's been a long time. :)

Glad you liked it. Herman really did outdo himself with the score. I'm glad that you brought it up. His first draft was damn near perfect! After he tweaked it a bit I was amazed at just how well it seemed to fit. Sound is half the battle.

Thanks again for dropping by and say hi to Susanne for me!

For those who may not know, Jason and his wife Susanne were instrumental in directing the German voice crew for Calls From the Führerbunker.

Cheers,

MAH
 
Michael,

One thing I forgot to mention (and I don't know how I did)...
I LOVED your mirror-shot of the creepy girl... sent chills down my spine. Was one of the premiere moments not just in your film, but in the whole fest.
 
Michael Anthony Horrigan said:
Thanks. I knew I needed a hook in that scene to put it over the top. I'm just happy it worked out.
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Yup, I gotta comment on that too... The creepy girl sequence at the beginning was executed very well; the only problem was that I think it should have been longer to give us a chance to take it in and be truly unsettled by it. You know how to rock an image and drag it out of the box, your shots and angles are commendable. I've always liked your films and can't wait to see what you come up with next!
 
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