Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
And that score--holy ****! AWESOME!
Pestilence - John Hudson
- Thread starter J.R. Hudson
- Start date
Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
And someone said, "the acting was a bit off." Are they ****in' nuts? The acting was great. And who ****in' cares that the SUV was parked somewhere else in the other shot! EVERYTHING was great! Okay, I would've probably chosen different typefaces for your title design . . . BUT, EVERYTHING ELSE WAS ABSOLUTELY ****IN' AWESOME! I MEAN, PERFECT.
Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
Aww, **** the fonts, John. THAT FILM KICKED ****IN' ASS, AND YOU ALL KNOW IT!
John C Lyons
Veteran
NBCShooter, may I introduce you to the "modify" button...LOL
Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
Are you guys nuts? That wide shot ROCKED! Given our limited resources, John made the MOST out of the extras he had at hand. That wide shot was expertly blocked and it TOTALLY worked. And yeah, I'm sure if John had like a $3 million budget, I'm sure he would've had a few more extras, and like real guns, and car crashes and **** too.hiro said:
Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
That was my favorite part of their dialogue! And what's all this, "John needs more extras" ****? Holy crap--that was a damn convincing scene as it was. Plus, it looked like when people are "just finding out" something's ****ed up--like, not everybody knows to run yet and only a few trickle out of buildings first. Remember 9/11? People weren't exactly sure what to do. Some kept working. Some were told to stay, and at first, only a few trickled out. I totally bought it.the-lyons-den.com said:
Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
Uhhh . . . I have to be at work in two hours. And I haven't slept yet. I'll shut up now.
John C Lyons
Veteran
I am in total agreement, he did make the most of the situation. But for as big a story as was setup in the first two shots, this street scene is lacking in scale on-screen regardless. I am not going to say a movie is the best based mainly on the level of ambition of the filmmaker.NBCshooter said:
If you want to film a convincing club scene, and you have a great location, but only five people dancing that doesn't mean it's a great club scene. Hudson wanted to do a grand scale movie on (in reality) a tiny scale, damn hard to pull off, and while it may be the most ambitious effort of the bunch (and I agree, it is), and deserves serious credit for that, out of the entries I don't feel it was the best all-around.
Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
Well, yeah, compared to like the crowd scenes in the Mexican border scene in Day After Tomorrow, John's sucked. And John's VFX really PALED in comparison to the VFX in War of the Worlds, too!the-lyons-den.com said:
John C Lyons
Veteran
I guess the lesson then is if you want a convincing story you don't go overboard in your opening VFX shots in order to be more consistent with the rest of the movie that follows. If they were burning houses in the background, for example, I think this short would have benefitted more overall.
The other entries run on a consistent scale throughout, and while Hudson's scale and ambition are much larger in parts (and again I gave him a higher rating because of this) I still don't feel it's the best of the bunch just because he wanted to think bigger and has access to an effects genius.
My vote is for overall result, not scale. The burning skyscrapers, the odd mix of costumed people coming out of the van - while they looked cool it felt more to me like: look at the connections I got, aha! And I felt that instead of using them all as cool visual props that if he wanted to go to that level he could have made this short better with a better actor or two, a few more bodies, and better gore.
This is great! John's gotta love us arguing about his movie no matter which comments he finds are more helpful to him!
The other entries run on a consistent scale throughout, and while Hudson's scale and ambition are much larger in parts (and again I gave him a higher rating because of this) I still don't feel it's the best of the bunch just because he wanted to think bigger and has access to an effects genius.
My vote is for overall result, not scale. The burning skyscrapers, the odd mix of costumed people coming out of the van - while they looked cool it felt more to me like: look at the connections I got, aha! And I felt that instead of using them all as cool visual props that if he wanted to go to that level he could have made this short better with a better actor or two, a few more bodies, and better gore.
This is great! John's gotta love us arguing about his movie no matter which comments he finds are more helpful to him!
Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
Well, all I gotta say, is, John's "overall result" kicks ass. Certainly kicks ass over my crappy result. Just curious, what film DID you think was "best-all-around?" PM your answer if you want to keep it private.
disjecta
Lucky Duck
John, I’ve watched your film about 6 or 7 times and resisted the urge to post my comments until now. I wanted to be really familiar with the piece so it was completely thought out for me. I’m breaking it down in a kind of scene-by-scene way…it’s the only way I can really do this so I hope you can follow. Feel free to ask if some of this makes no sense.
The opening shot sets up your film for me to expect a big aftermath-style story. One of survival and war.
I’m not sure why you decided to freeze frame on the woman and then go into yet another fx shot of the man stumbling. This is a really cool shot but I think it sets expectations too high in the fx department….it would have been more consistent if you just stuck to the shot with the woman…more consistent with the rest of the film. My initial impression from these scenes was that this had a very 28 Days Later vibe.
I must confess that I am not a zombie film watcher so I’m not familiar with what’s standard in these flicks. I didn’t get the micro organism, comet, or monkey shots…to someone like me, it suggested visitors from outer space and lab experiments…but nothing was clarified, it was all ambiguous…maybe that was your intent. It almost called for a Charlton Heston voiceover there :laugh: Again, the visual was cool and it set some kind of uneasy atmosphere for me, the viewer.
The opening shot in the actual story of the woman being eaten by the zombie was suitably gross. I liked the wriggling of the victim’s body…it just added some realism to what was happening and made me squirm. The fast shutter speed and handheld feel made it even more realistic in a stylized documentary way. Just a teeny tiny thing about that whole scene, it looks like the victim was getting up just before the cut…she wasn’t struggling but seemed well capable of pulling her body weight up and this seemed a little odd…don’t these victims remain dead for a while before they are “reanimated”? And if she wasn’t dead, she sure didn’t look injured just at the cut. Nit picky, I know but I’m looking at this frame by frame.
The title didn’t bother me but I would not have chosen that gaudy red, maybe something a little more blood colored, a darker red. It had a cheesiness that worked so….it’s probably fine.
When you flip the camera angle to the two women running towards the car at 1:44, it almost looks like it was a different location. This threw me off initially. It does not feel like it is happening at the same moment….the cut feels jarring. I’m sure it is actually in the same location but the background in the second shot is so different that it feels odd…maybe that’s just me. I would have gone for more consistent backgrounds so as not to draw attention away from the characters and action.
The screams in the background, did you download those from the Web? They sound strangely familiar :evil:
The internal shot of the driver of the car at 1:57 looks inconsistent to me in terms of color from the previous shot and, again, makes me aware of a “seam” in the cut rather than it being transparent.
The car not starting is one of the biggest clichés out there but, like you John, I can still watch it, believe it, and enjoy it a million times and not get sick of it so I had no problems with that :thumbsup:
“At least I have a ****ing car!” LOL, loved that line in the midst of their crises.
The wound was convincing for me and I got a sense of the pain the character was feeling. Despite what others have said, I actually enjoyed the acting and thought the two actresses were more than capable. I guess it’s a subjective thing.
The SUV arriving in the background didn’t seem to arrive urgently enough yet the screeching sound effects suggested differently…again, nit picking. I thought the framing for these guys arriving was nice…
The whole confusion thing that ensued after this where one of the characters gets fatally wounded is very convincing and is indicative of what can happen in an unprecedented situation like this. Frightening, even.
SUV sequence was cool, nice sense of martial law and “don’t screw with us” urgency.
I found the freeze frame at 3:25 where the “dead” nurse bites the arm of our hero to be a little cheesy…but again, it probably falls neatly into this genre so I’ll plead ignorance.
I liked the overhead shot of our hero as she turns into a zombie….again, didn’t care for that freeze frame that followed…I’m sure that’s just my personal preference so I wouldn’t read into this too much.
The ending narrative could have been boosted a lot more. It’s not mixed very well and I found myself straining to hear what she was saying. I also found myself asking where the smoldering buildings were…the mundane horizon was a stark contrast to your opening shot although it still worked as a contrast….kinda walking out into the unknown.
Overall, the soundtrack was excellent. It really enhanced the imagery and I found none of it distracting. I found myself fascinated with the scenes and how they were shot (cinematography) rather than the story. There was a lot going on in each of your frames and that kept me interested.
It felt more like a trailer than a film to me. It didn’t work as a short for me because there were too many things missing….I needed context as to where the zombies came from, who the main characters were to each other, etc. but that’s almost impossible to fit into 5 minutes where you are going for the big budget look, which you achieved, I think.
I would love to see a feature length film from you or at least a longer short (no pun intended) to fill in some of these details. But, I have no doubt, you are walking the walk. You created a film with a great look and you have proven yourself as a filmmaker and I congratulate you.
Keep it up, it’s early days yet and you have a lot of opportunity ahead of you to create your masterpiece. Which, I believe wholeheartedly, you will.
D.
The opening shot sets up your film for me to expect a big aftermath-style story. One of survival and war.
I’m not sure why you decided to freeze frame on the woman and then go into yet another fx shot of the man stumbling. This is a really cool shot but I think it sets expectations too high in the fx department….it would have been more consistent if you just stuck to the shot with the woman…more consistent with the rest of the film. My initial impression from these scenes was that this had a very 28 Days Later vibe.
I must confess that I am not a zombie film watcher so I’m not familiar with what’s standard in these flicks. I didn’t get the micro organism, comet, or monkey shots…to someone like me, it suggested visitors from outer space and lab experiments…but nothing was clarified, it was all ambiguous…maybe that was your intent. It almost called for a Charlton Heston voiceover there :laugh: Again, the visual was cool and it set some kind of uneasy atmosphere for me, the viewer.
The opening shot in the actual story of the woman being eaten by the zombie was suitably gross. I liked the wriggling of the victim’s body…it just added some realism to what was happening and made me squirm. The fast shutter speed and handheld feel made it even more realistic in a stylized documentary way. Just a teeny tiny thing about that whole scene, it looks like the victim was getting up just before the cut…she wasn’t struggling but seemed well capable of pulling her body weight up and this seemed a little odd…don’t these victims remain dead for a while before they are “reanimated”? And if she wasn’t dead, she sure didn’t look injured just at the cut. Nit picky, I know but I’m looking at this frame by frame.
The title didn’t bother me but I would not have chosen that gaudy red, maybe something a little more blood colored, a darker red. It had a cheesiness that worked so….it’s probably fine.
When you flip the camera angle to the two women running towards the car at 1:44, it almost looks like it was a different location. This threw me off initially. It does not feel like it is happening at the same moment….the cut feels jarring. I’m sure it is actually in the same location but the background in the second shot is so different that it feels odd…maybe that’s just me. I would have gone for more consistent backgrounds so as not to draw attention away from the characters and action.
The screams in the background, did you download those from the Web? They sound strangely familiar :evil:
The internal shot of the driver of the car at 1:57 looks inconsistent to me in terms of color from the previous shot and, again, makes me aware of a “seam” in the cut rather than it being transparent.
The car not starting is one of the biggest clichés out there but, like you John, I can still watch it, believe it, and enjoy it a million times and not get sick of it so I had no problems with that :thumbsup:
“At least I have a ****ing car!” LOL, loved that line in the midst of their crises.
The wound was convincing for me and I got a sense of the pain the character was feeling. Despite what others have said, I actually enjoyed the acting and thought the two actresses were more than capable. I guess it’s a subjective thing.
The SUV arriving in the background didn’t seem to arrive urgently enough yet the screeching sound effects suggested differently…again, nit picking. I thought the framing for these guys arriving was nice…
The whole confusion thing that ensued after this where one of the characters gets fatally wounded is very convincing and is indicative of what can happen in an unprecedented situation like this. Frightening, even.
SUV sequence was cool, nice sense of martial law and “don’t screw with us” urgency.
I found the freeze frame at 3:25 where the “dead” nurse bites the arm of our hero to be a little cheesy…but again, it probably falls neatly into this genre so I’ll plead ignorance.
I liked the overhead shot of our hero as she turns into a zombie….again, didn’t care for that freeze frame that followed…I’m sure that’s just my personal preference so I wouldn’t read into this too much.
The ending narrative could have been boosted a lot more. It’s not mixed very well and I found myself straining to hear what she was saying. I also found myself asking where the smoldering buildings were…the mundane horizon was a stark contrast to your opening shot although it still worked as a contrast….kinda walking out into the unknown.
Overall, the soundtrack was excellent. It really enhanced the imagery and I found none of it distracting. I found myself fascinated with the scenes and how they were shot (cinematography) rather than the story. There was a lot going on in each of your frames and that kept me interested.
It felt more like a trailer than a film to me. It didn’t work as a short for me because there were too many things missing….I needed context as to where the zombies came from, who the main characters were to each other, etc. but that’s almost impossible to fit into 5 minutes where you are going for the big budget look, which you achieved, I think.
I would love to see a feature length film from you or at least a longer short (no pun intended) to fill in some of these details. But, I have no doubt, you are walking the walk. You created a film with a great look and you have proven yourself as a filmmaker and I congratulate you.
Keep it up, it’s early days yet and you have a lot of opportunity ahead of you to create your masterpiece. Which, I believe wholeheartedly, you will.
D.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
NBC
Thanks brother! Wow. Thats cool comeing from you as I thought your short was one of the best of the bunch. Awesome. (I thought yours was better) :evil: :beer: :cheesy:
Wow D
Thanks for the insightful and detailed review. Again, I totally agree with more or less each thing being said about the film. I am my own worst critic personally; my wife said 'It's the best thing you've done yet...'
But its still **** to me. It's a general testament to experience and planning; or lack therof.
I think the singulary defining lesson learned on this one is:
PRE PRODUCTION is our friend. This was a show up on the set and improvise everything; I didn't know if the actresses could act (I say no they cannot after its all said and done), I did not know I would have access to a full decked out marine (Who left for IRAQ about 3 weeks ago), I did not know I would be short 5 extras, I did not realize the camera had to stay still for Rich to add plates, I did not have a decicated MAKE-FX person....
See the point I am making is this is all my fault and not excuses. This is a result of a lack of Pre Production and Planning. I have VOWED onthe next short to do it by the book; pre prod, story board, an actual script, rehearsals.........
I'm stoked people dig this. I am even more stoked that someone out there thinks I have some micro skills in the film department (This gives me hope) but am mad at myself for throwing together such a chickenshit result whereas without Rich Lee and my Composer I'd be left with simply ****; as it is now it is **** with great VSFX and a Great Score. :laugh: :lipsrseal
Anyway; thank you very much for the insightful commentaries; it only serves to help me grow
Thanks brother! Wow. Thats cool comeing from you as I thought your short was one of the best of the bunch. Awesome. (I thought yours was better) :evil: :beer: :cheesy:
Wow D
Thanks for the insightful and detailed review. Again, I totally agree with more or less each thing being said about the film. I am my own worst critic personally; my wife said 'It's the best thing you've done yet...'
But its still **** to me. It's a general testament to experience and planning; or lack therof.
I think the singulary defining lesson learned on this one is:
PRE PRODUCTION is our friend. This was a show up on the set and improvise everything; I didn't know if the actresses could act (I say no they cannot after its all said and done), I did not know I would have access to a full decked out marine (Who left for IRAQ about 3 weeks ago), I did not know I would be short 5 extras, I did not realize the camera had to stay still for Rich to add plates, I did not have a decicated MAKE-FX person....
See the point I am making is this is all my fault and not excuses. This is a result of a lack of Pre Production and Planning. I have VOWED onthe next short to do it by the book; pre prod, story board, an actual script, rehearsals.........
I'm stoked people dig this. I am even more stoked that someone out there thinks I have some micro skills in the film department (This gives me hope) but am mad at myself for throwing together such a chickenshit result whereas without Rich Lee and my Composer I'd be left with simply ****; as it is now it is **** with great VSFX and a Great Score. :laugh: :lipsrseal
Anyway; thank you very much for the insightful commentaries; it only serves to help me grow
John,
Post a couple of grabs of Rich's composites? This was the first of the thirty films I've voted on so far that gave a sense of global scale - and I'll just echo that the pandemonium-factor in the shopping district was perfect.
Nice.
e
Post a couple of grabs of Rich's composites? This was the first of the thirty films I've voted on so far that gave a sense of global scale - and I'll just echo that the pandemonium-factor in the shopping district was perfect.
Nice.
e
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
HI Overland
I'll get some up ASAP!
I'll get some up ASAP!
disjecta
Lucky Duck
John_Hudson said:
This is just horseshit and I don't believe for a minute you really believe this. Your film has a lot going for it and I'll bet you watched it about 100 times after the final edit and did actually get a kick out of it, regardless of cringe factor.
Quit kicking yourself and feel good about the fact that this didn't look like an amateur job...sure it's full of flaws but so what? Be proud of what you accomplished under the circumstances. Stop and smell the frickin' roses, my man. :engel017:
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
I hate my **** Disjecta; what can I do? But hey; I at least gave myself a 7 rating.
NBC was asking about my favorite of the fest? Laughing Blood. Read my review to see why. It just came together for me.
NBC was asking about my favorite of the fest? Laughing Blood. Read my review to see why. It just came together for me.
Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
No, no, John. I was asking that Lyons Den guy which film HE thought met his "overall effect" criteria for being "best all around." And jeeze, John--you're worse than me on this self-depricating stuff! NO WAY was my film better than yours!John_Hudson said:
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
LOL
Dude I am the kink of self deprication. Mine sucked ballz.
LOL
Dude I am the kink of self deprication. Mine sucked ballz.
LOL