Pitch Black (Teaser Trailer)

G

Gospel_John

Member
Hi everyone!

I was recommended to this forum recently. I've known of it for a long time, but I've shied away because I've always been a Sony Guy. :P

Anyhow, I wanted to share with you guys most recent project shot on the Canon 1d entitled Pitch Black:

Enjoy!
 
Cool, good work! A few ideas for the trailer:

1. the music is an awesome piece obviously, but with Inception such a hot movie right now, it detracts that this is YOUR movie with your vision. When I watch the trailer I just think of Inception, and Inception is a big movie with big ideas and that's what this music was written for.

2. can you do some sound ups in a few lines of a dialogue so we don't see so many open mouths with no sound coming out? I think that would help the trailer a lot.

Looks great though, when can we see the movie finished?
 
well pitch black is obviously a cult classic sci fi movie jump-starting vin diesel's career, but plenty of movies rehash titles. remember the 1998 detective movie with gene hackman, susan sarandon and paul newman called... TWILIGHT?

anyways point being, John can still call his Pitch Black, but that was good you gave him a heads up...
 
Defcon said:
well pitch black is obviously a cult classic sci fi movie jump-starting vin diesel's career, but plenty of movies rehash titles. remember the 1998 detective movie with gene hackman, susan sarandon and paul newman called... TWILIGHT?

anyways point being, John can still call his Pitch Black, but that was good you gave him a heads up...
Click to expand...

HA! Actually I don't remember it at all.

I guess it all depends on who's going to complain about using the name. I think those involved with a cult classic might have more to say than those involved in a forgettable detective movie, eh?
 
Svart said:
HA! Actually I don't remember it at all.

I guess it all depends on who's going to complain about using the name. I think those involved with a cult classic might have more to say than those involved in a forgettable detective movie, eh?
Click to expand...

very true! It's something to be aware of, for sure.
 
Ha - you guys are the first people to make the connection to Inception! I thought I got away without anyone noticing...

The fact is that piece of music is an ORIGINAL piece that I personally composed - yes - it was inspired by Inception - because let's face it, it's great sound. But the last I time I checked I can write a big ol' nasty trombone blat on C with strings in a revolving pattern and if I get associated with Nolan's latest - well there's worse things to be associated with :P

Regarding the name - there's no copyright on names. Issues arrive when you start invading a film's market. Like if I made a film called Twilight and it was also about sparkly vampires, then there'd be issues. "Pitch Black" and "Pitch Black the Chronicles of Riddick" are far enough separated in terms of what there about that there'll be no real confusion in the marketplace.

I liked the name Pitch Black because it fit the film's subject matter so well... I considered others, but it made the most sense.

And this cut was just a teaser to show off the some of the shots so that people involved would have an inkling of what it looked like - the sound hasn't even been synched (way too busy with corporate jobs to touch this fortunately and unfortunately). Looking to try to have a cut finished by Halloween.
 
Last edited:
wow john, from one composer to another, nice job with the "style-alike", it fooled me.
what do you use to compose? Logic?
 
Looks great and very compelling, can't wait to see the final work!!! Nice job on the music, who knew Trombones could be so GANGSTA!!? Well other than Hanns Zimmer LOL
 
Defcon said:
wow john, from one composer to another, nice job with the "style-alike", it fooled me.
what do you use to compose? Logic?
Click to expand...

You'll probably laugh at me... I used Finale 2008 with Kontakt 4 sound pack. I want to switch to something more geared toward control some day, been eying CuBase - Finale does all sorts of things to the midi that I don't like. But I need score based entry as I can't play piano worth crap.

If you punch the trombone section on C as hard as you can, you get that meaty sound. It doesn't work with any other note (I tried - they're not as "good") and it happens to be what Zimmer used on Inception. The Horn at full blast sounds sweet too (I'm a trumpet player so brass is what I listen to when comparing sound libraries).
 
Using that title might still be a bad idea though. Most people remember Pitch Black, so when they see your title they might think less of your move than it deserves because they feel it's a ripoff title.

I wouldn't make a movie about fighting among hollywood celebrities, and call it STAR WARS. You know?


So anyway, is this a full length feature, or a short film?
 
Short Film.

There's a difference between Star Wars, which you would most definitely get in trouble for, and Pitch Black. Star Wars has moved from film title to Trademark - it's bigger than a movie, it's a whole franchise.

Honestly, I never heard of Pitch Black until I searched it up when I was coming up the title. Most of the people I know don't know it as Chronicles of Riddick (I know, different social circles) - and we're not even in the same genre - so it's not a huge concern of mine.
 
Gospel_John said:
Ha - you guys are the first people to make the connection to Inception! I thought I got away without anyone noticing...

The fact is that piece of music is an ORIGINAL piece that I personally composed - yes - it was inspired by Inception - ...
Click to expand...

"Inspired" is a bit of a understatement, don't you think? It may not be 100% accurate to the note of the original, but come on, it's just the same as Zimmer's original, rythm, instruments, melody. Best proof is that everyone immediately thought you'd taken it from Inception. If Warner cared enough about short movies they would have you by the balls for it.
 
Last edited:
youngindiefilms said:
"Inspired" is a bit of a understatement, don't you think? It may not be 100% accurate to the note of the original, but come on, it's just the same as Zimmer's original, rythm, instruments, melody. Best proof is that everyone immediately thought you'd taken it from Inception. If Warner cared enough about short movies they would have you by the balls for it.
Click to expand...

Bring it on!

I ran it by lots of friends, through all my contacts on Facebook, and another forum for 2 months and not a single person said anything. Only among people that masturbate to the Inception trailer (hell, I do to the music) do I get mention of the similarities.

Anyhow, you can only copyright an expressed form of an idea. You cannot copyright an idea (else we'd all be screwed).

Yeah I stole the idea. Arpeggio strings and a nasty ass brass note. I steal a bunch of ideas. I take any idea that appeals to my soul and I re-purpose it.

What I did not steal is the work of those who recorded the Inception trailer soundtrack.
 
Don't get me wrong, I'm composing too and I think any composer gets inspiration from other pieces, but you have to admit it's pretty much the same. Just imagine it that way, you create a original piece, and someone else rips it off and does the same thing, only a little bit different. Wouldn't you be mad? I know I would but that's only me ;)

I know Trey & Matt do that on South Park a lot, taking "Take on Me" for example from A-Ha and just changing some notes. I just think it's wrong, if you like and want that song, pay for it, don't rip it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top