profound pictures presents "Teacher's Pet"

[Steve Strickland]

OMG! SIIIIIICK!

Where to begin. Great camera work, great lighting, great flesh tones, your DP has some skills. Great use of pickup shots here and there, like her opening and closing the drawer, the low angle of the kids walking out, all the pet shots. I like the music, very well done, it really suits the mood. And the VO is not annoying for once, I usually hate VO's.

Minor things: I didn't like her acting. Yes, she is absolutely gorgeous, but her lines were always delivered in a strange menacing way. She didn't have a sweet teacher-like attitude, and that threw me off. I did however really enjoy the sexual undertones of it all - until the moment when we find out what's going on, this could have been about the child being a sex slave or something like that. Good thing it wasn't about that, of course, but the fact that the sexual tension was there really added to the piece. I love the moment when you slow down and then speed up her blow, very cool. And the sound effects! Ugh, so nasty.

Dude well done. You're in 1st place so far.

Thanks for the comments. The lead was encouraged by me to play it sexy, so, I guess that one would be on me. The compliments about my camera work made me smile since your film, which I'll comment on today, was very well shot. Your film has inspired me to push further with my future work. Thanks.

This one I enjoyed quite a lot. I love black humor! The acting of the boy is exceptional. The story works very well. You make the audience feeling curious what will be the secret with this teacher! And then it is this fantastic surprise! Very nice and clever work - compliments! :thumbsup:

Susanne

Ah, yes, love the black humor. Erez did a great job of bringing the score back around after the feast. Thanks for the kind words.

I really enjoyed this one. I knew what was about to happen right before the class was sent out for lunch but that didn't ruin it for me. This was really well shot and the child lead was excellent! The VO was great as well.

Only nitpicks.... the blood could use some work, didn't look real at all.

Nice music as well.

Great job!

Mike

Thanks, Mike. Your film was so well shot and directed, it's humbling. Our lead, CJ, made my day easy, he's awesome.

The blood, well what can I say, I tried to make it look good. I guess I'll need to work on that in the next splatter scene I shoot. I've got a huge list of things learned from this. Now, I'll just try and not make the same mistakes again.

Thanks for the critique/compliments.

Great job on your film. I was very impressed...

SPOILERS
the narration right before the "feast" made me go "oh no...oh no... they can't put that in an R-rated film could they... they really wouldn't make their film about that would they.. the kids only 10!" But then there was the twist and I breathed a very heavy sigh of relief... which is bizarre because what happened was somewhat more gruesome.
END SPOILERS

Anyway, great job!

Thanks, it's cool to see we got ya. ha ha. Thanks for watching.

HAHAHA. Dude that was great. I love the part where hes like I never watch her finish it off and we hear the slurping and see her head bouncing in the back ground. Super clever. Good Job. At first I thought all the sexual connotations were just me then after that scene I was like they had to have put that in on purpose.

I originally had cut out any shot of her eating. You know, less is more. But the secret gore fan in me couldn't resist throwing a quick look. ha ha

Thanks, man. It's awesome to get props from one of the old school members. I've been enjoying watching your stuff here for years. With your RED, I'm sure your new work will jump to the next level. Cheers!

INSTANT REPLAY

Watching... watching... watching... hmm, cute...
watching... watching... watching... ...huh...
watching... watching... watchi- OH MY GOD!! WHAT THE F&%@!?!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!

God I love twisted comedy. Excellent work. That kid is great, too.

Thanks so much. Another satisfied, warped mind. We have to give Wenonah credit for bringing this twisted world to life.

Very well done. Your film looked great, and I was super impressed with the young actors, especially your lead. I think you might have telegraphed the ending with the continued references to guinea pig... "... third one this year..." I kinda saw that coming. But I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. :beer:

Thanks for the look compliments. Dreamland looked amazing, so, it means a lot.

Yeah, it was a fine line of how much to give away. I'm still not sure if I was right in reavealing all the hints. Damn you! Now, I'll never be able to let go of this film. Ha ha. Thanks for watching.:beer: back to you.

 

[Robbie Comeau]

I wanted to turn it off, when I thought the teacher and the boy were- Ya...

But I new there was going to be a twist. TOTALLY surprised me with that twist though.

You, my friend, have a sick minded filmmaking mind, and I love it. This was SO believable, and natural, yet SO disturbing.

I think this has to be one of the most disturbing films I've seen..In a while at least.

On the technical side, you wow'ed me again. great shots, great lighting, my only concern was the voiceover. I felt it was a bit to loud?

The acting was fabulous, I just thought that girl could've gone. (The one who was complaining)

She didn't work for me.

Sound effects were great.

Now what happens when there on the 10th, or the 15th? Won't kids tell there parents? Haha, just nit picking, nothing big.

After this critique, man, I'm still figuring out wether I liked this or not. I don't know If I love it, or If I dislike it very much. Is that even possible?

Robbie

 

[Simon Höfer]

Great film you've got there

At the beginning I was like "ah, some lame kids story", but then I got right into it.

Great payoff! Just watched it a second time and I can't really find something to nitpick on. Well done!

 

[Steve Strickland]

I wanted to turn it off, when I thought the teacher and the boy were- Ya...

But I new there was going to be a twist. TOTALLY surprised me with that twist though.

You, my friend, have a sick minded filmmaking mind, and I love it. This was SO believable, and natural, yet SO disturbing.

I think this has to be one of the most disturbing films I've seen..In a while at least.

On the technical side, you wow'ed me again. great shots, great lighting, my only concern was the voiceover. I felt it was a bit to loud?

The acting was fabulous, I just thought that girl could've gone. (The one who was complaining)

She didn't work for me.

Sound effects were great.

Now what happens when there on the 10th, or the 15th? Won't kids tell there parents? Haha, just nit picking, nothing big.

After this critique, man, I'm still figuring out wether I liked this or not. I don't know If I love it, or If I dislike it very much. Is that even possible?

Robbie

Thanks for the comments, Robbie. Yeah, the story leaves a lot of things up in the air, which I think is kind of interesting. Having looked at this so many times while editing it, I forget how it might affect someone who doesn't know what's coming. It's cool that it is at least getting reactions.

I watched your film and wiill comment soon. Good job as well.:thumbup:

Great film you've got there

At the beginning I was like "ah, some lame kids story", but then I got right into it.

Great payoff! Just watched it a second time and I can't really find something to nitpick on. Well done!

Thanks, Simon. Your film looked amazing, so the compliments are much apprecitated. :beer:

 

[jasonthewho]

Loved this one! Great style and look to the film. Awesome job working with so many child actors. Great depth of field. The performances were solid.

One comment, for some reason I didn't like that the first time we saw the teachers face was in a cut to a CU. I would have preferred seeing her in a wide shot first, or perhaps panning up from the desk to her face.

Awesome film!

 

[Steve Strickland]

Loved this one! Great style and look to the film. Awesome job working with so many child actors. Great depth of field. The performances were solid.

One comment, for some reason I didn't like that the first time we saw the teachers face was in a cut to a CU. I would have preferred seeing her in a wide shot first, or perhaps panning up from the desk to her face.

Awesome film!

I absolutely agree on that CU. You know that feeling when you're editing and you wish you could go back to the set and redo a shot. That one would definitely be a do-over. I'm not happy with the framing there, too close. A little farther back would have been much better. One of these days, I'll take care of these mistakes on set. ha ha

Thanks so much for the compliments and watching.

 

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Thanks, Mike. Your film was so well shot and directed, it's humbling. Our lead, CJ, made my day easy, he's awesome.

The blood, well what can I say, I tried to make it look good. I guess I'll need to work on that in the next splatter scene I shoot. I've got a huge list of things learned from this. Now, I'll just try and not make the same mistakes again.

Thanks, quite the compliment.
No big deal on the blood, it just didn't look dark enough for me, the colour looked off. Just a nitpick though. This movie was awesome.

And yes, kudos to CJ! He was perfect.

Cheers,

Mike

 

[smashedburrito]

Great job. Quick question, how long was your shoot and what was it like casting and working with so many young children?

 

[Steve Strickland]

Great job. Quick question, how long was your shoot and what was it like casting and working with so many young children?

We shot this in one day, about eight hours. The crew was really small. Out of respect to the school, I gave credit were it wasn't really waranted. Honestly, it was mostly myself, Geoff, and my wife crewing the film. So, it was a handful keeping those kids in line.

We shot all the takes that needed them in frame first, and by around two o'clock, we had the room to ourselves for the more "intimate" scenes. Working with early teens is tough. They got more restless and more full of themselves as the shoot went on. My suggestion for anyone shooting with groups of kids is take breaks often. If you lock them down for too long, they start to act up. My leads were great however. They had acted before and knew what was involved with making a movie.

Thanks for watching!

 

[Robbie Comeau]

Yea- At first I wasn't sure about CJ, but now I love him!

I can't believe these kids would be restless and full of themselves. Maybe I'm just not experienced yet with kids, (which I can't wait to make short film with them) but I would've thought they'd be really good.

So, did they get the day off school?

Robbie

 

[Steve Strickland]

Yea- At first I wasn't sure about CJ, but now I love him!

I can't believe these kids would be restless and full of themselves. Maybe I'm just not experienced yet with kids, (which I can't wait to make short film with them) but I would've thought they'd be really good.

So, did they get the day off school?

Robbie

They were pretty good until we'd have to do multiple takes. Most people don't know how slow the filmmaking process can be. This was an alternative school, so, the kids by nature were probably a little more rambunctious than normal. All the kids, besides CJ and Caylin, were from the Friends School. That's also a funny aspect because Friends School is a Quaker based institution that believes in non-violence. ha ha

They already had the day off because it was late summer.

 

[Darkline]

Am I the only one that didn't find this gross, but funny and sweet? The things you do for love.. awwwwww

I remember the first time I.... nar, best not.

 

[Robbie Comeau]

No, continue. So you'll get banned and then you're film won't be in for the finals

TOTALLY kidding, and you know it.

Robbie

 

[Darkline]

Robbie!

you are hearby named 'cutie pie the fourth'.

 

[Mile Bozicevic]

Great movie. Really nothing to complain about, especially because working with kids may get really hard.

On thing confused me though; at the very beggining, the boy's telling how 'she's' somehow very attractive, but he mustn't let himself too attached because 'they never last long'.

All that points that he's talking about hamster, not the teacher. But, the lines are connected so he obviously talks about teacher, what I can't find that logical.

If he's talking about teacher, then does he mean the teachers never last long? He doesn't want to get too attached to teacher?

Sorry 'bout nitpicking, but that confused me, everything else is just beautiful. I thought at first the kids are turning teachers into hamsters, but that end really got me.

Great job, looking the story and technical side of it.

 

[jpsheets]

This was disgusting... and completely awesome! I absolutely loved it at the end when she chows down into the hamster. The film looked great too. The only thing I didn't understand (and this is minor) is as to why she needed the kid at all. Seems like she could have picked the hamster out of the cage herself.

Great to see another Virginian here at the Fest. I'm originally from Harrisonburg. One of my good friends lives in VA Beach.

cheers,

Jon

 

[Steve Strickland]

Great movie. Really nothing to complain about, especially because working with kids may get really hard.

On thing confused me though; at the very beggining, the boy's telling how 'she's' somehow very attractive, but he mustn't let himself too attached because 'they never last long'.

All that points that he's talking about hamster, not the teacher. But, the lines are connected so he obviously talks about teacher, what I can't find that logical.

If he's talking about teacher, then does he mean the teachers never last long? He doesn't want to get too attached to teacher?

Sorry 'bout nitpicking, but that confused me, everything else is just beautiful. I thought at first the kids are turning teachers into hamsters, but that end really got me.

Great job, looking the story and technical side of it.

Good points. He is talking about the guinea pig in the beginning, then switches to the teacher. Maybe I should have had included the teacher's name, Ms. Storey, instead of she. I can definitely see the confusion. I appreciate the feedback.

Thanks .

This was disgusting... and completely awesome! I absolutely loved it at the end when she chows down into the hamster. The film looked great too. The only thing I didn't understand (and this is minor) is as to why she needed the kid at all. Seems like she could have picked the hamster out of the cage herself.

Great to see another Virginian here at the Fest. I'm originally from Harrisonburg. One of my good friends lives in VA Beach.

cheers,

Jon

I always saw Benjamin as the fall guy (kid). The loner who takes the blame. No one would question the pretty teacher for disappearing pets.

Cool, Harrisonburg. I graduated from JMU. It's cool little town, at least what brain cells I have left tell me. You should come visit your friend in VB so we can make a film.:beer:

Thanks for your comments.

 

[Rodney V. Smith]

Good story, great misdirection for the reveal. Good all the way through. My only sore point was the actor who played the teacher. Some of her lines felt a little forced and could have been played a little more loosely.

All in all pretty damn good. I enjoyed this one and would like to see more of your work, so keep it up! And good job on getting the kids and the classroom. I personally know how hard it is to lock down that type of location.

 

[Steve Strickland]

Good story, great misdirection for the reveal. Good all the way through. My only sore point was the actor who played the teacher. Some of her lines felt a little forced and could have been played a little more loosely.

All in all pretty damn good. I enjoyed this one and would like to see more of your work, so keep it up! And good job on getting the kids and the classroom. I personally know how hard it is to lock down that type of location.

Thanks, puck. Yeah, it was the teacher's first movie. Of course, it's my responsibility to get the performance I needed. As others have stated, too, that's an aspect that could use a little improvement. At least you didn't say every line she uttered was unbelievable, 'cause someone else did. ha ha. Oh the things we learn making films.

I appreciate your comments. Cheers:beer:

 

[Rodney V. Smith]

This movie kind of tells itself and it's all in the reveal. i would have done a line by line commentary on it, but it kept me enthralled. I really did like how you made us uncomfortable with the sexual innuendoes and the way that just the voiceover alone is about an illicit affair... but the visuals and the reality of it is so much darker and sinister. GREAT reveal and misdirection on your part. A true twist and deftly handled.