Rezfactor--"Runway" [working title] Production Notes Thread

Jack, amazing review for Ralph. Good points... I second them all.

Ralph- I am stunned. I'm not even sure that I can comment just yet. Your shot compositioning ability is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! So many questions... How did you get the bomb squad, did you just get lucky one day?? The runway shot with the plane landing... HOLY ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My only (and i truly mean ONLY) reserve is the murder scene. I didn't believe he was killing her, at all. But, of course, my film has the same problem... but man. I am completely enthralled with your work.

Count me as a #1 fan.
-Kyle Stebbins
 
Brandon Rice said:
I've got a question! How the heck did you get that interior of the plane? That rocked!
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Thanks! I just wanted to make sure that most of the members here have had a chance to view RUNWAY before I gave that up!
 
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thekyleman71 said:
My only (and i truly mean ONLY) reserve is the murder scene. I didn't believe he was killing her, at all. But, of course, my film has the same problem... but man. I am completely enthralled with your work.
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Thank you for the kind words! Yes, that of course was the hardest scene to do right. I had to shoot it twice. The "struggle" running up the hill was never right either. It was supposed to be a struggle up the hill, on the ground, with her kicking and screaming the entire way. But it was taking too long to get, and I had to move on. I'll probably re-shoot that whole sequence again to try to "fix" it.
 
Jack Daniel Stanley said:
But I feel like you are treading water or even taking some steps back in terms of story, or at least have not hit story as strongly as you did this time last year in Zombie fest. I thought the story in Infection was thought out well and perfect for the time, and had a nice button.
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Thanks for all the kind words, Jack. Funny, I thought Infection had an even weaker story than Runway did, this time around! Not that I'm arguing, I'll take the over-generous compliment on Infection, but let me continue . . .

Jack Daniel Stanley said:
You seem to love certain elements of filmmaking, you seem put on the earth to frame, light and move the camera and you seem less interested in other areas of filmmaking. I'm wondering if you feel that the way you are working is evolving project to project toward some process wich eventually yields a story driven film or whether you feel you are kind of moving in circles around this story issue.
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Well, that's certainly true. I do love certain parts of the filmmaking process. Mainly, the lighting, camera, and directing part. I often do feel like I'm spinning my wheels. But I think I discovered something on this project this time around. I think I'm going to . . . wait let me continue this after your next thought . . .

Jack Daniel Stanley said:
I really enjoy looking at your films, and I'm personally interested in your career and what your goals are just knowing you here from DVXuser. I'm just curious what those goals might be. Are these films an excuse to use your own gear and dabble in story? Or do you have dreams of hitting the festival circuit with your films? If its the former then I cool, you are turning out stuff that looks amazing and your films are better than most. If its the latter then I'm wondering why not ...
  1. screw story all together and just make amazing montage videos.
  2. really commit to making story the center of your process (while it seems there is little room for improvement your already amazing shooting, your lens craft would get even better in service of a taught story - or it would have even more impact)
  3. hook up with some writer / director and you be the co-producer / shooter. Not saying just shoot some guy or gals movie for free, but why not hook up with someone that lives and breathes story and concept the way you live and breathe light and shooting?
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Yes, Jack, it definitely is a mix of the former, with a highly critical eye toward the latter, the festival circuit. Once I get to a point where I have a festival-level product, I'm certainly going to pull all the stops to make that a success. Each DVXUSERfest has been a stepping stone toward that goal. I think I may be ready for the next project to elevate to that goal. As to working with writers, I've tried. I've been through so many writers, I've lost count. The problem for me, I think, is that my visual storytelling is so personal, and so specific ("I want to shoot a movie with a shot of a plane and a girl in a bikini in it"), that it's hard to segregate a project like that.

I do also plan to "screw story" altogether and create a number of art pieces which will just run in loops on LCD panels in my house. I'm completely remodeling the living room (and everything else) in my house, and am designing a very modern photo, video, and computer display gallery space.

As to the next "narrative" project, I'm not sure how I'll get there, but it won't be finished until the story is SOLID. I really think the "next" project will be "the one." Whatever that will turn out to be. I will stop trying to force an arbitrary DVXUSERfest genre into what I will try to shoot. I will do what I do well, and try to find my own genre definition. I hope to do more of a David Lynch-ian kinda idea, but not quite as boring. I want to shoot great action with all the trimmings--car crashes, gunplay, etc. What I hope to be shooting for is, "David Lynch-meets-Michael Mann-meets-Lawrence Kasdan." I doubt I'll ever get within miles of the level of quality of Kasdan's writing, but I sure do admire his stuff.

Jack Daniel Stanley said:
Again, outstanding work, look forward to discussing this with you if you are interested, but won't be offended if you tell me to go jump in a lake.
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Why in the world would I reject constructive comments like these from one of the most talented filmmakers here? I could talk film, genre, story, art direction for hours and hours and hours with someone as dedicated as you are to the art. Again, thank you so much for the insightful comments and kind words--very much appreciated!
 
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here's a suggestion based on your response:
why not try working with a writer as part of your editing process.
this is the way reality shows work, like American Chopper etc.
that way you
  • have already shot the stuff you love,
  • but a writer can help you order it or emphasize this set of shots or shot over that set of shots or shot to emphasize or de emphasize or create certain story beats.
You might meet with them just to toss around ideas very loosely early in the process and then either review footage or not talk to them again until you've done a rough cut.

You're an auteur that has a way you like to work and some idea of what you want in your head before you ever talk to a writer, which is fine, but one problem that can arise from that simply by commissioning a script with a girl and a plane in it is that the writer may feel ambushed when they give you their gem and you tell them its all wrong.

I think at the very least if you commission something then try to make it as clear as possible that you have certain image motifs that you are interested in exploring and that the goal will be to mold those into a story, but that they will be writing in service of those motifs - this will just make the process go smoother and will actually make it seem more collaborative by placing a disclaimer up front that the process won't actually be very collaborative but that you need their craft -- this I had to learn as a theatre director working with designers.

But I think the
  1. brainstorm with writer
  2. intuitively shoot as you do
  3. work with writer during the editing process
might be something interesting for you to explore

a variation would be to include the writer in reviewing dalies along the way rather than waiting for editing, they might be able to suggest avenues for you to explore as you shoot.

I know I'd find it an interesting experiment from the sidelines. Just some thoughts :thumbsup:
 
Jack Daniel Stanley said:
But I think the
  1. brainstorm with writer
  2. intuitively shoot as you do
  3. work with writer during the editing process
might be something interesting for you to explore

a variation would be to include the writer in reviewing dalies along the way rather than waiting for editing, they might be able to suggest avenues for you to explore as you shoot.
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That's pretty much the approach I'm taking now. I've found a great writing partner (whose name is John, and who is credited as, "story editor," on Runway) who also thinks very cinematically. Although we collaborated on Runway, most of the ideas are mine, and the story "linchpin" was actually my girlfriend's (also credited). But he did come up with some great "fixes" to the storytelling mechanics that I will include, intact, on future re-shoots, should I decide to invest the time and resources to "fixing" Runway. We collaborated every day for a week (we sometimes work together for a week at a time), and I was able to show him every progressive rough-cut that I had complied for him after each shooting weekend. I'm hopeful for this new partnership, and look forward with great anticipation to our next project together.
 
Watch it fast . . .

08 OCTOBER UPDATE 1.0: SNEAK PEEKS COMING SOON!

For those of you who HAVEN'T seen RUNWAY yet--WATCH IT SOON! Because, soon, I'm going to post a few behind-the-scenes production stills that show you how I pulled off the airplane shot. I'd hate to ruin it for those of you who haven't seen the short yet!
 
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More behind-the-scenes stills . . .

08 OCTOBER UPDATE 1.1: MORE PRODUCTION STILLS!

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This is my "backlot" that I used as an insert stage to double as the "under the bridge" set. I call this picture, "Ow! I hit my head!"


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Another shot taken on the "backlot." I call this picture, "This way we don't have to waste time changing again!"
 
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More . . .

08 OCTOBER UPDATE 1.2: MORE PRODUCTION STILLS!

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STAY TUNED TO THIS THREAD FOR MORE BTS SHOTS COMING SOON!
 
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This film looked very nice. A lot of that was thanks to Alejandro Torres. :grin:

It seemed like a long public service announcement warning young women of the dangers of jogging, and eating airline food. Some of your shots were incredible, but I fail to see a story here that the common person can relate to. That's one of the tricks of horror. Billy Joe living in a trailer in Kentucky should be able to get as scared as Tiffany living in a penthouse in New York.

Your film was very easy to watch. I think it would have served its audience better had you stuck with a simple premise. I'll have to call this movie "Donna Darko"
 
Hi Rezfactor,

Techincally you did a fantastic job here.

Sorry for not reading the whole thread, but it looks like you pretty much executed this one on your own! I love using the domestic flourescent as a fill... love it.

I thought you created a nice mood, but I was a litttle lost with the story. Your end credits are fab though, and some shots were real feature film material... it looks like a lot of thought went into exactly how you wanted this to look.

But I did laugh at one bit - and Im sorry for this, but when she comes running round the corner and she has to reaaaallly slow down so you can get round her with the steadicam. I just thought it stood out that she was almost jogging on the spot so you could do your thing. Apart from that it was all very seemless and professional.
 
More . . .

08 OCTOBER UPDATE 1.3: MORE PRODUCTION STILLS!

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STAY TUNED TO THIS THREAD FOR MORE BTS SHOTS COMING SOON!
 
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Whoa! these stills really look like you put your actress through a lot! The one where she is being dragged through the dirt is wild.
 
Somebody should be hiring you to shoot features. Both your scifi and horror entries are the most believable in terms of the verité style. I love watching your stuff, it always looks downright incredible.

Get yourself a good writer and you'll be blasting these suckers outta the ball park! Unfortunatly being or finding a good writer is one of the hardest parts.

Still, I enjoyed the parallel dimension theme going on here. One person is erased and so are her doubles. Why are there doubles? Its enjoyable enough to watch, that I don't find myself weighed down by needing to know.

Erik
 
Rezfactor said:
Watch it fast . . .

08 OCTOBER UPDATE 1.0: SNEAK PEEKS COMING SOON!

For those of you who HAVEN'T seen RUNWAY yet--WATCH IT SOON! Because, soon, I'm going to post some revealing behind-the-scenes production stills that show you how I pulled off some of the shots. So, I'd hate to ruin the surprise for those of you who haven't seen the short yet!
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Oh my god. -- This will be awesome.
 
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