RF EYE-D -- Aram Bauman and MsManhattan

Aram,

Finally got to see the final final version of the film. "Dragons" and "Art of the Saber" worked great! Lindsay's haunting voice as those little 'souls' rose up was great!

I think Stephanie's tribal rythmic drum cue was amazing too! Fantastic job on such a short time notice.

anxious to see all your behind scenes footage of this FX PIece. :)

cheers!
/j
 
I have some footage of the before and after that I will put up. When i was showing friends the rough edits to get an idea of how it was moving, they were like, why are you standing there next to him blowing wind? or I dont like the green background. It looks cheap. Heh.
 
I just have to sing Aram's praises because he really worked hard to bring all of the ideas in the script to life. We were originally going to do a much different film -- a comic one with very little post work. But then, our lead actor (the Super Hero) came to us with the idea of doing a story based loosely on the Eye of Horus. He and Aram went to Pratt together, and he really wanted to do an fX-heavy film so he could work on the post-production. So we agreed, came up with our own take on the legend, and went to work. With only a month to go to the deadline. And then... Super Hero had to go out of town for a family thing, leaving Aram to do all the post work alone...

He was at it every single night and available day for three-and-a-half weeks, taking out the green screen, compositing in the backgrounds, doing the CGI and fX, and editing. He was relentless. And, I really think it shows. There are many other things we wanted to do with the look and feel of the film that we just didn't have time for, but it impresses me tremendously what he was able to accomplish -- on deadline and with a day job to boot.

Of course, no one could accuse me of being objective about Aram, so feel free to consider the source of these comments. That said, I really think his work speaks for itself. Congratulations, Aram!
 
What stands out the most about this film are the SFX. I was internally-cheering on the hero as he was defeating the villian - what an image! With the amount of time you had to actually produce this film, I was impressed.

I would have liked to have seen more camerawork, however, than SFX. Don't get me wrong - they are wonderful - but the FX at times were a little too heavy and overloaded for my taste.

Overall, I would be proud of this film. I am looking forward to hearing how you were able to construct and integrate these FX.
 
Thanks all. I think we tackled a story very different than the earlier fests. This is the first time we had a story that could not be told in 6 minutes but the challenge was fun. 3 weeks to finish with the amount of work that had to be done just was begging to be taken on. I gives me the confidence knowing the next version of this will be amazing especially since there will be time to create a surreal environment.
 
Here are some early tests for the church scene. I painted in the light shafts and lighten up the areas around the windows and added contrast in the ceiling. It looks much darker in the compressed movie for some reason.

churchVFX.jpg


Here is the raw.

church_no_VFX.jpg
 
Let me talk about the FX work first since this is such an FX driven story. Technically, I feel it was really well done. The opening shot was great and set the tone for what was to follow. It wasn't until the final battle that the FX work became a problem for me. It just became too much in the overall scheme. Perhaps it was the backgrounds (the blue one in particular), I don't know, but I found myself paying more attention to the FX than the story which is too bad because I thought it was a good apocalyptic story.

i.e.:
"Refusing his mark forces us to live like this." And seeing this line on 6-6-06. Pretty cool. Whether intentional or not, the Anti-Christ parallels are striking. Even the flames behind the Arphid felt like a representation of Hell.

...

Okay. I still stand by what I wrote in the opening paragraph, but I have watched again, two times, and I'm appreciating the FX of the "Final Battle" more than I did on the initial viewing.
 
Yeah, that's why this film is so great... I don't know what to like more, the FX or the Story... I'm torn between the two... so as a writer first and a director second.. I'd have to go with the story! Great effects, but the story moved me... It's rare you get emotion in an action pack film... but RF EYE-D pulled it off.

-honorable mention-The Villian was awsome in the 5 seconds he was in there :)
 
Hey Blain, MsManhattan would be able to explain these better than I can but Im going to try.
Yes the mark refers to the mark of the beast that scene also represents the virgin birth of a child which would be Horus in egyptian stories and Jesus in others. For it to be 6-6-06 was a nice coincidence. The Tattoo is the eye of Horus to tie it in even more.
The Arphid (RFID) is the growing threat of our privacy being invaded by the government. Im going to post links in the news that deal with these issues today.
The world may end up like our story.

"The most popular story of Horus is the one in which he grows to manhood to avenge the death of his father Osiris by battling against his cruel uncle Set. In many writings, he is said to continue to battle Set daily to ensure the safety of the world."

The idea for this was live action anime style hence the weird backgrounds like they do when they battle in the cartoons and the famous sword. The time limit didnt allow me to create more anime like scenes which would have read better when they were all together. I have a ton of shots that I didnt use with them flying and stuff but hey, no time. This was the only get-to-the-point shots I could use. I wanted to have it look like a hand drawing but it too much time to test. I tried a few things and even PMed some people for help but couldnt do it.

I was hoping people didnt get caught up in the vfx because the story is deeeeep.
 
Aram Bauman said:
Hey Blain, MsManhattan would be able to explain these better than I can but Im going to try.
Yes the mark refers to the mark of the beast that scene also represents the virgin birth of a child which would be Horus in egyptian stories and Jesus in others. For it to be 6-6-06 was a nice coincidence. The Tattoo is the eye of Horus to tie it in even more.
The Arphid (RFID) is the growing threat of our privacy being invaded by the government. Im going to post links in the news that deal with these issues today.
The world may end up like our story.

"The most popular story of Horus is the one in which he grows to manhood to avenge the death of his father Osiris by battling against his cruel uncle Set. In many writings, he is said to continue to battle Set daily to ensure the safety of the world."

The idea for this was live action anime style hence the weird backgrounds like they do when they battle in the cartoons and the famous sword. The time limit didnt allow me to create more anime like scenes which would have read better when they were all together. I have a ton of shots that I didnt use with them flying and stuff but hey, no time. This was the only get-to-the-point shots I could use. I wanted to have it look like a hand drawing but it too much time to test. I tried a few things and even PMed some people for help but couldnt do it.

I was hoping people didnt get caught up in the vfx because the story is deeeeep.
Click to expand...

I would explain the story a little differently -- mostly simply because of how all the ideas came together in my head. I didn't really care about the Eye of Horus story -- they wanted to use that so I worked with it. My concern was more about what is the SuperHero fighting for? What has the villain done that he needs to be taken down for? What does each have to lose and/or to gain? So, the story really arose from there. I will elaborate more later, but I gotta dash -- going to see... The Omen -- what else???
 
I was like a back up, back up composer if all else failed, and I asked Aram if I could post the cue I made for the film. and... here tit tis!

http://edgen.hostpaw.com/edgen_rfeyed.mp3

Show of hands who thinks it sounds like the matrix at the end? :)

The story I really dug. I really liked the symbolism, and ya man, if you guys ever have the time to expand this bad boy... OR... get a studio to give you a few 10-20 million, i'm sure you could really turn this into something else.


/j
 
Edgen said:
I was like a back up, back up composer if all else failed, and I asked Aram if I could post the cue I made for the film. and... here tit tis!

http://edgen.hostpaw.com/edgen_rfeyed.mp3

Show of hands who thinks it sounds like the matrix at the end? :)

The story I really dug. I really liked the symbolism, and ya man, if you guys ever have the time to expand this bad boy... OR... get a studio to give you a few 10-20 million, i'm sure you could really turn this into something else.


/j
Click to expand...

I agree, hey Aram & MsManhattan, why don't you guys polish this bad-boy and try to get some funding... I guess easier said then done... well good luck! I'm pretty sure with the right person pitching for you you can get that Pay-day to make this.. but the problem is getting that pitch in the first place.. or maybe raise money yourselfs (Friends, Family, DVXUser, ect..) and do it!
 
i was just watching the short again and i realized how it could make more sense, for me atleast. if you started with the lady talking to the one and then proceeded to the shot where the girl sees the tatoo , it would have worked better i think. Then you could have gone on to the fight scene and the audience would realize the one was fighting to free this society.

What do you think? i don't mean to be too critical.

alex
 
Aram and Leslie,
This movie came out really well. The visual effects are awesome. Better than a lot I've seen on the Sci-Fi Channel. I really liked the anime feel to this. Aram, this definitely has your stamp as the DP. The colors really look great. I agree that this movie would have been benefitted immensely with more time to work on it and no 6 minute limit, this is a big story that was able to squeeze into 6 minutes but could use a lot more time. Envisions' is the same in this respect. I really liked this movie. It is in the top of the heap. I can't believe how much you were able to get done is such a short time. Really amazing!!!!
Great work guys,
Alex
 
I put off commenting on this piece because (a) I wanted to watch it a few more times, (b) I kinda got behind on the "real" world after yesterday and had to catch up, and (c) I'm a freaking quivering coward.

BUT! I've had my G'n'T and I'm ready. Kinda.

So here we go ...

I didn't get it.

I got the storyline, no probs. There were some downright beautiful shots (especially the hero and his mother in the church - you posted a breathtaking image pre- and post-tweak above). Likely the best score I've heard in any of the shorts, in all of the fests, bar none.

But in the end, I really came away with the feeling that the short became a vehicle for the effects as if to say (and I really don't mean to be trite or condescending) "look what we can do". I felt the effects drove the short and I was hoping the story would drive everything. I honestly felt it didn't. And maybe that's because I'm a total alien when it comes to anime and if so that's my problem.

A few specific comments to dig myself in a little/a lot deeper:
  • I really didn't like the blinking LED alarm "Arphid ID removed. Apprehend NOW!" (did the exclamation mark make the "apprehenders" move any faster? Hmmm.) I just didn't buy it.
  • Why is our hero sitting around waiting for fleeing girls with oranges? He obviously hasn't had the big battle yet. What's he waiting for? (and no, don't say "an orange").
  • Again, I loved the scene in the church. That totally worked for me.
  • The scene where the hero "powers up" (?) and "sproings" the bad guy off his back and stands up and growls/groans/aaaargghs ... I gotta say I almost laughed out loud there thinking you were transitioning to a comedy (did I say that out loud? sorry).
  • Did I mention I loved the score?
  • And what was with the burning sea behind the bad guy? Where did that come from? And why? (maybe this is where I started thinking it's there because they have the skills to put it in - not because it pushes the story forward or makes any thematic sense)
  • Yep. I loved the "shooting fire and resisting the fireball" effect. That clearly worked as a visual. But our hero suddenly grows a double bladed sword (I thought he was having enough trouble fending off the fireball - or maybe it wasn't so nasty after all), somehow ended up BEHIND the villain (holy smokes! how did he get behind him?) and lops his nasty head off. Hmmm. That was pretty easy ... NEXT!
  • I loved the score. I really did.
  • Then the hero gets into his "green squat" and telekineticaly rips the Arphid IDs out of everyone's arms like a manic Urri Geller on acid. Cool, but what was it about killing the bad guy that let him DO that? Why didn't he just do that when he was chatting with fruit-girl?
Anyway, there is no question you guys have the horsepower in areas I can only dream about. I just admit that I felt a little (ok, more than a little) let down after I viewed this.

Then again, I never got van Gogh either. So I suppose that you're in good company.

Please accept these comments in the spirit in which they are offered. If I offended with anything above, I unreservedly apologize, but they are my genuine (if unpopular) views. And I genuinely look forward to your next project.
 
Dahopafilms said:
Likely the best score I've heard in any of the shorts, in all of the fests, bar none.

Did I mention I loved the score?
  • I loved the score. I really did.
Click to expand...
Speaking for myself, and for Justin (hope you don't mind J.) Thank you so much for your kind words and nice compliments. It means so much to me (and J. too, I'm sure) :) Thank you :dankk2:

Steph
 
Ok Aram. Now I understand why you needed some sleep. I see Adina is not just a DOF model :) You guys did some serious work here.
 
MsManhattan said:
I just have to sing Aram's praises because he really worked hard to bring all of the ideas in the script to life. We were originally going to do a much different film -- a comic one with very little post work. But then, our lead actor (the Super Hero) came to us with the idea of doing a story based loosely on the Eye of Horus. He and Aram went to Pratt together, and he really wanted to do an fX-heavy film so he could work on the post-production. So we agreed, came up with our own take on the legend, and went to work. With only a month to go to the deadline. And then... Super Hero had to go out of town for a family thing, leaving Aram to do all the post work alone...

He was at it every single night and available day for three-and-a-half weeks, taking out the green screen, compositing in the backgrounds, doing the CGI and fX, and editing. He was relentless. And, I really think it shows. There are many other things we wanted to do with the look and feel of the film that we just didn't have time for, but it impresses me tremendously what he was able to accomplish -- on deadline and with a day job to boot.

Of course, no one could accuse me of being objective about Aram, so feel free to consider the source of these comments. That said, I really think his work speaks for itself. Congratulations, Aram!
Click to expand...

:)

I thought it was great.
I always like Aram's work.

FYI he really is an AMAZING Gaffer. ( just so you all know)
 
Dahopafilms said:
I put off commenting on this piece because (a) I wanted to watch it a few more times, (b) I kinda got behind on the "real" world after yesterday and had to catch up, and (c) I'm a freaking quivering coward.
Click to expand...

Hey, Dahopafilms, that gin and tonic really wasn't necessary with us, and you never have to apologize for your opinion, at least some of which I would agree with you on. But, we don't derive our entire identity and sense of self from what's said on this board, and in fact, we feel the discourse here makes us better at what we are trying to do. Thanks for weighing in!
 
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