Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Not to take anything away from the rest of the film, but I was really impressed with the morning shots. In particular, I REALLY liked the aesthetic feel of the shot of his face just after the behind-the-head-overlooking-the-sea-of-crystal-balls shot. And the car driving away looked smooth.

I'm not yet a DVX owner but I do have two questions that came up as I watched this nice film:
1) Just after he puts away the shovel in the morning and shuts the trunk, there is a blue ghost-like outline where his skin meets the sky. What causes that? Is it just a video artifact that all cameras exhibit?
2) I noticed that CCD cameras, older ones anyway, show an ugly vertical line whenever you aim at the sun or a bright source. However, the sun shots in this movie showed no such streaks. Is this just something that CCD manufacturers finally figured out?
Thanks in advance!
And I did enjoy the whole movie (I was just really impressed by the image quality near the end).
Mike
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

that was a really good short, especially loved the shots in the car that went into the trunk
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Hey everyone, sorry for the delayed responses. Holidays and such.

Storyteller32- We shot the film without the 16:9 anamorphic lens, so it was just an issue of letterboxing the film in FCP. Then I used Sorenson Squeeze and applied one of their Cropping filters (2:35). And that was it. For what you're doing, I'm not terribly sure what the best solution would be, given which compression software you're using. I always forget which settings to use in Cleaner and have never been happy with the quality of it anyhow. I think if you edit in 16:9 sequences, then output a ref movie to Cleaner/Squeeze/Compressor, you'll then be asked to crop it to which aspect ratio. Try "same as cropped source". Again, this is much easier in Squeeze, imo.
Bradbro- Thanks man. I wish I had your Jim Beam suggestion when we shot it. I definitely would have used it. I wonder if I could pull a Lucas and add a cg one in.

Rburnsdirect - Honestly I can't really remember the settings. It was a while ago... but the contrast was boosted with the master ped, the chroma was turned down, cinegamma, thin detail... low gain. we adjusted for every scene, but that was the basic ideas. I'm sorry I can't remember the rest.
Ted- I hear you. Human was 2002, so Shine was relatively new at the time. Or at least new to me. I don't think we've used it anywhere else. I did use it on the Roadside title, but just to add a small glow. Anyhow, if you're offering, I'm listening. :)
Mike - I have no idea what caused the blue outline towards the end of the film. It drove me nuts for a long time. I hope I'll be able to get rid of it as soon as I get my FCP EDL transferred to Combustion for color correction. I didn't remember seeing it in camera, but it's been a huge problem for me, although most people don't seem to notice.

Thanks all. Let me know if you have any more questions... I'll give'em my best shot.

-CJ
www.arkhamfilms.com
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Hey that was pretty amazing. the morning scenes were especially cinematic.
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

CJ. Wow! I liked it alot! Not shure about the number of globes at the end. A little to many imho. What type of lights did you use for your night shots? Hey your D.P. rocked! Thanks for your comment on my film. I only had 1 day to shoot it. I thought yours flowed really well. And I totally got the guy snorting sugar. I guess maybe you have to hang out at a bar to appreciate that. I used to be a bouncer.To see what stupid things people might do. And I agree that you should of had a empty beer can or two fall out of the car when they got out of it. Good job! 8)
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Elvis - Thanks man. We used a variety of lights for the night time exteriors. I imagine you're speaking of the "desert/field" section. We used 3 four-bank kino flo systems, mainly for fill and one 4k HMI running off of a generator. It filled things failry well, but that was the minumum amount of lights we could afford. It would have been great to have another HMI and a condor to raise up 40ft in the air, but we did the best we could with what we had.
I agree, the D.P. does rock. A very cool guy and anxious to work more.
Thanks again.

-CJ
www.arkhamfilms.com
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Hey everyone.

I just wanted to announce that Roadside Attractions has won Fan Favorite & Best Short Film (Horror) in the 2004 Shriekfest Film Festival. We also won Best Short Film (Horror Comedy) at the 2004 Dragon Con.
We've also been official selections of Coney Island Film Festival, SIOFF, Big MiniDV Film Festival, St. Louis Int'l Film Festival, Griffon Int'l Film Festival.

In the fests that I've attended, we were up against films shot on 35mm, HD, Digi-Beta, Super 16 and some who must have had astronomical budgets. One French film in particular, Photograbber, had the look, feel and sound of Amelie. All the filmmakers in the theater gasped when that one came on, yet we still beat them in the competition.
The DVX100 performed beautifully on the big screen against them all. Another testament to what can be done with this camera, as you all know.

Again, the link to the film is http://www.arkhamfilms.com/roadsideattractions.html

Thanks.
-CJ Roy
www.arkhamfilms.com
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Roadside Attractions was one of the main reasons I bought my DVX.

You have my thanks and my congratulations.

All the best CJ
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Very, very impressive movie. I loved the story, even the sugar-snorting. It shows how stupid some people can be.

Also, the bathroom fight scene was very well done. It was very minimal and that was good...it got the point across but didn't seem choreographed. How nice of him to wait for the guy to zip up. ;D

The bald guy was an example of perfect casting. Everybody else was good in their respective roles.

The visuals were also awesome. It just looked great. I loved the globes at the end. I don't think there were too many.

I loved the dart gun.

Congratulations on all your awards and on making a great short.
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

that seriously was fantastic, and for only 7,000.....

The only criticism i have is the sound effects. the music didnt bother me, the shots were wonderful, the acting was good considering, they either worked for free, or low cost, i mean, hell, if actors as good as that were free i would not complain.

Just the sound effects .... like when the bald guy drags the douchebag out back and hits his head into a drum or something, or bangs a barrel with a gun, i dont remeber exactly what but the sound effect for that didint seem to match what it lookedl ike, and it sounded like it was a stock clip, entitled "loud bang #234". Sorry.... i am a stickler for sound effects.

But other than that tiny thing, it was unbelievable. Truly fantastic. Congrats.
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Loved it. The bald guy supported the piece exceptionally well (I believe he didn't say a word?) I was glad to see the last shots build up to something interesting. Independent films are known for interesting build ups that lead to a horrible ending or visual. The field of glass balls was really a great visual. Loved the lighting, visual treatments and production design. My minor critiques are: Waitress and white t-shirt guy's acting was just OK, Sound score does not match intensity and hard work you put into it (although it doesn't destroy your piece either, it just doesn't push it along pyschologically).

Overall, I enjoyed it from start to finish, really had me engaged the whole time.

Good luck!

Anthony
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

Hey everyone.

First, thank you for the tremendous support and kind words. Second, I just wanted to update you all on 'Roadside Attractions' progress in the film festival circuit. Just announced this weekend:

Best Short Film (Narrative) 2004 Big MiniDV Festival
Best Film (Grand Jury Prize) 2004 WestFest Film Festival
Audience Favorite Award - 2004 WestFest Film Festival
Luminaria Award (Outstanding Cinematography) - 2004 WestFest Film Festival

Again, this camera has proven itself. Especially with the cinematography award. I can't get over it.

Also, our films Roadside Attractions, iBitch 2.0 and our music videos California & Grim have all been official selections at the 2004 MEIC Film Festival in Lexington, in November. All shot on the DVX100, in competition with eachother and other films. Here's the links if you want to see them again.

Roadside Attractions
www.arkhamfilms.com/roadsideattractions.html
iBitch 2.0
www.arkhamfilms.com/ibitch.html
California
www.arkhamfilms.com/never.html
Grim
www.arkhamfilms.com/inlikesin.html

PS) If everyone would rather me not update this thread, please let me know.
Thanks!

-CJ Roy
www.arkhamfilms.com
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

It was cool to see such well lit interiors.

Great job overall. You guys are on a roll.

And I think the waitress is better than a 6.

Encouraging to see such good production value.

Thanks for posting here.

-Craig
 
Re: Roadside Attractions (Short Film)

[quote author=ArkhamFilms link=board=Clips;num=1088456263;start=45#57 date=10/18/04 at 15:37:49]If everyone would rather me not update this thread, please let me know.
[/quote]

I can't speak for everyone but I'm excited to hear your news so keep it coming.
 
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