Short based on Angels in America

[Cory Braun]

Hey All,

The following is a short film I made based off a scene from the play Angels in America by Tony Kushner, however, I was trying to do my own interpretation of it, I was not trying recreate the scene from the HBO film. I shot it on the HMC150.

All feedback is welcomed but this is an unfinished version. A lot of work still needs to be done on the sound (in terms of mixing, editing, and design), and I still need to do some compositing on it, but I won't be able to get to that stuff for a few weeks, so I figured I'd post it now and get some feedback in the meantime. Let me know if you have any questions.

http://www.corybraun.com/unfinishedangelsshort.htm

 

[Cory Braun]

41 views and no feedback? I'd really appreciate some feedback if you have watched it.

 

[Gilbert Garboni]

I just watched. Nice acting in my opinion. There were some interesting twists in dialogue to me. I don't think I've ever seen the play. Some parts may have seemed dim, but that can be OK.

 

[Cory Braun]

I just watched. Nice acting in my opinion. There were some interesting twists in dialogue to me. I don't think I've ever seen the play. Some parts may have seemed dim, but that can be OK.

Thanks for the response. I agree, I thought actors did a very nice job. Once I go back with my sound people and fix the sound I'll probably fix the color correcting as well so that some of the shots are not as dim.

 

[jasonthewho]

Out of curiosity, why did you film a scene from AIA? Film school project?

I think my familiarity with the material and with the Punch Drunk Love music made me more critical of this than I might have been if you had used original material and original music. The filming was unique and stylish, although you certainly aren't making it seem less like a play with this sort of treatment.

The acting was very good, and the direction was interesting. Not the route I would potentially go with the scene, but a strong choice.

The line crossing bothered me a bit.

I liked the pushing of the sandwich tray and the repetitive visual motifs. It looks like you've got some real talent.

 

[Cory Braun]

Thanks for the response.

Out of curiosity, why did you film a scene from AIA? Film school project?

Yes, it was for a directing class, and we were to choose a scene from Angels and adapt it.

I think my familiarity with the material and with the Punch Drunk Love music made me more critical of this than I might have been if you had used original material and original music. The filming was unique and stylish, although you certainly aren't making it seem less like a play with this sort of treatment.

I’m glad you noticed that actually, as when I pitched the scene to the class I said that although I was trying to steer away from the way it had been done in the past in the theater, I still did not want to ignore it’s roots completely, hence, one of the reasons for the theatrical lighting and set design.

Normally, I would use original music, but as I new I wouldn’t be able to enter this into festivals, I figured it was a rare opportunity for me to be able to use copyrighted music and I might as well take advantage of it.

The acting was very good, and the direction was interesting. Not the route I would potentially go with the scene, but a strong choice.

I agree, I thought the acting was very good. In terms of the directing, I was trying to direct something that was relatable to me, and the anxiety and OCD is something that I deal with, and I thought would be a nice take on it as it’s not the way the scene is usually played.

The line crossing bothered me a bit.

I’m not exactly sure what you mean by line crossing but I think you’re talking about the 180 line? I decided to cross it because I wanted it to disorient people. While film people would probably be bothered by it because they know it’s something that you’re not suppose to do, for non-film people I thought it would disorient them. They would know something was off, but they would not exactly be sure what it was which would bother them and add to the anxiety I was trying to get the audience to feel (so that they could relate with Joe).

I liked the pushing of the sandwich tray and the repetitive visual motifs. It looks like you've got some real talent.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate the compliments, as well as your thoughts on it.