Sizzle Reel F35 Short Film

O

odshannon

Well-known member
Hey guys, just thought I'd share with you my sizzle reel I made to send to production agencies for work because the film is still in post right now.

Please know it will affect the viewing of the actual film which I will post here later so please watch at your own discretion!

This film couldn't have turned out the way it did without DVX. I rented the cam from Dhessel, got advice from so many amazing talented people and am super grateful. Yachacha literally texted me for a long time, trying to help me resolve all my problems. You all seriously rock. THANK YOU.

https://vimeo.com/164797761

pw: zealthefilm

Totally open to critiques even though it's just a sizzle reel, but please keep them to constructive criticism and not artistic opinion ;)

Also, this was a pretty quick color grade due to wanting to send this out quick. I plan to do a much more extensive job on the final film.
 
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Fairly nice for no-budget filmmaking. I didn't like those few insert shots (they look like film student work, like most inserts... simple inserts equal lazy filmmaking most of the time) nor the skin highlights on the restaurant table shots. A softer or further away placed source would have helped that.

By the way, the term "sizzle reel" is an amateur and sort of sleazy term most often used by the bottom rung of Hollywood wannabes and first-time reality show runners, just so you know. I'd get rid of it. :beer:
 
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The cuts should be faster. YOu opened with a series of shots of people basically not moving, and then held them way too long. And I have no clue why they are where they are.
I see you have clips of actions of different types.
Start with some action clips that are part of the early stage of the story - once you have shown some action the viewer can follow, then cut in some of the slower/not moving shots, but make each one is shorter so the feel moves more quickly. Then put some action from the middle and the end - don't feel like you must tell the whole story - maybe the trailer leaves off the whole last act [unless it i s really something great to see!]
Put some more of the shorter slow clips in where you have put the middle and end action clips, and try to edit it all together so that the viewer has some idea of the story and can follow what they are seeing - even if it doesn't answer all of their questions.

And try to avoid using clips of people talking that we can't hear, unless they are really short and relevant to the action because otherwise they get irritating really fast for many viewers.
 
DPStewart said:
The cuts should be faster. YOu opened with a series of shots of people basically not moving, and then held them way too long. And I have no clue why they are where they are.
I see you have clips of actions of different types.
Start with some action clips that are part of the early stage of the story - once you have shown some action the viewer can follow, then cut in some of the slower/not moving shots, but make each one is shorter so the feel moves more quickly. Then put some action from the middle and the end - don't feel like you must tell the whole story - maybe the trailer leaves off the whole last act [unless it i s really something great to see!]
Put some more of the shorter slow clips in where you have put the middle and end action clips, and try to edit it all together so that the viewer has some idea of the story and can follow what they are seeing - even if it doesn't answer all of their questions.

And try to avoid using clips of people talking that we can't hear, unless they are really short and relevant to the action because otherwise they get irritating really fast for many viewers.
Click to expand...

This isn't a trailer so that's why I don't mind leaving muted voices in. This is to show directors/ad agencies my work. I added the muted talking scenes because I wanted to show I can do narrative coverage well. Which is no fluff, no action, let the actors do their thing kind of shots.

I started out with long shots because I love how the actor is feeling in relation to the camera. Personally, I don't things have to be so actiony. This film isn't an action film. It's a narrative film about emotionally complex characters.

Thank you for your feedback though.
 
VinceinLA said:
Fairly nice for no-budget filmmaking. I didn't like those few insert shots (they look like film student work, like most inserts... simple inserts equal lazy filmmaking most of the time) nor the skin highlights on the restaurant table shots. A softer or further away placed source would have helped that.

By the way, the term "sizzle reel" is an amateur and sort of sleazy term most often used by the bottom rung of Hollywood wannabes and first-time reality show runners, just so you know. I'd get rid of it. :beer:
Click to expand...

What inserts are you talking about?

Thanks, good to know. I changed it to Zeal Selects.
 
Nice work with the color science. Seems like it's gonna be a deep movie. I'm super curious as to its plotline since it is clearly not a trailer making me have no idea what it's log line could be. Is there an estimated release date yet?
 
Thanks for all the kind words everyone!

70: It will be released probably in 2 months or so. Not sure if our festival run will delay a release online. So I'll post it when I can.

Torres: I shot this with Zeiss Superspeed MK II's. Had a pretty great experience with them. Very clean, neutral image. Also very beautiful and sharp wide open.
 
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