Slumberland _ No budget film from little rock.

[cigsmcgee]

We started making Slumberland a little more than a year ago, and could only afford a dvx100a, two octava mk-102'a (?), vegas 7 and a mac mini. None of us have had any real experience making movies; i had recently made a couple contest shorts and few other odds and ends. and now that it's almost finished, i think some major truths about moviemaking became quite clear; do's and don'ts that i never would have thought of or been able to understand had i not experienced them while trying to make a film. you can't really read about "getting the feel of a scene" in a how-to book; what it's like working with actors who have very different personalities and temperments; how to borrow and ask for help; when to put your foot down and when to let it roll.

so, if someone there is reading this, thinking about starting a production, like i was last year, just go on and do it. you may think you know what youre doing, but when it comes down to pounding out a story, you never really know if you've got it right. but going through the process is the only way to figure your way out.

so you cant into filmschool or afford it? don't sweat it. it sounds nice, i know, and maybe it is, but just get out your camera, get some friends who will buy into a common idea, and start taping. and see how long it goes.


SLUMBERLAND
- a small picture about friendships, girls, and getting over it.
- the finished version will feature an original score and songs from local Arkansas bands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BviRjXvM80

 

[ericengland33]

Hey man, not bad. Some of the shots and lighting were pretty decent. Sound was a bit off, but it's all good.

I'm from Arkansas (Russellville), so it's nice to see more filmmakers getting into the game. I'm in Hollywood now, but I miss Arkansas like crazy.

Good job, though! I'd like to see what you could do with a budget.

 

[Alan H. Chang]

Seems like a behind the scene video, maybe some documentary-style to it.

During the first 30 seconds, I thought this was going to be some jazzy retro 70's. I think it's the font and the way you shot it. Oh, and the music too.

 

[cigsmcgee]

yeah, lighting and sound were two things that i had ZERO experience in, but pretty quick i found natural light really looked great on the dvx.

as far as the style, i was really into pennebaker's stuff, and reading alot of Goddard's reviews and other writings, so i guess a retro look was just kindof an innate shoot off from what i was into. i also used alot of mirrors and other reflections; i just thought a voyeristic approach would be the most cost-effective way to tell a pretty small scale story.

the whole idea behind the movie was just to make something that might prove our worth to potential investors, as well as to some local producers. theres money to be had down here south, and not alot of competition.