STRANGE DAYS OF JOEY DAVIS - a flyin monkey films production

I love these fantasy films. I love the thought of a door leading to a mysterious place or something else fantastic. Do we need to know where? no. I actually had a short with a similar theme that didn't make it to the fest.

The only complaint I could have was the gun. Once the short went all gangster I got thrown from what I was feeling. I still think the chick and her obsession is important I would have liked to see it be expressed differently. But that's it.
 
The only complaint I could have was the gun. Once the short went all gangster I got thrown from what I was feeling. I still think the chick and her obsession is important I would have liked to see it be expressed differently. But that's it.
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Since when does inclusion of a gun automatically mean "gangster"? Knives are brutal and personal, emotional blackmail takes way too long... Ari is in no way or shape "gangster" and neither is Joey, so I really don't understand where that statement is coming from or the justification of it.
 
Puck!

i like a lot of things with your film! idea - cool. like the door and the way you show the many many keys and pictures of the keys taped to the wall in the house. protrays a long long quest into getting that door open... not much explained on who these people are but in 6 minutes there's no way to do that so i thought you did a good job on getting me to care to see what happens to them. that said i think there is a lot more potential to get a lot more bang out of these people . in my opinion - i wanted to know much more - okay i get that these two are/were going out and that his mom is involved somehow - mom maybe is only a plot point to make me see the length of the quest , okay, but i would still like to know more - what exactly? not sure, but something.

that said i'm okay with the gun being used - its strong but okay. and i thought the acting was good too, she had a lot to pull off and she was okay too, not great, but okay. i'd think that if she is resorting to shooting her guy then she'd be a bit more frantic, and then also a lot more relieved to finally be able to get past the door . but that's just me.

loved some of the shots you pulled off ! esp the close up of the guy. awesome look there. and of the door in several of your shots, really cool stuff.

all in all i like your film - the only thing that i'd say is that i cared more about the door than the people in it and maybe this is that kind of story too.

good job, puck!!
 
Hey Puck,

Cool poster, and fun title. Damien did an outstanding job with the score as well, with regards to building a repeating theme to build on, etc. Nice.

The acting was what I felt was one of the weakest parts of the film, specifically from the lead actress...there were moments that were solid, but overall I didn't find her believable. Especially when she would try to act tough with the gun, or when he surprised her in the house after being shot in the head, etc.

Loved the shot/moment where he was yelling outside in the rain ... but didn't really understand that montage, or much of the timeline of the film, to be honest. I wasn't sure if the beginning was a dream, an alternate dimension that perhaps never happened because the door had actually opened (therefor he lived, but then seemed to be shot again for the first time later, etc.). So, all in all, it was strange ... matching the title I suppose! :)

I got that greed got the best of her, and she got what she deserved in the end ... just wasn't so sure about the ride there.

Some solid shots in the cinematography, though ONCE in a while I felt perhaps a tad too much attention was put on the adapter with regards to DOF, doing things out of focus, etc.

Audio was strong throughout, both for mix, as well as dialogue.

VFX were nicely used & executed as well.
 
Congratulations! Work is getting the best of me, but I should be able to vote and comment in the 2nd round. You did an admirable job.
 
puckthemad said:
Since when does inclusion of a gun automatically mean "gangster"? Knives are brutal and personal, emotional blackmail takes way too long... Ari is in no way or shape "gangster" and neither is Joey, so I really don't understand where that statement is coming from or the justification of it.
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When I see gun immediately used as the sole weapon of choice I think gangster/mobster etc. Who else uses a gun immediately as a end to a means? And she wasn't a soldier. Just saying that it, for me, took away from the fantasy feel of it all. Don't get me wrong fantasies can certainly be dark and work, but when the gun showed up I immediatly felt action/crime, not fantasy. I hope that helps explain my comment.
 
Chris_Keaton said:
When I see gun immediately used as the sole weapon of choice I think gangster/mobster etc. Who else uses a gun immediately as a end to a means? And she wasn't a soldier. Just saying that it, for me, took away from the fantasy feel of it all. Don't get me wrong fantasies can certainly be dark and work, but when the gun showed up I immediatly felt action/crime, not fantasy. I hope that helps explain my comment.
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I can totally see where you're coming from with that comment but not all gun related deaths are at the hands of mobsters or gangsters. Desperate people can get their hands on guns as well as ordinary people for self-defense. My own step-father has owned a gun for years (a little .22) and all he did was deliver mail. I have friends who have small gun collections and have even known a stripper who owned a Glock but had never fired it in her life. Just had it for a piece of mind and her own protection. And these are people all across the country in different lifestyles and different backgrounds.

I don't make gangster films or even hyper violent films. If a weapon is ever used then I make damn sure its for a good reason. As a black filmmaker there is already a pre-conception of what you're going to see in my work. The stereotype is "ghetto film", "gansta film" or "rap film. Please note, I'm not applying this to you Chris, but this is what happens.

Maybe I'm being hypersensitive to this, but I wonder what your reaction would have been if I had been able to use my original choice of Jessica Sinclair (blonde hair, blue eyes) to be Ari...
 
puckthemad said:
I can totally see where you're coming from with that comment but not all gun related deaths are at the hands of mobsters or gangsters. Desperate people can get their hands on guns as well as ordinary people for self-defense. My own step-father has owned a gun for years (a little .22) and all he did was deliver mail. I have friends who have small gun collections and have even known a stripper who owned a Glock but had never fired it in her life. Just had it for a piece of mind and her own protection. And these are people all across the country in different lifestyles and different backgrounds.

I don't make gangster films or even hyper violent films. If a weapon is ever used then I make damn sure its for a good reason. As a black filmmaker there is already a pre-conception of what you're going to see in my work. The stereotype is "ghetto film", "gansta film" or "rap film. Please note, I'm not applying this to you Chris, but this is what happens.

Maybe I'm being hypersensitive to this, but I wonder what your reaction would have been if I had been able to use my original choice of Jessica Sinclair (blonde hair, blue eyes) to be Ari...
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And some how I envisioned you as a fat white guy. Oh well, I'm sure that description still fits for Lawrie (just kidding :P)

I think if 'Sinclair' was brandishing the weapon it may have seemed more awkward or it would make her seem more desperate, it all would depend how she played it. I don't have concrete backing behind what I 'feel' I just 'feel'. I'm sure as I work at this stuff I'll get more eloquent. Great film though. Congrats on the top 8 finish.
 
Chris_Keaton said:
And some how I envisioned you as a fat white guy. Oh well, I'm sure that description still fits for Lawrie (just kidding :P)
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ROFLMAO! Good one!


wait a minute.. are you calling me fat? :-P

I think if 'Sinclair' was brandishing the weapon it may have seemed more awkward or it would make her seem more desperate, it all would depend how she played it. I don't have concrete backing behind what I 'feel' I just 'feel'. I'm sure as I work at this stuff I'll get more eloquent. Great film though. Congrats on the top 8 finish.
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I don't think I EVER wanna see Jessica brandish a weapon. She might get ideas. She'll be back for the next fest though... I'll see if I can get her a hand cannon, for no damn good reason at all.

I get your meaning though and you do raise a valid point, one that I was fearful of people thinking especially since we were swearing AND shooting guns in this film.

You're doing good with how you feel and your feedback is valid. Differnt people will read different things into the film. I'd just hoped 'wannabe gangster" asn't one of the things.
 
kurtmo said:
Congrats on a well deserved showing in the fest. Good luck in the next round!
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Edgen said:
Congrats on top 8! :)

/j
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Ryan E. Walters said:
Great job on making it to the top 8! :)
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Sprocketboy said:
Congratulations! Work is getting the best of me, but I should be able to vote and comment in the 2nd round. You did an admirable job.
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Waiting for your review!

conrad_johnson said:
Great work fellas, I'll be in LA, but not drinking O'dules........;)
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Brad S. said:
Congratulations on making the top 8, Rodney! Well done.
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Woot! Couldn't have done it without you.

Champloo said:
Congrats on the top 8!
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Noel Evans said:
Congrats Rodney.
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Thanks guys!
 
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