"THE AMBASSADOR" - Namelok
- Thread starter namelok
- Start date
I LOVED your aesthetic in this film. The costume, location, composition, and color choices were all spot on for me. I also really dug your over-expose drum beat sync going on-- really unique way of adding tension to an already good piece, I'm sure. Really cool man-- I can't wait to see what you do next.
Marlon Ladd
Veteran
Was able to watch it again and it got better even. LOL! Excellent work! The only thing I saw that seemed a little off was the sniper's steps when he walks right up to the first victim to make sure he's dead.
Love the rifle and the running scene was off-the-chain! Watched that part a few times.
Love the rifle and the running scene was off-the-chain! Watched that part a few times.
namelok
Well-known member
The idea was to place a small digital screen in the right top corner that would show a montage of tv clips that would go along with the text and explain it better. But I couldn't get a permit to use the clips and didn't have time to find another solution.
I think you know I love your work. Xepoj blew me away.
I really liked this one as well but I think rushing it in like you did and having to cut so much hurt it just a tad. I really wasn't sure who he was talking to and what was exactly going on. I got the just of it though and still really enjoyed it. I especially liked the sniper scenes, really well put together. Score was perfect!
Still a very solid entry that I think will do very well.
MAH
Thanks MAH! Yes, I think the longer version will be much clearer but we didn't want to miss the westfest
Just so you know, I understood that he was hearing voices.
Now explain it to the rest of the class
Thanks Zaza!
"Live long and prosper" but shush
Thanks, I'll update the topic later on (next month probably) with the vimeo link to the longer version.
Thanks KOHR!
Thanks Marlon, third time's a charm
Yes the sound was totally off, we had some problem with sync when I got it from the sound guy, and it was the last day few hours before the end, so we just cut it and moved it a bit around. It's all his fault!!!
Finished watching all the movies, now i'll start rating and commenting
The first 20 seconds give me the intention to continue watching... So that's good already.
I didn't know flowers tasted good :2vrolijk_08:
I like the Foley done. (I guess it's foley...because in the real sound you would hear the steps of the DOP also...)
I like the "silence" of the sound.
I didn't know flowers tasted good :2vrolijk_08:
I like the Foley done. (I guess it's foley...because in the real sound you would hear the steps of the DOP also...)
I like the "silence" of the sound.
Brian Parker
Well-known member
I loved the concept of other planets being the frontier. You've got some great shots and color grading is very well done. Actors, location, and wardrobe were all very well done. Some awesome stuff in here. I don't really have anything bad to say. Really enjoyed this one.
Great film!
Great film!
Chris_Keaton
ScriptFEST Mod
Ok, another ambitious sci-fi. The trouble with sci-fi at this length is that you have to have the audience's buy in on your universe before they can feel your story. In a short by the time we are feeling it the story is over. We don't get as attached until the end. I was a little confused, but I think I got it at the end. This guy is killing all the competition, so that only his country can make it safely to the last planet. I loved the dark/grainy feel of it. Could be a real interesting longer piece. Good Stuff!
Marlon Ladd
Veteran
thanks marlon, third time's a charm
yes the sound was totally off, we had some problem with sync when i got it from the sound guy, and it was the last day few hours before the end, so we just cut it and moved it a bit around. It's all his fault!!!
finished watching all the movies, now i'll start rating and commenting
lmao!!!!
Matt Harris
Veteran
I just watched this again, i really like it namelok, please let us know when we can see the restored extended version!
Tim Joy
Veteran
Very cool. The music you get always works really well, and this is no exception. I liked it a lot, and it felt Western, but fresh.
Something seemed off with the look of it. Like the resolution or compression was not good? Heavy color correction maybe? Or perhaps it was intentional and I'm just not a big fan of the look.
It was all really well done, the sound, music, shots, angles, acting, design, but...
I had a hard time with the grandiosity of the story and buying the fact that this one guy is protecting a whole planet, or is it just an area? And why weren't other nations sending armies, rather than a few guys. I think it could be fixed either with a different opening setup, or some new lines of VO.
How did you get the closeup tracking shots when he is running? It seems like the camera is right next to him. ??
Congrats on another solid entry.
Something seemed off with the look of it. Like the resolution or compression was not good? Heavy color correction maybe? Or perhaps it was intentional and I'm just not a big fan of the look.
It was all really well done, the sound, music, shots, angles, acting, design, but...
I had a hard time with the grandiosity of the story and buying the fact that this one guy is protecting a whole planet, or is it just an area? And why weren't other nations sending armies, rather than a few guys. I think it could be fixed either with a different opening setup, or some new lines of VO.
How did you get the closeup tracking shots when he is running? It seems like the camera is right next to him. ??
Congrats on another solid entry.
Lawsuit_Boy
Veteran
Like Horrigan's film, this is the second West Fest entry I've viewed with a science fiction blend. I always appreciate a dabbling in sci-fi.
Anyway, the film's opening was a nice place setter for mood, tone, and exposition. The ship flies by, and we're off! Nice start.
The cinematography is quite good. You made great use of the 5dmii and handy slr, that's for sure. A few wide glances at the dry vistas you set the film in really stood out. The film's color palette was consistent and assured, though, I must be frank, I would have liked to see just a little more color involved. Think of Deakins' wides toward the beginning of No Country for Old Men--the terrain is barren and dusty, but while the overall image is warm and dirty, there is great meshing of the light blue sky with the dusty brown/yellow terrain. Just an idea, not really a detractor from the overall viewing of your film. My true grievance would have to be with the incessant brightening of the image, but I'll cover that later.
Your wardrobe was pretty terrific! I really felt like the actors felt comfortable in what they were wearing, carrying, and performing. However, this is also where I had the most trouble with my viewing. Presented firstly as a sci-fi film of mass consumption, globalization, and resource depletion resulting in the potential colonization of other worlds before time runs out, the film hits a certain wall in its presentation of the duster-wearing, steely-eyed "heroes" of the spaghetti western. I find that there's a serious incongruity between the advanced future the film is set in and the archaic character traits presented. The viewer can easily suspend disbelief because the film is constructed well, but it's an issue that I think cannot be avoided. And please don't think that I disliked your film because of this. I'm just tossing some ideas around. But, this dichotomy between sci-fi and traditional western character design tends to appear more capricious or impulsive, primarily because of the rules of the festival. It's as if the requisites had to be filled, so they were simply attached.
Of course, it's a six-minute film festival, so it would be difficult to really ground it in reality to sell it to the skeptics like me. You did a fine job, regardless.
Now, the only other issue I ran into with my viewing was linked to the sound design. I felt that the slow, pulsating thud used, quite like a delayed heart beat, could have been very effective, but it's effect was diminished severely by the distracting brightening of the image. This, to me, was more of a distraction than an intensifier.
Something I really loved about the film were the score (terrific work!), and some of the shots showcasing the life forms on the other planet (like the caterpillar). This really helped raise an awareness that this land is indeed much like the home planet and could be habitable with the proper resources. Your visual effects were quite good as well. The shots with the watch were very smooth.
It is a fascinating concept to have multiple ethnicities existing on this new planet, who have developed much like those on earth. This can either help or hinder the film depending on the viewer, but it's an interesting approach nonetheless.
Overall, this film is very ambitious and tackles most of those ambitions very well.
Nice work! :thumbsup:
Anyway, the film's opening was a nice place setter for mood, tone, and exposition. The ship flies by, and we're off! Nice start.
The cinematography is quite good. You made great use of the 5dmii and handy slr, that's for sure. A few wide glances at the dry vistas you set the film in really stood out. The film's color palette was consistent and assured, though, I must be frank, I would have liked to see just a little more color involved. Think of Deakins' wides toward the beginning of No Country for Old Men--the terrain is barren and dusty, but while the overall image is warm and dirty, there is great meshing of the light blue sky with the dusty brown/yellow terrain. Just an idea, not really a detractor from the overall viewing of your film. My true grievance would have to be with the incessant brightening of the image, but I'll cover that later.
Your wardrobe was pretty terrific! I really felt like the actors felt comfortable in what they were wearing, carrying, and performing. However, this is also where I had the most trouble with my viewing. Presented firstly as a sci-fi film of mass consumption, globalization, and resource depletion resulting in the potential colonization of other worlds before time runs out, the film hits a certain wall in its presentation of the duster-wearing, steely-eyed "heroes" of the spaghetti western. I find that there's a serious incongruity between the advanced future the film is set in and the archaic character traits presented. The viewer can easily suspend disbelief because the film is constructed well, but it's an issue that I think cannot be avoided. And please don't think that I disliked your film because of this. I'm just tossing some ideas around. But, this dichotomy between sci-fi and traditional western character design tends to appear more capricious or impulsive, primarily because of the rules of the festival. It's as if the requisites had to be filled, so they were simply attached.
Of course, it's a six-minute film festival, so it would be difficult to really ground it in reality to sell it to the skeptics like me. You did a fine job, regardless.
Now, the only other issue I ran into with my viewing was linked to the sound design. I felt that the slow, pulsating thud used, quite like a delayed heart beat, could have been very effective, but it's effect was diminished severely by the distracting brightening of the image. This, to me, was more of a distraction than an intensifier.
Something I really loved about the film were the score (terrific work!), and some of the shots showcasing the life forms on the other planet (like the caterpillar). This really helped raise an awareness that this land is indeed much like the home planet and could be habitable with the proper resources. Your visual effects were quite good as well. The shots with the watch were very smooth.
It is a fascinating concept to have multiple ethnicities existing on this new planet, who have developed much like those on earth. This can either help or hinder the film depending on the viewer, but it's an interesting approach nonetheless.
Overall, this film is very ambitious and tackles most of those ambitions very well.
Nice work! :thumbsup:
Last edited:
Lawsuit_Boy
Veteran
Also, I apologize if any of the things I've mentioned have already been discussed. I forgot to look back through the thread.
xxrotinivol2
Active member
Great look and feel to the short. I feel with a six minute short, you don't need to have as much text at the beginning, would have rather seen more. Maybe have an actor VO help describe some of the stuff under some earlier images to tell the story, get us in the world as quickly as possible. The graphics aren't spectacular but they don't detract from the short either, and I look forward to seeing the final composites. It took me two watch-throughs to understand the picture better.
I'd have liked more of a me-against-the-world feel, more tension in the killing, have the guy snipe a larger group of people, that would've helped put me in the story more, put me on the edge of my seat, the guy has an upper-hand the whole time. I liked the sci-fi/western blend too. Overall of course, great work. Very convincing props, location, etc. Thank you for cutting it down to six minutes so we could all watch this version of it, and I look forward to seeing what you do next and final full version. It's an interesting idea for a longer piece for sure.
I'd have liked more of a me-against-the-world feel, more tension in the killing, have the guy snipe a larger group of people, that would've helped put me in the story more, put me on the edge of my seat, the guy has an upper-hand the whole time. I liked the sci-fi/western blend too. Overall of course, great work. Very convincing props, location, etc. Thank you for cutting it down to six minutes so we could all watch this version of it, and I look forward to seeing what you do next and final full version. It's an interesting idea for a longer piece for sure.
Russell Moore
Well-known member
Man, this was good. I really loved the look of this film and the sound/music.
I didn't know what the voice was, if it was him or someone else, but I still enjoyed the dialogue.
Great tension throughout. Looking forward to seeing a longer version.
I didn't know what the voice was, if it was him or someone else, but I still enjoyed the dialogue.
Great tension throughout. Looking forward to seeing a longer version.
REHov520
Well-known member
i thought this one had a great mood and music to it, it had a very unique feel. i liked the premise of the story, but i had a hard time getting invested in it because we know so little about this dude and where he comes from. would be interested in seeing more about this character in a longer film.
i was driving, namelok was filming from the passenger sit, gordislav was running beside the car
namelok
Well-known member
@Defcon,
Will do, working on it, we will maybe have another shoot to make it even longer
@Tim Joy
They can't send an army, they are traveling few years before the colonization ship and plotting the course in a fast one man beacon ship, I'm trying to make it less confussing in the longer version
Eean answered your other question
@Lawsuit Boy
Thanks for taking the time to write a long review, much appreciated!!!
@xxrotinvol2
There are no larger group of people
Yes, I agree he has an upper hand but the idea was that his worst enemy was himself
And, the last "fight" with the middle-eastern guy will be much longer and tougher in the longer version.
@conlanforever
It was him, but at the same time, not him, he is hearing voices
@REHov520
Working on it
@Ramana
Yes, I think we will go with something like that to explain the story better. It will be a VO, I'm still not sure if it will be his narration or somebody else narrating.
Thanks everybody for watching!!!
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/member.php?u=45260
Will do, working on it, we will maybe have another shoot to make it even longer
@Tim Joy
They can't send an army, they are traveling few years before the colonization ship and plotting the course in a fast one man beacon ship, I'm trying to make it less confussing in the longer version
Eean answered your other question
@Lawsuit Boy
Thanks for taking the time to write a long review, much appreciated!!!
@xxrotinvol2
There are no larger group of people
Yes, I agree he has an upper hand but the idea was that his worst enemy was himself
And, the last "fight" with the middle-eastern guy will be much longer and tougher in the longer version.
@conlanforever
It was him, but at the same time, not him, he is hearing voices
@REHov520
Working on it
@Ramana
Yes, I think we will go with something like that to explain the story better. It will be a VO, I'm still not sure if it will be his narration or somebody else narrating.
Thanks everybody for watching!!!
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/member.php?u=45260