SHORT: "The Exchange" - North Korea Short Film (5 Mins)

Supertramp

Supertramp

Member
A North Korean border patrolwoman and an overzealous vlogger cross paths:


This no-budget amateur short was shot in one weekend with a few dedicated friends who worked for peanuts (literally). I put it on here before but it wasn't ready. It still needs a few tweaks here and there before it goes up on YouTube, but after that I think I'll probably have done as much as I can with the footage. Any feedback would be much appreciated, thanks!
 
Hey the editing is a lot tighter now. You did the serial killer date short film a while back too, didn't you? I really like your camera work. It is always deliberate, I can always tell you are making choices (although not in a reading-with-your-lips-moving sense). You are using it to tell your story. You aren't just going through the shot book, and (a rarity at any level) I get a real sense of you in your work. I can tell the two videos were made by the same person. Quite incredible for just a couple of videos. The thing I am particularly jealous of (and something I am yet to achieve) is that you so far have managed to come up with ideas that match your means and transcend your budget. You don't overreach like I do so you can both carry them out and focus on the story. You are really coming along, looking forward to your next one.
 
"No guided tour namby-pamby, this is the real deal." What an airbag!

I was happy to see their confrontation play out the way that it should.
 
Hey Egg Born Son, that's right that was me! Thank you very much for your incredibly encouraging words, you were very helpful when I posted the last short also. It really helps motivate me. I'm considerably happier with this short than I was with that one, especially because I'm not in it! I'm happy you mentioned the camerawork and the concept transcending the budget, both were goals for this short. I first thought about scenic locations I could access with minimal stress and also the friends who would tolerate my slave driving. The story then came from just reading the news and I realized that one convincing costume would go a long way.

Finn, I'm delighted the story provided the intended satisfaction. I actually heard a pretty obnoxious variation of that line from someone I know in real life and it made me bristle, so that's where that comes from! Originally, when I was first thinking of the story, I thought people would have to root for the vlogger, but it felt weak. Flipping it around somewhat turned out to be the solution.
 
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You're a teacher, right? I picture a classroom with school kids reading comics behind their textbooks while you're up front working on shot lists behind yours! :tongue:
 
Lol I wish! Actually, we don't use books most of the time, but now and then I do catch kids peeking at their comics under their desks. I'd love to have more time/energy for this stuff but my dedication to it comes in waves. I'm usually pretty tired at the end of the day/week, but I'm on an upswing at the moment.
 
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