"The Music Box" - a Michael Anthony Horrigan Film

It was kind of late last night (here) when we were discussing this.

I've since slept on things and have decided that I will probably add a touch of dialogue at the end and do some different CC throughout. Other than that I probably won't change much more. Aside from adding the stuff I had to cut out due to time.

Thanks again for all the advice! Well done guys...

Mike
 
I wouldn't change much. Maybe to avoid confusion don't go back to the little girl seeing something bad happen in the music box. I was more taken in by the husband coming back. Also that the music started when she found love. She just found her true love at the wrong time!!

I guess I'm one of those people who think you can't change the future even if you saw it somehow. But I think that is one of the things that makes your film good.

Like you said about "No Country For Old Men" Everyone I know was talking about it, "What do you think happened" Lots of ideas. That isn't a bad thing.
 
Zim said:
I wouldn't change much. Maybe to avoid confusion don't go back to the little girl seeing something bad happen in the music box. I was more taken in by the husband coming back. Also that the music started when she found love. She just found her true love at the wrong time!!

I guess I'm one of those people who think you can't change the future even if you saw it somehow. But I think that is one of the things that makes your film good.

Like you said about "No Country For Old Men" Everyone I know was talking about it, "What do you think happened" Lots of ideas. That isn't a bad thing.
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Well put.

Glad you seemed to really enjoy it and think about it. I'm also glad that this movie created some thought provoking discussion.
That was definitely my intention.

Cheers!
:beer:
 
MIKE!! I've been trying to download the movie since late last night and it won't work! I got to watching the first 2 minutes and then it stopped. I'm trying to download it again, but it's taking like 10 minutes. It may be taking longer, because I have all the other files downloaded. Anyway, I'll check back. Hope it works this time.
 
Finally! I was able to watch! That was really good and I’m not just saying that cz you my boy. That was a really good, compelling story. I thought the acting was right on and real. The girl did a great job and when she and the guy kissed, you felt it and believed in her chance to maybe get out of the situation she was in and you so wanted that for her. I don’t know what else to say, really. Oh, you always have some cool dolly shots too.

I haven't read all the posts, but a few. I don't know what any of the confusion is. To me, she saw something in the music box, like maybe her life would end some kind of way and she didn't really know how it would end and therefore didn't really know how to stop it. She was in a situation where she didn't know how to get out of it and was very afraid, but saw a possible chance with the guy from next door.

Maybe I'm just crazy, but I didn't have any ?s at the end of it. I like the way it ended, with us not really knowing for sure what happened.
 
leenewton said:
Finally! I was able to watch! That was really good and I’m not just saying that cz you my boy. That was a really good, compelling story. I thought the acting was right on and real. The girl did a great job and when she and the guy kissed, you felt it and believed in her chance to maybe get out of the situation she was in and you so wanted that for her. I don’t know what else to say, really. Oh, you always have some cool dolly shots too.

I haven't read all the posts, but a few. I don't know what any of the confusion is. To me, she saw something in the music box, like maybe her life would end some kind of way and she didn't really know how it would end and therefore didn't really know how to stop it. She was in a situation where she didn't know how to get out of it and was very afraid, but saw a possible chance with the guy from next door.

Maybe I'm just crazy, but I didn't have any ?s at the end of it. I like the way it ended, with us not really knowing for sure what happened.
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I'm happy that you enjoyed it. It seems like I'm getting a better response lately. :)
The ending was never really supposed to be one thing or the other. It's what the viewer brings to the table that helps to complete it for that individual.

Some people thought that maybe the abusive BF died. Some thought that she could now change what she just saw. Some believe that you can't change Fate and whatever happened in that room is destined to repeat itself. These are all possibilities that I thought about while making this.

Glad you liked the kiss. There were not too many in this fest and it was my first time shooting and directing such a scene. :)

Glad you liked the dolly work as well. It's homemade.

Which link did you use? The one I posted or the DVX link?

Glad you liked it!

Cheers,

Mike
 
Michael, I watched this a while ago and have had to ruminate on it for some time. I've had to watch it four times to coalesce my thoughts regarding it.

I have forced myself not to read the prior reviews, so this wouldn't be colored by them. As soon as I'm though with the review I'm going to read through it and see if you've addressed them already so if these have already been answered, feel free to ignore all I'm about to say except: I enjoyed your film.

I like the story. I thought you did a good job bringing it to the screen.

You made a couple of choices I found to be confusing, though. Opening with the sepia-type look led me to believe that we were looking into the past. Great dolly transition from past to present. Now we have some color, leading me to believe we are looking at the "real" world...the present. But then you go to B&W??? Then I began to think that only the Music Box was in color...until I saw the purple candles and green leaves at the table. Then the Music Box was B&W. This felt a bit inconsistent to me and I found it a bit distracting.

Her dialogue also reinforces that we are in the present letting us know that she saw this as a child in the Music Box. So now, I'm not sure what I'm looking at...(Mature Lisa) present remembering the past OR (Young Lisa) present looking into the furture. I personally have come to the decision (based on the dialogue and color palette) that it's the former. That begs the question, if she knew what was going to happen why didn't she try to change her destiny? Maybe it is too large a question for the scope of this movie but the question is still there for me.

It would be so much easier for me to think that Young Lisa was seeing her future but the sepia-type tones really shout out "the past."

I'm still scratching my head over this one. It was still an interesting, thought provoking story which I enjoyed watching. I just don't feel I have quite enough information to come to a definite conclusion.
 
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Blaine said:
Michael, I watched this a while ago and have had to ruminate on it for some time. I've had to watch it four times to coalesce my thoughts regarding it.

I have forced myself not to read the prior reviews, so this wouldn't be colored by them. As soon as I'm though with the review I'm going to read through it and see if you've addressed them already so if these have already been answered, feel free to ignore all I'm about to say except: I enjoyed your film.

I like the story. I thought you did a good job bringing it to the screen.

You made a couple of choices I found to be confusing, though. Opening with the sepia-type look led me to believe that we were looking into the past. Great dolly transition from past to present. Now we have some color, leading me to believe we are looking at the "real" world...the present. But then you go to B&W??? Then I began to think that only the Music Box was in color...until I saw the purple candles and green leaves at the table. Then the Music Box was B&W. This felt a bit inconsistent to be and I found it a bit distracting.

Her dialogue also reinforces that we are in the present letting us know that she saw this as a child in the Music Box. So now, I'm not sure what I'm looking at...(Mature Lisa) present remembering the past OR (Young Lisa) present looking into the furture. I personally have come to the decision (based on the dialogue and color palette) that it's the former. That begs the question, if she knew what was going to happen why didn't she try to change her destiny? Maybe it is too large a question for the scope of this movie but the question is still there for me.

It would be so much easier for me to think that Young Lisa was seeing her future but the sepia-type tones really shout out "the past."

I'm still scratching my head over this one. It was still an interesting, thought provoking story which I enjoyed watching. I just don't feel I have quite enough information to come to a definite conclusion.
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Hell of a review, Blaine! Really well stated.

The colour choices are something that I'm going to have to work on.
As for the present and past...

It's almost as if Mature Lisa is warning Young Lisa... But how can she do this if she has yet to live through it? Is their some kind of time-loop going on and is she destined to live this Fate over and over again.

Too much to tell in a 5 minute short.

This was intended for the viewer to come up with their own realization and I've now read many different outcomes thanks to the Members here.

Mature Lisa states...
"If you saw something bad happening before it occurred... do you think you could stop it?"

That was definitely on purpose and to suggest that Young Lisa is watching this moment. What happens after that is up to you.

I will work on the colour choices though. They are a bit confusing.

Thanks for watching and critiquing so well! You were very clear and precise.

Cheers!

Mike
 
Mike and I discussed leaving certain elements of the film open to interpretation. I think he got pretty much what he was hoping for in terms of a final product; exactly what he wanted to leave the viewer questioning (present-past, what does she see, if she sees her future, does she avoid it, or does she just see "something" bad, and her future is unavoidable?) are the parts that people are asking about. This was tougher than you might think to with as a writer. Having no clear answer to these issues turned out to be harder to write than if it was all plain.

I think that this is a big leap in terms of cinematography for Mike over his last two dvxuser fest entries. I saw an earlier cut of the film and this cut is a massive improvement over that in my opinion. When I saw the rough cut, I didn't think it would come out this good. I was glad to be a part of this one.

My wife (who is not a film geek like us) says this is her favorite LoveFest film.

Super score--nice work Herman!
 
Sup Michael,

Great film you have here. Like I said about your poster, I love the look of the film. I think the color is perfect for the film. I was a little "wha?" when I saw the end, and I think it opened up a bunch of "why didnts" but reading yours and john's responses regarding it being "open to interpretation" I can see your intention.

The way I saw it was, even though she knew it was going to happen she would rather face the consequences and commit, rather than continue living unhappily (though in that sense, it kinda sucks for the unsuspecting dude she likes). But hey, we dont know if that dude kicked the funny-hair'd guy's @$$, right? :)

Anyway, I think had you more time, you wouldve developed an even better version of this. Still, I think it holds up well.

Congrats. Your poster still rules.
 
The Music Box
Great opening title sequence. Nice opening shot. I really like the beginning and the voices of the child and her grandmother. It’s like, OK, I’m ready for a story. The transition from young girl to older works incredibly well.

When I first saw the dude in bed, I thought, I don’t like this guy. Then, the juxtaposition of the music and his talking (yelling) at her, made me really not like him. So, good character building here, even if it is a character that I don’t like.

The guy friend and Lisa getting together and then making out wasn’t believable for me.

My favorite shot is near the end when the bad boyfriend enters to find them kissing and the look on her face. I like the way that shot was composed.
 
johnlabonney said:
Mike and I discussed leaving certain elements of the film open to interpretation. I think he got pretty much what he was hoping for in terms of a final product; exactly what he wanted to leave the viewer questioning (present-past, what does she see, if she sees her future, does she avoid it, or does she just see "something" bad, and her future is unavoidable?) are the parts that people are asking about. This was tougher than you might think to with as a writer. Having no clear answer to these issues turned out to be harder to write than if it was all plain.

I think that this is a big leap in terms of cinematography for Mike over his last two dvxuser fest entries. I saw an earlier cut of the film and this cut is a massive improvement over that in my opinion. When I saw the rough cut, I didn't think it would come out this good. I was glad to be a part of this one.

My wife (who is not a film geek like us) says this is her favorite LoveFest film.

Super score--nice work Herman!
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Thanks, John. That first cut was a little rough. :)
Glad your wife liked it as well.

Oh... and Herman does rock the Casbah! :thumbup:
 
Arrik said:
Sup Michael,

Great film you have here. Like I said about your poster, I love the look of the film. I think the color is perfect for the film. I was a little "wha?" when I saw the end, and I think it opened up a bunch of "why didnts" but reading yours and john's responses regarding it being "open to interpretation" I can see your intention.

The way I saw it was, even though she knew it was going to happen she would rather face the consequences and commit, rather than continue living unhappily (though in that sense, it kinda sucks for the unsuspecting dude she likes). But hey, we dont know if that dude kicked the funny-hair'd guy's @$$, right? :)

Anyway, I think had you more time, you wouldve developed an even better version of this. Still, I think it holds up well.

Congrats. Your poster still rules.
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Thanks! Glad you liked it... and the poster! :)
I'm also glad that you saw it as intended.

Cheers!


RobertE said:
The Music Box
Great opening title sequence. Nice opening shot. I really like the beginning and the voices of the child and her grandmother. It’s like, OK, I’m ready for a story. The transition from young girl to older works incredibly well.

When I first saw the dude in bed, I thought, I don’t like this guy. Then, the juxtaposition of the music and his talking (yelling) at her, made me really not like him. So, good character building here, even if it is a character that I don’t like.

The guy friend and Lisa getting together and then making out wasn’t believable for me.

My favorite shot is near the end when the bad boyfriend enters to find them kissing and the look on her face. I like the way that shot was composed.
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Some of my favourite shots as well! Glad you got into some of the characters.
There was a lot more of her developing relationship with the neighbour but it had to hit the cutting room floor due to time.

Cheers!
 
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I liked your dolly shots in this film. I thought your dialog was very natural. And the music worked well. Nice production!
 
RobertE said:
My favorite shot is near the end when the bad boyfriend enters to find them kissing and the look on her face. I like the way that shot was composed.
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I remember telling her.... when he comes in I'm going to shout out your name when I want you to react. The first time I did it... I think I scared the crap out of her. :D
 
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