"The Music Box" - a Michael Anthony Horrigan Film

I just watched this. So many movies. I feel bad for getting to some of these so late. Ok, enough excuses.

Micheal. This movie was AMAZING. I was captivated the entire time. It was riveting. I'm reading some of the early posts in this thread as you're worried about casting. All I can say is that this film was cast perfectly.

The comical absurdity mixed with uncontrolled menace of the abusive boyfriend.

The tender gentleness and empathy of the friend with the book.

The meekness and lucid expressiveness of the lead actress.

Dead on.

You and John came up with a really great story. Very fairytale-like, but contemporary also.

Your moving camera was flawless and very motivated. A joy to watch as it glided across each scene.

I think the acting was really great. Don't let me forget the young girl and the Grandma. You guys created a highly believable universe. The neandrethal boyfriend exudes danger and I definitely feared for the characters. He got the drop on them in the middle of true love. No fair!

Great film!

I officially have no idea how I'm going to vote in this fest. Too much great material.
 
mentatDUKE said:
I just watched this. So many movies. I feel bad for getting to some of these so late. Ok, enough excuses.

Micheal. This movie was AMAZING. I was captivated the entire time. It was riveting. I'm reading some of the early posts in this thread as you're worried about casting. All I can say is that this film was cast perfectly.

The comical absurdity mixed with uncontrolled menace of the abusive boyfriend.

The tender gentleness and empathy of the friend with the book.

The meekness and lucid expressiveness of the lead actress.

Dead on.

You and John came up with a really great story. Very fairytale-like, but contemporary also.

Your moving camera was flawless and very motivated. A joy to watch as it glided across each scene.

I think the acting was really great. Don't let me forget the young girl and the Grandma. You guys created a highly believable universe. The neandrethal boyfriend exudes danger and I definitely feared for the characters. He got the drop on them in the middle of true love. No fair!

Great film!

I officially have no idea how I'm going to vote in this fest. Too much great material.
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Wow! I'm glad that you really fell into the story. Sounds like you got into it.
Thanks for the descriptive and thoughtful critique.

I think a lot of credit should go out to the cast. They all did well and nobody tried to steal the show. They got into their parts and took Direction extremely well.

PS: I may quote you on a few of your praises.
That and JDS' "You're a pimp with the dolly"

:D

Cheers :thumbup:
 
Interesting, I'm not sure how I feel about it because I was a bit confused. The music box seemed a bit hoky.

Your lead actor (the African-American) was very good, reminded me of Orlando Jones in a good way.

Oh, what was up with the masonic shots? The pyramid with the seeing eye seemed out of place.
 
Hey Mike, just watched you film again! Really great work here.

The story is so engaging. I feel like the 6 minutes just slip by so quickly!

There are some really lovely shots and carefully executed camera moves. Some of those dolly shots are just perfect!

This is really a wonderful fairy-tale of a film.

Congrats again and good luck in the voting!

Best,

Ted
 
Ted Arabian said:
Hey Mike, just watched you film again! Really great work here.

The story is so engaging. I feel like the 6 minutes just slip by so quickly!

There are some really lovely shots and carefully executed camera moves. Some of those dolly shots are just perfect!

This is really a wonderful fairy-tale of a film.

Congrats again and good luck in the voting!

Best,

Ted
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Well, that could be because the movie is actually under 5 minutes. :D
Not counting the credits and such.

Glad you liked it the second time around. I think this is a movie that more can be gained from after subsequent views.

:beer:
 
Here are a couple of pics.
I have different length pipes for different circumstances/areas. One set is about 14' long.

Here is the dolly itself.

1203601975.jpg



And here it is in action... (while shooting Robin the Spy)

1203602045.jpg
 
Okay, Mike. You got plywood and then what kind of wheels are those and where did you buy them? I've been wanting to make a DIY dolly forever, but I'm not so great at making things. . .pretty good at breaking them though! LOL.
 
Ted Arabian said:
Mike, I love this photo! So funny to see that guy couching in the pew next to your actor.

Nice dolly. I HAVE to make on of these for myself!!!

On a different note... Robin the Spy! Whoot! What a fun film that was!!!
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Thanks. That was a fun one to make. John LaBonney wrote that one. I wish I knew what I know now while making that one.

Cheers,
 
leenewton said:
Okay, Mike. You got plywood and then what kind of wheels are those and where did you buy them? I've been wanting to make a DIY dolly forever, but I'm not so great at making things. . .pretty good at breaking them though! LOL.
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Actually, it's oak. Very heavy... :)
The wheels are just skateboard wheels. You can buy them at a lot of sporting good stores.

Cheers!
 
Mike.. I dug your film man. Kudos!

The little girl could have been casted different or vice versa. I couldn't really see either one being remotely related. I think you could have gotten away without showing the last flashback and the entry would have been just as strong.

Looking forward to your next entry. :)

/j
 
Thanks for dropping by, Justin!
Glad you liked it!!

That's funny, you're the first to say that about the little girl (Keven). I couldn't pass her up. I auditioned >20 children and she was the only one to impress me.

Which last flashback are you talking about? The girl reacting? That may actually be the present. Hehehe... I love doing that. :D

Cheers,

Mike

PS- My best to you and your new arrival. :thumbup:

Thanks again for taking a look.
 
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Mike - nice job.
I haven't read the other comments so these are solely my impressions of your piece.

I love the story you have going on here.
A simple story with complex ramifications - perfect choice for a 6 minute film.

I really like that you don't show us what happens in the room after the door is shut.
To do so would have killed the story in my opinion, so good choice there.

Shotwise it was well contructed - good use of close ups, high and low angle, etc.
It moved well and didn't get visually disorienting or boring.

My only critique would be in the contruction of the cut backs to the little girl.
There are two things there that I think would have made the story a lot stronger for me - first, I woudl have liked to have heard from the woman that the music will play when she finds true love much earlier in the piece. That would have given us something to anticipate, and it woudl have made the moment the music starts playing much more powerful. Instead, right now we're givin the information AS the music starts playing - which to me is the equivalent of showing something and then telling me why it's important. That kind of robs it of its dramatic weight. If I knew the implications of the music before I heard it...then when it started playing I would have had more of a "oh wow, the music is playing!" reaction - which is what I think you were going for. Instead my reaction was more like "Oh, so that's why the music is playing." Also, having the voiceover come in as the music is playing took me out of the scene a bit, because suddenly I'm having to pay attention to that audio instead of being engaged in the scene we're watching.

The second bit I was going to mention was the cut at the end - honestly I would have loved to see this film end when the bedroom door shuts. The ending felt unnecessary - and I feel that the information could have been given in another way earlier in the story. A sense of foreboding was already in the air - so I'm not sure its necessary to show us that the girl saw something specific in the music box. But that may just be me.

Lastly - the character of her boyfriend seemed a bit over the top to me.
Had he been toned down even a bit I think I woudl have found him more engaging - from the first moment he opened his mouth I thought "well this isn't going to end well." Toning him down would have made the story more natural and believable to me - and would not have given me such a strong indicator as to where things were heading.

That said - I really enjoyed his reaction in the final scene....when he takes the knife up to his forehead for a moment and then kind of rolls his eyes to the sky...partly frustrated, angry...and almost a tad annoyed. That was great - and that shot was really well constructed, blocked and composed (which goes back to why I would have loved for you to end the film there).

Overall - great work, great story.
I hope you keep this streak up and enter the next fest.
:thumbsup:
 
Thanks, Luis.
Glad you liked it!

I think if I changed the two things you mentioned there wouldn't be much left to the movie. There would be no surprise as to what the music was all about. In fact, it would be pretty predictable as to when it was going to play. I do agree that I could show the flashback about it a little sooner though.

As for the ending... that's my thing. :)
I want people to wonder... did this happen? Can she change this? Is it Fate?
Without the girl at the end there is no way the audience would walk away with those questions.

I'm glad that you seemed to enjoy it so much. Especially that moment outside the bedroom door. We worked on that for a bit.

Great critique!

Cheers,

Mike
 
Luis Caffesse said:
The second bit I was going to mention was the cut at the end - honestly I would have loved to see this film end when the bedroom door shuts. The ending felt unnecessary - and I feel that the information could have been given in another way earlier in the story. A sense of foreboding was already in the air - so I'm not sure its necessary to show us that the girl saw something specific in the music box. But that may just be me.
:thumbsup:
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Thanks. I thought about this while editing, believe me. If I ended the movie there then the story changes completely. It wasn't really the story that I wanted to tell. Thanks though.

Luis Caffesse said:
Overall - great work, great story.
I hope you keep this streak up and enter the next fest.
:thumbsup:
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Thanks again! :thumbup:

I'm really happy that this one has created some interest and great discussion.

Cheers,

Mike
 
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