SHORT: The Secret Door

[punkmonkeyed]

Short completed last year.
Will be screening at the Philly Film and Music Fest!
http://www.phillyfmfest.com/
9/26/2010 - 7:30 PM @
The Media Bureau
725 N. 4th Street Philadelphia, PA 19123

shot on Nikon D90, edited in Adobe Premiere (CS3 although I've since upgraded to 5).

For your consideration:

 

[Nathyn]

Dude, that was some scary stuff. This was real raw man. When the redhead was talking to the girl, it reminded me of my "Wages of Sin" film, but I wish mine had the look yours had. We did good with exteriors but your interiors were real nice. The actors were great. The one thing was when the prophet was dreaming, I think you should've cut it a split second closer, almost and over cut so it's like he snaps awake immediately. Also I would've like to see the badguy a little earlier, maybe start off with the dream. You could do more with this, maybe even a webseries. I think there's something to it. I liked the

The actress that played Maggie was excellent. Her strong features and the way she handled the dilogue really worked. Many actresses come off like a bad B-movie actresses when doing those kinds of scenes, but I think she got it.

But the pace of the movie kept me there too. I knew something weird was happening and I wanted to see what it was. And what exactly was "The Wisdom Tooth". He seemed like more than just some homeless guy that knew stuff. I liked the guy that played him. He seemed really right for the role. Good casting all the way around.

The guy that played Gabriel was good too. I liked the way he got real quiet in those final scenes. I knew some was going to happen there, but I didn't know it was going to be like that. I'm mean I've seen people do that kind of scene before but it's not always effective. Some mixed emotions about what happens there, but the production was very good.

-Nate

 

[punkmonkeyed]

Dude, that was some scary stuff. This was real raw man. When the redhead was talking to the girl, it reminded me of my "Wages of Sin" film, but I wish mine had the look yours had. We did good with exteriors but your interiors were real nice. The actors were great. The one thing was when the prophet was dreaming, I think you should've cut it a split second closer, almost and over cut so it's like he snaps awake immediately. Also I would've like to see the badguy a little earlier, maybe start off with the dream. You could do more with this, maybe even a webseries. I think there's something to it. I liked the

The actress that played Maggie was excellent. Her strong features and the way she handled the dilogue really worked. Many actresses come off like a bad B-movie actresses when doing those kinds of scenes, but I think she got it.

But the pace of the movie kept me there too. I knew something weird was happening and I wanted to see what it was. And what exactly was "The Wisdom Tooth". He seemed like more than just some homeless guy that knew stuff. I liked the guy that played him. He seemed really right for the role. Good casting all the way around.

The guy that played Gabriel was good too. I liked the way he got real quiet in those final scenes. I knew some was going to happen there, but I didn't know it was going to be like that. I'm mean I've seen people do that kind of scene before but it's not always effective. Some mixed emotions about what happens there, but the production was very good.

-Nate

Thanks Nate for your thoughtful comments. I appreciate that you not only took the time to watch my short but also that you commented so thoroughly.

I am fairly happy with this, my first attempt at narrative film making. My main concerns were with the script but there were a few minor technical issues that impacted the final work. I definitely feel better prepared to tackle my next project now that I’ve had this one. The main lesson I walk away with is that I should get more “frontal” to the actors with the camera. A very talented filmmaker that I know told me this after viewing an early screener DVD and it sticks with me strongly as the thing I need to improve most.

I imagine when you say that you had “mixed emotions about what happens there” you are referring to the homoeroticism in the prostitute’s murder scene. If so then that’s OK with me as that scene is intended provoke a reaction. I’m very, very pleased with that scene. I think it’s really important that we tear away the emotional covering of ourselves, not fully, but just for little peeks into our psyche. It’s in there that we’ll find what really moves us as living things and provides the strongest reaction. I’m not a fan of gore but like many filmmakers I want the audience to feel something when they see my work. Hopefully what they feel is excitement and just a little discomfort. It sounds like I may have hit the mark.

Thanks again. I look forward to checking out your stuff.

 

[Nathyn]

Actually, LOL I was referring to the murder itself. I mean it's easy to feel "she was a bad person and she had it coming" but damn. When she comes out with that thing on that was somewhat shocking (but actually quite funny in a very juvenile way). I mean honestly you know she's going to get it, but she's wearing that thing. You still have to chuckle. But then the mood does change for obvious reasons.

-Nate

 

[punkmonkeyed]

Yeah I've heard one that too. It only really shakes up the really uptight types but it does get your attention. Actually I never saw her as a bad person, just another unfortunate soul on the edge of society. That's what the killer feeds on, people that won't be missed be the "respectable" folks. I really like this universe...like you sort of suggested I'm thinking about a sequel.

 

[Nathyn]

Unfortunate soul or not, most people would consider her not worth much consideration. In this portrayal she's bought into the hopelessness and is now a part of it and seeks to lead others there. Once she's shown leading others there, sympathy is lost for her. But the brutality makes you feel something for her simply as a human being which you don't get in a lot of films. In horror films people are killed and you rarely feel for them. The first "Final Destination" you felt for characters but in most of the sequels you didn't as much. After FD2 it was all downhill.

And I like how you showed how easy it is to fall into hopelessness another film like that that is "First, Last, Deposit". And I love the ending. It's like you can see the choices made. I have trouble with bringing that emotion out in my films sometime. I do action, but also want that emotion in some scenes. I think people felt the same way when Jazz was killed in "Wages" she was my "Maggie" (you can see the film here). Everyone liked the character, but knew what path she was on. The same thing here, I knew the path she was on as soon as I saw the demon dude and then saw her try to entice the girl.

While your film is more fantasy what's being shown has a lot of truth in it. I used to see it everyday in my old neighborhood in one way or the other. Things are changing now, but still every once in awhile something jumps off. Drugs used to be the big thing here (I'm in my old hood now visiting my parents) and people would get shot or shot at almost everyday at one point. You either change that path or go where it leads and often times, one way or the other, it leads to the same place.

In the film I'm doing now (click on my sig), the Cassie character is on the same path, but I play her more sympathetically. She is that "unfortunate soul" but she's not leading anyone there as much she believes the problem can't be fixed. It leads to the same place only she comes back and worse than when she died. I deal with a lot of the same themes so when I saw your film I was like, "Whoa!". It stood out to me. And that Gabe fellow is freakin' creepy. When he first appeared I was like, "Whatever, creepy demon guy. Seen it before." But in the end he definitely worked the role.

-Nate