"The Spear" - NJ Film School

No probs and congratulations - I take it you intend to enter it into inty festivals (decent B list / top regionals would definately play it somewhere surely!)
 
As usual, Chris, you and your students have produced a great looking, highly watchable film. I thought the kids did a good job in the acting department. A few times they took a little to much time between lines and I got that "they're acting" vibe, but I know what it's like working with kids and overall i bought the characters.

Once again you've proven that the AF100 can produce lovely images. I like it that you are willing to leave the colors rich and saturated rather than the more popular 55% saturation CC that many adopt. It works perfectly for "The Spear" and "The Water's Edge."

I, too, thought the ending a bit abrupt and unsatisfying, but I'm not sure there was really any other way to go. Maybe closeup on the kids or a bit of a beat before the fade, I don't know, I just felt it needed something more.

My one big nit-pick is that opening scene.


SPOILER!


Maybe it was just me, but I noticed that the spear wasn't really stiking into the kid but was behind him. My first reaction was, hey, that looks really fake.

Then at the end of the film when I saw that the spear had missed him it didn't come as much of a surprise as I had harkened back to the opening shot and had already figured that was what was going to happen.

Minor complaints aside, a great film. You and your students are to be congratulated.
 
taylormade said:
As usual, Chris, you and your students have produced a great looking, highly watchable film. I thought the kids did a good job in the acting department. A few times they took a little to much time between lines and I got that "they're acting" vibe, but I know what it's like working with kids and overall i bought the characters.

Once again you've proven that the AF100 can produce lovely images. I like it that you are willing to leave the colors rich and saturated rather than the more popular 55% saturation CC that many adopt. It works perfectly for "The Spear" and "The Water's Edge."

I, too, thought the ending a bit abrupt and unsatisfying, but I'm not sure there was really any other way to go. Maybe closeup on the kids or a bit of a beat before the fade, I don't know, I just felt it needed something more.

My one big nit-pick is that opening scene.


SPOILER!


Maybe it was just me, but I noticed that the spear wasn't really stiking into the kid but was behind him. My first reaction was, hey, that looks really fake.

Then at the end of the film when I saw that the spear had missed him it didn't come as much of a surprise as I had harkened back to the opening shot and had already figured that was what was going to happen.

Minor complaints aside, a great film. You and your students are to be congratulated.
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Thanks so much for the thoughtful review.

I love the AF100 - it's pretty much the perfect camera for me. I tried several looks for the film including a desaturated bleached bypass look, but in the end, this look (which is similar to "The Water's Edge") just felt right. I'm glad you dug it.

I agree about the ending. I think we are missing a couple of shots there too.

As for the opening, I agree that first spear shot is not at horrific looking as I imagined and I tried to cut it quick so you wouldn't be sure what you saw, but I can see where it might fall short.

Anyway, thanks again for the kind words and the honest critique. I will pass along your compliments to the cast and crew.
 
I enjoyed this more and more as the film went on. I thought the story was going to be a bit ho hum...kid stabs/injures another kid while playing war/cowboys and indians etc. (seen it, right?).....but no....that is not where you went with it and I couldn't have been happier. You really did a nice job of building the suspense at the end, when the kid is charging forward. I felt it and I thought I knew what was going to happen.

I noticed the spear in the beginning as well, but honestly, I just thought "ooh that was done poorly" but then at the end, when I discovered he didn't really get skewered. I had a "Sixth Sense" moment and thought...of course it looked that way, he didn't really get stabbed!

It looked great, beautiful locations, good acting and I really thought the score fit the piece well.
 
Cute film...well done students! I have to agree with the above and knew right from the beginning he hadn't been 'speared'.
Pretty to look at (although you really have to get out of the woods one of these days) and the score fit the mood perfectly.

...my only question...where is the "DVX", I didn't notice it in this one?

Congrats on another film very well done!
 
Russell Moore said:
I enjoyed this more and more as the film went on. I thought the story was going to be a bit ho hum...kid stabs/injures another kid while playing war/cowboys and indians etc. (seen it, right?).....but no....that is not where you went with it and I couldn't have been happier. You really did a nice job of building the suspense at the end, when the kid is charging forward. I felt it and I thought I knew what was going to happen.

I noticed the spear in the beginning as well, but honestly, I just thought "ooh that was done poorly" but then at the end, when I discovered he didn't really get skewered. I had a "Sixth Sense" moment and thought...of course it looked that way, he didn't really get stabbed!

It looked great, beautiful locations, good acting and I really thought the score fit the piece well.
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Wow, thanks a lot. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and I will definitely share your comments with the cast and crew!

ZazaCast said:
Cute film...well done students! I have to agree with the above and knew right from the beginning he hadn't been 'speared'.
Pretty to look at (although you really have to get out of the woods one of these days) and the score fit the mood perfectly.

...my only question...where is the "DVX", I didn't notice it in this one?

Congrats on another film very well done!
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Thanks so much.

We've actually shot dozens of films in class and only two in the woods, but those are our latest DVXfest entries - I'll definitely try and mix it up next time.

As for the "DVX" check out that first shot of the two boys lying on the ground. You can't miss it.

Anyway, thanks so much, your opinion means a lot to me and I'm so glad you liked it.
 
As for the "DVX" check out that first shot of the two boys lying on the ground. You can't miss it.
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HA, HA... can't miss it (but I did).... too funny. I was looking for something like that throughout the film...or a carving on a tree....you so tricky. :)
 
ZazaCast said:
HA, HA... can't miss it (but I did).... too funny. I was looking for something like that throughout the film...or a carving on a tree....you so tricky. :)
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Actually, I'm kind of glad you missed it. I think it's most fun when the appearance of the DVD is almost hidden and it becomes an inside joke for those of us who love the site so.

In fact, it would be cool if someone cut together a gallery of all those shots.
 
Chris,

This immediately brought me back to my childhood when we would play "guns". And yes we eventually ramped it up to homemade bow and arrows and crossbows...and yes we got injured :) good memories:)

First off I loved the score and the sound. The look was beautiful as expected from you.
As I grow I am trying to pay attention to the little things and I am begining to pay attention to them in other films; and your casting was spot on for this. The contrast with the 2 boys was the perfect mix of instigator and tag-a-long. The blue shirt and red shirt was a nice touch...

Really enjoyed the short. Thanks for the hard work and good luck!
 
Well done Chris. This was my favorite entry of yours so far. I thought this was a good little story that had a nice ending (I for one didn't see the twist coming). There were a couple of the shots were I could see the 'student' in them, but they were easy to forgive. Overall a solid entry.
 
I liked this one a lot. You completely fooled my wife and after the opening shot she, being a mother, didn't want to watch the rest. I had a feeling you had something up your sleeve and we both really enjoyed the film.

Kudos to the entire cast and crew!
 
Ryan P. Kelly said:
Chris,

This immediately brought me back to my childhood when we would play "guns". And yes we eventually ramped it up to homemade bow and arrows and crossbows...and yes we got injured :) good memories:)

First off I loved the score and the sound. The look was beautiful as expected from you.
As I grow I am trying to pay attention to the little things and I am begining to pay attention to them in other films; and your casting was spot on for this. The contrast with the 2 boys was the perfect mix of instigator and tag-a-long. The blue shirt and red shirt was a nice touch...

Really enjoyed the short. Thanks for the hard work and good luck!
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They are good memories aren't they - injuries and all. :)

Thanks for mentioning the score. I love what Chris Hurn did too!

It makes me really happy when people notice the details. I bought those shirts specifically and then washed them repeatedly so they wouldn't look too new. The two kids I cast from my Kid's filmmaking class. They are both very talented filmmakers in their own right.

Matthew B said:
Well done Chris. This was my favorite entry of yours so far. I thought this was a good little story that had a nice ending (I for one didn't see the twist coming). There were a couple of the shots were I could see the 'student' in them, but they were easy to forgive. Overall a solid entry.
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Thanks so much, I really respect your opinion. My students work so hard on these projects and I'm very proud of them - I'm thrilled that you think we keep getting better.

krestofre said:
I liked this one a lot. You completely fooled my wife and after the opening shot she, being a mother, didn't want to watch the rest. I had a feeling you had something up your sleeve and we both really enjoyed the film.

Kudos to the entire cast and crew!
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Thanks a lot and thank your wife for me too! I'm so glad you both enjoyed it.
 
The ending fooled me. In the beginning... I thought "that spear doesn't look exactly THROUGH the kid"... (and at no point beginning or end, did the spear poke through with any blood on it... or some other blur or passable added darkness (mud?) that could pass as blood, or otherwise indicate a penetration)...

HOWEVER... I was still very gripped by the story... and was watching in utter DREAD. I can relate to Chris' (post above) wife not wanting to watch the whole film... it says a lot that I became progressively uncomfortable as I feared for this kid approaching what I had already assumed to be his demise.

The way you told (and shot) the story... including the competent acting by your young actors... was really impressive. I like that you have something for everybody in there. It's a very complete idea with good B-M-E.
 
MattinSTL said:
The ending fooled me. In the beginning... I thought "that spear doesn't look exactly THROUGH the kid"... (and at no point beginning or end, did the spear poke through with any blood on it... or some other blur or passable added darkness (mud?) that could pass as blood, or otherwise indicate a penetration)...

HOWEVER... I was still very gripped by the story... and was watching in utter DREAD. I can relate to Chris' (post above) wife not wanting to watch the whole film... it says a lot that I became progressively uncomfortable as I feared for this kid approaching what I had already assumed to be his demise.

The way you told (and shot) the story... including the competent acting by your young actors... was really impressive. I like that you have something for everybody in there. It's a very complete idea with good B-M-E.
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Thanks so much. I always look forward to your reviews and I'm thrilled that you dug our story and it caused a bit of dread.

As for that good "B-M-E", I assume it isn't BioMechanical Engineering, so I'm almost embarrassed to ask - what is it?
 
Chris Messineo said:
As for that good "B-M-E", I assume it isn't BioMechanical Engineering, so I'm almost embarrassed to ask - what is it?
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Beginning - Middle - End

I like films that establish characters... we have a type-A kid... and his reluctant friend... who's personalities are established through the dialog and body language in the first moments (of course after the "teaser" opening)... They begin playing and our type-A kid is quickly bored and wants to raise the stakes (pun intended)... and the other kid reluctantly agrees... the shot of type-A feeling confident with the sharpness of his spear was a good choice... especially in contrast with his side-kick's worry about the inadequacy of his own weapon in comparison. All of this keeps the story momentum moving in one direction. This keeps us, the audience, in the mind-set that you, the film-maker, want us in... we expect an outcome from this building tension.

I like that we actually get two payoffs at the end... the startling moment where he gets it... and then of course, the relief.

I don't know... it felt like B-M-E to me.
 
MattinSTL said:
Beginning - Middle - End

I like films that establish characters... we have a type-A kid... and his reluctant friend... who's personalities are established through the dialog and body language in the first moments (of course after the "teaser" opening)... They begin playing and our type-A kid is quickly bored and wants to raise the stakes (pun intended)... and the other kid reluctantly agrees... the shot of type-A feeling confident with the sharpness of his spear was a good choice... especially in contrast with his side-kick's worry about the inadequacy of his own weapon in comparison. All of this keeps the story momentum moving in one direction. This keeps us, the audience, in the mind-set that you, the film-maker, want us in... we expect an outcome from this building tension.

I like that we actually get two payoffs at the end... the startling moment where he gets it... and then of course, the relief.

I don't know... it felt like B-M-E to me.
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That is very cool. I hadn't heard that acronym before, but I love it!

Screenwriting and storytelling are my first loves and I always preach the importance of a good story and strong characters to my students (both screenwriting and filmmaking).
 
In actual fact Chris Mesineos film here was probably one of the very very few that has a beginning - middle and an end. The scripts really let down a lot of the films in this festival (and before indie directors/producers shriek - but i had a great idea/concept/character/gimmick/dildo) none of that is what im talking about (thats just you trying to be a good indie producer hehe) What most the scripts lacked was structure - defined characters - motivation and narrative direction. Its like a lot of stuff is thrown on screen (like some crazy art nouveau decorated structure) without an engineer overlooking the plans.

That engineer is often a dedicated script writer - someone especially who has worked towards solid structure, Chris does this (so does Keaton!!!!! Obviously Sarah Daly) but i reckon for some directors, they should consider really working with writers - and letting go of the (delusion) that they might 'also' be amazing scriptwriters hehe. I know it helped to improve my films!
 
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