NICK ASH
Well-known member
Yeah, this is my very first short or movie of any kind. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
The Well
- Thread starter NICK ASH
- Start date
Yeah, this is my very first short or movie of any kind. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
ZazaCast
Major Contributor
Great job Nick! I think this came together nicely considering how tough that location must have been to get gear in and out of. Feels like a complete film to me, good story, actors, shots (some a little on the dark side, but those were in a cave!), editing and sound. All involved should be congratulated! Really good first film and an enjoyable watch.
:thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
Hawk Teflon
Veteran
SPOILERS! IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THIS SHORT YET, PLEASE DON'T CONTINUE READING.
What I liked: Good concept, good story, good location. "DVX?" "Roman numerals?" I've never even thought of that. Very nice. Your audio sounded pretty clear throughout, too. Well done on that. The ending pulled it together well, too.
What I didn't like as much (take with a grain of salt): Most of this felt a little soft, and it seemed like the motion blur was a little too much on it. Were you controlling your shutter manually? There were parts were it felt like it might have been 1/10. The fog was a little distracting, too. Instead of duplicating and flipping the fog layer only (as seen around 4:32 and on), make sure to shift one of them in time. Even by a second. Without it, it has a strong sense of it being mirrored and really pulls the viewer out of the believability.
What I liked: Good concept, good story, good location. "DVX?" "Roman numerals?" I've never even thought of that. Very nice. Your audio sounded pretty clear throughout, too. Well done on that. The ending pulled it together well, too.
What I didn't like as much (take with a grain of salt): Most of this felt a little soft, and it seemed like the motion blur was a little too much on it. Were you controlling your shutter manually? There were parts were it felt like it might have been 1/10. The fog was a little distracting, too. Instead of duplicating and flipping the fog layer only (as seen around 4:32 and on), make sure to shift one of them in time. Even by a second. Without it, it has a strong sense of it being mirrored and really pulls the viewer out of the believability.
NICK ASH
Well-known member
Thanks Zaza and Hawk for the criticism. Yes, the location was probably the most challenging environment that I had to work in. I am pretty much used to working in studio/inside stuff but this really made each shot a longer process to figure out how to film. With motion blur...I agree. It is something I noticed late in the game as silly is this may sound. I don't recall earlier renders looking like this until my last one or two. I thought it may be something I was doing in post because I shot everything 1/50th. I don't know what happened...??? Fog, thanks, next time when playing with effects I will make sure to slow it down and concentrate more on what's going on.
Again, thank you both. Your criticism is invaluable as its the sure way to improve.
Again, thank you both. Your criticism is invaluable as its the sure way to improve.
NICK ASH
Well-known member
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the great films and I really remain to be impressed about the comrade here. I do have a greater sense of the difficulties of making a film. Each and every little detail seems to be noticed and my next film I feel even more prepared to step it up. Thanks to everyone who gave some criticism as I value every word.
Congrats on your first ever short.
I liked the location and the concept. It did all feel a little soft/motion blurry. The acting and the dialogue did feel a little on the nose and felt like this could have been better with the less is more concept. It also felt as though the characters were just going from point A to B, just to fill in plot points as opposed to generally wanting to do or get something.
I did love the 80's style action catch line "I'm making a wish" as he tossed the dynamite down the well. Classic.
I liked the location and the concept. It did all feel a little soft/motion blurry. The acting and the dialogue did feel a little on the nose and felt like this could have been better with the less is more concept. It also felt as though the characters were just going from point A to B, just to fill in plot points as opposed to generally wanting to do or get something.
I did love the 80's style action catch line "I'm making a wish" as he tossed the dynamite down the well. Classic.
Chris_Keaton
ScriptFEST Mod
Congrats on finishing a film. The location was cool, but didn't seem like a well, especially when well's have to go underground, so you don't drill them into hills. It had a home camera kinda vibe which isn't good. The DVX thing made me laugh. Well actually I laughed quite a few times. Overall a good time, keep at it.
Best line tie, 'Find something to throw at it!' and 'I'm making a wish.'
Best line tie, 'Find something to throw at it!' and 'I'm making a wish.'
JaceDaniel
Member
The three biggest things that bothered:
1. I felt the acting was very weak on the kid’s parts, but I know how hard it is to find some good young actors who havnt been snatched up by expensive agencies… so I can understand. Although when the kid looks at someone behind the camera when he comes into the rescue to say “hey fishstick, eat this”, I did crack a chuckle.
2. The cinematography was wonky. The extreme motion blur made it almost hard to watch. What camera were you using, was this youtube's fault?
3. I felt a little too much of a goonies rip-off vibe from it. Kids in a cave, searching for lost treasure, fight enemies. Idk, might just be a nitpicky thing.
But when I saw it was your first film, I can understand all the problems from above, we all made awkward movies in the beginning (arguably I’m STILL in that stage lol)
So I appreciate your effort to present your project to the world, best of luck on your next film!
1. I felt the acting was very weak on the kid’s parts, but I know how hard it is to find some good young actors who havnt been snatched up by expensive agencies… so I can understand. Although when the kid looks at someone behind the camera when he comes into the rescue to say “hey fishstick, eat this”, I did crack a chuckle.
2. The cinematography was wonky. The extreme motion blur made it almost hard to watch. What camera were you using, was this youtube's fault?
3. I felt a little too much of a goonies rip-off vibe from it. Kids in a cave, searching for lost treasure, fight enemies. Idk, might just be a nitpicky thing.
But when I saw it was your first film, I can understand all the problems from above, we all made awkward movies in the beginning (arguably I’m STILL in that stage lol)
So I appreciate your effort to present your project to the world, best of luck on your next film!
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NICK ASH
Well-known member
Thanks Jace and Chris for watching and the feedback. Pretty much yeah, everything you said is spot on. The blurry crap is beyond me. It wasn't like that in post but I obviously did something messed up. I shoot with the Mark II and filmed at 50fps.
As far as Goonies and cheesy lines, hell yeah...that was totally taken from that film and we put as much effort in to 80's cheese as possible. If you watch our outtakes, I loose my bearing when they are blowing up the well because the line was all cheese.
We used some imagination and left the rest of the imagination to audience...so yeah maybe a well wouldn't go there but after getting a quote of nearly 1k for a fake well, I saw this location and went for it.
My goal was to start and finish a project and we accomplished that goal. I took a lot of lessons from that and I am excited to get back in the saddle again and crank out another project.
Again thanks for watching/feedback.
As far as Goonies and cheesy lines, hell yeah...that was totally taken from that film and we put as much effort in to 80's cheese as possible. If you watch our outtakes, I loose my bearing when they are blowing up the well because the line was all cheese.
We used some imagination and left the rest of the imagination to audience...so yeah maybe a well wouldn't go there but after getting a quote of nearly 1k for a fake well, I saw this location and went for it.
My goal was to start and finish a project and we accomplished that goal. I took a lot of lessons from that and I am excited to get back in the saddle again and crank out another project.
Again thanks for watching/feedback.
Chris_Keaton
ScriptFEST Mod
You succeeded in getting a film in and I assume you had a good time doing it. That's more than most. :thumbsup:
Matt Harris
Veteran
Greg it was great to meet you and help out however I could with your film! I don't think i told you but, my fav part of your film is the last few minutes, when you cut forward in time and we see the kid all growed up. The actor looks cool, the lighting in the house looks cool, and your cinematography was great in those last few minutes.
I think a lesson learned or something to take into consideration is that you made this short hard on yourself. You shot in an awesome location as tourists were everywhere, you stole the location, which is so cool, but so hard! and you also used high school kids, going for the goonies vibe obviously.
on your next movie, try using simpler locations and use some older more seasoned adult actors. you'l find it'll make things a lot easier!
that being said, i really liked the plot of your movie. it had a strong finish!
I think a lesson learned or something to take into consideration is that you made this short hard on yourself. You shot in an awesome location as tourists were everywhere, you stole the location, which is so cool, but so hard! and you also used high school kids, going for the goonies vibe obviously.
on your next movie, try using simpler locations and use some older more seasoned adult actors. you'l find it'll make things a lot easier!
that being said, i really liked the plot of your movie. it had a strong finish!
NICK ASH
Well-known member
Thanks Matt, that means a lot. I will agree. I spent more time then I can count merely waiting for dirt bikes, buggies...off road vehicles or tourists to pass by and go out of ear range so we could continue filming. On top of that I spent the remainder of the time couching the kids on how to act........so yeah, Matt you hit it right on the head.
Next film, K.I.S.S. is in effect!
Nice title graphic and sound.
Nice sound design once they’re first in the well.
Cool low mist - in camera? post? Both? A few shots late in the film I could tell it was post but it looks great.
Like the shots of the kids standing under the well with the ripe somehow warm lights on the walls and rope and cool light on the actors - looked good and added depth.
Nice sound design and flares once the girl goes down the well.
A lot of it looks soft and there’s some weird shutter, or motion blur, or frame blending thing going on. Maybe frame blending? When I went back and frame by framed to see the red corpse again there was a frame where the red corpse is overlaid over the screaming girl before we cut to her? Also some of the mist doesn't seemed to be affected by this problem - my first clue that some of it was post.
Cool red corpse though.
Nice embers when we see the creature. Some of the mist doesn’t look great though.
“Hey fishstick. Eat this.”
Classic.
Or maybe its sounded like he said “fish dick”. Either way. Fun line.
“I’m making a wish”. Fun.
The flash forward at the end felt very Stephen King (in a good way). He has several stories where childhood sins or a brush with the supernatural comes back to bite the adult versions of the characters or they have to band together and deal with it.
I liked the slime the first time it showed up. I like it even more when he finds it on the windowsill. Great and very simple device to tie the past and present together.
I started making shorts at DVXuser too.
Especially for your first one, I'd say you did... WELL. :happy:
Nice sound design once they’re first in the well.
Cool low mist - in camera? post? Both? A few shots late in the film I could tell it was post but it looks great.
Like the shots of the kids standing under the well with the ripe somehow warm lights on the walls and rope and cool light on the actors - looked good and added depth.
Nice sound design and flares once the girl goes down the well.
A lot of it looks soft and there’s some weird shutter, or motion blur, or frame blending thing going on. Maybe frame blending? When I went back and frame by framed to see the red corpse again there was a frame where the red corpse is overlaid over the screaming girl before we cut to her? Also some of the mist doesn't seemed to be affected by this problem - my first clue that some of it was post.
Cool red corpse though.
Nice embers when we see the creature. Some of the mist doesn’t look great though.
“Hey fishstick. Eat this.”
Classic.
Or maybe its sounded like he said “fish dick”. Either way. Fun line.
“I’m making a wish”. Fun.
The flash forward at the end felt very Stephen King (in a good way). He has several stories where childhood sins or a brush with the supernatural comes back to bite the adult versions of the characters or they have to band together and deal with it.
I liked the slime the first time it showed up. I like it even more when he finds it on the windowsill. Great and very simple device to tie the past and present together.
I started making shorts at DVXuser too.
Especially for your first one, I'd say you did... WELL. :happy:
Matt Harris
Veteran
I helped Greg with some of the post on this short, and there was no weird frame blending or strobing (or whatever people are seeing) as we worked on it.
I think maybe Greg exported it wonky or maybe the upload to youtube got screwy? Greg, any ideas? Jack thanks for the review, Greg did a good job on his first short for sure.
I think maybe Greg exported it wonky or maybe the upload to youtube got screwy? Greg, any ideas? Jack thanks for the review, Greg did a good job on his first short for sure.
Cool Matt. And good looking out hooking a first time DVXfest filmmaker up.
Yeah let's figure that frame thing out.
I think you can swap a video out once it's loaded on Youtube right?
Know you can on Vimeo.
And Nick, lines like "Hey fish stick, eat this" and "I'm making a wish." Are maybe half the reason I want to make movies in the first place .:thumbsup:
Yeah let's figure that frame thing out.
I think you can swap a video out once it's loaded on Youtube right?
Know you can on Vimeo.
And Nick, lines like "Hey fish stick, eat this" and "I'm making a wish." Are maybe half the reason I want to make movies in the first place .:thumbsup:
NICK ASH
Well-known member
Thanks Jack...a lot. We knew going into this that we were going to have an element of cheese, so being children of the 80's we went with it.....the lines came with us. "Hey Fish Dick, Making a Wish" and other innuendos gave us the laugh. I am glad you enjoyed.
As far as the whole image/blending...thing... it is beyond me. I didn't notice it until after it was uploaded. Granted, towards the end I was in a hurry to get it uploaded and submitted...so it was either a render thing or a YouTube thing.
Yes, Matthew came in and saved the day for me. He gave the film a real flare which was desperately needed. There is nothing better than when you start something and people help out in ways that goes beyond ones expectations. It doesn't happen everyday and I am very grateful.
As far as the whole image/blending...thing... it is beyond me. I didn't notice it until after it was uploaded. Granted, towards the end I was in a hurry to get it uploaded and submitted...so it was either a render thing or a YouTube thing.
Yes, Matthew came in and saved the day for me. He gave the film a real flare which was desperately needed. There is nothing better than when you start something and people help out in ways that goes beyond ones expectations. It doesn't happen everyday and I am very grateful.