This cracks me up

H

Huy Vu

Veteran
In 2005 I worked on a short film with a local production group. And by "worked" on I meant I carry the equipments around and get them coffee. It wasn't a very good shoot and it wasn't a good experience since the two guys in charge (the director and his DP) were total egotistical assholes. But tonight I got nostalgic and decided to Google the short film. Lo and behold it's actually on IMDB!

I have no idea how it got on there but scrolling down I found this glowing feedback of the film:

"To Make a great project like this it takes more than months, but for the heads of the Next Day it took them less than a week to prepare to shoot more than 19 locations in 3 days , including a car scene that never made the cut, and 2 crazy days to edit make the music and the sound design.

Most of the time when projects like this are made , They don't look as good , but these guys pulled off the impossible and made a story that soon enough became a cult short . Great Acting for first time actors!!! Great Photography!!! Great Makeup!!!! Amazing Production!!! Great Music!!!! Great Movie!!!!

I believe that this project should be shown in schools to teach young filmmakers How to make great and original shorts in a tide budget or "with what you have" Great short!!!! "

And what do you know, the person who gave this glowing review is...the DP of the film! Holy crap, talk about kissing your own ass. Although I shouldn't be surprised since throughout the shoot this guy found every possible opportunity to tout his credentials as a serious filmmaker, including the fact that he spent 11 years in film school (doesn't that means he sucked?). I do find it hilarious that he talked about himself in the third person and pretended to be a disinterested third party.
 
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Huy, you might want to reconsider this post. It's hilarious and a little pathetic that the DP would glowingly review his own piece, but you have to remember you worked on it. There's plenty of horror stories I could tell, some of the people I've worked with are such incredible assholes and bitches at all levels of the biz ( usually the lower the worse). I've been ripped off a few times too, but I wipe my hands of it after its all said and done. It hurts not to get even, but it would hurt more I think to take it any further.

Maybe its my own thing not to air dirty laundry, but this is such a popular forum, very googable, that it might serve you better not to make it so public? Just thinking for your own good it would be better if you deleted it :).
 
I've been tempted to post something like this... I type it out and I always delete it.

I've encountered some ridiculous sh*t locally in STL... the "pros" that I work with would never see it on here... and they aren't the ones that I have a complaint about... and they aren't the ones that would be a problem reading it either... so, it's tempting.
 
Yup, and of course the film itself looks terrible. Lit completely flat with existing light (although the DP did spent some time turning on and off a few lamp to get that "look" that he was going for). The director and the DP spent quite a few moments slapping themselves in the back over the artistic decision to flip the white balance during a take. They thought it was an entirely revolutionary approach that nobody else had "dared" to tried. When I suggested that maybe it would be better to do that in post, the director looked at me like I'm from Mars or something.

Now that I think about it, their sound setup was horrible too. The mic was sort sort of interview mic on a painter's pole covered up by a sock for wind protection. The boom operator basically takes the pole and jabs it at the talent like a spear. One time the DP was actually shooting with one hand and booming with the other! And to think at the time I actually thought that was the proper booming technique.
 
Huy, could you put the youtube link back in?
I saw the imdb listing you had but didnt get a chance to view the piece. I think it would be ok???
 
small world. I know a guy who did some shooting on the DP's most recent doc.

I'm going to offer a piece of advice someone gave me a while back. Don't slander people. For two reasons. First, it lowers you considerably, and instinctually people assume it comes from a place of retaliation or jealousy. And second, the people who are nobody today will inevitably be in a better position tomorrow. and you cannot predict when these people will cross paths with you again, or how they might use their influence to help you. my 2¢.
 
I completely agree with what everyone has posted here.

I've had my fair share of funny, unbelievable and often scathing stories on people and projects I've worked. The trick is, a poorly-placed or worded anecdote can sink you faster than you think. In this business (as it is in many others) you might find yourself working for that craptastic PA you met on a short film when she's directing her first studio feature in five short years.

More often than not, "inside" thoughts on people and projects best remain inside. It might make you less memorable around the set, but that isn't always a bad thing. Better to build a reputation on based on after-hours drinking games, pranks and hijinx than as someone untrustworthy who takes family business outside the family.

Today, word of mouth is nothing short of global in its reach and it moves almost instantaneously.

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I would tend to agree with the last two posts, although who doesn't love a good s**t-talkin' story? :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

I was recently in a situation where I flat-out bailed on a project due to disagreement with the director. Would have made a good internet "rant". I'm just keeping my mouth shut, let's go our separate ways, end of story.

The good news is that now more than ever, the internet pushes the cream to the top, especially with a site like youtube. People are so brutally honest with their comments, it can shut down the most egotistical of people. If something is crap, people are going to call it out. (under the anonymity of the internet, of course)

BTW, LOL at that "revolutionary" white balance technique. To each his own, I guess.
 
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