craigbowman
Veteran
Way to go Kholi, your trailer Rocks!
FEATURE: TRAILER - SUPERSEEDS | Super Powered Adventure
- Thread starter Kholi
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dougspice
Veteran
Dude. Nicely done. I'll agree with the others here that you've probably got pretty much an automatic sale. Looks like a ton of fun. It made me laugh, which is already leaps ahead of many comedy trailers!
To be really nitpicky (and I mean nitpicky as compared to truly professional trailer work), it seemed to me that the CC was a little uneven (most shots looked great, some looked unusually flat) and on a few occasions the sound mix seemed to cut off peoples' lines and make them a little hard to understand.
To be really nitpicky (and I mean nitpicky as compared to truly professional trailer work), it seemed to me that the CC was a little uneven (most shots looked great, some looked unusually flat) and on a few occasions the sound mix seemed to cut off peoples' lines and make them a little hard to understand.
mentatDUKE
Veteran
Amazing trailer, Kholi. Great job! And MattyG, the shots look beautiful and professional as always. This would fit right in at a theater.
Bokeh bonus.
Bokeh bonus.
Marlon Ladd
Veteran
I think the text is absolutely perfect!!
Frank Perrotto
Active member
Awesome... I think the most important thing here is that the performances don't scream amateur hour. Everyone seems genuinely good, and call me crazy, but I still think that has a lot to do with whether or not someone will hand you a few million dollars (or many tens of millions) to make a movie. Hell, with that premise, you can even allow some room for less than stellar acting, but you achieved a certain verisimilitude that I don't see in 99% of indie films. I've seen movies that look as good with a similar level of effects and technical know-how, but the acting always falls short.
Please keep us updated with what happens without getting too specific. Like we don't need to know WHICH agent or execs you meet with, but it should would be great to get an inside perspective on how exactly you move up the chain from a moment like this. I'm curious as hell about stuff like that!
One last thing - did you or do you plan on hiring a publicist? Been thinking about it for this sci-fi short, but not sure if it's worth it.
Please keep us updated with what happens without getting too specific. Like we don't need to know WHICH agent or execs you meet with, but it should would be great to get an inside perspective on how exactly you move up the chain from a moment like this. I'm curious as hell about stuff like that!
One last thing - did you or do you plan on hiring a publicist? Been thinking about it for this sci-fi short, but not sure if it's worth it.
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
Very nice, Kholi. Just watched it on my iPhone. I'll watch it on my iMac when I get home later. I thought the first half seemed stronger than the latter but it was really amazing overall. I would go see it.
Would love some feedback on this if you guys have any advice.
Once again, congratulations! Looks like a winner.
Is this the route you would go, Jack? I'm curious what you guys think as this is the direction I've thought of going in myself.
Would love some feedback on this if you guys have any advice.
Once again, congratulations! Looks like a winner.
Frank Perrotto
Active member
My personal take is that it depends on the kind of connections you have. Otherwise, the options don't pay very well, if at all, and then you can't even do anything else with your own idea for that specified period of time. I think a lot of people get hip-pocketed this way... it's like they're buying insurance against any future success you might have.
I think a trailer can do more if you already have some heat behind you and people are aware of you as a filmmaker. By people, I mean agents, producers, etc. There are almost two schools of thought on this nowadays... in the indie world, you blog, twitter, facebook, youtube, and festival-hop your way to a 'built-in' audience. But it doesn't necessarily mean that the producers, agents, and money-men care or know who you are. I think you can have an audience, even at big festivals like Sundance, and they still don't know who you are because you have nothing to offer them yet. Sadly, it all comes down to money, but the sooner you're aware of that, the easier it becomes to figure out how to play the game and do what you want to do while pleasing the people that could finance your work. If you can do the social-media filmmaking thing and make a living at that, then more power to you, because that seems like doing a s**t-ton of stuff that has nothing to do with actual filmmaking. I just don't think I could do it for too long without going bonkers or expecting a big payday.
The other way is to forget about that whole sphere of influence and focus purely on putting something together that shows you could be trusted with $2-5 million, almost always doing genre work (comedy, horror, sci-fi), and I think showing some facility with visual effects has become increasingly important if your intent is to get to the level of a Hollywood filmmaker. And that could be anywhere from and Adam Green up to a Christopher Nolan, it all depends on how good you are or how good you become.
For instance, Superseeds could very well be largely ignored by festivals and it wouldn't matter for Kholi's career. I don't think the intent of this film was to please Sundance and Tribeca, I think the intent was to make a very entertaining movie that shows extreme skill as a filmmaker and an ability to make something that wouldn't look out of place at your local cineplex. In that, I think he succeeded, although I think it might take just one or two more 'money shots' in the trailer or clips online to drive it home. So yeah, I think he'll probably get a lot of meetings out of this and very likely team up with a producer or a smaller studio who could get something financed at a much higher budget than this on the next go-round. Youtube hits and buzz on sites like DreadCentral, Aintitcool, Vulture, HuffPost, just like that short film 'The Raven', would be much more useful to him at this point than worrying about getting into a big festival, which would come AFTER the buzz, probably without even bothering to enter. That will probably magically happen behind the scenes. Kind of backwards, but if the movie is as good as the trailer, they need this film, this film doesn't need them.
Sorry Michael, I've gone so far off the path from your question - but yeah, I think a trailer is better at showing some skill, but it'd have to be pretty damn sweet to get something financed as a feature, especially at a higher budget, because there's not enough 'there' there if that makes any sense. Unless you already have a feature with great acting behind you that shows you can run the marathon, I think it can be tough. But I've even been told, 'Just shoot a trailer!' from some of the connections that I have, but without them going to bat for me and taking it into a studio or a good producer (and there's no guarantee they will, even if it is amazing), then it's hard to justify the expense and time of doing 2 minutes of 'big movie' stuff, which would still cost a good amount, I think.
To me, it's better to do a short film that's at least 8-12 minutes, maybe a chunk of scenes from your feature or that point the way to a larger story that this short is taken from. Then, you can show it to anyone, the story is self-contained but still open to something larger, and honestly, this way has worked for a shocking number of people over the years. I just feel that it's about the usefulness to you of the end product, what's going to offer the most flexibility in getting you to the next point in your career. My opinion is that a genre short offers the most bang for your buck right now.
My problem with doing the Pi, Following, Primer, Blair Witch thing, a genre indie feature shot down-and-dirty that shows a real vision, is that either those films aren't being made anymore or the festivals aren't programming them for whatever reason (the reason is a whole other can of worms). So you can do it and even if it's up to the level of those films, it may not get in and you'd still have 2-3 years of pounding the pavement elsewhere. Paranormal Activity is a perfect example of how the festivals largely failed the film, but CAA (or was it WM?) seeing the film and getting it into Spielberg's hands was the key moment and the next thing you know it's playing Slamdance. Something that might have taken less time with a sci-fi short or something that looks a lot more commercial and big budget overall... like Superseeds
Marlon Ladd
Veteran
Everything you said makes alot of sense, Frank and I agree. Unless you already have some connections and your foot is in the door, it might be difficult to sell a trailer. Your trailer might be super-great, but it's still only 2 mins long and I know if I was rich I wouldn't be too keen on investing in/on something so short. I don't think that would be enough to make me believe that you could finish a marathon - finish a film, direct actors, coordinate shoots and a host of other things. It seems like an investor would more likely trust somebody that has made an awesome feature on a low-budget with high production value or even a 20 minute short film with the same attributes over somebody with only a 2 minute trailer. I know it's been done before, but these days if you have the resources to make a good trailer, why not make a short film that you can also market to festivals? Anybody can make a cool trailer, because you just have to show cool shots and quick cuts, but to actually direct, have a good story and sustain it throughout a film to where people want to stay with it is no easy task.
Frank Perrotto
Active member
I'm even obsessing over whether 20 minutes is too long... I have a script for 20 minutes but somehow think it'd be better to consolidate down to between 12 and 15. Just cause then, it's something someone can watch during a lunch break or between other tasks if they want to chill for a few. All things to consider, ya know? Just trying to hit that sweet spot.
Anyone seen this short film, Blinky? It disappeared for a while online but I think they forgot it was still on Trailer Addict and now it's gone from there. Hope is not lost, though, there are now copies on youtube, either in another language or subtitled Check it out while you still can!
Arrik
Well-known member
Great stuff, Kholi & team! Excited to see where this goes. I'd definitely watch this film just off the trailer. Really nice to see you guys just going out an doing it. Very inspiring for sure. Hopefully I can be as motivated as you all. But, tomorrow I'll probably just wake up and continue shooting O.P.P. (last "P" is for projects) 
Haven't even seen this thread yet, but I'll be checking back for sure. Thanks for sharing with the community.
Haven't even seen this thread yet, but I'll be checking back for sure. Thanks for sharing with the community.
dougspice
Veteran
Ruairi (creator of Blinky) used to be a member on here, don't know if he still is. The thing is, I don't know if that example does much good, because he's someone who ALREADY generated a lot of heat from his previous short, and was signed to direct an adaptation of AKIRA at one point. I think the deal fell through, so is this new short an effort to drum up more heat, does it have another feature behind it – or is it just a good filmmaker who is frustrated with the Hollywood system trying to get some creative exercise? I can't answer any of those questions, only he can.
I will admit that the mental struggle between "should I make an awesome short or a less awesome feature" has become almost paralyzing to me. The answer changes weekly. There's good evidence for either being a path to success or obscurity. I don't know if there is a good answer – I guess for me it's become about just writing and seeing where the story wants to go. Most likely that's towards something longer.
(there is, of course, also the "web series" route, but I have to say I can't recommend that at all, unless you really enjoy obscurity!)
I will admit that the mental struggle between "should I make an awesome short or a less awesome feature" has become almost paralyzing to me. The answer changes weekly. There's good evidence for either being a path to success or obscurity. I don't know if there is a good answer – I guess for me it's become about just writing and seeing where the story wants to go. Most likely that's towards something longer.
(there is, of course, also the "web series" route, but I have to say I can't recommend that at all, unless you really enjoy obscurity!)
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Kholi. This rocked. Plain and simple. I'd like to discuss the project with you more, and see if I might be able to help in any way.
Frank Perrotto
Active member
I was aware of Ruari as well before he did Blinky. He even won an Academy award, I think, for his short film '50% Grey'. But I think that if you could somehow do something on the level of Blinky, even without heat already behind you, it would be pretty obvious that you should at least be directing commercials and could definitely handle something larger. His previous live-action shorts probably aren't quite up to the storytelling and technical level of Blinky (actually, I think there's only one, Silent City w/Cillian Murphy in it), but I actually still think Blinky has some issues (the film, not the robot!). I don't think it's quite up to the near level of perfection that Blomkamp reached with Yellow, Tempbot, Alive in Jo'burg, etc. He had a trifecta of short films that clearly show he has a vision to be reckoned with and those that bet on that were rewarded handsomely. That's actually good for all struggling filmmakers.
But I do think you're right somewhere in there about Ruari's intensions with the film... like you said, only he can answer those questions. It seems to me like he probably did it as another 'Look at me!' exercise as well as to blow off some creative steam. Nothing wrong with either of those, especially if you can kill two birds with one stone.
And believe me, I know what you're going through... I've had analysis paralysis for the better part of a year. And now with Superseeds, Kholi may have even raised the bar of what's expected before they let you into the kingdom. I'd have to see the feature to know for sure. But either way, if you do a short like Blinky or The Raven or Panic Attack or Pixels or Alive in Jo'burg, I'd have to say that it definitely cannot hurt your future. It's getting everything up to that level of craft that's difficult, and then, obviously, getting it out there but you can insure that SOMEONE will be interested by your film being hilariously funny, incredibly scary, or just plain cool looking.
SuperEgo Saxton
Active member
Did you do all the editing and vfx yourself kholi?
Thanks for checking it, Mark.
Totally gonna tell this to the others! Seein' as how we don't have a tagline yet... haha.
Thanks for stopping in to watch, Craig! How's the progress with your feature going?
Duke! Glad to finally have been able to show some moving footage. I hope others think the same thing about the theater thing! Unlikely that it'll go there, but I suppose you NEVER know!
More soon, man.
Thank you sir. Hope the kickstarter's working out for ya. KS rocks~!
Great stuff, Kholi & team! Excited to see where this goes. I'd definitely watch this film just off the trailer. Really nice to see you guys just going out an doing it. Very inspiring for sure. Hopefully I can be as motivated as you all. But, tomorrow I'll probably just wake up and continue shooting O.P.P. (last "P" is for projects)
Haven't even seen this thread yet, but I'll be checking back for sure. Thanks for sharing with the community.
Mike! Been a LONG time, man! I had the same issue back a year ago. After all of my gear got stolen on a job (my 7Ds and 5D, lenses, etc) that was the tipping point for me. I still do O.P.P but I just had to get it over with... that was my inspiration, aside from other personal life junk that was going on.
IMO you just really have to take a step in that direction and not let anyone convince you otherwise.
Thanks for peeping it and I'll be sure to hit you up with updates!
Thanks B-Rice! And thanks for hitting me up with advice already. Invaluable.
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
My pleasure bro. Any way I can help you out, I'll do what I can!
Ooooh no. No way. VFX was done by my friend, he's one-man army status at the moment but I'm hoping to get someone else around here to help him with rotoscoping.
THe editing? Yeah... that was me... and I am surprised that it's not totally killing it for everyone. I am NOT an editor, and chopping the movie and the trailer were very difficult things to do. They aren't even the same animal at that, so i took some adjusting to get the trailer to where it is, and it could still be much better I'm sure.
THanks for nitpicking, Doug. Not being facetious, you pointed out something I saw as well and I went back to investigate. Ended up adjusting the shots and also had the audio readjusted as well. Really appreciate the thoughts from you guys, and have been implementing them before I go to any blogs etc.
Glad you got a laugh or two out of it as well!
Oddly enough, I feel both of you are right! The titles ARE low rent, and that's because I made them myself. LoL. That's not my thing, but I had a lot of fun learning it and I feel I could do better now that I've got the experience. On the other hand, I agree with Marlon. When I step back and away from it and look at it, the low rent feels like it's right in place with the rest of the trailer.
In a sense, and this may sound silly, but the titles can't be better than the actual footage or the content itself. Haha. I may do some adjusting to them, but at the end of the day they're just titles and it is a low budget thing.
Regardless, Huy, your comment is NOT being discounted! I completely agree with you about the look.