Two New DVX films distributed...

N

NorthernCali

Member
Hi everyone, Me and my brother's two new movies were just released on DVD worldwide. You can check them out at any Blockbuster or Hollywood video. We've been using the DVX100 for a few years now and it's been very good to us. "I Got Five On It" stars Todd Bridges, and is about 4 buddies on a mission to score some weed. That was released August 16, even Target has it. Our latest is "Hood Of The Living Dead" and it's an all out zombie film shot in OAKLAND, CA. That was released August 23rd. We also did another that was released back in 2003 called "Dope Game 2", we shot that with the DVX100 as well. If anybody wants to check out our website and trailers please do so at: www.pumpkinpatchpictures.com
I'd appreciate any comments but remember what momma said, if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all. Thanks.
 
Thank you kindly. Yes, Todd is a great actor despite what the E True Hollywood Story makes him out to be. As a matter of fact he's in the feature we're currently working on. It's a Vampire flick. I will have a trailer as soon as post production is done on our site:
www.pumpkinpatchpictures.com.
Thanks.
 
Hey NorthernCali,

Congrats on the Blockbuster and Hollywood deals. Congrats on getting stuff done and in the stores. That rocks!

You don't need to be specific, but are the Blockbuster and Hollywood deals profitable? I have heard they can be very good, even for indies and lower budet. Can you make back your budget and then some?

Cheers,
Chris
 
ah that's great bro! heading to your site right now to check things out....

question for you, once you have a movie completed how do you get it released like you guys have?
 
Thanks for the kind comments. The deals are very profitable. I will be able to feed my kids all year & pay my mortgage and that's what matters most. The reason my movies have gotten distribution is probably all the connections I've made over the 10 years of making direct to video films. I've made over a dozen features. My little indie company now has a distribution agreement to release numerous titles throughout the year. Me and my brother normally write and direct them all, but, I can aquire films, I just never have. I used to shoot on 16mm and super 16 until the Sony900 came out, but I only shot one feature with it. I then moved on to the DVX100 and I haven't looked back. Call me crazy but the DVX100 looks more filmlike to me because it's softer than HD24p. I just test drove the JVC hd100 and I think I'm sticking with my DVX. JQ.
 
I remember reading reviews for "Hood of the Living Dead." Not too favorable, but considering that it's a low-budget film, well, it's not expecting too much.

Anyway, I'm from Oakland. :laugh:
 
Wow...That's really awesome that you got it picked up. I saw the trailer for the zombie thing and it looked pretty cheezy, but what can ya expect. Good job and good luck.
 
YO, good job with the distro deal. It must feel so good to know that your work is once again wanted.

Thanks for keeping Nor Cal on the map.
 
Hey all. I'm the other half of Pumpkin Patch Pictures. My brother (NorthernCali) is the one posting about our films. We've shot most of our films on 16mm and super 16mm, then we shot one high-def film using the Sony F900, then we came across the Panasonic DVX100, loved it and have been using it ever since. We've shot 5 films with the DVX so far and continue to do so. We shot a movie called "Dope Game 2" (you can view the trailer at (www.pumpkinpatchpictures.com) in 2003 with the DVX and I'm not 100% positive on this, but to my knowledge "Dope Game 2" was the first DVX feature distributed world wide. As my brother stated, our two latest releases are available on DVD and UMD (for the Sony PSP) world wide at video stores and retail stores (Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, Target, Wal-Mart etc.). I've heard nothing but positive things about "I Got Five On It" and critics (Fangoria Magazine, Rue Morgue, Sci-Fi Channel etc) seem to like "Hood Of The Living Dead" and have given it favorable reviews. Both features are doing well at video stores so we couldn't be happier. We are currently working on the next feature for our distributor (also shot on the DVX) for release next year. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this.

-EQ
 
Congratulations. Making movies and making money doing it -- that's what it's all about.
After seeing this thread I rented HOOD OF THE DEAD, and I have several questions. I will try to keep them short.

-- What editing software do you use/prefer?

-- From what I understand, the DVX100 doesnt have a true widescreen feature. How did you achieve your widescreen effect? Did you use a 16x9 anamorphic lense adaptor?


-- Did you create all the DVD content and menues yourselves, or was that created by someone else once you got the distribution deal?

-- Finally, assuming one is reasonably talented at making movies, what advice can you give the users of DVXuser.com about getting a video distribution deal? Who do you contact? Hollywood video or Blockbuster directly? Or is there another, smarter way?

Thanks.
 
When we started out we used to edit with premier. Since we got the DVX we've been using Vegas. I myself would prefer Final Cut or Final cut express because I'm a Mac guy but our editor is a diehard PC guy. I don't argue with him about what he chooses to edit on, but I do tell him my Mac kicks his PCs ass just to break his balls a little bit. I'd go with what you got, if you have a PC then Vegas is pretty good and if you have a Mac then try Final Cut or better yet if you are on a tight budget try Final Cut Express.

For the Wide screen we just used the fake anamorphic switch. Adding the black bars at the bottom and top. But we have VERY recently bought the anamorphic lens. We will give it a try on our next feature which we start shooting next month. I know about the focus issue when zoomed in, but Barry Green's book has a chapter on how to fix that. Has anybody gotten that guide and know's for sure if Barry's suggestions work? I need to get that book.

When it comes to the graphic design of the covers and menus I go to outside help. Me and my brother are good at writing and directing, but we leave the other stuff to other people. We've had the same editor for 10 years. The cover design people are pros that have been making Direct To Video covers for a lot of Hollywood studios for many years. Same thing with the menus. I leave it to pros. I think it's better to focus on writing and directing and producing and leave the other jobs for people that put all their focus on those certain things. When you put them all together you end up with a pretty good DVD.

As far as getting distribution...Well, first you need a decent movie. With a decent movie you can get distribution easily. Anybody that rents videos knows that they're not all great. But as you sit there and criticize a movie, you have no idea the lengths of trouble that the person went through to make the film. Especially when you are an indie director. You don't have big budgets, big actors, etc. If anybody on DVXUSER is making a movie I suggest they put all their blood and sweat into it. Give it all they got. Don't do things half ass. Make sure you have the shot you want. Ask for help from friends, and fellow filmmakers. Once you're done, regardless of what anybody else thinks you have accomplished something great. You have accomplished something that a lot of people can't do. It's not easy to make movies. Anyhow, if the movie really is half way decent then you should try and send it off to distributors.
 
For the Wide screen we just used the fake anamorphic switch. Adding the black bars at the bottom and top. But we have VERY recently bought the anamorphic lens. We will give it a try on our next feature which we start shooting next month. I know about the focus issue when zoomed in, but Barry Green's book has a chapter on how to fix that. Has anybody gotten that guide and know's for sure if Barry's suggestions work? I need to get that book.
Click to expand...

Hmmm.... interesting. So you just used the camera's built in widescreen function? From what I understand that feature is not true widescreen, and therefore lowers the image resolution. But, in watching your DVD, the footage still looked about as sharp as anything I've seen on standard digital video! Did you do anything special to achieve this? Or is that simply the way this camera shoots in widescreen mode?

When it comes to the graphic design of the covers and menus I go to outside help. Me and my brother are good at writing and directing, but we leave the other stuff to other people. We've had the same editor for 10 years. The cover design people are pros that have been making Direct To Video covers for a lot of Hollywood studios for many years. Same thing with the menus. I leave it to pros. I think it's better to focus on writing and directing and producing and leave the other jobs for people that put all their focus on those certain things. When you put them all together you end up with a pretty good DVD.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought. I like writing and directing as well, but I hate DVD cover art/menu creation. Good to know that you leave that to someone else.

As far as getting distribution...Well, first you need a decent movie. With a decent movie you can get distribution easily. Anybody that rents videos knows that they're not all great. But as you sit there and criticize a movie, you have no idea the lengths of trouble that the person went through to make the film. Especially when you are an indie director. You don't have big budgets, big actors, etc. If anybody on DVXUSER is making a movie I suggest they put all their blood and sweat into it. Give it all they got. Don't do things half ass. Make sure you have the shot you want. Ask for help from friends, and fellow filmmakers. Once you're done, regardless of what anybody else thinks you have accomplished something great. You have accomplished something that a lot of people can't do. It's not easy to make movies. Anyhow, if the movie really is half way decent then you should try and send it off to distributors.[/QUOTE]

Where do I look to find distributers? And what exactly are these kind of distributers referred to as? Direct to video distributers or something else? Do you know if the have a section in the Hollywood Creative Directory for these kind of services?

And finally, a few more questions -- I hope you're not getting pissed; I promise to keep em short.

Did you and your bro ever enter any film festivals? If so, did you do well, or did you just go straight to the home video market?

Do distibuters ever complain about the quality/price of the camera (DVX100) that you use to make your features -- saying things like it's not good enough, you need to upgrade . . . or are they fine with it? Do you ever get pressure from them to start shooting with more expensive equipment?
In other words, does the quality of the video equipment you use ever stand in the way of getting a distribution deal?

Do you pay your actors and, if so, where do you find them?

Thanks in advance for your response. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can before I start my own feature. You've been very helpful.
 
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