"Undercover" A Ramsaur Film

BTW, I posted this in someone else's thread, and thought it could benefit here as well:

One thing I've noticed ... is the director also being the camera operator. Once you can find someone you really trust to work the camera, you're going to see directing in an entirely new light, and be able to focus on it more. Something I heard a long time ago, and try to stick by was this: "The secret to success is surrounding yourself with people more talented than you are". So as you can begin to delegate things out, the more you can focus on directing, while having people even more profiicient than you at certain things be able to bring a LOT to the table.
 
Oh yea I've actually done that once. Wasn't bad. But later this year towards end of summer I'm doing a much bigger film and will not be on the camera. Only directing and a little producing but that will be my time to do all the directing. Will be a fun project too.
 
Nice work on the tracking shot that you got... running along side of him on foot?! very good job keeping the camera stable, kudos.

Why do all that fighting, if he had a gun?

Saw some grading issues between scenes, it wasn't matching up and I was confused as to what the plot was exactly. Who are these characters and what are they doing, their stiff acting also sort of made it hard to get a feel for them and the story you placed them in. Overall well done just could use some improvement in areas.
 
pretty good, kinda funny, kinda random. not really a convincing film but def. had some good shots and great imagination put into it.
 
This was definitely an improvement over your last entry. Some really good shots in here, and some subpar ones. I really liked the low angle shot during the fight scene.

The story was hard to follow, with all sorts of duplicity. Could be cool, but it needs to be presented a little clearer.

Also, I thought you had a cool ending when the old guy kills the young guy then opens the safe and walks out. Then it didn't end for another couple minutes. And it ended with an awkward "You should go see a medic." If you had ended it with the twist and the old man taking the money and leaving, I think you would have had a snappier ending.

Haven't watched your other entry yet. Looking forward to it.
 
Get some people to help you behind the camera, so you can focus more on details. You have potential and yet you throw it to the wolves with camera shots that don't seem right, but almost do. The acting is not that good, but many of the characters look the part. Good actors with lines is a big deal in this festival. Great actors will knock your film out of the ball park.

Start finding some other filmmakers in your area and trade off help on each others shoot. I assure you, in the next fest, you will impress us all.
 
This film reminds me of my 1st project while i was trying to do almost everything myself because I was wanting to learn all aspects of film making with my friends.
Are these actors real actors or your friends? I'm sorry but their acting are very bad. Maybe they need a better direction? I don't know... Camera angles and editing needs plenty of attention.
At the beginning, the 2 guys chasing each other, on the street...
1. why keep chasing him on the wide open road, can't just shoot him in the leg or something? the chase would be more effective if staging it on the smaller streets with lots of turns and stuff.
2. When the other guy hit the truck, didn't he see it? I mean, it's an open road and not a lot of traffic, and it looks like he just stepped out of the way then fell down... I did not buy the hit at all...

I know a fight would be more awesome instead of just using gun but the fight in this is a joke .. maybe trying to watch some of the fight on movies then study their angles and editing style? like Bourne movies... I love their fighting sequences!

At the end, I still don't know what the story is about? I was like.. that's it?

Over all, good effort and I really encourage you to make more and always learn it from it.
 
Ah, a fight scene. I'm always a little terrified of the prospect of doing a fight scene but you pulled one off. I see what you were going for with this film and you do make it in some spots. The thing I think you should focus a little more on is the story. Make it clear for the audience who these people are and what's going on. Develop characters more so that they leave lasting impressions. Others have touched on it but work a little on the color grading and lighting to make sure it's more consistent. Also be carful with you music volume because it drowned out some of the dialogue.

It might seem like I'm being harsh but there's a lot of potential. A lot of directors make action films but far less make them well. You can be one of the few that make them well. Keep working on your skills and crew up. Doing something like this as a one man show can be murder. Thanks for sharing.
 
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Very much improved over last Fest but I have to agree with the comments about the opening fight. I actually chuckled when he pulled out the gun after the fight and shot him. I really don't think that's the response you were going for.

The story was also a little scattered and hard to follow.

You are improving though. Practice makes perfect.

MAH
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. I know what you all mean about the gun at the end. The best I've heard is shoot him in the leg, which that could have worked. But just running then a random shot I think would have killed some of the film off.

The color grading was not done by me. The ext. shots were color graded but I took it out because he applied way too much green, but the int. scenes were find. BTW, I'm just now learning myself how to color grade. So maybe next fest I will have some improvement :)

Also on the dialogue I think it's hard to hear when he's right up at the safe? Yea the mic was a little far off from the actor so that is why.

vnguyen972 said:
Are these actors real actors or your friends? I'm sorry but their acting are very bad. Maybe they need a better direction? I don't know...
Click to expand...
Yes, they are real actors. They have become friends after working with them, but they are actors. And you could be right about my direction. Action is a tough genre and you have to nail a lot of it and especially this one since it was a thriller with a twist to it. So hopefully next fest you guys will see an even better improvement.
 
I couldnt comment on your other piece. But just wanted to state here, this is good improvement on your other stuff I have seen. You have age on your side and I think if you keep plugging away, well who knows whats possible right?
 
That is right. I've actually gotten a lot of good comment from filmmakers about how good my films are for my age I'm at. But yea, I'm always up to do a film, short, feature, documentary, etc. Got a some good ones this year to make and show more improvement.
 
Some sad news about the actor who played the Boss... Just found out from his sister that he had a heart attack a few days ago and has passed away.

Steven E. Williams
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0931739
StevenWilliams.jpg
 
I'm sorry to hear that man :( that's terrible. I don't know the relationship you had with the guy but I hope you and his family are doing okay....

I didn't laugh when he shot him...My eyes did bug out though. I wasn't expecting that at all. I was like "WHaaaa...no way. that's cold blooded" haha. Overall I think the outdoor locations and performances could have made this much better than it was.

I thought the interiors were shot very well...way better than the exteriors which is weird. I usually feel like with indie stuff that the exteriors are shot better. Nice job on that though. I loved the set design in the boss's room. That tied with the color of the room was great. Only thing I didn't like was the tv. which is kind of a random nit pick so no worries there.

thanks for sharing!
 
Wow. I'm just not sure what to say. I'd like to see you try something a little less ambitious and see you pull it off. This was a bit too much.

The whole Agent 14, Agent 52 etc, was just corny. It made me think of Get Smart and I know that's not what your were going for. This would have been better had you done it as a spoof.

The action sequences were a bit painful to watch because they were so obviously staged and played out too slowly. I chuckled when Agent 30 something "bumped" into the car.

I'd like to see you find a writer to collaborate with because I'm not convinced that's your strong suit.
 
Most is already said.

The film could benefit from more constant and carefull color grading.
When you cut from the int. to the first ext. scene I was kind a throw out, lookt like I was in an other film.

Like the tracking shot thou. How did you do that?

Frank
 
Postmaster said:
Most is already said.

The film could benefit from more constant and carefull color grading.
When you cut from the int. to the first ext. scene I was kind a throw out, lookt like I was in an other film.

Like the tracking shot thou. How did you do that?

Frank
Click to expand...

Color Grading. Read this post

Tracking Shot. Check the BTS
 
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