Vietnam War Teaser (graphic images) View at your own risk.

maranfilms

maranfilms

Veteran
This is a Vietnam war teaser from a film I have been producing/ directing/ shooting/cutting/compositing, ( which im not all that good with compositing, so try to keep that in mind before you flame me. When we re-shoot the film I will be hiring people to do the cgi stuff, But hopefully there won't be to much to do.

This is a recut of the teaser I had posted on tube last week. And is much better i think.


The score is from a talented Dvx user, that lets film makers use his music. Very cool. I had posted it to his thread, But I thought I should start one for the images as opposed to just the backing music. I hope you like it, it sort of has a story to it, but as you know a teaser is mostly random clips to show others some of the material. I will be cutting an official trailer very soon.

This was shot on the xha1 and t2i. I think they mesh well, but you can see a difference in resolution, being the A1 has much more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q273wmdzOR8
 
Theres certainly some good things in there. Its much too long though IMO. Give me the gist of it in a minute.
 
Thanks Noel, I appreciate you checking it out. That means a lot comming from you, as im a fan of your work.

I agree with you. it is a bit to long. Once I started cutting it, I kept finding little tid bits that I thought would add to it. And of course, it became a short film/ music video:) I need to remember less is more usually.

Im so numb to seeing this because of cutting it back and forth, I would love some feedback and tips to get it looking, and flowing better. Also I need some help with compositing explosions and digital effects. If anyone knows of any tutorials on how to make a realistic explosions. It would be much appreciated.
 
Quite honestly, you can use the components you have, just cut them right down. In addition, give us the story set up. Like what it is these guys are setting out to achieve and show elements of what they face without letting us in on the success or failure of that. Like a quick death, explosions etc.
For the FX work Im assuming your using AE? Check out video co pilots stuff. Maybe the action essentials might suit your needs - lots of explosions with different things you can add together to sell the look. Also lots of tuts on there.
 
Thanks again Noel. Im gonna start watching those tutorials. Hopefully I can get a decent looking mortar explosion.

Im gonna cut a trailer out of the teaser in the next few days.

Does anyone know of a decent Voice over specialist. Im thinking of using a voice over the trailer as opposed to just words. Maybe both. I just don't want it to sound like a cheesy VO. It sucks were all so used to hearing only one or two voices for almost every movie trailer. Not that my film will be on that level but you know what im getteing at. It's all the details that make it or break it.
 
Noel is right in cutting this down to a minute or two max. The setting is a downed and captured pilot and the consequences of going in to rescue him...often resulting in more casualties than the original member. Start with the setting then to the pilot...then the rescue team on it's way...the landing zone...the firefight...the rescue attempt with more casualties...leaving us to wonder the outcome. Are you reshooting this or are you using these actual scenes? I would use dialog raher than the score for the whole teaser if you have it. Thanks for sharing.
 
Thanks for comments Kess, Very good advice. Im in the process of recutting it into a trailer. We did shoot the film with dialogue. So I can add some to the cut. I mainly wanted to make a teaser that people would be able to get some idea of what the story would be about, I also wanted to make something for my father to watch, as this is his war and era. So it grew and grew as I was going through the clips. It did get out of hand rather quickly. lol

It's based on the true story of a soldier that jumped on a grenade to save his friends from the blast ( Kinsman, Vietnam, Medal of honor). I did change a few things around in order to make it due to budget constraints and time. But I am going to reshoot it in to an actual feature over the summer. I have already raised a good amount of money to do so, with several veteran groups helping with funds, locations and props. This time we have an actual F4 to shoot the pilot in, along with a duece and a half, two hueys and a cobra. We also have a tank, with four recoiless rifles that drives and fires. And a 50 cal that runs off propane. So were gonna have some fun. I want to shoot it on the new sony fs100 if it's out in time.
 
Very impressive. I liked the disconnect that the music gave from what was going on in the scenes. The music was great compositionally, and vocally, but it sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom. That nagged at me.

The look you gave the guys was very earthy and realistic. But change that one M4 out for an M14, M16 or a CAR15 once you go for the full length (the stock gave it away). LOL, I am an armorer, I see that stuff.
 
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I liked it, and agree with everyone to cut it down, but love the music and how it does seperate what you're watching from what you hear.

Where are you shooting this?
 
I think it looks great. Very interested to see it progress. One comment for the reshoot - consider giving the fatigues some wear. All of their clothing looks too new.
 
Doc Bernard said:
Very impressive. I liked the disconnect that the music gave from what was going on in the scenes. The music was great compositionally, and vocally, but it sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom. That nagged at me.

The look you gave the guys was very earthy and realistic. But change that one M4 out for an M14, M16 or a CAR15 once you go for the full length (the stock gave it away). LOL, I am an armorer, I see that stuff.
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Thanks Doc, I will definetly take your advice. I been seeing all the beaituful toys you been playin with and ordering, I could make use of that LAW you just bought. lol
 
Zacatac said:
I liked it, and agree with everyone to cut it down, but love the music and how it does seperate what you're watching from what you hear.

Where are you shooting this?
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Thanks for watching Zac, How you been? I saw you were out in the midwest. Lots of fun stuff to shoot out there. We shot some of this at Quanset Air base in RI. We shot the other stuff in Fairhaven MA. One of the producers grew up there and thought the coast looked a lot like the Central Highlands, and MEKONG delta in Nam, it has the high reeds, and lots of ferns and stuff. We had to go through the Town for permits because of the locations. They were great, the selectman voted 100% on granting the permits.
 
It looks very good, But I had a sense it was New England, perhaps it was because I've shot enough WWII films in NE woods to know the trees.

Midwest is stunning, moving out there fulltime in Sept. so when you shoot your desert storm or iraq war film, I'll be close by. If you need any help this summer on any films, let me know.
 
I would love to work on a film with you. Let me know when you back. We can connect up and throw around some ideas. I have some pretty good actors from the westcoast that will be coming out for a while. Possibly use them for the project depending on what it is.

Im anxious to try out the fs100 on a project. Im going to make a deposit on it today. So I hope it will be available by the end of the month.

We need to add some tropical trees in there for the final cut. I shot some really cool plates of Bamboo thickets im hoping to use. Still lots of work to do, not enough time. lol
 
tildenm said:
I think it looks great. Very interested to see it progress. One comment for the reshoot - consider giving the fatigues some wear. All of their clothing looks too new.
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I agree, we need to beat up the fatigues some. I thought the same thing when cutting it. lol I will keep you posted on progress, thanks for watching.
 
maranfilms said:
Thanks Doc, I will definetly take your advice. I been seeing all the beaituful toys you been playin with and ordering, I could make use of that LAW you just bought. lol
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That is one of those "gotta be on set with" weapons. Otherwise I would be all over it for you. I have a second one, with no rocket, I may be able work something out with.
 
Nicely done! I agree, rough up the fatigues, shorten the whole piece. Most of the effects only needed some tweaking. One thing we like to do with fake muzzle flash is mask some elements around the gun where the flash would illuminate and then automate that. Like trees and such. It makes a huge difference.

Also, on the explosion, if you want something easy to use that is cheap as a placeholder till you are ready to shoot the real thing, check out the 'Action Essentials' effects. There are some GREAT dirt hits in there you can layer.

This is also a good resource for when you get a lot more time/money into a project (just watch the first video for ideas):

http://diegoguevara.com/blog/2010/08/16/bloody-omaha/

It's just impressive to see what you can do. Especially the explosions.

Again though, looking good!
 
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