http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/ Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:15:37 -0700 MyBB http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=84 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:59:45 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=84
Joe C.]]>
Joe C.]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=83 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:33:50 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=83
i am in the process of writing and planning out my first full length zero-budget film, so chances are, I will be guilty of many of the things I am about to criticize you for doing.

the good:
story
camera angles
dialogue
sound

the bad:
the editing
lighting
some of the acting
the ending
the opening credits

The story is very believable, simple and to the point, very well done.
the dialogue was quite good. I am not a big enough nerd to do any of the things they talked about, so i cant say anything about technical accuracy, but it all sounded and looked very convincing. not a single line of dialogue had me thinking 'yea, right, thats not gonna work"
the technical jargon was good, even though lots of it was over my head, i wasn't put off by any of it, i still understood 'roughly' what was going on. it was very convincing.

the ending of the story was very unexpected, it seems to jump up out of no where. a little foreshadowing earlier on would have been nice, some hints a little less subtle than finding a dead bird could have helped brace me for the ending. its not a bad ending, but after an hour, i have invested a lot of time into these characters, and to have them get killed off in such a seemingly random way is very unsatisfying.

im a big sound guy, and i'm very picky. (worked as a 'techy guy' in a recording studio for several years) I was listening to your film on some nice studio headphones, and i heard no problems, nothing put me off or bothered me, so good work. working on sound can be hell, and it takes forever.

the camera angles were interesting, and well composed, considering the tiny space you were squeezed into during filming, im impressed you were able to squeeze a cameraman into some of those spots.

while i liked the camera angles, the editing was very bothersome, especially near the beginning of the film. i don't know how to describe my problems with it specifically, but the cuts seemed 'amateur' and 'too obvious' and a little jarring. most films and TV shows seem seamless, where shots have a flow to them, and the editing goes unnoticed. for the first half, (and the shots at the very end) I was very aware of the editing, and it took me out of the film.

i don't know what tricks the pros use to edit seamlessly, but i imagine its just the result of dedicating years of time to nothing but editing clips. i think it might just be a 'practice makes perfect' thing.
did you edit the movie from start to end? it does get better as the movie progresses.

the use of backgrounds to establish location worked well, each setting had a very unique feel, and made if very easy for me to know where each shot was taking place. but it had a 'paint by numbers' feel to it, it felt too obvious. also, some outside shots to establish location would have helped. more shots of the house from the outside, a shot of the nightclub's exterior, a city street at night, more shots like this could have done more to establish location. (its also good filler if you need a few extra minutes of run time)

one good thing about the editing: it follows a good pace, no scenes drag on unnecessarily long. even though its a slow, dialogue heavy story about guys waiting for computers to do their thing, it moves at a very good pace.

the lighting: it was VERY realistic, but this isn't real life, this is video, where real life ins't what looks best. more light is always good. more light = more detail. you can always darken the clips later on in the editing process. i find those cheep halogen construction lamps work wonders for photography. a 500W key and a 250W fill do wonders.
(note: this does not apply to the monologue at the beginning, which has fantastic use of natural lighting)]]>
i am in the process of writing and planning out my first full length zero-budget film, so chances are, I will be guilty of many of the things I am about to criticize you for doing.

the good:
story
camera angles
dialogue
sound

the bad:
the editing
lighting
some of the acting
the ending
the opening credits

The story is very believable, simple and to the point, very well done.
the dialogue was quite good. I am not a big enough nerd to do any of the things they talked about, so i cant say anything about technical accuracy, but it all sounded and looked very convincing. not a single line of dialogue had me thinking 'yea, right, thats not gonna work"
the technical jargon was good, even though lots of it was over my head, i wasn't put off by any of it, i still understood 'roughly' what was going on. it was very convincing.

the ending of the story was very unexpected, it seems to jump up out of no where. a little foreshadowing earlier on would have been nice, some hints a little less subtle than finding a dead bird could have helped brace me for the ending. its not a bad ending, but after an hour, i have invested a lot of time into these characters, and to have them get killed off in such a seemingly random way is very unsatisfying.

im a big sound guy, and i'm very picky. (worked as a 'techy guy' in a recording studio for several years) I was listening to your film on some nice studio headphones, and i heard no problems, nothing put me off or bothered me, so good work. working on sound can be hell, and it takes forever.

the camera angles were interesting, and well composed, considering the tiny space you were squeezed into during filming, im impressed you were able to squeeze a cameraman into some of those spots.

while i liked the camera angles, the editing was very bothersome, especially near the beginning of the film. i don't know how to describe my problems with it specifically, but the cuts seemed 'amateur' and 'too obvious' and a little jarring. most films and TV shows seem seamless, where shots have a flow to them, and the editing goes unnoticed. for the first half, (and the shots at the very end) I was very aware of the editing, and it took me out of the film.

i don't know what tricks the pros use to edit seamlessly, but i imagine its just the result of dedicating years of time to nothing but editing clips. i think it might just be a 'practice makes perfect' thing.
did you edit the movie from start to end? it does get better as the movie progresses.

the use of backgrounds to establish location worked well, each setting had a very unique feel, and made if very easy for me to know where each shot was taking place. but it had a 'paint by numbers' feel to it, it felt too obvious. also, some outside shots to establish location would have helped. more shots of the house from the outside, a shot of the nightclub's exterior, a city street at night, more shots like this could have done more to establish location. (its also good filler if you need a few extra minutes of run time)

one good thing about the editing: it follows a good pace, no scenes drag on unnecessarily long. even though its a slow, dialogue heavy story about guys waiting for computers to do their thing, it moves at a very good pace.

the lighting: it was VERY realistic, but this isn't real life, this is video, where real life ins't what looks best. more light is always good. more light = more detail. you can always darken the clips later on in the editing process. i find those cheep halogen construction lamps work wonders for photography. a 500W key and a 250W fill do wonders.
(note: this does not apply to the monologue at the beginning, which has fantastic use of natural lighting)]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=82 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:04:39 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=82
It's over at http://www.rohanharris.net/.]]>
It's over at http://www.rohanharris.net/.]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=81 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:44:58 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=81
It's titled "The Chunda Weed".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsqkTrwEXZQ]]>
It's titled "The Chunda Weed".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsqkTrwEXZQ]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=80 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:52:34 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=80
More content is coming soon, too.]]>
More content is coming soon, too.]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=79 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:58:43 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=79
Thanks for the movie!]]>
Thanks for the movie!]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=77 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:28:39 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=77
That is all.]]>
That is all.]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=76 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:26:27 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=76 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=73 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:35:17 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=73 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=72 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:29:58 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=72
Well done.]]>
Well done.]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=71 Mon, 26 May 2008 22:17:23 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=71
Update: It's available via video.google.com, bittorrent and archive.org - the latter two as a ~700mb divx.

Check it out!]]>
Update: It's available via video.google.com, bittorrent and archive.org - the latter two as a ~700mb divx.

Check it out!]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=70 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:30:09 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=70
]]>
]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=69 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:40:15 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=69
Uwe Boll will (allegedly) quit making movies if this petition gets a million signatures.

But y'know what? Even if he was going to stick to that - which I doubt - I wouldn't want him to.

And I can't quite put my finger on why.

I suppose it has something to do with him being such an odd character. I rather like him floating about, making movies that get the internet in a huff over how bad they are.

Keep going, Uwe! Keep going!]]>
Uwe Boll will (allegedly) quit making movies if this petition gets a million signatures.

But y'know what? Even if he was going to stick to that - which I doubt - I wouldn't want him to.

And I can't quite put my finger on why.

I suppose it has something to do with him being such an odd character. I rather like him floating about, making movies that get the internet in a huff over how bad they are.

Keep going, Uwe! Keep going!]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=68 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:14:01 -0800 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=68
It's a playground for concepts that haven't graduated into being ideas yet.

You can speak through one character, then play devil's advocate with the next, all the toy with a concept that you haven't quite worked out.

Never mind essays - with fiction, there doesn't have to be a point. In fact, the weaker and more obfuscated the point is, the better the critical reviews. If you imply things, but come to no conclusion, people love it - because it prompts discussion.

Fiction is the ultimate playground for people who haven't made up their mind on something yet.

Especially for people like me - who never will.]]>
It's a playground for concepts that haven't graduated into being ideas yet.

You can speak through one character, then play devil's advocate with the next, all the toy with a concept that you haven't quite worked out.

Never mind essays - with fiction, there doesn't have to be a point. In fact, the weaker and more obfuscated the point is, the better the critical reviews. If you imply things, but come to no conclusion, people love it - because it prompts discussion.

Fiction is the ultimate playground for people who haven't made up their mind on something yet.

Especially for people like me - who never will.]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=67 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:47:46 -0800 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=67 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=66 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:33:15 -0800 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=66 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=65 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:43:01 -0800 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=65
Firstly, a rather ugly man in tranny getup, complete with exaggerated hip swinging.

Okay, it's the cross. No shock there.

Then, some ten metres behind him/her/it, comes a random bearded semi-hobo in a business suit that obviously hadn't been washed in years.

What was weird about this experience was that, just as he passed us, he stopped, stared up at the sky and in a voice that just oozed sincerity and joy he exclaimed, "Thank GOD for Heroin!"

Here's what got me - doesn't that just smack of Grand Theft Auto? Random pedestrians walking by you that issue a single random comment as you happen to get close.

I wanted to hit the triangle/yellow y button on the next car, to make sure I hadn't slipped into Vice City somehow.]]>
Firstly, a rather ugly man in tranny getup, complete with exaggerated hip swinging.

Okay, it's the cross. No shock there.

Then, some ten metres behind him/her/it, comes a random bearded semi-hobo in a business suit that obviously hadn't been washed in years.

What was weird about this experience was that, just as he passed us, he stopped, stared up at the sky and in a voice that just oozed sincerity and joy he exclaimed, "Thank GOD for Heroin!"

Here's what got me - doesn't that just smack of Grand Theft Auto? Random pedestrians walking by you that issue a single random comment as you happen to get close.

I wanted to hit the triangle/yellow y button on the next car, to make sure I hadn't slipped into Vice City somehow.]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=64 Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:08:47 -0800 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=64
I'm really chuffed at the reception we got this weekend past, and I can't wait for more of you to check it out!

Random Facts about Dead Man Drinking:


There are aproximately 95 usages of the word "fuck" and its derivatives. Given a run-length of 91 minutes, that means the FPM (fuck per minute count) for DmD is roughly one. However, this is based on the usages as-written in the screenplay - I haven't been bored enough to actually count every use in the final, completed film.
We guestimate that about $1200-$1700 was spent on the creation of the film, and almost all of it was on alcohol of various sorts.
During shooting, the following alcoholic beverages were consumed - Red and White wine, Jager, Bourbon, Scotch, Rum and beer.
One scene in the middle of the film would be about seven or eight minutes unbroken and done in a single take, except for two brief close-up shots used in the middle. We didn't do another take - the actors got it in one, and being that we shot on digital, it was an easy affair to double-check our video and audio ont he spot and then just say we got it in the can.
There are four explicit references to characters and events from Inconvenient Things.
We captured about fifteen hours of raw footage during shooting - a relatively tiny amount of footage by regular industry standards.

]]>
I'm really chuffed at the reception we got this weekend past, and I can't wait for more of you to check it out!

Random Facts about Dead Man Drinking:


There are aproximately 95 usages of the word "fuck" and its derivatives. Given a run-length of 91 minutes, that means the FPM (fuck per minute count) for DmD is roughly one. However, this is based on the usages as-written in the screenplay - I haven't been bored enough to actually count every use in the final, completed film.
We guestimate that about $1200-$1700 was spent on the creation of the film, and almost all of it was on alcohol of various sorts.
During shooting, the following alcoholic beverages were consumed - Red and White wine, Jager, Bourbon, Scotch, Rum and beer.
One scene in the middle of the film would be about seven or eight minutes unbroken and done in a single take, except for two brief close-up shots used in the middle. We didn't do another take - the actors got it in one, and being that we shot on digital, it was an easy affair to double-check our video and audio ont he spot and then just say we got it in the can.
There are four explicit references to characters and events from Inconvenient Things.
We captured about fifteen hours of raw footage during shooting - a relatively tiny amount of footage by regular industry standards.

]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=63 Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:07:07 -0800 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=63
- Orson Welles]]>
- Orson Welles]]> http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=62 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:09:22 -0700 http://www.expectproblems.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=62 2) Never use tasty props. They won't be there come take three.
3) Never answer a question with another question.
4) Sound is king.
5) Never assume anything can be fixed 'in post'.
6) If in doubt, cut it out.
7) Love your actors, just not literally.
8) If you're shooting on digital, and it looks like it might be underlit - IT IS.]]> 2) Never use tasty props. They won't be there come take three.
3) Never answer a question with another question.
4) Sound is king.
5) Never assume anything can be fixed 'in post'.
6) If in doubt, cut it out.
7) Love your actors, just not literally.
8) If you're shooting on digital, and it looks like it might be underlit - IT IS.]]>