DVC 7 - Dennis Khaye's "last Christmas"

Brent Graham · January 1st, 2007, 11:33 PM

you've inspired me!

I am now wanting to write a script that allows me to play more than one character on my own! When I watched it, I had no idea that it was just you doing all three! (am I asleep?! c'mon Graham!) Super cool.

I do have to second the comments that the opening 'casino' scene would have sold better with a dark background.
(I wanna say I'd go with that super bright spot on your character from above and use the table itself as a bounce-back, slightly over-expose the spot and have your set darkened as a result, a la 'casino' -- haha!)

Nice work though, have you considered being tested for multiple personality disorder?! j/k

Dennis Khaye · January 2nd, 2007, 01:37 AM

@ Bruce
I cannot believe how lucky I get with Sonicfire. I used it for the Caveman short too. I'm not sure how 'canned' it sounds but having it at your fingertips for events like these is really nice. At least for me anyway. ;) Thanks for the comments.

@ Lorinda
My new years resolution is to not get stuck in one genre. LOL
The closeups seemed appropriate since we didn't do any lighting set ups. All practicals, dimmed overhead incandescent, two 45 watt incandescents and a 60 watt kicked off a bound board. No depth to the room so there really wasn't any need to frame anything but his face. To be honest I didn't think it would turn out well but I was rather surprised when I edited.

@ Brent
Yep, I agree with the 'casino' shot. I have a moleskin I keep with me at all times and I put lessons learned it, that one I wrote in all caps. ;) Yes, I have been tested...I passed. LOL

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Much appreciated.

Kris Holodak · January 2nd, 2007, 08:32 PM

Wow. No crew? Really? How did you manage all those tight shots with no one behind the camera to make sure you stayed in frame? (sorry if you've answered that already, I'm trying to not influence my comments by avoiding everything that got written up while I was gone.) Good building of tension. The music really worked too. Nothing jumped out at me as needing fixing. Good job.

Smile,
Kris

PS: never mind. you and an actor. that makes more sense. I think Dylan might be right in doling these out in little chunks. I've watched so many my brain is starting to melt.

Dennis Khaye · January 3rd, 2007, 11:40 AM

Actors don't count as crew, at least I hope not. LOL All he did was sit or lie there. Never once did I get a "Hey can I get you a drink or something?" not even a "need a hand with that?"

Actors can be so (insert your favorite condescending remark here)

Of course I kid. I kid because I love. Jay's like a brother to me and I had everything set up before he arrived. Tore the bedroom apart, thank goodness my wife was away on business. We used my 'duck' sheets and pillow cases in case the fake blood didn't come out. Which it did very nicely. My 'duck' sheets are still clean. Much to the chagrin of my wife.

Sean McHenry · January 4th, 2007, 12:05 PM

Nice. I find it starts and ends in just the right places for me. I have enough information to make it interesting but can let the rest of the story sort of write itself. When you do the compression, it all looks like Hi-8. Don't sweat it. Besides, the 80s and even back into a sort of 1960s look go with the Mob theme.

I liked it. Yes it is a memory but somehow getting into the memory does seem a bit weak somehow. Maybe it needed to come back to the present at the end to wrap it up as a memory?

Still, nice show.

Sean

Dennis Khaye · January 4th, 2007, 10:36 PM

Thanks for your input Sean. I usually spend some time writing with these shorts after the contests are over and write them longer. I'll definatly use that come back to the present scene. Thanks again!

January 4th, 2007, 12:05 PM	#20
Sean McHenry Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,193	Nice. I find it starts and ends in just the right places for me. I have enough information to make it interesting but can let the rest of the story sort of write itself. When you do the compression, it all looks like Hi-8. Don't sweat it. Besides, the 80s and even back into a sort of 1960s look go with the Mob theme. I liked it. Yes it is a memory but somehow getting into the memory does seem a bit weak somehow. Maybe it needed to come back to the present at the end to wrap it up as a memory? Still, nice show. Sean __________________ ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m shooting on D.V.’ - my hero - David Lynch http://www.DeepBlueEdit.com

January 1st, 2007, 11:33 PM	#16
Brent Graham Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 222	you've inspired me! I am now wanting to write a script that allows me to play more than one character on my own! When I watched it, I had no idea that it was just you doing all three! (am I asleep?! c'mon Graham!) Super cool. I do have to second the comments that the opening 'casino' scene would have sold better with a dark background. (I wanna say I'd go with that super bright spot on your character from above and use the table itself as a bounce-back, slightly over-expose the spot and have your set darkened as a result, a la 'casino' -- haha!) Nice work though, have you considered being tested for multiple personality disorder?! j/k

January 2nd, 2007, 01:37 AM	#17
Dennis Khaye Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 255	@ Bruce I cannot believe how lucky I get with Sonicfire. I used it for the Caveman short too. I'm not sure how 'canned' it sounds but having it at your fingertips for events like these is really nice. At least for me anyway. ;) Thanks for the comments. @ Lorinda My new years resolution is to not get stuck in one genre. LOL The closeups seemed appropriate since we didn't do any lighting set ups. All practicals, dimmed overhead incandescent, two 45 watt incandescents and a 60 watt kicked off a bound board. No depth to the room so there really wasn't any need to frame anything but his face. To be honest I didn't think it would turn out well but I was rather surprised when I edited. @ Brent Yep, I agree with the 'casino' shot. I have a moleskin I keep with me at all times and I put lessons learned it, that one I wrote in all caps. ;) Yes, I have been tested...I passed. LOL Thanks for the kind words everyone. Much appreciated.

January 2nd, 2007, 08:32 PM	#18
Kris Holodak Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 302	Wow. No crew? Really? How did you manage all those tight shots with no one behind the camera to make sure you stayed in frame? (sorry if you've answered that already, I'm trying to not influence my comments by avoiding everything that got written up while I was gone.) Good building of tension. The music really worked too. Nothing jumped out at me as needing fixing. Good job. Smile, Kris PS: never mind. you and an actor. that makes more sense. I think Dylan might be right in doling these out in little chunks. I've watched so many my brain is starting to melt.

January 3rd, 2007, 11:40 AM	#19
Dennis Khaye Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 255	Actors don't count as crew, at least I hope not. LOL All he did was sit or lie there. Never once did I get a "Hey can I get you a drink or something?" not even a "need a hand with that?" Actors can be so (insert your favorite condescending remark here) Of course I kid. I kid because I love. Jay's like a brother to me and I had everything set up before he arrived. Tore the bedroom apart, thank goodness my wife was away on business. We used my 'duck' sheets and pillow cases in case the fake blood didn't come out. Which it did very nicely. My 'duck' sheets are still clean. Much to the chagrin of my wife.

January 4th, 2007, 10:36 PM	#21
Dennis Khaye Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 255	Thanks for your input Sean. I usually spend some time writing with these shorts after the contests are over and write them longer. I'll definatly use that come back to the present scene. Thanks again!