New Tape

[Sherwin Noorian]

I don't understand how she got the video, unless she was browsing porn sites and just happened to come upon it??

[Will Robertson]

Honestly, who cares. It was a movie, and a good one at that. Maybe she knew who they were prior to this and knew they had a website and she became a victim of it. Maybe they sent her the address. Maybe somebody else saw it and then sent her the address. Either way it doesn't matter. The purpose of the film wasn't to show the girl watching herself having sex and then tell a story about how she got the video footage, it was to get the point across that it was a rape and that my friend, is a serious issue. Rape screws people up even to the point of suicide and the film did a very good job at captivating those emotions. You're thinking way too much about it. Take it for what it is, a disturbing insight to crap that really goes on. Now everyone stop crying about it.

[Sherwin Noorian]

<<<-- Originally posted by Will Robertson : Honestly, who cares. It was a movie, and a good one at that. Maybe she knew who they were prior to this and knew they had a website and she became a victim of it. Maybe they sent her the address. Maybe somebody else saw it and then sent her the address. Either way it doesn't matter. The purpose of the film wasn't to show the girl watching herself having sex and then tell a story about how she got the video footage, it was to get the point across that it was a rape and that my friend, is a serious issue. Rape screws people up even to the point of suicide and the film did a very good job at captivating those emotions. You're thinking way too much about it. Take it for what it is, a disturbing insight to crap that really goes on. Now everyone stop crying about it. -->>>

I think it does matter, because you are telling a story. People here always get caught up in visuals and technical aspects, but forget about actually telling a story. Here it is a story about a rape. A well presented one, too. However, it is apparent that many people were questioning this one point, which means they were distracted from that central story. A distraction is never good, especially near the climax. I am just offering constructive criticism for better storytelling.

[Rob Lohman]

Please re-read Colin's posts people. He clearly explained the
tape thing.

[Trevor Trombley]

I was thinking of an alternative story to the one you already told Colin. Although after some carefull consideration it isn't entirely Original either.

I really like the opening of choice where the Bully runs into the change room and beats down the Narc, wouldn't it be cool to open with the same premise?

The Audience would feel sorry for the kid getting his ass fed to him, and then it would cut to a flash back of the party, and the two friends plotting to Date rape the chick. One of which is the kid who got beat up in the change room

In the end you realize that the guy who beat the crap out of the kid in the changeroom was getting revenge for his sister or girlfriend who was the one who was date raped.

But after thinking about this particular alternate ending I realize how closely it resembles the Film Irrevirsible. Where two Estranged friends get revenge on a sexual predator for raping their ex girlfriend.

Just thoughts.

Trevor T.

[Colin Minihan]

yo i got New Tape up on triggerstreet.com now its getting good reviews up there too!

ps i wanna see irreversable. and i agree that suicide is a very student like film thing to do.. i actually thought of a different way to end this movie.. the day after my lead actress moved.. which was the day after i wrapped shooting. It was to have her lift the knife up... not do it and to just leave the room... meaning she would have to deal with what happened to her and not take the easy way out. ... not sure if that would have been great or not.

[Rob Lohman]

That could have been great if it was done well. It all boils down
to emotion and how well the audience can feel it. It could've been
very powerful. Perhaps hessitating to get out of the "safe" room...

[Travis Cossel]

Well, this was the last of your work that I viewed, and I'd like to start by saying I loved your other stuff.

Technically, "New Tape" was shot very well. I wasn't put off by the flashbacks and cuts or anything else. It all fit. Now, on to my constructive criticism (some of which others have covered as well).

I am one of those who thought that she had the 'new tape'. I'd elaborate on this, but I'm sure you've already gotten the point on that.

I also agree that there should have been much more blood, which you also know, so I'll leave that alone too.

I didn't like the ending with the camera heading into the drain. My focus needs to be connected with her somehow at the end, and instead, I get separated from her. One way to use a similar shot would have been to follow blood from her wrists (assuming she stayed at the sink) as it went to the drain. There are countless other ways to end the film with the viewer still connected to the girl but I think you'll see my point.

An alternate ending that I think would have been awesome (if not darker) would have been for her to pick up the knife, and then, when you have the viewer thinking she is going to kill herself, you cut to her putting the knife into one of the guys at another party. Just a real quick shot of that to end the film, so that the viewer knows what she's up to, but so that you don't linger on the visuals and distract the viewer from the feeling.

I realize it's too late to make most of the changes we are suggesting here, but hopefully all of our nagging will just help you out on your next project.

Best of luck.

[Colin Minihan]

i dislike your idea for an alternate ending... it would be a wtf kinda ending that just leaves the audiance thinking how did she find the rapists so easily.. and it would be far to much of jump from the pacing of the bathroom scene. I also think that that sort of revenge seems pretty contrived to me dont you think...its totally the kind of ending that would take away from the disturbing crime that is commited earliar in the film. It just makes it so lame to have her kill them...that would be the worst thing i could possibly to do it.

[Travis Cossel]

Well, it's all a matter of opinion obviously. It just depends on the story you want to tell. The main reason that alternate ending appealed to me is that you're leading the viewer to believe that she's going to kill herself, and to switch it around right at the end would have been cool (IMO).

I'm a little surprised that you would be so vehemently against a different ending. It almost sounds like you didn't even seriously think it over, but that's cool. Whatever.

I just like being surprised in movies, that's all.

[Trevor Trombley]

I agree that it would be contrived to have her kill the rapists, but then again it's cliched to have her commit suicide.

There's a number of ways you could go. One of which is maybe she got pregnant and had to go to the abortion clinic.

Back in highschool when I was getting off the bus, an aquaintance of mine ran up and hospitalized a kid, it wasn't a fair fight, just a massacre right out there on the turf, my first emotion was of pity for the kid who didn't stand a chance, my second one was of contempt for his attacker after doing such a heineous act.

But then my buddy told me the kid had hit the guys girfriend who had been pregnant at the time and caused her to have a miscarriage. and then my original thoughts of pity and contempt flew right out the window.

That's why I think it would be cool to open on a beating scene much like the one in Choice, because you would toy with the audiences emotions by having them feel pity for the kid being attacked, then completely do a 180 degree turn after they learn that he played a part in a rape.

Just a random idea hamster. Can't wait for your next film.

BTW, if you wouldn't mind directing someone else's written work I'd be happy to write something for you, if you enjoy what I scribble down that is. I'm always curious what my written word would look like in the hands of another director.

Trevor T.

[Derek Tan]

Well..

This might roll some heads, but...

I wish in the scene where she was crying as she watched the tape (err, I mean .rm file online of course) you would have kicked it to the next level. She should have been self-loving and it would have added the whole dynamic of shame at being taken advantage of, shame at being excited by the whole thing. It would give an extra edge to her suicide - the cross motivation of self hate and shame - and it would have knocked your audience on their collective seats.

I also wish the bad people had been rougher. I kept waiting for one of the bad people to haul off and hit her a good one. Its bad enough to have two animal-like guys to hurt the woman but they're also treating her as their lover? That struck me as odd, but then what do I know.

That's just me. If you are going to go for the jugular, I say go for it and don't look back...

Now, these two comments aside, I thought it was a great short. You are obviously very talented with provocative and interesting ideas that you can express with excellent visuals. Thank you for making the short, I enjoyed watching it - exactly as you made it.

[Young-H. Lee]

Probably a little late commenting on this, but I just saw your new tape short film, and despite all the criticisms on cliched suicides, you handled this overdone material extremely well. the camera angles and the choice of what to include and what to exclude took a true director's eye. the framing of the spiking the glass and the girl together, and the final shot of the sink drain were really great

kept my attention all the way

[Michael Le]

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