first scene from our feature

Jim Lafferty · July 13th, 2004, 06:48 AM

Yeah...

I knew that while I was typing it, most people reading would think "Christ, man, it's a mooovie -- get over it already."

Oh well,

:D

- jim

Jeff Patnaude · July 13th, 2004, 09:38 AM

Peter- you've done a lot of work there.
I have to add my 2 cents, and hope that you continue what you are doing and take my comments with a grain of salt.

Yeahhh, the soldiers looked prettty clean. They made a lot of noise moving around- would have gotten them shot before getting into position. THey didn't look too concerned about being in open countryside around enemy. The machine gun fire changed from shot to shot (wasn't in the background when changing shots to the guy being shot at).

I'm a war-movie geek though, and I look for that stuff. It's especially hard after "Band Of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan" kind of set the bar for the rest of them. My dad quit highschool to join the Marines during WWII and fought in all of the major campaigns in the pacific. The few stories he'd share left an impression.

PLease keep going. I'd love to work on stuff like that. I know what the difficulties are in any production, so please see it through.

All the best,
Jeff Patnaude

Peter John Ross · July 13th, 2004, 01:09 PM

Thanks all for the comments, even the criticisms.

Just as an FYI, I was in Manhattan on September 11th, 2001. I was at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival witha movie I worked on that was set to show at Noon.

I can't please everyone, and I don't think that was a goal. I'm just trying to tell a story. As for the reality of Naziism, finding a horrific metaphor does not denegrate or make light of what really happened. Using the Horror genre to accentuate or emphasize evil in it's varying forms should not be misinterpretted as an insenstivity to those who suffered.

Thanks again for taking the time to watch.

Mark Michaels · July 15th, 2004, 04:42 PM

I really liked the special FX what software packages did you use for the shots??

Great Job so far!!

Mark

Peter John Ross · July 15th, 2004, 04:55 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Mark Michaels : I really liked the special FX what software packages did you use for the shots??

Great Job so far!!

Mark -->>>

THank you.

Don Drennan, the FX guy used LIGHTWAVE to do the CGI planes, Adobe After Effetcs to do compositing.

Peter John Ross · September 8th, 2004, 01:36 PM

More shooting on Sept 18th. There's a D-Day re-enactment and we'll be there with several film cameras to get some shots.

Now there's an NBC news interview I did on the site...
http://horrorsofwar.sonnyboo.com/nbc.htm

Michael Le · September 8th, 2004, 01:48 PM

Very cool, Peter. Congratulations and I look forward to the finished feature.

Ken Tanaka · September 8th, 2004, 02:00 PM

Good for you! You presented a good representation of indy DV filmmaking on that interview. Bravo!

Glen Chua · September 8th, 2004, 04:24 PM

Where did you get the uniforms from, I am planning on a WWII movie and was wondering where I could get lots of cheap uniforms.

Peter John Ross · September 8th, 2004, 05:55 PM

WWII re-enactors. Authentic props & uniforms.

The only way to go.

Christopher Reynolds · September 9th, 2004, 06:36 PM

Peter, I noticed that the trailer obviously had independant written all over it, which is why I love it. The "zombie" Nazi was a great concept, I was intrigued by it. Great job. I also salute you on taking the blunt criticism like a champ. Take care.

-Chris

Robert J. Payne · September 9th, 2004, 07:20 PM

LOL.

Okay, I'm about to sound like an a-hole, which I seriously am not, but here it goes...

I admire your production. Looks like a large scale film, and you put in a hell of a lot of effort into this, and I commend you for that. The look of it is fantastic. Good special effects, however...

Is it just me, or does the first line of dialogue we hear sound like a cliche'd resident evil/mystery/thriller-type videogame? In fact, the characters seem totally unhuman. This movie seemed to play out like a Videogame that's trying to play out like a Movie. I don't like how some of the scenes were shot, just basically, it was very inconsistent.

Also, you appear to be inspired by Speilberg, and that's great. There's nothing wrong with that, however...

It doesn't work. You have nonhuman characters, and it's like a Videogame that's trying to be a movie, or a movie trying to be a videogame, or something of a combination, and it's laughable at times. I'd recommend that you don't mix in shaky shots with tripod/smooth, steady shots. If you want the audience to become immersed in the film, do a long, shaky take during an intense scene, (or battle scene), and follow a character as he struggles.

Okay, I'm sorry, I had to let it out. I may know nothing about filmmaking, but I'm just a bit confused about what you're trying to do with this film, although, I have tremendous respect for you, what you're achieving, and what you have achieved.

- Robert

Peter John Ross · September 10th, 2004, 05:59 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Robert J. Payne : LOL.

Okay, I'm about to sound like an a-hole, which I seriously am not, but here it goes...

- Robert -->>>

You do not sound like an a-hole.

Thanks for watching!

Glen Chua · September 10th, 2004, 11:01 PM

Where did you guys get the uniforms from?

Peter John Ross · September 11th, 2004, 07:40 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Glen Chua : Where did you guys get the uniforms from? -->>>

Authentic uniforms provided by WWII re-enactors.

July 13th, 2004, 06:48 AM	#16
Jim Lafferty Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 636	Yeah... I knew that while I was typing it, most people reading would think "Christ, man, it's a mooovie -- get over it already." Oh well, :D - jim __________________ Realism, anyway, is never exactly the same as reality, and in the cinema it is of necessity faked. -- J-L G

July 15th, 2004, 04:42 PM	#19
Mark Michaels New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Western New York Posts: 16	Special FX software I really liked the special FX what software packages did you use for the shots?? Great Job so far!! Mark

July 15th, 2004, 04:55 PM	#20
Peter John Ross Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hollywood, OHIO Posts: 149	Re: Special FX software <<<-- Originally posted by Mark Michaels : I really liked the special FX what software packages did you use for the shots?? Great Job so far!! Mark -->>> THank you. Don Drennan, the FX guy used LIGHTWAVE to do the CGI planes, Adobe After Effetcs to do compositing.

September 8th, 2004, 02:00 PM	#23
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Good for you! You presented a good representation of indy DV filmmaking on that interview. Bravo! __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

September 9th, 2004, 06:36 PM	#26
Christopher Reynolds Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: North Canton, Ohio Posts: 109	Peter, I noticed that the trailer obviously had independant written all over it, which is why I love it. The "zombie" Nazi was a great concept, I was intrigued by it. Great job. I also salute you on taking the blunt criticism like a champ. Take care. -Chris __________________ The only thing worse than quitting is being afraid to start. Get off your bum and go shoot something!

July 13th, 2004, 09:38 AM	#17
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	Peter- you've done a lot of work there. I have to add my 2 cents, and hope that you continue what you are doing and take my comments with a grain of salt. Yeahhh, the soldiers looked prettty clean. They made a lot of noise moving around- would have gotten them shot before getting into position. THey didn't look too concerned about being in open countryside around enemy. The machine gun fire changed from shot to shot (wasn't in the background when changing shots to the guy being shot at). I'm a war-movie geek though, and I look for that stuff. It's especially hard after "Band Of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan" kind of set the bar for the rest of them. My dad quit highschool to join the Marines during WWII and fought in all of the major campaigns in the pacific. The few stories he'd share left an impression. PLease keep going. I'd love to work on stuff like that. I know what the difficulties are in any production, so please see it through. All the best, Jeff Patnaude

July 13th, 2004, 01:09 PM	#18
Peter John Ross Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hollywood, OHIO Posts: 149	Thanks all for the comments, even the criticisms. Just as an FYI, I was in Manhattan on September 11th, 2001. I was at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival witha movie I worked on that was set to show at Noon. I can't please everyone, and I don't think that was a goal. I'm just trying to tell a story. As for the reality of Naziism, finding a horrific metaphor does not denegrate or make light of what really happened. Using the Horror genre to accentuate or emphasize evil in it's varying forms should not be misinterpretted as an insenstivity to those who suffered. Thanks again for taking the time to watch.

September 8th, 2004, 01:36 PM	#21
Peter John Ross Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hollywood, OHIO Posts: 149	More shooting on Sept 18th. There's a D-Day re-enactment and we'll be there with several film cameras to get some shots. Now there's an NBC news interview I did on the site... http://horrorsofwar.sonnyboo.com/nbc.htm

September 8th, 2004, 01:48 PM	#22
Michael Le New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 22	Very cool, Peter. Congratulations and I look forward to the finished feature.

September 8th, 2004, 04:24 PM	#24
Glen Chua Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: British Columbia Posts: 98	Where did you get the uniforms from, I am planning on a WWII movie and was wondering where I could get lots of cheap uniforms.

September 8th, 2004, 05:55 PM	#25
Peter John Ross Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hollywood, OHIO Posts: 149	WWII re-enactors. Authentic props & uniforms. The only way to go.

September 9th, 2004, 07:20 PM	#27
Robert J. Payne New Boot Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Fairfax, Virginia Posts: 14	LOL. Okay, I'm about to sound like an a-hole, which I seriously am not, but here it goes... I admire your production. Looks like a large scale film, and you put in a hell of a lot of effort into this, and I commend you for that. The look of it is fantastic. Good special effects, however... Is it just me, or does the first line of dialogue we hear sound like a cliche'd resident evil/mystery/thriller-type videogame? In fact, the characters seem totally unhuman. This movie seemed to play out like a Videogame that's trying to play out like a Movie. I don't like how some of the scenes were shot, just basically, it was very inconsistent. Also, you appear to be inspired by Speilberg, and that's great. There's nothing wrong with that, however... It doesn't work. You have nonhuman characters, and it's like a Videogame that's trying to be a movie, or a movie trying to be a videogame, or something of a combination, and it's laughable at times. I'd recommend that you don't mix in shaky shots with tripod/smooth, steady shots. If you want the audience to become immersed in the film, do a long, shaky take during an intense scene, (or battle scene), and follow a character as he struggles. Okay, I'm sorry, I had to let it out. I may know nothing about filmmaking, but I'm just a bit confused about what you're trying to do with this film, although, I have tremendous respect for you, what you're achieving, and what you have achieved. - Robert

September 10th, 2004, 05:59 AM	#28
Peter John Ross Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hollywood, OHIO Posts: 149	<<<-- Originally posted by Robert J. Payne : LOL. Okay, I'm about to sound like an a-hole, which I seriously am not, but here it goes... - Robert -->>> You do not sound like an a-hole. Thanks for watching!

September 10th, 2004, 11:01 PM	#29
Glen Chua Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: British Columbia Posts: 98	Where did you guys get the uniforms from?

September 11th, 2004, 07:40 AM	#30
Peter John Ross Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hollywood, OHIO Posts: 149	<<<-- Originally posted by Glen Chua : Where did you guys get the uniforms from? -->>> Authentic uniforms provided by WWII re-enactors.