"below" short film made in 72 Hours shot on DVX100 - Magic Bullet
 

We just posted our short film "below" that was entered into the 72 Hour Film Maker Contest 2005. We had 72 hours to write direct edit a film. This was one of our entires. It was filmed on Panasonic DVX100 edited on Final Cut Pro and color corrected in Magic Bullet.

http://www.foolmartyr.com/below.htm
http://www.foolmartyr.com

Looking forward to the input!

Thanks much!
Clark

I really liked the ending, although I thought it was a bit long. I loved the elevator shot. Overall, great job.

Yeah i didnt really notice a pacing difference until the end and then you totally ramped the pacing....maybe a more subtle increase would have built the tension even more...but damn i like this one a lot. 72 hours you cant beat that good job.

I love a good dance number. I've always wanted one with hundreds of Abraham Lincolns.

I liked it a lot the movie to me flowed smoothly and the ending was a really good twist dude. very good stuff - got any more?

Thanks everyone!
We have a couple more shorts going up soon...stuff we did in previous years contests. We also have a scene from our feature film "heads or tails" up now http://www.foolmartyr.com/20secondsb.htm and the trailers are at http://www.foolmartyr.com

This was filmed on the Panasonic, edited in Final Cut and color corrected with Magic Bullet as well.

Nice job. I liked all the shots of the various posts. Gives me the impression that she could be anywhere, or he could have done this any number of other times. Pretty cool.

I am surprised no one brought up the "David Lean" reveal. My only critique is I would have established that he was definitely a "bad guy" before because your reveal was fantastic (when the elevator door opens up) but it would have been a much more powerful moment if we were already aware of the possibility of danger. I understand why you didn't do it because that allowed the wide elevator shot to surprise you... perhaps that was my issue was that there were two suspenseful setups and only one payoff.

Overall... for 72 hours... developing a story with that kind of twist, with artistic flare... very impressive and...

I would like to know, out of curiosity, if the dance number is a symbol of how he sees his next "conquest" and that the other women, specifically in black, appear from nowhere dancing behind her as though being his former victims.

Was the elevator shot completely organic or was any compositing done?

Highest Regards,

Daniel Riser

Thanks for all the input. I can see what you mean about the "bad" guy aspect. We were a little constrained with the 7 minute length as the first cut was about 10. We had a few more hints as to his character but they had to go... for time.

It's hard to see on the small screen but The dancers are labelled "victims" in the opening credits. And the elevator shot was organic...it's a local parking garage elevator.

Ok. So I interpreted the dancers correctly. I was worried folks here would think I was a nut.

I really liked it and I just have to say again... I LOVED the David Lean reveal.

and let this be an encouragement to you, as a storyteller, that I didn't need to see the title "victims" to know that women were victims and he was on to his next conquest... that's something that is difficult to pull off.

High Regards,

Daniel Riser

thanks very much.

it feels good to put together something short after filming a feature for over a year and editing it for over a year after that. that long haul really can drain you dry.

"I love a good dance number. I've always wanted one with hundreds of Abraham Lincolns."

How about just four score?

I like the elevator scene, but it seemed in the last few frames that she was fighting him off. I was thrown for a second. In the end, I was thinkin that pipe would make a great didgeridoo. Just think, a whole city filled with the sounds of tortured souls playing the didgeridoo. Perhaps that is just my own psyche adding that bit...

lol...the guy that scored our feature film was all about the digeridoo, maybe i should get him to try something for it hehe.

Well, I'll be blunt.

I really didn't like the photography - it all looked so washed out and overexposed it gives the idea it was shot with a 1-ccd cheapo camera.

The camera work is quite poor - bad framing, shaky camera handling, bad flow overall.

However the idea was great and I loved the ending. Shame we aren't brought 'closer' to the characters.

In other words, technically it leaves a lot to be desired but creatively I found it very nice.

thanks for the input...being blunt is fine...we are always looking for constructive criticism. i'll pass it on.

the image was obviously intentionally degraded during color correction to achieve the overexposed look. unfortunately the mp4 codec drained even more color out of it.

Yea... I thought it was a little too washed out, but great movie. I loved the story! Do you have any higher quality version of this in WMV format or MPEG?

Awesome!!! I watched it three times!

I kinda dig the overexposed, washed out look....really supports the story, I think. I didn't pick up on the dancers until the second time I watched it....of course they're victims.....

BUT....my one question.....what is that electronic song near the middle? That is a great little piece of music....care to share where it comes from?

thanks again!

I am trying to get a larger version online...at least an ipod version and maybe a WMV...

the electronic song? for the dance number? that was a piece from Danny the Dog that I remixed a little.

nice job
 

I think it's being a little crass to nit pick the technical aspect of it without really asking the artist first why certain things were done. Art is very subjective - and almost anything goes. I like artists who color outside the pretty outlines....our society (educational system) has brainwashed us that everything has to be squeaky clean - no camera shake, no grain, perfect exposure - that is people "following the leader" and you'll never get anywhere in the film world by doing so....So, with this in mind, you did a great job if it reflects your intent of the film - Don't be like everybody else - everybody else sucks and that is why producers are looking for people who have a different approach - hence by looking at the upcoming directors who have a FRESH vision. Excellent job.

I disagree with not voicing criticism until you have 'asked the artist'. The reason? Simple. When you create something artistic (movie, painting, book, whatever) it has to stand on it's own. The artist can't be there to guide the audience on the choices he made. His work must do that.

This is one of the primary reasons that I ask people to review any of my work. I need to know that they are getting what I want them to get FROM MY WORK.

Anyways, just my 2 cents.

I agree with you completely, Travis. Artists, whether they be painters, videographers, or photographers all want constructive criticism. I thought it was too washed out. I loved the movie, but me personally thought it should be a little more saturated. No matter what art form it is, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Thanks for all the feedback. This is an interesting discussion Travis and Dean started. I am all for constructive criticism. Being a writer first, I love to get stuff back with red all over it. Doesn't mean I'll listen to it all, but it's good to see reactions (good and bad).

I agree with Travis that a project should stand on its own and all the choices a filmmaker makes should make sense to the project, but also agree with Dean that something doesnt necessarily need to fit into a box that makes it easy for the viewer to enjoy it first time through. If something feels out of place or doesn't quite work for the viewer first time, it isn't necessarily a fault of the filmmaker or the film. Many favorite films of mine I have ultimately resisted and even rejected the first time I saw them...because I didn't quite "get" why they made certain choices...

That being said I still listen to any criticism someone might have. Many times when people are complaining about one thing, it means there is a weakness SOMEWHERE...but not always necessarily the thing they are complaining about.

When we screened our feature film we got a lot of feedback, some great, some negative. The positive was very similar but the negative was all over the place as to why they didn't like it- but reading between the lines we could see exactly what the issue was for those viewers...and used it to improve the cut.

Be sure to post an updated clip, I'm looking forward to it

No explanation needed
 

Hi Clarke

Really interesting film, kept my attention right through.

As for explanations, I spent three years at Art College on a DipAD course. The one thing that REALLY annoyed me was that some artists seemed to get more attention paid to their work because they knew how to 'explain' it.

For me, if you have to explain your work, you have failed. But that's just my opinion.

John Lennon said it best when he stated that he wrote for himself and his immediate family, if anyone else related to it or enjoyed it...great!

I think it's called artistic integrity and your work has it. Shaky camera, washed out film and all!!! (All of which I liked BTW)

Keep up the good work


Tony

Thanks Tony.

I know exactly what you mean about explaining your work... I don't like to do it. People that have read my novel ask questions, but I would rather just hear their theories than to paint it out. Ultimately things don't necessarily need to be explained but people at least to me, need to feel entertained, more learned, or touched in some way for having watched/read it.

Some of the best movies out there CAN'T be fully explained (and shouldn't) The holes are what make them endearing and talked about for years because it allows an interaction with the viewer to fill in the blanks with things that are truer to them.

The feature film we screened last year. 'heads or tails", asked a hell of a lot out of the audience, and many didn't "get" it. Our number one discussion through the making and after the screening was dancing that fine line and if we went too far the one way- was that was a fault of ours or the movie. Do you go after a larger audience or try to seek out the smaller that may really connect with it. And if you go after the smaller, is it a failure to all those that need it explained to them...

Our number one discussion through the making and after the screening was dancing that fine line and if we went too far the one way- was that was a fault of ours or the movie. Do you go after a larger audience or try to seek out the smaller that may really connect with it. And if you go after the smaller, is it a failure to all those that need it explained to them


Hi Clark

I guess it depends on motivation. Why does one want a large audience? If it is to make money (and we all have to!) or to spread whatever ideas, thoughts or ideals we have, then you have to make it understandable or enjoyable to a wider audience. If you just want to make film that you can sit down and enjoy and feel completely proud of then forget the audience and make it for yourself. You never know they might like that too!

I firmly believe that you can create with integrity and still appeal to a wide enough audience to make a living.

One of my favourite musical artists is Leonard Cohen. I can listen to his music all day, but do I understand all his lyrics? No way, he is far too personal a writer, but I DO get the overall feel of his lyrics, lost love, jealousy, rage, apathy. Why do I need to understand every singlw word? In fact I think I get more enjoyment out of not understanding everything, it adds to the general mystique and mood.

I do not make feature films (just a lowly event videographer) but I did spend eleven years in movie theatre management and if I learned nothing else in that time I did learn that the general movie going public have more sense and sensibility than we give them credit for. No film I ever showed in that eleven years was successful through hype. Yes a big advertising campaign can attract people's attention but if the film stinks, it will bomb! But if the word of mouth is good then it will build and have sustained success.

I think what I am trying to say is, BACK YOURSELF! If you have what it takes then you will be successful if not you will fail. But if you fail by not being true to yourself then won't you always wonder if you could have done it your own way and succeeded?

Tony

If the lady below had watched Kill Bill, she would have found her way out.
My favourite scene: the man gently touches the woman`s hand as they
walk on the sidewalk.

enjoyed your short.. thats the music from 28 days later isnt it? i recognize it from the scene at the first when he leaves the hospital. awesome job

Tony: I totally agree with you that audiences are underestimated. Look at the current state of television. The number 1 rated shows have storylines that last an entire season or longer...something that was avoided like the plague only a couple years ago because audiences were thought of as being "fickle" with "short attention spans". Now television is bringing us the best stories out there.

"heads or tails" definately doesn't pander to the audience, even in the newer cut...the changes we made were mainly to help get a larger audience on board early enough before they would "check out". i don't think it changes the enjoyment of putting the puzzle together but our first cut demanded quite a bit of their attention, and many people not knowing that going in, missed chunks of details so that by the end they were a bit lost and as such gave up. i agree though, ultimately if it is what the filmmaker wants (and the filmmaker is any good), then it's a success unto itself...no matter how many can enjoy it. Our next feature doesn't pander either but is more about raw emotion than putting pieces of a puzzle together.

Andrew: I'm not sure about 28 Days Later. There is a Godspeed You Black Emporer track during the underground sequence that might be...