View Full Version : "The Patient" Our recent film festival entry


Richard Robertson
October 30th, 2009, 02:40 PM
This was an entry into our local IFC 357 film festival. You are allowed to make a video of any genre that is either 3, 5 or 7 minutes in length. This is the directors cut which is how it was originally intended to look. It is 9:40, obviously we had to cut it down to fit the 7 minutes mark for the festival so I am posting the original. We have done several short film before, as well as beginning work on our first feature film. Just curious to see what everyone thinks. I will give the results later.

YouTube - The Patient (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQV_KxQGrX0)

Sverrir Fridriksson
November 4th, 2009, 07:08 AM
I see that like me you mostly use shots where the camera is still, the few moving shots make the contrast between the still cam and moving one fairly stark, however I much prefer the moving camera shots, starting at 1:14 and 2:05, which is a very nice continuing shot although it ends in an amusing reflection of the camera in the front of the car :D which most people won't notice. there is also a nice moment late in the film where the camera moves very slowly across a room.

The actors may not be the most experienced but they have good moments, love the joke at 3:10 and the subtle one at 6:10.

There is a very obvious continuity error at 1:04 which you might want to do something about.

Otherwise music and atmosphere is excellent.

Richard Robertson
November 4th, 2009, 05:50 PM
Thank you for your input, I am not seeing the continuity error at 1:04 could you please help me there. We are getting ready to start our first comedy short, this should be interesting.

Chris McMahon
November 4th, 2009, 10:03 PM
I noticed it, as well. In the shot where the doctor is walking out of the building, a car is just passing out of frame; this car does not pass in front of either the creepy guy or the doctor in the next two shots.

Sverrir Fridriksson
November 5th, 2009, 07:06 AM
Actually I was wrong about the continuity error, however, the change of angles from 0.59, to a different view on 1:04 and then back to the first angle on 1:08 is so extreme that it looks like the doctor is standing at a completely different intersection in the 1:04 clip.

Richard Robertson
November 5th, 2009, 07:50 PM
Hey guys thanks for the input, I really appreciate an educated eye. Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees!! I now see the continuity mistake with the car that you are talking about. As far as the shots go, I was attempting to use the trash can and light pole as an visual frame of reference for where the Dr. is in relation to the creepy guy. But I appreciate knowing how a different eyes sees it though. I think sometimes we are shooting something as we want to see it and just forget that our audience doesn't usually understand what we are wanting them to understand.