View Full Version : The Signal Teaser (shot XL-H1 + mini 35)


Nick Hiltgen
July 10th, 2006, 11:46 AM
This is the movie we shot in January, the movie is almost done with CC and ready for distribution, I've been sitting on the trailer for a couple of months but got the go ahead to show it off. This is compressed to a dv quality due to space limitations, I'll try and see if I can get my hands on an HD version.

http://homepage.mac.com/edgefox/iMovieTheater13.html

enjoy.

Ken Diewert
July 10th, 2006, 12:28 PM
Nick,

That's a wild trailer... Love the noir lighting and it has an authetic gritty feel.

I found the trailer a tad gory for my personal taste, but that's just me (I might have to skip lunch now).

Great work!

Eli R Cantu
July 10th, 2006, 02:07 PM
Top notch!!! Would like to know your involvment (camera, editor, etc etc.) An just tid bits about the production & if this will be screened anywhere. Would love to catch this.

Nick Hiltgen
July 10th, 2006, 03:06 PM
Yeah in looking at the teaser again, I think the gore may be slightly misleading as they're not really pushing that angle so much anymore.

I'm not sure what the distribution setup is, I think there is a DVD distribution more or less locked in, but are looking for theatrical and/or tv distribution. I participated mostly on the camera end of things, but set in on some color correction in leau of the D.P. It was an interesting project and I think that it's got some real potential. I think there is an official website but I'm not sure what it is, I'll try to find out the directors check that pretty regularly and they cna answer more questions then I can.

Kevin Wild
July 10th, 2006, 04:59 PM
Nick, do you work with Jacob G.? Tell him I said hi.

Trailer looks great.

Kevin

Nick Hiltgen
July 10th, 2006, 05:47 PM
Gentry? yeah totally, he was director number two on this project (there are three spots each with a different director) he also shot a lot of it. I'll tell him you said what's up.

Tony Davies-Patrick
July 13th, 2006, 01:39 AM
A trailer full of buckets of splattered blood and battering people's heads with fire extinguishers puts me off wanting see the entire movie...

I think it needs to be edited to cut out some of the almost overwhelming violent scenes, especially if the actual movie itself is trying to tell a particular story.

Nick Hiltgen
July 13th, 2006, 12:13 PM
Tony, Well said.

I've personally felt that implied violence is far scarier then actual violence.

I believe the trailer was cut this way simply because at the time that was the only footage they had brought in. I think maybe it's perhaps a little too long for a teaser and too gory for a trailer (at least to get to the real idea of what the movie is about) If they decide to cut a real trailer (they're almost finally locked with the movie) then I'll be sure to post that one.

That being said the movie does have it's fair share of blood and guts and smashing and shooting, so perhaps it isn't exactly the type of movie you'd be interested in. Also realize that in the states, for some reason we find the sight of a womens breast far more offensive then someone's head getting smashed in. So perhaps it's different appeals for different societies?

Davon Clarke
July 18th, 2006, 07:00 AM
Nick can you post some info on a couple of shots? I am about to shoot a short this weekend with the mini35 and am a little concerned about the stop loss with the adapter.

There is two shot at about 30s into the clip. Two guys, lot of top light coming down on them as if a skylight is overhead. What kind of stop were you working with here and what kind of lamps did you have to light that?

There is also a close up at about 55s of a girl with a strong kino looking fixture blowing out in the backgroud. Can you give me an idea on how you lit this and a stop for that shot?

As for the camera/adapter configuration, did you lock the camera's iris at any particular setting, and meter at any particular setting for ratios? Or were you lighting by monitor and adjusting things as you go.

Thanks much, footage looks great!

Mathieu Ghekiere
October 13th, 2006, 05:58 AM
The song made it great!
Very well edited trailer! Nice audio, too.

James Lundy
October 15th, 2006, 03:58 PM
Hot trailer - Have you got the web address yet?

I'd like to see more.

Ramon Boutviseth
November 10th, 2006, 01:26 AM
wow. nice work.

Andy Lunn
February 26th, 2007, 04:21 PM
nice trailer. How do you achieve that effect where the black guy is running towards the camera with what looks like a chandleer? its a very cool effect.

Nick Hiltgen
February 26th, 2007, 10:30 PM
Hey andy, that was done with a faster shutter speed 1/125, and a little bit of handheld camera shake.

Andy Lunn
February 27th, 2007, 03:33 AM
Hey andy, that was done with a faster shutter speed 1/125, and a little bit of handheld camera shake.

Thanks for the reply, i will have to try that looks very very cool. Any chance you could create a small movie with different effects, showing whats possible with this camera? and possibly telling us how to do it??

not much to ask eh lol.

Thanks again.

Nick Hiltgen
February 27th, 2007, 11:27 AM
Andy, heh, no small request. I'm on the last leg of working on a tour right now, but I'm looking at maybe trying to create a DVD and a short write up for the camera. I think it might be a fun thing to do in my "free" time.

Andy Lunn
February 27th, 2007, 12:08 PM
Andy, heh, no small request. I'm on the last leg of working on a tour right now, but I'm looking at maybe trying to create a DVD and a short write up for the camera. I think it might be a fun thing to do in my "free" time.

that would be brillinant and really help a lot of people, maybe you could charge a small fee for a copy hmm..

I look forward to it. :)

Tyson Perkins
August 25th, 2007, 07:04 PM
wowee guys

Is this the same film? looks damned similar


http://www.apple.com/trailers/magnolia/thesignal/trailer/

Mathieu Ghekiere
August 26th, 2007, 02:30 AM
Could be, if I'm not mistaken they were picked up for distribution.

Eric Brown
September 12th, 2007, 10:17 PM
This movie was shown at Sundance? and got picked up immediately. If I'm correct I believe an exec from someplace was watching it and literally left the movie early to get a jump on anyone else cutting a deal with these guys. I think that's the story but please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Nick Hiltgen
September 13th, 2007, 03:58 AM
That's the same movie. That particular trailer is the one released by Magnolia, the company that is (supposedly) distributing the film. The release date has been pushed again to January or late december which is ok.

The movie did get picked up at sundance, Magnolia did meet with the producers immediately after the first screening and shortly before AintItCoolNews published their review (calling it "possibly the best of Sundance") there was an offer on the table, and the movie was sold. I don't know how true it is about leaving the movie early. I know I found out that at least one other (larger) company passed before Magnolia bid on it.

Bryan Gilchrist
October 3rd, 2007, 04:43 PM
Reminds me of "Videodrome"...same premis, but Videodrome was a little more "out there".

Rafael Lopes
February 23rd, 2008, 02:43 AM
Here's the official site:
http://www.doyouhavethecrazy.com/
I'm curious about this film.