Short made with XL1

[Joe Redifer]

Not too long ago there was a thread about examples of movies people have made with their XL1's. Well here is a complete short I did in Dallas Texas a few weeks ago. You can download various sized Quicktimes and MPEGs. But for the REAL treat you can download the FULL Quicktime DV version as well (about 750 megs)! In order to play the Quicktime DV version, you must have a non-linear editor hooked up to a firewire device which can then convert the Quicktime DV into video you will see on your television or monitor. Sorry, but this Quicktime DV is only available in NTSC.

Go to this site:

http://www.film-tech.com/trailers/filmtechtraining2.html

The full Quicktime DV link is on the very bottom of the page. Read carefully so you don't download a file you don't want! Also, the Quicktime DV version will look HORRIBLE played back via Quicktime on your computer. You MUST output it to video to see it as it is meant to be seen.

This was all shot on my XL1 and edited in Final Cut Pro 2. ALL of the dialog and sound effects are dubbed/foleyed since the original audio was crap.

[John Locke]

Joe,

What did you use to make your "Joe Redifer Productions" slug? And the electric shock effect?

After effects?

BTW - I'd love to get some hands-on experience with the equipment you show in the film. What a great set up!

[Justin Walter]

kind of entertaining... I made it to the end anyway more than I can say for many... on a scale of 1 - 10 I'd give it a 5.5... you need a better voice over, better jokes, better music, make it a bit shorter... more variety...

[John Locke]

Whoa. [cringe] Apparently the "Tact Police" have left the building.

I've never known an example where ripping someone to shreds creates anything productive. This kind of bluntness (without supporting suggestions) is the very reason why no one offers examples of their work. (Speaking of which, where's yours?)

Think positive...be honest but tactful...and make your goal to inspire people to create or continue creating. Whether you like what someone does or not, the fact that they're out there doing it is better than not. Right?

I recently had to critique a piece composed for a soundtrack. To be honest, it was inadequate in my opinion for several reasons. I presented every reason as tactfully as possible, gave suggestions about what I was looking for and why this piece didn't fit the bill, and what changes could be made for me to like it better. I also followed this with the disclaimer that my critique is just my opinion and that someone else will probably like it. The composer responded back with a very eloquent and sincere "thanks" for my feedback.

Sorry, DP...you really pushed a button. I don't think you'll be getting a thanks for that assault.

Joe, more power to you.

[Rob Lohman]

I tend to agree with you on this John. Lets hope he meant
it good but just put it down a bit harsh. Oh well... I've learned
to look at any critique from a distance, evaluating it first before
getting (emotionaly) involved. Learned this from my current job,
works good...

I have only seen a piece of the movie gonna watch it fully
later. Nice to see theater equipment!

Keep up the hard work!

[Joe Redifer]

The reason it probably wasn't funny to dr_pepper_78 was that he more than likely did not get the jokes, since they represent an industry which I doubt that he is the least bit familiar with. That's OK, though. I don't expect everyone to have film experience and this was a video for a niche industry. Of course I'd like to see footage from dr_pepper_78, as SURELY it puts my example to shame since he knows far more than I do :)

Anyway I used Ray Dream Studio for the opening graphic logo. Music was done in Vocalwriter and sound recording was done with a Sony MD recorder (forget the model #) and a Sony mic. For the zap effect I animated that frame by frame in Adobe Photoshop 6. I like doing things that way because I feel I have more control... plus it was a short sequence. Brad Miller (who has also posted on these forums) did the camera work and compositioning of the scenes as well as thought up just about all of the scenarios presented. He did some sound work as well as offering editing input.

[Justin Walter]

Well, I wasn't really going for touchy feely, and I wasn't trying to "inspire people to create or continue creating." and I wasn't looking for a thank you. I simply gave the reaction I would have given if I had made that piece.

Then again I had no intention of "ripping someone to shreds" and I didn't think my reply would be construed as an "assault". It was only a short 2 lines of things about the VIDEO I thought could be "better". This shouldn't hurt anyones feelings, and I'm sorry if it did. I don't really think that 2 lines in a board post can affect someones potential or belief in themselves significantly either positive or negative.

If this is true: "This kind of bluntness is the very reason why no one offers examples of their work." then I think we all need to get thicker skins. In the real world people are much crueler than I, and their assaults can be incessant and last far longer. I don't necessarily agree with this: "the fact that they're out there doing it is better than not. Right?" hehe... I'm sure we can all name lots of directors we wish would just stop making movies.

To answer your question "where's yours?" I have some stuff, but I know nothing about putting video on the internet, I'm not really interested in it at this point. I'm working on a DVD and I'll send you a free DVDr when I finish it if you like. I'll hopefully be done before Chrismas.

[Joe Redifer]

I'm not heartbroken or anything, I just like people to put their money where their mouth is. My biggest problem with your post (other than that you only focused on the negative) was this comment:

"I made it to the end anyway more than I can say for many"

This insinuates that you have indeed polled a great many people who have viewed this and most of them could not make it to the end.

I'll address the other comments anyway.

"you need a better voice over"

Do you mean better voice itself or more cleverly written dialog? This probably has something to do with being unable to grasp the jokes. Kind of like showing a video about baking cookies to construction workers.

"better jokes"

Again, if you worked in the industry or had experience in it I think your opinion would be different.

"better music"

Music is pretty subjective. I can't comment on this.

"make it a bit shorter"

3 minutes and 30 seconds is hardly "long". The only thing that dragged on was MEANT to drag on (WD40) for effect.

"more variety"

Like what? More examples of screwing up a projection booth? You missed my first "training seminar" then. Also, wouldn't that have made it longer? If you mean scenes outside of the booth for variety then that goes against everything the material is about.

I'd also like to stress that this was thought up, shot, edited and completed by only 2 people working about a week and a half at the most on a budget of $0. I'm hardly making excuses since I am very proud of our work. But I thought that I'd point it out anyway. :)

Anyway, the video is up not necessarily because I want everyone to laugh at the gags, but to see what others are doing with the XL1, etc. I felt that the camera work, editing and all that was very good. If they enjoy it and get a laugh then that is even better. Everyone who has ever spent more than a day inside a projection booth has immensely enjoyed it.

Anyway, no hard fellings at all. But I still would like comments from anybody on this forum who has watched this :)

[Justin Walter]

thats kind of funny, your biggest problem with my post was actually me trying to be positive. When I said: "I made it to the end anyway more than I can say for many" I meant: "I watched your whole video... many videos I watch I can't make it all the way through because they are so bad." meaning I've seen much worse.

When I said: "you need a better voice over" this was probably my most harsh crisicism because it was the quality of the voice I was objecting to, I don't know how to explain it, it just sounds amateurish.

When I said "better jokes" this goes hand in hand with the "more variety" comment. It just seems like the same joke over and over again to me- I know, I know that was the point...

"make it a bit shorter" If you insist on this form then you have to realize that 3 minutes and 30 seconds tends to drag. Once the audience starts predicting whats to come-

I appreciate the work you put into it, I know the satisfaction that comes from making something out of nothing.

[Chris Hurd]

From over here in the peanut gallery, when I read "made it to the end anyway more than I can say for many," I interpreted that statement as referring to many other little short films, which is how it was meant. And I must agree, as there are a *lot* of other little video things I haven't had the desire to see all the way through.

That's the problem with text-based messaging... sometimes due to a poor choice of words or phrasing you can get an entirely wrong intention. Or read into it that which isn't there. Some folks like to assume the worst when that wasn't what was meant.

I got a solution for all this... it'll be an audio-based message board. Real-time "chat" -- but not text chat -- real chat. Like a telephone party line. Of course we'll have to wait for the porn industry to forge ahead with this technology, like they do with everything else.

Meantime... let's all be cooooool. Thanks,

[Dan C.]

This thread looks like it belongs in the dv.com forums with all this arguing.
I must admit when I first read your post DP I took your "I made it to the end anyway more than I can say for many" comment as you watched the whole thing but many didnt.

However, I see how you really meant it. Maybe DP and Joe can make friends now DPs post doesnt look so offensive, im not used to such arguing in this caring community ;)

[Joe Redifer]

Hey I'm cool with everything. Like DP said, his comments won't exactly persuade me to stop what I am doing or make it better or worse in the long run. And I wasn't hurt, just wanted more info. And I'd love to see DP's DVD when he is done.

[Chris Hurd]

You'll never see this place degrade into the type of free-for-all bloodletting you see on the dv.com forums. I'll drop-kick the trolls and flamers right outta here before that happens. DP's comments were a little blunt but I don't think they qualify as an "assault," compared to some of the trash I've seen elsewhere.

Joe, I watched your clips tonight, and I've gotta tell ya, as a former projectionist, I got a big kick out of them. I ran projectors for several years in high school and early college and have a ton of horror stories, and funny ones too. I wish the internet was around back them as I could have really used your site as a resource. It's bookmarked now, out of nostalgia. Thanks for sharing these clips!

;-)

[Bradley Miller]

Hello, I'm that other guy who shot the video with Joe. I thought I'd jump in here to possibly explain some of the original intentions of the video in what will hopefully be better wording.

First and foremost, the jokes in there are really only going to be understood by someone who has worked in a projection room. Thus, the target audience is indeed VERY restricted. (I didn't even know Joe was going to mention the download on this site or I would've asked him to hold off for a week because the server is currently being stomped on with all of the people downloading it.) Anyway, Joe posted this for two reasons. First, to get reactions, opinions and tips for future projects from other DV users. Did you like the lighting, camera work, acting, aspect ratio, sound, dubbing, etc, etc, etc? By no means is "was it funny" going to be of much assistance due to the specific content involved. Second, he posted this short in the hopes of getting others to post some of their work. (This is something I am going to start offering on www.film-tech.com in the near future..."user video submissions".) I can tell you that the BEST thing any of us can do to better ourselves as "film" makers is to watch other people's productions and learn from them. So putting the actual jokes aside, what did everyone think? What did you like and what did you not like?

Regarding the voice over, that was actually the intent believe it or not. For any of you who have ever had to sit through some of those GODAWFUL cinema training tapes, you will understand that Joe's overdubbed narration is right on the money of impersonating those, with a little bit of "used car salesman/scam artist" thrown in for good measure. So putting that part aside (again, part of the humor of it all), how was the quality of the recording and how it was integrated into the final edit? (A little side note is that Joe looped the entire dialogue.)

"Better jokes". Ok I'll admit I came up with all but one of the scenarios so I am automatically biased, but I have heard from tons of people who work in projection rooms that they were physically hurting from laughing so hard at the short. I've even been in a few booths servicing their equipment when I mentioned the video and got to watch their reaction first hand after they downloaded it on the projection room's computer. Again, this is just a matter of "not getting it", because the jokes make no sense to a non-projectionist.

"Make it a bit shorter". Ok, good point. I am always wanting to chop a frame here and there to speed things up, but if only you were to see the original compiled footage edit. That thing went on forever! Joe and I passsed QuickTimes back and forth via an FTP server of mine until we both thought the edit was as good as it could possibly get with the footage we had. Then after that, we started passing wav files back and forth with foleying work. We were 800 miles away! (Pretty cool this internet thing, eh?) This was an intensely rushed job and I almost felt like Ed Wood during the shooting of it. Still, this is the kind of feedback that is useful and is much appreciated.

Keep 'em coming!

[Chris Hurd]

Hi Brad,

The *only* bit of constructive criticism I have is to maybe use a fill light... a small on-board camera light will do... to get a little more light on your talent's face. Otherwise I thought the whole thing was just fine.

As a former projectionist, I get all the jokes, and watching both clips brought back a flood of memories for me, about things I can safely laugh about now but wanted to cry about way back then. Your intended audience will definitely think it's funny. And it's not too long. It's just fine like it is.

I was a booth operator for several theaters back in the early '80's. Man, that seems like the dark ages now... computers in the booth? Internet access in the booth? Why, back in my day, young fellow, we ate carbon rods for breakfast! And liked it!

;-)

Thanks a bunch,