It is good, Dave. Just as well done as the film itself! Great job, guys!!!

Jay

Just arrived...
 

I got my copy yesterday. I really liked it, didn't get a chance to look at the special features just yet. My buddy walked in on me watching it and was like "hey what's this...looks pretty good". He was floored when I told him they used a DVX. Very inspirnig to do some stuff

Just watched it...

I thought the 'film look' you achieve is really impressive. I felt sometimes I forgot I was watching a low-budget indie film. The DVD was more than worth purchasing, loved the dozens of extras you included. Some of the tips will be kind of redundant to people that navigate in this forums, but it's good you had the initiative to talk about it. Very cool you didn't keep little secrets about your techniques. Your production values were great: excellent use of make up, set, costumes, etc. really well done. Special effects were so well done you have to check the extas to understand what they are! Cool!

On the down side I felt the story was kind of short. I would have liked to see it more developed with more meaning to what the characters were doing there, etc. The acting could have been better. The main two actors somtimes put me off the film and back into the 'real world'. Sometimes I still wonder if actors have much respect for this kind of production, which is a shame.

But overall I'm more than happy with the $20 spent. Awesome work, and hopefully you'll be doing a feature length indie soon, I think you have the know-how and talent to achieve it.

Hey Alex, I just saw your post. Welcome to our board. You came and spoke at the Palm Beach Film School, where I am lead instructor. I didn't get a chance to meet you, but I look forward to it when you return.

Heath McKnight

Hey Guys,

We just got back from the Toronto Film Festival and we met Roger Ebert. He did a review of BROKEN on his site (we are still trying to revive Jorge ; )

--------------

A festival like Toronto attracts hopeful filmmakers eager to pitch projects and find financing. Here, for example, are Alex Ferrari and Jorge Rodriguez, the director and producer of “Broken,” a 19-minute, $8,000 horror film containing, by their count, more than 100 visual effects.

“We’re here to talk about a development deal for a feature based on the short,” Rodriguez tells me, before the screening of “Twelve and Holding.” “Who you talking to?” I ask. “We’d better not say,” Ferrari says.

He gives me a DVD of their short: “We’ve already sold 1,000 copies online. It contains six commentary tracks and like three hours of information on how to shoot low-budget digital films and how to do the special effects. It’s like a training course.” They refer me to their web site, www.whatisbroken.com, and back at the hotel I view the film and visit the site.

The film is effective and professional and the ominous sound track works with the images to create the desired effect. Whether the plot quite rises above the level of “it was only a dream” I am not prepared to say. Whether the short will someday grow into a good film we will know only if the development deal goes through.

But that’s not really the point. The point is that gifted and ambitious young filmmakers can, with very little money, use the new digital technology to make a presentation that gets attention from industry pros. Kerry Conran’s “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” (2004) was floated the same way, with a home-made demo made on his Mac. Whether this is better than the old-fashioned method of submitting a screenplay is a good question; “Broken” is essentially a demonstration of the mastery of horror imagery and techniques. A screenplay has to also have dimensional characters (one, two or three dimensions, depending on its ambition) and a story. In an industry so impenetrable for newcomers, any way you break in is the right way. Then it depends on what you do. Looking forward to “Broken: The Feature.”

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...509150301/1023
------------------

We are truly amazed! We were sooooooo excited that we had to share the news. Thanks again for all the support from everyone!! Good Luck with all your projects.

Alex

Congrats, Alex! I met some of your F/X guys the other day at HD Fest South Florida. Sounds awesome! Hope to meet you the next time you're at the Palm Beach Film School!

heath

Happy Holidays everyone. Thank you for all the amazing support you have given our little short this past year.

As thanks, we are having a BROKEN: Special Edition DVD HOLIDAY SALE. For the rest of 2005, the DVD we be on sale for $14.99 (Retail Price $19.99) After Dec 31, 2005 the price will be back to the retail price $19.99. This is a limited time offer!

It makes a great gift for that indie filmmaker or movie buff in your life! ; ) Click below!
Good luck on ALL your future projects and thanks again for all the support!

Have a GREAT HOLIDAY!!!
__________________
Alex
http://www.whatisbroken.com
http://www.enigmafactory.com
http://www.alexferrari.com

Hmm, I might have to look into getting this.

btw am I the only to notice the music and sfx at the beginning of the trailer was the same from the Matrix theatrical trailer? Including Trinity's footsteps.

I actually saw a little snippet of Broken last night on G4-TechTV's filter (Goriest Games). Looks phenomenal. Congrats to you and your team.

Kevin

What festivals where you successful in getting screened at?

Thank Kevin!!!

Hey Alex,

What's your next South Florida film?

heath

God willing BROKEN the feature ; )

Cool, let me know when you're shooting it. I'm producing a short horror right now, and today's day 3. It's looking good. I'll be blogging about it here--shot on the Z1 with a great crew and cast.

heath

If you need post, poster design or DVD drop me a line. Good luck!

Will do, thanks. And I hope you can come and talk again at the Palm Beach Film School in the New Year.

heath

Hi ALex,

I've just ordered a "Broken" DVD on your Website.
I live in Paris, France.
Do you know how many days it takes to receive the DVD ?

Thanks

Thanks for the order. From our experience it should take 10-14 days depending on your customs. We'll ship it out this week.

Enjoy!!

Alex

Thanks for the quick answer Alex ;)

Don't you mind if I talk about your work on my blog and use some pics from your website ?

http://www.faireounepasfairedecinema.com/
(it's in french, sorry guys :D)

ABSOLUTLY!!! We are media whores ; ) Just please send me a link when it is up.

All the best,
Alex

Just wanted to thank everyone for the support this holiday season. We sold a few more DVDs than excepted. We'll see you at Sundance.

Happy New Year!
The BROKEN Team

Congrats! What's up with Sundance?

heath

We'll be there promoting the BROKEN DVD, speaking to our producers about the feature and also promoting my new vfx company aimed at indie films, Numb Robot (http://www.numbrobot.com)

Alex

Cool. Say hi to my friends Douglas Spotted Eagle and Mannie Frances from VASST who will be showcasing some stuff.

heath

Hi Alex,
The trailer and website look awsome!
I just bought the DVD through your website.
Hope to see it soon in Belgium.

Just picked up the DVD too - really enjoy the webdocs so 3 hours of extras should be very cool!

BROKEN GUYS OPEN VFX House for INDIE FILMS
 

Hey guys,

After all the amazing support and attention BROKEN has recieved, we decided to open a visual effects house that would target the independent film community. We found that visual effect is one of the most over looked elements in an indie film and we want to fill the gap. The company is called "Numb Robot!"

Check it out: http://www.numbrobot.com/

We believe that just becasue you have a small budget your project should still look like a million bucks! Our focus will be to bring a high end visual effects to indie features on a budget. We also would do shorts if the project is worthwhile. Let us know what you think of the site and we are currently accepting bids for projects.

Thanks again for all the support and we hope to make you project the best one it can be.
__________________
Keep your eye on the prize
Alex
http://www.whatisbroken.com
http://www.numbrobot.com
http://www.enigmafactory.com

How much do you charge or how do you set your prices.
Music Videos: ?
Films: ?
Commercials: ?

Hey, I bought 2 of your DVDs man, so I need a discount! hehe!

Depends on the project.

Let us know what you think. ; )

Keep your eye on the prize :thumbsup:
Alex
http://www.whatisbroken.com
http://www.numbrobot.com
http://www.enigmafactory.com

Have you shot the feature yet, Alex?

heath

Working on BROKEN the feature at the moment. ; )

Are you shooting or in pre-production? What are/will you shoot on? Where (I'm guessing So. Florida) are you shooting?

heath

Pre-production. HD or 16mm to DI to 35mm. SOFLO.

Don't go to film--most fests want and prefer HDCam. Even if you shoot 16mm, go for the "blow-up" to HDCam.

When are you shooting?

heath

the 35mm is for theatrical release and only will do the blow up after we get US distribution. We hope to shot early summer.

Cool, Alex. I knew some people who had a $50,000 budget, $30,000 of which was going to 35mm with no distribution. I finally convinced them to stop shooting on weekends and drop all the budget into the shoot. Movie looks awesome and it's going to fests on HDCam.

heath

Hey Alex,

Recieved the DVD over the weekend. I had a chance to watch it last night. I really dug the effects, look and style a ton! Beautifully done! I had a little trouble trying to follow the story through, it reads as if there is a whole lot more there waiting to be poured out in the feature. Am I right? I thought the acting was really nicely done as well - especially from the lead bad dude (forget his name). Definately a worthwhile pickup - the extras rock! Thanks for all the time you put into the extras - good to share the know-how. The only thing I would have loved to see more of wit the extras was some more info on the lighting - maybe it can be a bonus download from the site - heh.

Best of luck on the feature, cant wait to see it!

How long does it take normally to receive the DVD?
I'm waiting for a month now... can't wait to see.

It is up to your customs department. Let me know what happens in a few weeks. Thanks for your patience.
Alex