Quick comment before watching. Too long. If you want to have any chance festival play you should try to do shorts between 2-10 minutes, max. I suffer from ADD already, so trying to keep up with ANY movie is tough. Short films are worse cause they should be "short." I.e. get to the point quickly, more like an exercise in your potential. That is really why people make shorts. To gain notoriety and possible finance for a feature, since there is no market for shorts, other than the net and festivals, and no money to be made.

Once you get into 15/20/25 minutes you are getting close to feature films, and if you don't have the proper ingredients then you will lose the viewer.

I'm being tough because you are facing probably one of the toughest businesses out there. Try to get everything you want in the movie in less than 10 minutes. I am 100% that it can be done.

22 minutes? I watched the whole thing. It could have been 8.

Thoughts as I'm watching:
You might want to get people other than friends to play adults. There are lots of them around.

Why was everyone about to laugh in each scene?

Why is this so long?

Does that guy only loan his phone to foreigners?

Why does the German pronounce "w"'s like "w"'s and not "v"'s?

Why did he climb the gate at the airport? He had a ticket.

I don't get understand a lot.

Did he just jump?

He's swimming ... with giant fish ... wow.

The end.

What did I just watch? You owe me 22 minutes of my life back.

I thought I would lend my 2 cents. Is it too long? Yes. I actually saw scenes that show the camera wobbling as if it was being paused. You should definitely cut scenes like that down. The character was off screen and the scene could have easily been made shorter.

The entire thing could have been cut down drastically.

With that said, I still enjoyed quite a bit of it and really enjoyed your sense of humour. You also have a good eye behind the camera.

Keep it up! Just learn from your previous work and keep moving forward.

I would even suggest trying to edit this down to 10 minutes and posting it again.

Mike

Well, it looks like I'm cutting it down! I was afraid that it might be too long to keep the viewer's attention. Though I am also sad to have to cut it from how I like it. I feel that chopping it will rush the short film, but coming from three viewers who all agree it's too long, it's too long.

I'll cut it down as much as possible, now that you guys gave me a shot of reality, I am thinking of scenes that may not be needed or shots the can be cut significantly.

This would be a good idea, except finding an adult to play the roles in my films would be quite difficult at the time. I am in Highschool still myself and hiring adults to play parts is not something I can do at the moment. I could use my parents and neighbours... but that would just be really lame.

That's a good point, I think I will cut the scene where the French guy gives him the ticket and instead have the German guy just exit the car right away.

Well it is a comedy. Maybe it's not you're type of humour. I'm going more for ridiculous/peculiar type film, like something similar of Monty Python. Also, the fish are not huge, it's just because they are closer to the camera. I blurred the fish a bit too to make it look like it has depth of field. Maybe it still doesn't look right?

Thanks everyone for the opinions and honesty. I really appreciate it that you took time to watch this (or parts of it) to give me feedback on how to improve it.

Justin

I think we were all conservative about the time. Try to make it 5 minutes or less. Sometimes you gotta kill your babies, and this is one case of the same. ask yourself what is the point of the movie and then just start showing the se scenes that support that. Most people can't get past the first minute or two in any short film. I had a film that was 17 pages of script and ended up being less than 5 minutes. It can be done, and it will be better.

:-)

Next time, next time.

Tim's Beach - Z1 Footage
 

So, I was testing the Sony Z1 yesterday evening at the beach, shot some random stuff got home and edited...it's sorta medium quality as high was like 192mb.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/2412/timct7.jpg

Filmed in DV.

Anyway this is what came out:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/gucgr0

http://www.waroftheservers.com/TimsB...rtStoneman.wmv <-- right click, save as.



Oh yeah and i did this too:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1...ogoncamyh2.jpg

VIDEO:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/guraay

Joe Henry music video
 

Here's a music video i shot for Joe Henry, "Time Is A Lion" is the track, off his upcoming "Civilians" record.

shot with
1 SDX900 and
1 DVX100A w/letus 35

interesting to see the 2 formats intercut...

http://www.anti.com/download.php?id=558

Aye bit random but like it :)

WRC Wales 2006
 

Hello,

Please be nice as I haven't done much in the way of film school but I would like your comments on a video is did in Nov/Dec 2006.

Uploaded to Youtube.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=C2nQHz8TRDM&v2


Many Thanks

David

Hello from North England...heres my very first Showreel...
 

Hope you all enjoy it :)


http://www.myspace.com/thereelpunk

ma voie
 

New DVX Music Video!!
 

I wish i had the Letus or Redrock but well i dont!! hhaha let me know your thoughts! Its a pain uploading videos to Myspace and Youtube.. you lose so much quality! anyone have any tips on that? Seems to throw the sync off a bit too...

I appreciate your comments!

http://www.madguyproductions.com/uploads/clips/shesays.html

Hi Robert,

Very nice for "some random stuff" ;)

Some of the footage was a bit shaky. A tripod can solve that problem.
It could of course be intentional but somehow I feel it just does not fit the footage presented.

Get a tripod.... If you watch your footage you'll realise that, however good you are you'll never film scenic shots handheld....

While you have put a lot of thought into the editing and the quality of your camera is great, I've got the same one... you need to work on getting scenics steady... action NO probs.. just follow and keep well framed.. but scenics.. you need to be 100% steady. Handheld is impossible..

MHO...

Gareth

boss video that mate....well done, won't see much better quality footage from the dvx1oob, heres mine...different genre..

http://www.myspace.com/thereelpunk

all shot with dvx100b..not bad but it's a start, anyway i replied to share this...

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...ssor_gary.html


thats a great step-by-step to get the most out of uploading that vid to myspace/youtube...best of luck and well done again :)

Music video showcase
 

Hi all,

Coming up to a year ago I put together a showcase forum specifically for independent and low budget music videos. There are now something like 60 videos at the site, from about 50 directors from all over the world.

Sadly, the site was badly swamped with spam (well, I suppose if you want viagra, ringtones or porn you'd probably be happy) but I have now cleaned all that junk out and implemented tighter security precautions to stop the spambots (I hope!).

I'm now trying to rekindle the site with some new material.

If you have made a music video and you'd like to share it with an audience of other music video directors - or if you'd like to look at (and maybe learn from) a collection of widely different style music videos - please visit www.ndividz.com

It's absolutely free, I'm not interested in selling or using your email addresses for anything, I just like looking at indie music videos.

Hope to see you there.

Ian . . .

Short XDcam-HD Test
 

Did this Sunday while testing out a couple of camera systems to shoot a short series on. This is from a F350.

Right-click please.

WMV (better quality)

QT

Here is a blog, as well: http://lanternsmovie.blogspot.com/

HVX & Brevis Feature "Bronx Bottom Feeder" rough scene.
 

Finally got a quick rough cut scene from the feature "Bronx Bottom Feeder" we worked on this summer.
This is the first draft but comments most welcome. The mirror shots throw off the eye direction which is weird. Have to figure out how to fix that.

http://www.puffinfilms.com/BottomFee...hcut_scene.mov

It looked fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dude what camera did you use?? It looked very well done to me lighting, acting, and audio. I notice the rack focusing, so I guess you used on of the adapters....

It looked very very good.....I'd like to see more!!

Hi Tunde,

Thanks. :) More to come soon. I was lighting designer on this one. Shot by Johnny Tsang of edgewater pictures and directed by William Lappe.
It was shot on the HVX in SD mode with the Brevis35 adapter.

Demo needs critiquing...
 

I'm wrapping up a music video and trying to update my reel. I need some advice on the new now updated demo. I'm primarily (like so many others others) interested in directing, but I am a professional editor, and shot all but one of the projects myself. I am also mostly interested in work on music videos at this time (realistically), but also write and shoot short films.

http://mlfilm.com/video/demo.mov

Have at it...

i assume you want us to view this as a DIRECTORS reel ?

i really couldn't tell anything about Directing from the reel ...i think it's a good intro - now i would like to see longer sections from the music video's ...

Digital Storytelling Film
 

Hi Everyone!

I've been a lurker on this site for awhile now and love reading the threads.

I have a new film project that I have been working on for the last 3 years for teaching kids and adults - but mostly students - how to come up with a great film idea fast. I taught this on the graduate level to 3D animators and became focused on creating a process for teaching visual storytelling. You need to think about your story from a production standpoint if you are going to be making the film yourself.

Can great storytelling skills be taught? What is missing in most indie films these days? I think the stories are lacking in many. Is it more important to have the best camera for your film or the best idea? I am story nut so you know where I stand.

Anyhow, I would love to get feedback on the online 94 minute step-by-step process. You can take any film or story idea you are working on through the steps. There is a free workbook you can download too at www.myflik.com. It is part of a longer workshop that takes you through writing a feature script with a focus on microbudget digital filmmaking using DV, 2D and 3D. Reading screenwriting books is very different than coming up with an great story idea and making a film.

Let me know what you think. Happy filmmaking!

My Short Films
 

I've had these on the internet since they were finished, the first one since 2005 and the second since 2006. I love to make films and would love to get decent actors to work with.

This was my very first effort of making a short film, zero budget, bit of a wierd one this is, I know of some faults with it, but this was a massive learning curve for me.

http://dutchfilms.russthedutch.net/movies/aqotlrg.wmv

The second film I did was longer and more story based, even with a bit of proper dialog although the mic wasn't great and I've since brought a new one.

This one I think has a much better feel to it, again but of a wierd one and I learned alot in After Effects to get it how I envisioned.

http://dutchfilms.russthedutch.net/m...tch_wmv320.wmv

I'd like some feedback on them to read what people think. I am very proud of them.

Thanks for watching, I'd love to hear from you all because you people will help me improve.

Thanks

Hello, Sherri.
You might want to think about posting this over at DVXuser.com as well as they have a scriptwriting specific forum over there.

Hello, Sherri. I have your book and think it is great for kids wanting to make films. The presentation is very enticing.

Sherri,

I visited your site, and will be buying your book. I like your concept.

One Wicked Ride!
 

I know most here like cinema and short films but thought someone might want to see what the adrelain junkies we are like to watch! There was a typo in the video though it should say length 8.1 miles. I hate typos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz7P3FILghY

This here is just a raw footage waiting for the editing to be done!!
HOOOOOOOLD OOOOOOON!!

just curious what this was shot with? Presume a CMOS HDV camcorder?

It was shot with an APTEK digital camera, The lipstick portion of the camera didn't show up in the mail so we strapped the camera to the rollbar! Most cameras only last two seasons way to much vibration. That is why the screen shakes so bad due to the rough water and high engine vibration.

That makes my hands sweat just watching it.

Haunted Overload
 

Here are three videos that I created for a haunted attraction in NH. The video work was performed with a Canon XL2. I combined the video with photos.

I'd like to know what people think?

There are three parts:

http://hauntedoverload.blip.tv/file/130721/

http://hauntedoverload.blip.tv/file/130402/

http://hauntedoverload.blip.tv/file/305715/

Tim,

Nice job... Well shot and edited. Nice blend of interview footage/crowd shots etc. Cool subject to shoot. Pretty extreme amount of credits at the end, but you had the interviewer going still so it didn't matter.

Looks like it will be wild with the new venue this year.

Thank you Ken. I appreciate it!

Custom Truck Show Coverage
 

Yo,
I just finished shooting a truck show for my employer. I was there all day covering the event and ended up with about 3.5 hours of footage. I'm just using a cheap Canon ZR85.

So I just went through and logged all of the footage. Now to start telling a story and putting it all together. I'll be using Adobe Premier Elements for editing.

Below is the vid I did last year. It ended up right around 22 minutes and I was more than happy with the results. I used the same Canon ZR85 and iMovie (the creative dept. here had a spare Mac that I used.)

We never did any video work before I did this truck show video, and the whole company (myself included) considered the video a "success."

This year they bought me my own PC and got me Premier, so they are spending at least a little bit of money on me. Plus I've started doing product information vids to put on our website. Hopefully I can get an XL2 worked into next year's budget...:)

Anyways, I'll post the new one when I'm done putting it together.

Here's last year's video. It's 22 minutes long and YouTube only allows 10 minutes, so it's broken into three parts: And my product info vids are on the same YouTube channel, so check those out too (if you're trying to go to sleep...:))

Part 1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqcyAJKaKPY

Part 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIqRagUk98k

Part 3:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fg-Llagv2I

I really appreciate any feedback. I haven't messed with any video work since High School and that was 10 years ago, and we used 3/4" tape, and it wasn't digital, and so on...Thanks!!

At first I thought when they were coming up on plane at the start of the race that it was at full throttle. I guess the engine is so powerful that it wold probably just cavitate if you just slammed on the throttle. That is one angry sounding beast!

I don't think the CMOS shutter really had a negative impact on the video. It wobbled a bit but things like that are understandable given the conditions. I agree that another camera angle with a bit of side view would give a nice indication of speed. Maybe a second cam at 3/4 view aft would work since it would get a shot of some wake and the riverbank at the same time?

"Which Doctor" Music Video by Mark Bragg
 

Hey everyone. The past week I was grouped up with a local musician to produce a music video in 3-4 days, and tonight it was screened at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax. The event was organized by the Atlantic Film Festival and Norwood Cheek.

The musician is Mark Bragg, his band was unable to make the shoot but I think the video itself turned out very well.

Please let me know what you think!
http://tomchukfilms.com/blaps/Mark_B...in_Tomchuk.wmv

Thanks,
Justin

The view through a hard mounted lipstick camera(Helmet camera) from Sony the camera is very impressive. There is no shaking at all. Mounting has everything to do with asourbing all of the shock. The best thing to use is a towel believe it or not. I would like to use 3 cameras next time 1 looking at a profile view of the driver, 1 looking straight ahead,1 facing the rear of the boat off center.

35mm short, about 18 year old anorexia sufferer
 

This is being broadcast on Wednesday this week on Channel 5.

I shot it in Wales yesterday, edited it today.

Using the JVC hd201e, Brevis 35 (old version, as my new one refuses to charge for some reason) CF1L and 3 lenses. Zeiss 50mm, 85mm and Sigma 20mm.

All vignettes are done in post as is colour correction.

All shot with available light!

http://web.mac.com/philip.bloom/Phil..._Shorts_2.html

thanks,

Phil