*FILM* Undertow (available as download for 1 week)

[Ria]

Hi there,

As promised, here is a link to download and view my graduation film 'Undertow'.

*The film is no longer online, thanks again to everyone who watched it*

Would really appreciate any opinions/feedback etc. It was my first go at directing (i'm more of a photogapher/cinemtographer really) so its a bit ropey in places, but please don't hold back. Would really prefer brutally honest opinions. Don't mind at all if you hate it so long as you give me a bit of a reason why!

I won't give to many details about the film itself here as I'd really like to know what you make of it cold.

Sorry can't post to Youtube as I'm looking to possibly enter it into some student film festivals etc.

Anyway, its a 30mb file so might take a couple of minutes to download. And for some reason when I converted it to avi it turned it into 4:3. It should obviously be 16:9, so you'll have to try and imagine it a bit wider i'm afraid.

Any problems or questions please do let me know

Thanks loads for taking the time to read (and watch)

All the best

Ria

[ShaunMilburn (AKA Milkchurn)]

wow! very pro looking. wouldn't look out of place on prime time in my opinion.
would you mind disclosing what equipment and software you used?
very well done.

[Gareth]

cant get the avi working for some reason

[Ria]

Hi,

Thanks for that, since there's essentially no dialogue the look was a big part of the project I think.

Here's a bit more info if you're interested;

It was all shot in HDV using mainly a Sony Z1 camera from uni (though we also used a smaller Sony A1 for the underwater bits as we needed a smaller camera to fit the underwater housing).

On the Z1 we used a Redrock adapter that we were able to borrow from a friend. It basically just lets you use standard canon camera lenses on the front of the camera. Its nice cause it gives you better control over depth of field than you normally get shooting digital, which hopefully makes it look a bit more 'filmy'. It is a pain in the arse to actually use though since it flips everything upside down, which is not too bad shooting but a bit of a hassle when you're editing.

Edited using Avid Express offline and Avid Adrenaline online system at uni. Nothing fancy went on in the editing really though.

Can't think of anything else just now, but just ask if you would like to know anything else.

If other people are having a probem with the avi file please do let me know and i'll try and sort out an alternative

Ta

[Gareth]

got it working using VLC Player, you can also change the aspect ratio back to 16:9 using VLC

Thought the film not only looked amazing but also sounded fantastic (shame about whatever got on the right hand side of the lens on one of the reservoir shots)

it was brilliant to see an almost purely visual approach to storytelling and a less is more approach to the writing

should do well at festivals!

any chance I can have a look at the script please?? [e-mail]

[Ria]

Hey,

Brilliant, thanks for persisting with it.

Was really lucky to get a guy from Glasgow called Jack Coghill to do the sound design on it. He did a really great job I think.

You're right about the stuff on the lens. Shooting the underwater stuff generally was a bit of a mission as i'm sure you can imagine. Would get one bit right then something else would go wrong entirely! Shot it in April so it was also freezing. Oh well.

Willl mail the script to you no problem. Just need to find it first! I haven't looked at any uni stuff since I finished but I should have a copy around somewhere.

Thanks again

Ria

[Dazza]

Visually stunning piece of art and shows exactly what the Redrock can do. I wanted to use a redrock on my latest film but as there was so much movement, low light and a tight schedule with lots of dialogue it didnt work out.

I like the way you told a story with no dialogue as i am the opposite I'm a character driven film maker but my work is not as visually stunning like this, hopefully next time tho i will get to work with a cinamatogtapher and achieve a look as good as this.

Brilliant first film Ria ;D

[shindig]

I don't think the quiet nature of it quite worked but kudos for trying it and getting most of the way with it. You've clearly put a lot of thought into shorts and focus, so I can't honestly knock the production of it.

[Dave]

Brilliant! Truly captivating I thought thanks to the lack of dialogue and ambient sounds (especially water).

Is the story as sinister as I think it is?

As for putting it forward for student film competitions... I think you should be putting it up for full-on short film competitions too. I work at the Watershed in Bristol which hosts the Encounters Short Film fest each year (an international festival) and most of the stuff that gets shown is pure cack comapred to your film!

PLAYSTATION3 OWNERS.... This file will play on your PS3 so you can watch it on your telly.. as long as you have been keeping the firmware up to date.

[Bill Edwards]

That was great!

I loved the sound design. I'm a big fan of heightened natural sounds in film.

Great compositions too. The changing room shot and the police tape shot stood out in this respect.

Loved the discombobulating (first use of that word in this forum! ;D) start and how it was quite hard to follow but not too hard as to make no sense with a hint at what it might've been about at the end.

Really enjoyed the heavy dream like quality of it too. Slightly Meadows-esque in that it resembles his way of making scenes feel like half remembered shimmering memories.

Good stuff. All the best with it!

[salvador]

Ria,

I thought that was a wonderful short film. It was really stunning. I've seen a lot of crap films come out of Napier but this was tremendous. The visuals worked beautifully and the sound was spot on. I can't really give any negative comments as it was very very good.

Congratulations on making such a wonderful short, as Dave says, enter it into any short film competition you can.

Its the kind of short that makes me want to pack in this filmmaking lark as I doubt I'll make something as intelligent and visual as that.

Seriously, that was brilliant.

[Ria]

Hi everyone

Wow. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch, and for all your comments. I'm knocked out. I think it has flaws that your all too generous to point out but hey, still plenty of time yet!

Just wanted to reply a bit to those who've commented so sorry it this rambles on a bit.

DazzaB;

Cheers. I really like using the Redrock, though I understand what you mean about its limitations for the kind of thing your talking about. I have actually seen it done and the results weren't too bad at all. Bet it was a nightmare to actually do though.

Just watched the trailer for Soldier Boy by the way and have to say, even though we are working in pretty different styles that it looks very accomplished. That kind of intensity and directness are probably as alien to me as the more visual approach might be to you and personally I think much more difficult to master. Anyway, it's clearly something you really believe in and i'm looking forward to seeing it soon.

Shindig;

Thanks. Can appreciate its an aesthetic that might not appeal to everyone. Bits of it definately work better than others for sure. Appreciate your honesty though, really.

Dave;

Again, thanks so much. As far as it being sinister, well...it's a tricky one to answer. The original ideas was basically 'a police diver falls in love with a dead body he finds in a reservoir', although in the script I tried to keep the characters backstory (hate that word), motivation and actions deliberately quite obtuse. The final film definately has a much greater degree of ambiguity that lends itself to other readings (such as the sinister angle). It's hopefully a bit of a puzzle and I quiet like that, though there might just be one or two pieces missing I think so it probably doesn't totally work. Thanks loads for the encouragement as far as festival go. I actually haven't pushed the festival thing too hard as I'm not totally happy with it myself, but i think i'll look again and stick it in a few anyway.

Chromebaby;

Thanks loads. I'm much more into atmosphere and 'feel' (if that's not too woolly a way to describe it) in films than straight narrative as such. Was going for more of a moody effect which i'm chuffed that you seem to have picked up on.

Again, thanks guys. Sorry for the long post.

[Ria]

Hi Salvador,

What can I say? Thanks so much. I've actually been a bit down on the film (probably cause making it wasn't exactly un-stressful!). You're generosity is really inspiring. I'd really like to check out some of your stuff if possible, I suspect that its probably significantly better than your letting on.

By the way, some of the Napier films this year were actually pretty strong I think (true, the're not always). Since your up that way you might have seen them already, but would be happy to get you (or anyone else) a compilation DVD if you're interested? It doesn't get distributed that widely so I try to do my bit by pushing it on people at any opportunity.

Cheers

[Dave]

Sept 5, 2008 17:04:47 GMT Ria said:

Hi everyone

Wow. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch, and for all your comments. I'm knocked out. I think it has flaws that your all too generous to point out but hey, still plenty of time yet!

Okay, I'll mention the one bit that I thought didn't fit as well as the rest of it....
The shot where the diver comes out of the reservoir (focus on him.. background out of focus). I think that shot is a bit at odds with the rest of it which feels really natural.... just the way the diver comes into frame.. pauses and then leaves. Just seemed un-natural compared to the rest of the film.

Also... I might say that perhaps the use of the focus being on one object or one element of an object (thus leading to most of the shot being out of focus) was perhaps done a bit much.

Minor quibbles over! ;D

[salvador]

Sept 5, 2008 17:23:26 GMT Ria said:

Hi Salvador,

What can I say? Thanks so much. I've actually been a bit down on the film (probably cause making it wasn't exactly un-stressful!). You're generosity is really inspiring. I'd really like to check out some of your stuff if possible, I suspect that its probably significantly better than your letting on.

By the way, some of the Napier films this year were actually pretty strong I think (true, the're not always). Since your up that way you might have seen them already, but would be happy to get you (or anyone else) a compilation DVD if you're interested? It doesn't get distributed that widely so I try to do my bit by pushing it on people at any opportunity.

Cheers

Hey, its cool, everyone has a roller coaster experience with their films. I really liked your film and you should be proud of it, its shows A LOT of thought went into it and you definitely have a photography eye, which is great, its the kind of filmmaker I'd like to be, but I'm not and I'm learning to be happy with what I'm doing (well sometimes!)

I'd love a dvd, should I PM you my address?

Sept 5, 2008 17:23:26 GMT Ria said:

Okay, I'll mention the one bit that I thought didn't fit as well as the rest of it....
The shot where the diver comes out of the reservoir (focus on him.. background out of focus). I think that shot is a bit at odds with the rest of it which feels really natural.... just the way the diver comes into frame.. pauses and then leaves. Just seemed un-natural compared to the rest of the film.

I actually loved that shot, its the shot that stood out the most for me and I was very impressed.

I don't really want to nit pick at the film because its good and there really isn't anything 'wrong' with it.

Salv