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Post by Live The Dream Productions on Oct 28, 2008 14:31:35 GMT
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Post by Dazza on Oct 28, 2008 15:20:55 GMT
Thats my brothers old house in Winchester. He was on the third floor, room on the right next to the bathroom I've stayed there many a time ;D
I'll be as positive as I can but you cant polish a turd.
Ok the film was alright I understand why you probably did it but its never going to jump out at the audience or be an amazing film for anyone to sit and watch. It wasnt funny and I wouldnt watch it again. Edit was alright and summed up student life I expect. But its just an ok film.
Sorry not to be more positive but I dont believe in bullshitting someone and telling them somethings ace when its simply not and I completely empathise with you starting out and will give you as much help or advice as I can.
The positive thing I noticed is that you seem to be using your own music now instead of royalty conflicting songs which is a positive step forward. Get yourself on Myspace and find one of the thousands of brilliant bands on there as they would be made up if you asked if you could use there music, trust me been there done that and you would have better music.
As a film maker I've seen several of your films now and my advice would be to think really long and hard about what to make next to build your portfolio as your not making anything thats standing out, this may be harsh but its true and will make you stronger. You are making typical student acted, shot films. With the kit you have available at Uni you could do something quite special so do it whilst you have the chance.
I've been where you are but have made things with a bit more creativity. I've just finished my first big short which I bled for writing and shooting and funding. It wasnt easy in the slightest and everything went against us with problem after problems but we did it. I'm also a self taught film maker and have had negatives as well as positives its what you learn from.
'Soldier Boy'
Before you do anything else come up with a brilliant idea for a film, a good script and get some good answers. If you want anyone to look at your ideas/script just ask.
I'm not any kind of C.U.N.T I'm simply trying to point you forwards in a positive direction. I like to help new film makers in any way i can just ask ;D
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Post by Gareth on Oct 28, 2008 15:57:19 GMT
I second what Dazza said (however my brother has never lived in your house and I haven't made a film called 'Soldier Boy') but heres my first short film which I put shit loads of effort into
how about talking over a few of your ideas on the forum, or writing a script and sending it to us I'm sure a lot of people will be happy to give feedback on a script.
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Post by Gareth on Oct 28, 2008 16:14:24 GMT
in fact how about taking the exact SAME CONCEPT and making a film thats hilarious, I think that'd really help to develop your storytelling
all we know about your character is he likes wearing shit t shirts, imagine Basil Fawlty in the same film
if there was an element of pressure then this short could have been entertaining, all it is right nows - I think I'll make some breakfast, I'm shit at making breakfast, oh well back to bed
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Post by RydCook on Oct 28, 2008 19:45:29 GMT
I went from reading the D.U.M.P.S thread to watching this. You used two no-nos in a row! The walking into camera and out again, and then the camera in the cupboard shot. Have a read through that thread, it will help you immensely.
I watched this film and I just thought "why?... why am I watching someone making breakfast" Why would anyone want to watch that? Its not even the fact that the "story" is bad, there loads of little mistakes in the editing too. The music, although credit is due for not using copyrighted stuff... was terrible. Distorted and annoying. All sounds harsh but I'm just being honest. I laughed out loud at the end of this film, but for the wrong reasons... simply because I thought "is that it? Have I really just watched someone making breakfast badley!?"
Gareth is right, discuss you're ideas, develop them. Network with people, see if there are any script out there you'd like to direct. If you have an idea, write it up, show others, what do they think? You cannot make a good film all on your own. Well, you can, but even those who do seek advice and take help to an extent.
Keep it up.
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Post by salvador on Oct 29, 2008 10:54:59 GMT
Woaf! People on this forum are getting very high and mighty! I know you guys are just being honest but some of what's been said is pretty harsh in my book. What happened to the loving environment of 2006/07? I remember when we were all posting our first films on here and they were really shit....
Saying that I haven't watched the film yet....
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2008 11:18:04 GMT
i was also waiting for somthing a wee bit more "OH!" to happen at the end...
was ok tho, only so many ways you can make a bloke making toast intresting.
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Post by RydCook on Oct 29, 2008 12:22:42 GMT
Woaf! People on this forum are getting very high and mighty! I know you guys are just being honest but some of what's been said is pretty harsh in my book. What happened to the loving environment of 2006/07? I remember when we were all posting our first films on here and they were really shit.... Saying that I haven't watched the film yet.... I suppose reading back on my post I was more harsh than encouraging! Apologies. That is the good thing about this forum, we encourage people. I was just being a bit bluntly honest. I think the best thing about you "Live The Dream Productions" is that you keep making films, your at it all the time. Which shows a true love for it. That's awesome, I'm sure you've made more films than me this year. Good on you. |
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Post by Gareth on Oct 29, 2008 12:39:16 GMT
I know your saying that without seeing the film Salv, your half right though, I think the thing is though when we're putting so much effort into our films and one comes along that looks like its had little or no thought put into it its hard not to feel a bit (i don't know the word) bitter?
I've noticed my own comments become more and more honest on here and a lot of the time that means more harsh, I think the harsher the better though, encouragement's good but ripping a film apart and saying exactly why the films shit (as long as your being honest) is better. It encourages people to grow as film makers.
this films shit, someone's been telling Live The Dream its good and funny other wise he wouldn't have put it up on the internet but its better for the filmmaker in the long run if people are brutally honest, would dazza have made soldier boy if we hadn't been negative about some of his other films? I wouldn't have been pushed to make my short what it is without the lecturers in filmschool being so negative (I was told at 21 that if I hadn't directed a film by now I never would) I thought fuck you went home and stuck a rocket up my arse.
the first person who was negative about my film came as a real shock to me but she taught me the most vital thing in the directing, the beats in a scene, the punchline in my short should be a lot funnier and I know know exactly why, up until that point I though it was (dare I say it) perfectish.
looking back to school all the teachers I thought were wankers are the people who made me who I am, fair enough thats a wanker but a motivated wanker.
I think everyone should be as honest and as blunt as possible, but it'll come as a shock to people who haven't been in the forum long
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Post by salvador on Oct 29, 2008 12:56:40 GMT
Totally agree... everyone needs critisism when its warranteed and there is no point in being blindly encouraging all the time. You are completely right, I'm just a little concerned that as a group (the earlier members of the forum) we are getting better as filmmakers and when newer and not yet as talented people come on the forum that we are rounding on them with no real thought that the person is in fact a human being and needs a bit of tenderness along with being told their film is shit.
Obviously this is just my opinion on the matter (i'm a sensitive soul), this forum has been one of the reasons I decided to give filmmaking another go and I hope that others get that kind of encouragment and that we as a forum don't become a clique
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Post by wiggy on Oct 29, 2008 13:46:32 GMT
I agree completly with everything said so far on this thread, I'm a bit surprised how matter of fact the comments are especially from dazza! When starting out you can either have a good story which looks like shit (I've had a few) or a shit idea which looks quite good (as in this one) there are lots of mistakes granted but that is expected when starting out, I think some members are guity of growing ego's, I don't agree copletely on that list of do's and don't's from another thread, even taratino constantly crosses the line all be it on purpose. Let's all be encouraging along with bluntly honest.
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Post by Dave on Oct 29, 2008 14:06:04 GMT
I guess there is a worrying trend on the forum towards people being overly critical and not very encouraging..... and I am as guilty as charged your honour as anyone else (and I haven't even made f**k all!) ;D I think this thread proves this all too well. When people don't take to a film there are plenty of comments, but when there was brilliant and interesting amateur documentary on here called Creating Tribes... almost nobody commented. shanemeadows.proboards39.com/index.cgi?board=myshort&action=display&thread=2975The original post in that thread seems to have gone now... hope they don't mind me re-linking to the film again in that thread. ...and let me tell you, Creating Tribes is something that even Shindig praised!  |
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Post by Gareth on Oct 29, 2008 14:24:13 GMT
wiggy, yeah as I tried to say with the cars thing as long as the audience knows where they are geographically in the space of a scene crossing the line isn't an issue, I think that dumps things gotta be taken with a pinch of salt and of corse there are no rules, its just funny how many things crop up.
I didn't look at the docu because I didn't feel it'd be my cup of tea, probably should have, I've linked my live music vids and had no response at all which is no biggy
I think the plus side of us all being so critical is that it shows we all trust each other, I sent my script to Shindig and asked him to read it and rip it limb from limb if necessary and I did that because I know he's one of the most critical people on the forum, straight to the point and harsh and thats what I want from feedback.
its nice to get a pat on the back but encouragement doesn't get you any where near as far as when you set out to prove something, I mean look at Deadmans Shoes it wouldn't exist without midlands!!!
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Post by salvador on Oct 29, 2008 15:25:47 GMT
Watched it..
Yeah the "story" is a bit pants but there are some good shots in there and on the whole the camera work was good. Framing etc wasn't jarring, though the cutting was (I felt there were too many shots at times). The final shot of the toast with the credits was a great shot. Your actor seems alright, so get a good script and get him in it. I'd say think about moving the camera more, taking it off sticks and going handheld etc. Also less coverage needed, depending on what your shooting obviously. You can shot things so yeah go and get a story and shoot it, I think you'll make something good soon.
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Post by Gareth on Oct 29, 2008 15:32:26 GMT
and just to add to what salv said try shooting out doors in day light, it'll up your production value rather than shooting in student digs all the time
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