So, your focus need a bit of work. Are you using a DSLR? I'm not sure why you're using a fade at 0:13 - are you showing up that time is passing? I'm very anti-fade. The shots of the kid in the background running is GREAT. One note - he kicks the ball from right to left, and then in the next cut we see the ball flying from left to right. Just like an eye-line, it would make more sense if we follow the ball in that same direction in both shots.
Great gas station location. Location location location! Always helps. Especially when you can get away with having a dude pull a gun during store hours, hah! Security cam footage is a nice touch. I think you're trying to show up that the guy isn't showing up on the cameras? Very tricky. I think you could have emphasised it a bit more. The "POV" shot doesn't really work for me. I think it would have been better to show the clerks eyes, then a quick shot of the boobs, and his reaction to them.
Would also be good to see some more foreshadowing of the shady criminal. The dutch angle when we see him put on the bandana is a bit extreme.
I don't see why he'd pull down his mask - seems like a good time to keep the thing on! Causing that kind of trouble!
There's an odd extra frame after he shoots her - is this supposed to be muzzle flare?
Something odd about the color correction when he says "You're sooo going to hell." Blacks don't match the other shots. Would also like to see her face when he says that - she should be all "WTF!" I like the 'runner' line at the end.
Good locations, audio isn't great, but it's certainly not terrible. Some of your angles are a bit odd, and seems like you shot this pretty quickly since there's not a huge diversity of shots, but I think it's a solid idea and very solid execution (PUN INTENDED!!).
Overall I give this film a B+
If you pay attention in the store scene (before the security camera feed) the reaper figure has no reflection in the beer cooler or mirrors. :)
Shooting with a Canon HV30. I am not usually a fan of crossfade events either, but when our final cut of the project was running just under four minutes...I had to do something, right?
The honest truth behind the removal of the mask is that I wanted it off for the delivery of his lines when he was shooting her, but didn't want to have him removing it outside. The store owner (playing the clerk) actually handed the actor all the money in the till...so he kinda had his hands full. lol.
Damn...didn't even notice the ball being out of motion continuity...thanks!
The color correction on that shot at the end is all contrast adjustment. Something went wonkey on site and when I got it into the edit bay Brad lost most of his definition. I guess I needed to use a reflector on location to get more light up from underneath. (part of what I am loving about these projects is learning stuff like this! Awesome!)
I have no idea what happens in the extra frame...the muzzle flare is just before that...some sort of artifact I am guessing.
Glad you like the runner part at the end...As the "To be continued" implies...we are linking this filmfight to the next two. :)
I am confused by "not a diveristy of shots"...we had 37 cuts only 7-8 of those are replicated camera angles...how diverse were you expecting in three minutes...we are averaging better than 10 shots per minute!
Looking forward to the next fight!
Todd Hanson
--Redhand Studios--
Nice camera work! Good story! Good performances and kudos on scoring the location! I especially liked the security cam shot...very nice.
your ghost effect was awesome! the counter on you security camera probably shouldnt have started at 0. your music was great and I loved the shots in this. You are not making it easy to choose my vote for this one.
This is a very good film because it is so solid in so many different ways. I sighed deep when the black coat man was introduced with an 100% optimal shot. The only problem I must have here is that her argument to refuse him her handbag is so brilliant that she becomes my hero and deserves to live.
Very well shot and a great story. The shot after the mugger pulls out his gun seems to be alot more colourful than the rest of the video. The lens flare effect when the dies seems really jumpy to me and the way the reaper says the hell line, I dunno seems kinda funny. I really like how the reaper character is introduced and I think the clerks POV shot gets the message across perfectly. I really enjoyed this and best of luck!
Looking forward to the rest
she chuckles when she runs over the kids ball, this was a really good idea. Nice creative shots like
-convinience store camera
-rear car window
-Car wheels pulling up to bane a few
Nice music when shes shot, I love that the soul reaper is enjoying a brownie thing. I liked that touch.
"frankly you're a bitch"
lol, nice job on that.
Shouldn't the mugger go to hell over the bitch, I mean he killed a person over a couple of bucks and some insults.
Lol, the mugger may or may not go to hell...maybe we should do a story on what drove him to rob the store in the first place. Obviously he has issues with women who assert themselves. Probably a "Mom" issue. Maybe he was trying to raise money to pay for his dying mother's gall bladder replacement or something. :)
I definately enjoyed this film, especially the production quality of it. I am always a big fan of indie stuff that looks and sounds good and is able to put together a decent story...what more can you ask for really? The only thing i was sorta confused with, not really (if that makes sence) is, was that dude in the end like the grim reaper and he still needed to take her to hell? If so, I guess you could have a sequel on your hands if you so desired.
That is exactly the plan, Newman. We are linking this film to the next three fights. :)
The driving shots are very well done. I like your actress a lot. She comes off pretty authentic. Camel Crush!? Ugh, that's just asking to have people bumming cigarettes from you. Love the convenience store music. How'd you get that location? I want your reaper to be the one who comes for me one day. I'd hang out with him. Is there really going to be a second part to this?
Yes, Charming...there will be a second part...and a third...and a fourth. We have already mapped out the next sections to be filmed, and wrapped up the propaganda shot. :)
I am glad you like Sarah, she has been awesome so far. The location...we just walked in a week before the shoot and asked the owner if we could film there, they were so cool about it. Handed out free coffee, donated the brownie, and handed us several hundred dollars out of the till for the robbery scene without my asking. Scott (the guy playing the clerk) is actually the store owner. As far as the Camel Crush line goes...it just sounded so sexy coming from Sarah. :)
You guys really went all out with this one! Great job on all the locations. The acting (except the store clerk, but I get the impression he wasn't one of your "actors") was all really top notch. Really good story line. The security camera shot was a brilliant touch. The loud hum of the coolers was a little loud. I might have turned that down and used the voice audio from another take (if you had it). The tip jar said "Show us you tips right after he peaked at her cleavage. Btw, he cleavage was a little off center. Maybe that would have been an uncomfortable thing to discuss with her, but I definitely would have had her straightened her boobs out. Haha. I especially liked the shot outside looking down his gun, before he shot her. Couple things seemed out of focus, mainly the close ups in the office. After she was shit, I could not see the bottle or her purse she dropped. The color on the line "you're so going to hell" was way off. Also, I didn't really like the delivery of that line. That is one risk when going with a big idea like this. You are exposed to more opportunities for imperfections. Well worth the risk, and in the end, the payoff was great. This was my vote for the week. A++ for effort. Cannot wait to see more of your entries.
I forgot to say how much I liked the idea of him reaping her soul. Reminded me of "Dead Like Me".
i just now read the other reviews and am glad to hear you are continuing this. I meant to mention that I noticed "to be continued".
We had to lose the take in post of the mugger grabbing the purse and running past the champagne bottle (which we broke later...I decided not to have Sarah lay down in stickey goop and broken glass for several reasons.) So much that we wanted to do we cut before shooting, and so much got hacked up in edit to make the three minute time limit...the extended version is going to involve all 4 filmfights together (with the deleted scenes) and be given to my actors and crew as my sincerest thanks.
Thank you all for your comments! the good, the bad, we really do appreciate them. We only get better by doing and listening!
This was really good. I really disliked the main character, she was so mean, and I think you set it all up really well.
The cinematography was kind of loose in the beginning, and as it's been pointed out, the fade felt a tad out of place, but it didn't take away from it.
The eyeline switch with the kid kicking the ball was also a little weird, but it was funny, and a nice touch to help build up the character between the intro and the ending. Since it says a lot more about her than just that she is cheating on her husband. I also loved the shot with the kid, even though the eyeline switch got me, just him bouncing the ball, against that background, it looked really good, and I loved the dreary sky, good job with that, the colors were great too.
The cinematography at the end is really great, and I loved the little touches of the reaper disappearing and reappearing again and the slight transparency on him.
Your actress is great, she is so evil, and the "Can you get me a pack of Camel crush." is delivered in such a dripping with honey way, that I want to jump kick her, she is just great being such a bi-otch.
The view down the gunbarrel was also good, and how the gunshot was handled was great, just very quick and sharp, and you could feel the surprise she has from being dead. I think you handled that well.
Great job, lots of funny moments, good acting, good cinematography, and nice effects. Can't wait to see this continued, I am interested to see where this is headed, and I would love to see what character development you've got planned for her and the Reaper.
It would be ironic for her death to be the catalyst for her to actually start "living" like a good person. But you've got me, I am interested in seeing where this is headed, and want to find out the character arc that these characters must go through.
8/10
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