Thanks for the movie recommendations! I have actually seen a few on the list. Hard Candy is super disturbing. It is one of those movies I can only watch once. Definitely excellent though. The Butterfly Effect (The Director's Cut though) was one of my favorites ever! I can't believe I forgot about that one....I've also seen and loved Run Lola Run and of course I've seen The Terminator. I've seen The Cube, however I find the violence too graphic in those series, they are definitely good movies. My DH loves that series! I have to turn away a lot when I watch movies that are too gruesome. DH loves gore.
We are planning on seeing District 9 probably this weekend, I heard it was excellent and am looking forward to it. The Descent? Is that the one with Rosario Dawson? If so, that is in my Netflix cue and I really want to see it, but it sounds depressing. I've been depressed lately (mostly about figuring out what I want to do with my life and approaching 30) so that's not a good thing to watch right now...I watched another movie called, "London to Brighton," which I thought was very good but also very disturbing and I would not watch again. It had a great story but it was also very depressing along the lines of Hard Candy but without the casteration.
I've also seen Pitch Black, which I remember being good, however if a movie is put in late at night I used to fall asleep. So now I put only put in movies I've seen several times before bed. The opposite effect is I will stay up all night eyes glued to the screen.
I've also seen Kalifornia but not recently and I think it was at a time when I was falling asleep. I have alot of catching up to do. I also need to come up with a list of movies I love. I've never done that so sometimes I watch and forget. I can't believe I forgot about The Butterfly Effect I was blown away when I saw that.
Jennifer, I wanted to list enough movies that if you knew some, then you have an idea of what the others would be like. I also tried to include mostly movies that had strong female roles (TIME CRIMES would be an exception). Though Vin Diesel stars in PITCH BLACK, Radha Mitchell is excellent as the pilot - best crash sequence I have ever seen. I wasn't sure if you had seen the original TERMINATOR, but I tried to stay away from "obvious" recommendations. I didn't realize the graphic stuff bothered you. NATURAL BORN KILLERS and PULP FICTION ("get the gimp") are pretty graphic.
I know you're not a Trekkie, but if you haven't seen the latest STAR TREK, I recommend it as it seems to be more of a cross-over (to new viewers) than any of the others. As for myself, I'm a fan of the original series.
Sorry about the depression. You're turning 30? You're still a pup! It's a good age to get serious about something and take it head on. I spent 5 years in colleges, but I wouldn't suggest a university route for you. Writing stories is a huge part of the process, so you have a jump on that. Do you have a video camera? Get yourself an editing program - a nice one, like Final Cut Pro, Sony Vegas 9 or Adobe Premiere CS4. They do cost a bit, but it's so much more worth it to get a solid app over a cheap program that will leave you hanging. I think you mentioned they will use Final Cut in your classes? Get familiar with it whatever they are using. If you like it, you may want it for yourself.
Like I said, take it head on and start making shorts or working on movies, right away. You said something interesting:
quote:
I have also written professionally as a freelancer, but I have a story and I see it playing out in film. I like to have control of my art though and am very picky to the point of perfectionism.......I want all creative control of the film, so that is why the technical aspects interest me. I'm not a mean control freak like I sound, I swear. lol. I just have seen some really poorly made films.
This is the great misconception that a lot of non-filmmakers have, which is they could make a better movie than what they just watched. The best example would be of Stephen King being constantly disappointed with movie adaptions of his work, so he took the reins and made..........MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE, which went down as one of his worst movies, ever.
I don't mention the above to put you down. I want you to succeed. Be wary that movies are the most advanced form of communication. Writing something great is a start. Getting something great on screen requires many more steps. This is why I was suggesting writing storyboards or shooting scripts in the other thread. All those things that go into one scene, multiple angles - extreme closeup, closeup, medium close up and on out to the widest shot. A high angle, looking down, will make your subject look less powerful, but a low angle, looking up, can make them the dominant character. When do you move the camera - a slow dolly in/out, a whip pan, handheld to make things unstable and uneasy, booming up or down. What scenes benefit from shallow or deep focus? Do you start on the character or do you start on his fidgeting hands and tilt up to his face. How do you show something without saying it? After all, movies don't use external description the way books do. Do you fog the room to catch light rays? Do you want even bright lighting for a light or comic mood, or do you want starker shadows for intensity?
Your parameters for a shot can be endless and we haven't even got to how to edit it all together into something that is actually cohesive. You can do just as many things in editing, which brings in the kind of music you want (and where to get it), the sound design. Does the husband hear his wife's words, when she speaks at the dinner table, or do we just hear distant lines of dialogue being reverberated, while the husband hears the ticking clock, the coffee brewing, the wind scraping the branch at the window, etc.? Where is his attention?
There is of course the set design and the makeup. Imagine what had to be drawn and thought up to make something like THE CELL. A lot of that had to be created.
I'm not saying this to overwhelm you. Once you have even one short movie under your belt, you're going to yearn for more and you will have an idea of translating your first short story. Only by looking at it, will you know how successful you were - or maybe you look at it and can easily fill in the blanks, so you actually need feedback from neutral viewers. When they start telling you parts of your story that they liked, then you have successfully communicated it. As you progress, you'll know how to make people laugh, jump or cry.
Alfred Hitchcock referred to actors as "cattle", because he was such a master manipulator. I don't agree with that. When you're starting out, good actors are hard to find. I know that a good movie depends on good writing and acting. If I don't believe what I'm seeing, I won't buy into the story. I write down the shotlist, so I have an idea of the continuity I need to complete a scene. However, I'll adapt to the actual location if there are roaches on the floor, I'll get a shot of the roaches or any other thing that would be hard to plan. Most of all, I'll watch my actors. This is why a lot of directors have a viewfinder hanging around their neck, so they can see what things look like in the context of the frame. Anything outside the frame - crewmembers, equipment, the open sections of the fake set - doesn't matter, only what is in the frame; that is the film's world - the filmic reality. Anyway, I watch those actors do some rehearsal and maybe decide that I want to frame them differently than the shotlist says. I might be catching some hairlight or a glint in the actress' eye from a certain angle, so I go with that. Most important is, how am I capturing their emotions, like the sly look the actor gives and the body language response from the actress. Directing is watching for those elements, but trying to make them believable. If you edit together too many expressions, it might not work, so going to a wider shot would be better.
Start shooting something and cut it together. You'll get the hang of it. I'm guessing that it would be much easier for a 30 year old to grasp than an 18 year old freshman. Honestly, I started making films at 15 and screwed around for 10 years on Super 8mm film. These days with non-linear computer editing, you learn so much faster.
quote:
The Descent? Is that the one with Rosario Dawson?
You are thinking of this one, which I've never seen:
?url? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463027/?/url?
This is what I was recommending:
?url? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/?/url?
Since you are feeling down, I'm going leave some lighter recommendations, though SOMETHING WILD, above, starts out as a comedy, it ends as a thriller. May be worth a look for you. SERENITY is not too depressing, either. Okay;
STAR TREK (yeah, the new one)
MINORITY REPORT
EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS
CYPHER
GALAXY QUEST
eXistenZ
DARK CITY
STARSHIP TROOPERS
MIMIC
GATTACA
THE FIFTH ELEMENT
ROBOCOP
OUTLANDER
VITUOSITY
TWELVE MONKEYS
STRANGE DAYS
TOTAL RECALL
ENEMY MINE
BRAZIL
THE QUIET EARTH
STARMAN
NIGHT OF THE COMET
RETROACTIVE
THE JACKET
This list is maybe not quite as good as the first one, but the movies are generally lighter. A couple of these, like ROBOCOP and STARSHIP TROOPERS, are pretty graphic, but have a lot of humor and they end upbeat. EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS and GALAXY QUEST? Good dose of humor and some good effects. I suggest checking IMDB.com or NetFlix for user reviews, before you get any. Definitely some mind benders in there (12 MONKEYS, eXistenZ, CYPHER).
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Wow, I'm burnt out today after a long days work. I actually made a connection over the phone with another somewhat famous professional writer! I have seen a few of the movies you mentioned above too, my favorite of those being "Minority Report," of course it is based on a short story by one of my favorites, Philip K. Dick. I've also seen Brazil, Dark City, Gattaca, Twelve Monkeys, The Fifth Element too, all awesome as well. I have a whole list now- wow!
I am already attending school right now and have been in the process for a while, I'm almost done with my general ed. I just thought I'd get some experience by taking a class to see if this what I want to do. I don't own a camera and the school actually has a class on Final Cut Pro. I don't own an Apple computer either, unfortunately. I want to be really sure this is what I want to do before I spend the money on the equipment. The classes are not expensive at all, plus if I continue there is an internship opportunity and I really want to switch to my day job.
Just curious a lot of people here seem to be down on taking classes...Do you think it stifles creativity? That was the first thing that came to mind, as art classes seemed to do that for me. It made me decide I didn't want to major in art. I seriously would like to be able to find a better day job, with the exception of today most of the days at my job are complete misery. I need to have an opportunity to do something else. I am only going to do a 2 year program if I chose to go ahead anyways or maybe just a couple of classes to get my feet wet. I will also have access to equipment I am unable to buy.
I'm in South Florida the economy sucks and I have felt I don't have any opportunities here. I miss CA, where I lived before but they are even worse off than FL. Here it seems you have to know people to get any kind of job. I think I can hopefully make some connections at school and through an internship. Plus, I work part-time so I know I'd just stay home sleep late, work out, and never do anything not even write if I didn't go to school. I guess it is a motivator for me.
You know, it's funny I actually was thinking about that comment I made before I left the house about wanting control. I thought about I really just want good actors and that I would be open to having more experienced people help with the film or it will be crap. You know what I thought of- "I Do NOT want to end up like Troy Duffy with "The Boondock Saints!" I don't have that type of personality anyway, but that guy is an example of everything not to do. I mean if a big production company wanted to pick up my story, I'm sure I would be like, you are the professionals and go with it. I think I would like to learn the technical aspects because I like the idea of being able to do everything. I am a huge fan obviously of the Wachowski brothers, unfortunately when it comes to storyboarding I'm not a talented enough artist.
I also think I'd be good at acting, but I told my DH I am probably to old and because I'm a size 10 rather than a 2 I probably wouldn't be wanted as an actress. I think that comment was more about the acting. Another confidence thing.....
As for the gore factor, I really wasn't disturbed by the gore in Pulp Fiction, or Natural Born Killers. Gun violence doesn't gross me out. There is a special kind of gore factor in the Cube movies. Awesome story, but for some reason I can't handle it. I also like horror and even find decapitations very hilarious for some sick reason, but there is just some gore that too much. I will watch but will turn away. Weird, I know. I think I am immune to gun violence though. It seems like the easy way out. You know if someone has a gun and you don't most likely you don't stand a chance. I think there can be more creative ways of getting the job done. The Cube has extremely creative ways of tormenting the characters, which is better but hard to watch. Sometimes the best stories are the ones you can't see more than once.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer
I am already attending school right now and have been in the process for a while..........I want to be really sure this is what I want to do before I spend the money on the equipment.
This is smart. Don't blow cash on anything, until you are sure....and then, get busy! There's talking about it (like so many "filmmakers" on the net) and then doing it. You are what you do.
quote:
Just curious a lot of people here seem to be down on taking classes...Do you think it stifles creativity?
I have no regrets about going through media and cinema programs at two universities. I'm still in contact with people from many years ago. However, unless you go to the likes of a USC or NYU (which are ripe for the industry to recruit from), you might get a mixed bag of electives, required courses and actual production/theory classes. I've never gone to a school like Full Sail, but some like those are more geared towards being trade schools and I like that kind of approach to intensive study of just the trade. None of that boring Art History or Music Appreciation stuff! :>)
There are 2 year schools that I used to hear good things about, like Scottsdale Community College. A couple of years won't hurt you, but being 30 and starting up at a 4 year college doesn't seem like a good choice to me.
One year out of college, I wrote/produced/directed a $19,000 feature. I learned more on that than any two years of college. In some ways, I learned more because the feature got picked up for distribution, I sold copies to video stores around town, I paid and fed the cast and crew. It was its own educational experience. This is why I say "get busy producing something." Each short movie is like its own crash course. A feature is like your Master thesis.
quote:
I think I would like to learn the technical aspects because I like the idea of being able to do everything. I am a huge fan obviously of the Wachowski brothers, unfortunately when it comes to storyboarding I'm not a talented enough artist.
I've never storyboarded; I've always written out shot lists. However, there are storyboard programs, for people like us. I was thinking of getting one, not so much for me, but to be able to show the actors and crew how I want the scene to play out.
As far as technical aspects, you will probably ultimately have experienced crew. But, you want to know enough, so you can give directions that will help get your vision across. For example: your actor looks into the eye piece of a door to see who is on the other side. You tell your D.P. to get a distorted eyehole shot of the eye and nose of the lady outside the door. A fisheye or very wide angle lens will give you that distortion effect. You can also take a normal closeup of the eye and nose and warp it in After Effects to get a similar effect. There is usually more than one way to accomplish a shot.
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I also think I'd be good at acting, but I told my DH I am probably to old and because I'm a size 10 rather than a 2
You seem stuck on the "old" issue. I cast my wife in almost every movie and she's 42. It's not because she's my wife, though. Sheila is flat out my best actor. If you work on no budget movies, there's a great chance of getting at least a small part.
quote:
As for the gore factor, I really wasn't disturbed by the gore in Pulp Fiction, or Natural Born Killers. Gun violence doesn't gross me out. There is a special kind of gore factor in the Cube movies. Awesome story, but for some reason I can't handle it.
I passed out at my own blood test, once. The nurse kept missing my vein and there was only so much of that that I could take. However, with movies, I can watch anything that is not real. I've long had a keen interest in special makeup effects. I have a couple of books by Tom Savini and one or two by Dick Smith, among others. Rob Bottin (THE HOWLING, THE THING, TOTAL RECALL) is my favorite effects guy, followed by Rick Baker, Stan Winston, Patrick Tatopoulos, KNB and a slew of others. I always watch an effect to see how it's done. I find it fascinating.
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I'm not stuck on the old thing, I actually don't think people that are older than me are old, which is very weird. I just can't believe I'm 29 and will be 30 in 6 months. I guess what makes it so traumatic for me is that I should have finished 2 year college 10 years ago and I still don't know what I want to do.
I did check out your website and am interested in seeing your movie "Awakening," (I only glanced at it because I actually started class today, not film just requirements for the AA degree I'm only a few classes short of. Nutrition actually.) The storyline sounds very interesting and the title is what caught my eye. The story I'm working on has what I call an "awakening" in it but I wasn't going to call it that. It definitely sounds interesting and I even looked it up on Imdb.
As far as the Film classes, I know exactly what you mean the Film programs at FIU and FAU are a joke. It's all about theory and watching films. The one at my college is less expensive and more hands on. I even looked at a syllabus and they even teach the the budgeting aspects of the film, marketing the film, making a business plan, as well as the technical aspects! I thought I was going to have to take business classes to to run my e-zine so knowing how intense and hands on the program is really is encouraging.
Once I get my website straightened out which will not be for a while due to me paying out of pocket for classes and DH is actually a musician so he needs equipment too. We also need to buy a dishwasher. lol. So it will be a little while. I really would like to have an independent film contest, as well as a short story contest. My ultimate goal for my site is to have a network of artists of all kinds so people can make connections with other artists.
I didn't network with filmmakers when I first started out but one of the authors on my website got a story made into a film. I'm hesitant to say this but it really didn't do his story justice, as I don't know any of the technical aspects but the acting was really really bad. However, I know that as an artist regardless of the discipline, people grow and get better the more experience they have. Therefore, I am unwilling to say that just because one film is bad, that all others will be.
I haved noticed it with DH's music. He has been making music since he was a kid and his art has grown so much just in the time we have been together. My dream is to use some of DH's music, with one of my storyline's. He does Industrial which I think works beautiful for Sci-Fi and Action.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer
I just can't believe I'm 29 and will be 30 in 6 months. I guess what makes it so traumatic for me is that I should have finished 2 year college 10 years ago and I still don't know what I want to do.
Understood, which is why I was trying to fast track you into production, either your own or assisting. Like I said, get the feel of your school first. From what you wrote, it sounds like a pretty comprehensive program. Impressive.
quote:
I did check out your website and am interested in seeing your movie "Awakening,"............The storyline sounds very interesting and the title is what caught my eye.
Imagine a movie cheaper than EL MARIACHI and you will have THE AWAKENING - though we didn't have the cost of film on that, we still flipped a real van and pulled off some amazing effects. Trailer:
?url? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLC7RqO_W-M?/url?
It's considered one of the best of the no-budget superchick movies, which, if you saw some, would not be saying a lot. I would caution you from expecting too much in the way of a quality production. The lead girl, Tamra, has no acting aspirations at all. The producer coerced her into the roll and then asked me to make the movie. For the genre that it is, I think the script is pretty good - some funny dialogue and a good conspiracy going on. It runs 100 minutes.
The producer, Kelly, thought that I also looked right for the male lead. (I'm the guy pouring mustard and water from the beaker, in the above trailer.) I committed a no no and starred in the movie, as Tamra's husband, the scientist. I say "no no", because I really should have stayed behind the camera to get the best results. However, this was a freebie shoot with unpaid actors and friends, so we knew I would always be available.
If you haven't seen a no-budget movie before, I might advise against this, though the "making of" documentary is one of the best and definitely worth seeing. There's a really good descriptive review of the movie, here:
?url? http://www.bumscorner.com/bumnuke/index.php?module=ProdReviews&func=showcontent&id=386?/url?
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I really would like to have an independent film contest, as well as a short story contest. My ultimate goal for my site is to have a network of artists of all kinds so people can make connections with other artists.
Your site sounds like a cool idea. Good luck with that. As far as contests, have you heard of the 48 Hour Film Project? Sheila and I entered a couple of those. You register on a Friday night, at 7pm, and they give you a genre, like "Spy", a prop, like "billiard ball", a character, like "Edward Stewart - a collector", and a line of dialogue, "There's nothing like it!" (Every year is different.) So, you write a story that Friday night, Shoot all day, Saturday and edit Sunday until you turn it in by 7:30pm, Sunday night. We had a lot of fun with that. The 7 minute short, if you're interested:
?url? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWLtdhqZ-3w?/url?
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My dream is to use some of DH's music, with one of my storyline's. He does Industrial which I think works beautiful for Sci-Fi and Action.
Definitely. If I knew you felt that way, I would have recommended the movie, HARDWARE. It's trippy, but has some good music by Ministry, Public Image and Simon Boswell.
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Wow! The 48 hour movie is very impressive. DH, Adam watched it and he was impressed too. We also watched the trailer for "The Awakening," and we agreed it is also impressive for being so low budget.
I don't know how to do a quote on here but I just copied and pasted:
"The lead girl, Tamra, has no acting aspirations at all. The producer coerced her into the roll and then asked me to make the movie. For the genre that it is, I think the script is pretty good - some funny dialogue and a good conspiracy going on. It runs 100 minutes."
I will say that despite the lead character having no acting aspirations she seemed better than some of the movie bus I have seen by far. I have seen acting where people sound like they are reading. That is the worst.
Your wife, is a really good actress!!!! I liked the twist at the end of the Short. This may make you happy- your character as he shot Veronica really grossed me out with the way he looked. lol. Good job on the gore factor there. I didn't have to look away but I was like what the hell...
I also read the review of "The Awakening," I really loved the line about how some people have cookouts in their backyards, Mike Conway makes movies in his. It seems like you make excellent use of your resources! 🙂 Once the website gets back up, Adam says he's going to work on it soon. If you'd like to be a part of it, I'd be glad to add some of your links. I am going to be changing the entire setup.
If you want you can look at the website now. Some of the links don't work though and the front page got really distorted. Also, I am a horrible editor when it comes to my own writing and I think I have errors and I am self-conscious about it. The website is absolutely horrible though right now. I designed it not knowing anything about web design and once again thought that was what I wanted to go to school for. I decided I couldn't stand it though. Adam is going to work on it though, computers are more his thing.
My writing is under Pisces Halcyon because for a while I was embarassed to take ownership of it. I also have a lot of poems and short stories that people have responded positively to on a website called Author's Den. They are under my real name, Jenifer Rose Lane you can view links to my website from there and read some of my unedited stories that have since undergone changes and improvements. My favorite poem, (most people don't like poetry) is "Silencing the Orchids." By the way, the last time I updated my profile I was interested in studying Sociology and Peace Studies. Lol. I am so fickle with my major! I really hope this is it. Anyways heres the link:
Thanks for the kind response on the movie stuff. I agree that Tamra is pretty good. She fits the part. It really is ashame that she didn't want to act, though. She could have that kind career if she wanted it.
quote:
Originally posted by Jennifer
I liked the twist at the end of the Short. This may make you happy- your character as he shot Veronica really grossed me out with the way he looked. lol. Good job on the gore factor there. I didn't have to look away but I was like what the hell...
I'm glad that you liked it! Recently, I had someone send me three short scripts and they would just stop at the end. No punctuating point or twist. I told him that the ending is what the viewer/reader is going to think about the most, so make it substantial. I like a good twist.
So I grossed you out, eh? That makes us even, since I read "That Filthy State Above Florida." I was laughing at the descriptions of the bus sized waitress, but the tampering of the food had me gagging a bit. Not only that, it was time for dinner and I was dipping my grilled cheese sandwich into my tomato soup.....unable to get that awful thought out of my head. ?:0? Fortunately, I trust Sheila to prepare our food.
Speaking of Sheila, she really can pull the stops out, for a scene. She never acted, before we got married, 11 years ago. Then came a time where I asked if she could play a part and there was a crying scene involved - she really cried. I was thinking, "Oh, am I lucky!"
Anyway I perused both your websites. I read a few poems, the article on tolerance and a couple of doodads. You sure have a talent for writing!
quote:
By the way, the last time I updated my profile I was interested in studying Sociology and Peace Studies. Lol. I am so fickle with my major! I really hope this is it.
You'll have to find that out within yourself. Btw, a friend of mine is also fairly new to filmmaking, but he sent me this short sci-fi video and I thought you would like it:
?url? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_T3IYyzsvQ?/url?
TERMINAL PLANET
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I'm really glad you read "That Filthy State Above Florida." I will be converting it to screenplay. On my writer's page on FB I actually edited it a little but didn't on the site. Adam's name is going to be Trent among other things. This is my favorite story.
I was actually hoping you wouldn't read that article on tolerance. That stuff is not entirely true now and I was going through a phase in reference to the atheism. I go through phases in life as I do with my majors I guess. I'm more of an agnostic with a strong reverence for nature with Buddhist tendencies. My husband is militant though and he influenced me during that time of my life. I actually think there are infinite possibilities and look at it things from a more Sci-Fi perspective, like the possibility of parallel universes.
Well you read the one I wanted you to read most, and the one I didn't want you to read at all. Sorry for grossing you out while eating. I had a really bad experience at what at the time was my favorite restaurant and I found a small dark hair in my food. I'm blonde and it was under all the pasta I was eating. The owner came out a big hairy Italian guy with grossly hairy arms and accused me of lying to try to get a free meal. (Not to mention I wasn't even paying for the meal!) He said to me, "M'aam there is no cream on that hair." He also did accuse me of going to the bathroom and putting the hair in my food. My husband who is normally very mild tempered and mellow got up cursed him out for calling me a liar and threw a chair as he walked out! So that is what this story was inspired by......
I also watched one of the movies on the list you gave me- Point Break. I loved it! Not only was it a really unique story but the shots of the ocean were amazing! I am a nature freak, especially for the ocean. I also loved the sky-diving shots. I also liked the naked woman stabbing the cops. That had me laughing. It was really cool to know a woman directed that!! Lots of action and not what you would expect, much like what I would like to do! As for the characters, I enjoyed Bodi (not sure if I spelt it right) the best. I related to him as the "Zen" surfer, that's kind of like how I am but not quite as Woo-hoo...and definitely not as crazy or hypocritical. I was so mad at Keanu's Utah though. He didn't have it in him to shoot Bodi when he had the chance, (the scene where he shoots into the air) and I was really mad at him from that point on. I was saying to Adam, that he should just pick a side he should have the guts to be an FBI agent and do what he has to do or join his new friend in the bank robbery. I was glad in the end when he tossed his badge into the ocean. I also liked the fact that Anthony Kiedis was in the movie and it was funny when he got shot in the foot. I love the Chili peppers and it was also funny to see him from back when I first started listening to his music! I also had a huge crush on Patrick Swayze when I was a kid, courtesy of Dirty Dancing. lol.
I will check out your friend's movie when I get home tonight. I'm on my way to work, I wanted to let you know that I had seen a Bigelow movie though!
I also wanted to add, (didn't know how to edit the previous posting) that "That Filthy State Above Florida," is not a complete story, it is part of my series on those characters. It is going to continue on and I don't know exactly where they are headed or even why they ended up in Georgia unless they decide to go the Northern route. I need to get it geographically correct and planned out. This also ties in with another character. I know what is going to happen at the end of the entire story but haven't written it yet. It is part of my epic or a precursor to it. Amber is one of the main characters.
On the same line as your name you will see a series of six little icons.
Place your curser over each of them and you'll see they are the one
with the little pencil is the "Edit Reply" button and the one with the
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
From working in the food industry, I can tell you there are some shady people who will mess with your food, if you piss them off. I could never do that, since a person's food is sacred in my book. Sorry that you had that experience, though it lent itself well to your story!
I'm happy that you saw your first Kathryn Bigelow movie. There's more that you will like. The scene where Keannu shoots in the air is parodied in the comedy movie HOT FUZZ.
www.midnightsunent.com
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Both Adam and I were really impressed with your friends shorts! We actually watched all 3, after Terminal Planet we were hooked! If we ever get our website up and running we would love to have both you and your friend be a part of it! We will both be eagerly awaiting any new productions from both you and your friend! All the movies were just wonderful! I think I'm going to sign up for a YouTube account to network when the e-zine is back up and running.
Movies have always been both mine and Adam's first love! We went without cable for years but always had unlimited video rentals! It was a shame I didn't interact with any filmmakers when I started the e-zine. I was pretty focused on getting the website up fast after some of the writers were getting upset it was taking too long.
My favorites are Terminal Planet and Devoted, two very different shorts. It was interesting to see another perspective from WWII Germany and seeing the fear in the wife's eyes you could feel the tension in the room! I also liked the Dirty Comet, Adam enjoyed more than me, simply because zombies just really aren't my thing. Still, it was very well done as well.
I actually saw Hot Fuzz and love that movie, but never got the reference because I never saw Point Break. I will have to watch it again. I thing I think of most from that movie is "It's all for the greater good," and of course about the terribly annoying living statue. lol. I actually did enjoy Shaun of the Dead, and was surprised by that because like I said zombies aren't really my thing. It was very humorous.
I also saw District 9 last night. It was a very powerful film with an excellent storyline. It was hard to watch because of all the philosophical references about human nature. I'm starting to notice cinematography more now since joining this board and because I signed up for a cinematography class. Therefore, my only complaint and it was just my preference is that the director should have chosen to shoot the movie in either the traditional format or the documentary style. I didn't like the alternating, but again it is just my preference.
I also saw Cloverfield in the theater and enjoyed that too. However, I heard most people did not. If you've seen it you know it was done all documentary style, and on the big screen I liked it. I have only seen it once though. I wouldn't consider it an excellent movie by any means (storyline wise) but I enjoyed it.
I have been researching Kathryn Bigelow like crazy and plan to watch every film she's directed. It was encouraging to see that it has only been a handfull and she is 57. It does make feel young, like you are never too old to direct. Have you seen her recent movie, The Hurt Locker? I heard about it when it came out but didn't want to see it because I'm not a big fan of war movies, or war in general. I am interested in seeing it for different reasons now. When I first saw it was directed by a woman I wasn't thinking about making movies but majoring in Peace Studies, so it is funny how priorities change. ?8)?
I sent a message to Oan, so maybe he will join in on the conversation. I have been making shorts for many years and have had a knack for effects and action. However, the other aspects of filmmaking have taken me a long time to develop. Everyone has their strength, I guess. With Oan, I see TERMINAL PLANET and DEVOTION and my jaw just drops! Right out the gate, this guy demonstrates such an artistic eye. The camera work, lighting and acting is superior, especially for the early stage that he is in. This is the kind of guy whose work I look at and say, "He will be working in the business, soon."
Yes, I saw CLOVERFIELD and did enjoy it. I hate shaky camera and wish that movie, and DISTRICT 9, were made more conventionally. What got me about CLOVERFIELD were a couple of the monster moments, especially when the soldiers were running down the street and our protagonists with the camera were trying to get to the subway. Amazing!
Last night, I watched REC, which is the movie that inspired the U.S. produced version - QUARANTINE. If you have not seen either, you should rent REC, right away. I know you don't like zombie stuff, but this is more like rabies and the ending is really fricken scary. It is shot news style - like DISTRICT 9.
I really liked the main character in DISTRICT 9, but I don't like that the Prawns never use their weapons. I did enjoy it though. Cat food - I love that!
I have not seen THE HURT LOCKER. I don't want to see another Iraq war movie. I might see it, just because Bigelow directs it.
www.midnightsunent.com
www.midnightsunent.com
quote:
Originally posted by Scoopicman
I sent a message to Oan, so maybe he will join in on the conversation. I have been making shorts for many years and have had a knack for effects and action. However, the other aspects of filmmaking have taken me a long time to develop. Everyone has their strength, I guess. With Oan, I see TERMINAL PLANET and DEVOTION and my jaw just drops! Right out the gate, this guy demonstrates such an artistic eye. The camera work, lighting and acting is superior, especially for the early stage that he is in. This is the kind of guy whose work I look at and say, "He will be working in the business, soon."
I agree with you completely! I was blown away. I could see him bring some of my Sci-Fi Dystopian visions to life! I was very inspired by the shorts and began writing on my epic again. I have other stories that I think could be portrayed excellently through his style. I think that it would be a severe artistic injustice if his work were to go unrecognized. I can't believe only a few hundred people have watched the shorts!
I was also curious to know how long he has been making films and what his background is- if he went to school, etc. He definitely has an amazing artistic eye. His work also gave me hope as a screenwriter, because if I don't like the technical aspects but understand them I could meet up with someone who could help bring my visions to life. With someone so brilliant, I could trust my vision would be played out as I see it, but possibly even more phenomenal than I could ever imagine as a mere writer.
I meant to say I loved the philosophical message about humanity in District 9. It shows the worst side of our nature and how our immediate response is fear. Fear is the basis of all prejudices, regardless if it be aliens or our fellow human beings. I agree that the Prawns should have fought back. I didn't like how they were called the Prawns, I felt like we should have been respectful enough to ask them what they wanted to be called.
I will probably see the Hurt Locker, just because it is by Bigelow. I'm not a fan of Iraq movies either. However, I have read it is about the individual soldier's experience rather than just a straight out war movie.
