Xixax Film Forum

Creative Corner => The Art Gallery => Topic started by: pete on October 06, 2017, 01:33:18 PM

Title: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on October 06, 2017, 01:33:18 PM
it won't be out for a bit but here's a little teaser I made for it - click on the poster to view
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4549/37951771075_46ac35d17a_b.jpg) (https://vimeo.com/223838773)

it's like a little prequel to a feature I've been writing, starring Missi Pyle.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: Sleepless on October 06, 2017, 01:55:20 PM
Broken link :(
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: polkablues on October 06, 2017, 02:00:22 PM
The ultimate teaser is one you don't even get to watch.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on October 06, 2017, 02:05:44 PM
sorry guys!
try now?!
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: Sleepless on October 06, 2017, 02:10:30 PM
It works :)

Wow. I love it. Everything about it. That opening shot, slowly pulling back, then the total and utter transformation, the choice of music - even the description in the logline "Lizzy Jo, who still lives with mom at age 45, battles her loneliness and boredom by robbing banks in the guise of a cowboy on her lunch break."

Cannot wait to see more. Pete, you are the genuine article. Is it okay if I share this?
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: Fuzzy Dunlop on October 06, 2017, 03:15:58 PM
That looks awesome! I'm in.

Who's your DP/what did you shoot this with?
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: WorldForgot on October 06, 2017, 04:45:09 PM
Great teaser, the pace you chose is my favorite for any trailer. Ease us in, then jettison into the story.
Excited to watch the full short ~
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: Robyn on October 06, 2017, 06:05:05 PM
The amount of talent on xixax is impressive :yabbse-thumbup:

So many of you that do short films (and feature films!), writing books, podcast etc, and just being amazing in general.

It inspires me! ((:
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on October 06, 2017, 09:42:44 PM
Quote from: Fuzzy Dunlop on October 06, 2017, 03:15:58 PM
That looks awesome! I'm in.

Who's your DP/what did you shoot this with?

His name is Drew Daniels, we've been shooting together for a long time, but he's known for It Comes At Night, Krisha, and the Sundance winning short film Thunder Road.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: Just Withnail on October 09, 2017, 02:21:58 AM
This whole thing is really sweet!
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on October 16, 2017, 03:28:29 PM
Quote from: Sleepless on October 06, 2017, 02:10:30 PM
It works :)

Wow. I love it. Everything about it. That opening shot, slowly pulling back, then the total and utter transformation, the choice of music - even the description in the logline "Lizzy Jo, who still lives with mom at age 45, battles her loneliness and boredom by robbing banks in the guise of a cowboy on her lunch break."

Cannot wait to see more. Pete, you are the genuine article. Is it okay if I share this?

please do!
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: RegularKarate on October 16, 2017, 03:41:12 PM
This is a great teaser. Very excited to see the whole thing some day!
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: JG on October 16, 2017, 09:55:55 PM
looks awesome! inspiring stuff, pete, congrats!
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on December 04, 2017, 03:37:37 PM
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4534/24966291208_0a971d65cc_h.jpg)

hey the film will be premiering at Sundance's shorts program. See ya there!
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on December 24, 2017, 04:28:40 PM
this is what I sound like sorry

Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: lorenscope on January 01, 2018, 09:39:16 PM
Awesome teaser. Impressive and really well made.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on February 11, 2018, 11:22:19 AM
we're going to SXSW come find us there

https://schedule.sxsw.com/2018/films/119056
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on February 26, 2018, 01:53:08 PM
https://nofilmschool.com/2018/12/shorts-podcast-pending

we were on the nofilmschool podcast today

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/nofilmschool/why-you-need-to-stop-making#t=0:00[/soundcloud]
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: velociraptor on March 01, 2018, 09:42:37 AM
Pete, this teaser is WONDERFUL. Holy shit, this genuinely made my entire morning. Her performance, staying on the one shot of her in the car, jeeeeeez. I'm inspired. Thank you for sharing this.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on March 05, 2018, 11:37:50 AM
thanks Raptor. the film had a few lingering shots like that. hope I get to share it sooner rather than later!
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on August 03, 2018, 06:21:01 PM
hey psst just for you Imma share the film here don't spread it

https://vimeo.com/233684059
pw lobstercoloredmanchild

Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: jenkins on August 05, 2018, 01:31:20 PM
first of all the handwriting joke is hilarious. that was a first thing i felt. then when she was driving out, it was the sunlight on her face that really touched me. and i found myself being pulled toward this woman, which continued through the rest of the short, leaving behind what's called an "indelible" impression. like she is in my gut now.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on August 06, 2018, 01:04:24 AM
thanks Jenkins. I've just been commissioned to make a bunch more of these things to stay tuned.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: polkablues on August 06, 2018, 02:01:52 AM
That was extremely well done. There's no question you know where to put the camera and what to do with it while it's there, and you've always had a knack for showcasing whatever's visually interesting about your locations, but I'm most impressed with the character work. Every character feels lived in and complex, even down to the bit parts like the bartender at the bowling alley. I'm hyped for what's next.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on January 25, 2019, 03:39:08 PM
hey cats - this is going live on vimeo tomorrow, a year after our little sundance debut.
here are a couple of options for the video cover - thoughts? also the left part of the frame has to fit in a staff pick icon.
1
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4818/45960977795_6b96b1c4e9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2d2q2rD)
2
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4880/46875297641_527ce8378d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eqd9SV)
3
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7879/46875297781_9d04b2bd92_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eqd9Vk)
4
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4821/45960978335_260b6549f7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2d2q2AX)
5
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4811/46875298081_6cc6472047_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eqda1v)
6
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7817/46875297921_542263f3b3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eqd9XK)
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: Drenk on January 25, 2019, 03:54:40 PM
The fourth one is my fav'.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: WorldForgot on January 25, 2019, 04:23:32 PM
I like 3 and 4, but I think 3 is the better/unique character shot.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: Sleepless on January 26, 2019, 09:56:24 AM
Just to be extra helpful, I like 3 and 4 too, but I'd also throw 5 into the mix.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on January 26, 2019, 04:50:13 PM
ok it's on vimeo staff pick today! and I decided to play with the aspect ratio since the film was shot both in anamorphic and spherical - so even if you've seen it pretend you haven't.

https://vimeo.com/312878741

here is an article from No Film School about it:

https://nofilmschool.com/short-bank-robber-shot-missi-pyle
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: Alethia on January 29, 2019, 02:02:26 PM
Absolutely fantastic! Will be sharing this far and wide. This is really something to be proud of, man.

Checked out the NoFilmSchool article and found it very informative, but some general questions:

You said this was culled from a larger story/script - can we assume this will eventually find its way into the proverbial can, sooner rather than later?

How did you find producers/funding for this project? What process or processes were undertaken to get to the point of being in a position to so ably assemble such a crew, and with such a short schedule? How did you build this family?

If these questions have been answered elsewhere to my ignorance please forgive me.  :)

Again, amazing work, sir. 
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: pete on February 01, 2019, 08:31:00 PM
hey thank you!
I ended up really not liking the original feature script (withnail's read it he can tell you) I'd written, plus the fact that the rights to that original story was snatched up by Michael Showalter about a year ago, so I don't think I'll be making the feature version of this short. I have been however, commissioned by Topic to turn it into a short series, so we're developing that right now. Although my story really isn't an adaptation of the article in any meaningful sense, I still think it's much easier to differentiate my story if there's not another cross dressing robbery film also on the horizon. The short also has opened some doors for me that was previously unavailable, so I am developing a feature thru a grant and maybe even some studio support but it has nothing to do with Don't Be a Hero.

As for the funding of the project - it was just a cache of favors that was the result of making a shit ton of stuff over the past 7 years with the same crew, and lucking out into having some very loyal and talented collaborators. I also had a production company that set some money aside for the project. The company folded before the project was finished so I had to pay for the last bit of the film out of pocket, as well as all the film festival expenses, which ended up costing as much as doing post. Festival acceptance became a double edge sword: I had to spend money on finishing, DCP, licensing rights, and all that because I got into Sundance; but people also threw a lot of editing gigs, weird set jobs, hookups, and straight up donations my way to help me drag it over the finish line.

The film had two sets of producers - the folks on set were Colin Shane and Judy Craig - who've produced a bunch of stuff with me but they also have done a ton of epic music videos with the Daniels and the Hiro Murais of the world - they scrambled and hustled to make the project happen. At times it wasn't pretty, but they always came thru last minute and we got it done. The EPs were friends of mine from the Bay, who also produced Sorry To Bother You last year. They linked me up with people they trusted - most notably the casting director Charlene Lee who does a lot of TV shows featuring strange white people (like Fargo and Waco) - and that was how I was able to get the cast that I had, which I felt like more than elevated the game.

The DP was Drew Daniels, who's done some amazing work already and has a couple of huge projects beyond the horizon, thru him I was able to get an amazing crew, some of them are just friends of friends who wanna work with him, and some were kids that Drew and I have worked with over the years. He also put his name on the line and got us a huge ass, almost obscene discount with Panavision, and that was how we were able to afford the anamorphic set for a few days. Panavision has an indie wing and they're in the business of investing in relationships with DPs that they trusted. I've seen friends who fucked Drew over by not doing their part before, thus making Drew look bad when the crew stepped on set and the set didn't feel professional or the director was too fragile. I knew I had to be on my best behavior, so Drew really guided me through this process via asking me questions that maybe most directors would've already thought of, or and sharing with me tips and tricks he'd learned from other sets (eg. if we had time, we'd always run a take in which the actors go thru the scene without speaking a word of dialogue, that way we could catch a lot of interesting looks and gestures that we could cut in).

We also had our own short hands - for example, we developed a style while shooting Hong Kong style fight scenes in previous short films, where we don't shoot masters, and instead shot only the pieces we needed in each shot and piecing it together in a very precise manner - you obviously can't just transpose that 100% in a dialogue scene, but it became something we had in our back pocket when we were running low on time. Because it was pilot season, we didn't have the best pick of the crop when it came to having a good AD or PAs, so I had to lean on Drew a lot for game time decisions.

And that was just Drew - I could cite similar relationships with the other department heads as well - from the producer all the way down to the colorist. I think a lot of the rapport and good will just came from having done this for so long and how everyone in the community wanted everyone else to succeed. The filmmaking circle in SF is pretty small, and to find good talented folks who like the same thing as you is def much more rare than other cities, so once you find those folks, you gotta hold onto the relationships and continue to find interesting things to do and continue to make each other better.

Quote from: eward on January 29, 2019, 02:02:26 PM
Absolutely fantastic! Will be sharing this far and wide. This is really something to be proud of, man.

Checked out the NoFilmSchool article and found it very informative, but some general questions:

You said this was culled from a larger story/script - can we assume this will eventually find its way into the proverbial can, sooner rather than later?

How did you find producers/funding for this project? What process or processes were undertaken to get to the point of being in a position to so ably assemble such a crew, and with such a short schedule? How did you build this family?

If these questions have been answered elsewhere to my ignorance please forgive me.  :)

Again, amazing work, sir.
Title: Re: I made a gender bending bank robbery short film
Post by: Robyn on February 02, 2019, 07:13:46 AM
that was great!
also very much enjoyed reading the interview and your lengthy post about it.