Time for some blatant self promotion (apologies in advance). My short film 'Still' is now available on DVD...
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I'm selling it through my website. It's only eight bucks (plus shipping). BUT...you can knock two dollars off the price if you type XIXAX in the Special Instructions field when you order.
I hope you all can check it out, especially if you're into the indie filmmaking process (the disc has a pretty good documentary on it that's ten minutes longer than the film itself). All the info is on my website, but this link below will take you directly to the ordering/info page: http://www.road-dog-productions.com/stillpurchase.html
i'll buy it! :)
just ordered mine
Hey ghostboy, good luck with that. How much money do you think you've made so far?
I'm definitely buying one. May not be able to do so til next week or week after, but i think very soon. Hey Ghostboy, after I see your film, mind if I post some constructive criticism on the board? I promise to be fair and honest.
~rougerum
dammit, ghostboy, your website makes me want to buy it!
Quote from: bonanzatazdammit, ghostboy, your website makes me want to buy it!
Well, I hope you do! Although I also hope I'm not hyping it up too much on my site.
Gold Trumpet, I fear your criticism, but not nearly as much as I look forward to it. In other words, critique to your heart's content. I also am going to post up on my site any reviews or blurbs, positive or negative, anyone wishes to submit.
Thanks to those of you guys who've already ordered it! In response to Mr.Burgerking's question, I've sold four so far. My goal, breaking-even wise, is to sell at least twenty, but I mainly just want to get the film out there and hear what people think.
check is in the mail. and now i must wait for it to go all the way to texas. email has spoiled me
ghost boy: i recenlty put my film on dvd as well -- did you find that there was a quality difference (especially color staturation) between vhs and dvd-r? -- my vhs copy was actually better quality than the dvd -- as far as blacks and color...
cool site.
post a link to the trailer please. or at least a plot outline?
Here is a link to the main 'Still' page on my site:
http://www.road-dog-productions.com/stillmain.html
It has the trailer, a tiny synopsis, production diary, etc. The synopsis is really short, though, so here's a more in-depth review (this is the first review I've had -- I'm trying to get Film Threat and a few other sites to review it as well).
www.filethirteen.com/reviews/still/still.htm
Cowboy, the mpeg2 compression definitely affected the colors and blacks a bit, but it's definitely better than my VHS dubs. What bitrate did you compress at?
Done and done.
Look forward to seeing it.
OOPS, I need to clarify one thing...
If you want the 'Xixax members special,' you need to take the two dollars off yourself when you enter the amount in the order form. That part isn't automated...the only reason I need you to type XIXAX in the message box is because I don't know most of your real names, so that's just so I know you're from this site.
I can't wait to hear back from you guys when you see it. I love all feedback, positive and negative!
Great, now you tell me. Looks like no Big Mac today. :cry:
If you guys who already ordered it didn't get the discount, I can still give it to you if you have a Paypal account.
Quote from: GhostboyOOPS, I need to clarify one thing...
If you want the 'Xixax members special,' you need to take the two dollars off yourself when you enter the amount in the order form.
umm, i did not do that
Okay... so, I got this DVD today and I guess this is where I should post my errr... review?
Anyway... Well done... I must say...
The Film as a whole: I enjoyed it... I thought it was a solid story, paced well and felt like a film like that should feel. I thought some of the acting scenes were really well done (there may have been a couple of scenes that felt a tad... artificial). I think it's strongest point is it's visual soundness. Not just the camera work (which had a very slight style, but far from visually overbearing), but the editing (which didn't feel akward, like a lot of lower budget festival films) is well paced, it's quite smooth.
Overall, the film as a whole is worthy of being in a short film festival... I've seen a few and some of the films that turn up on screen make me wonder what the criteria is for entry... one that I would enjoy I mean.
My only complaint about it would be that it's a tad melodramatic. The acting was the main reason behind this. But it's a minor complaint.
Technically: I thought it well shot... as far as composition goes... It's definately proffesional... it didn't look like a student film, it looked like you knew what you were doing. I don't know about your color correction because I only have the trailer to go by for the original color, but I felt you may have pushed it a bit too warm. I felt some of the tones bled a bit too much in certain scenes, but sometimes 16 can just look like that.
Lighting wise... back to being proffesional... especially because it didn't interfere with anything (with the exception of about two scenes that seemed mildly overexposed in spots, but that may have been intentional). It looked right... it looked like a real film.
Sound wise... pretty good... seemed mixed well... The only time I noticed the sound was the one scene with ADR and that's just because ADR is hard to mix naturally.
The DVD overall: I would recomend it to anyone who's interested in film making... the documentary is very good and it's neat to see how a shoot like this is run. The commentary is great too, it fits in as a kind of supliment to the doc. I wouldn't have been brave enough to do a commentary... but way to have some balls.
Only thing I would say is that I wouldn't personally admit to not being good with actors.
Anyway... I'm definately glad I bought this and I think the others that did will enjoy it as well. I hope he gets to make another film soon, I think he has great potential. I actually have more to say, but I'll wait until others start getting thier copies.
Oh... and Da... er Ghostboy... if you're in need of a camera op for your next flick... I LOVE handheld.
Thanks, RK!
Has anyone else received it yet? As of tomorrow, all orders so far will have shipped. I'd like to discuss it in further as well, once more people have seen it....
Haven't ordered it yet, but I really liked the trailer's music and the way you feel "something's wrong" there just by the mood it creates.
Look forward to seeing this...at least in a festival if I don't buy it (it's all depending on my spending urges, really :roll: )
Just ordered my copy, too. Always glad to support a fellow Xixaxian!
havent ordered mine yet either, but am looking forward to doing so, i love your site too by the way.
Just watched "Still".
Wow. Very professional! It looked like something I'd see on late night Cinemax, only without the porn. :)
My only criticism was the title. It was *too* foreshadowing. I had the film figured out as soon as we met the neighbors.
Great score, and Mary was really really great.
I'll watch the commentary after the kids go to bed.
Have you hit the festival circuit with this?
Quote from: XixaxJust watched "Still".
Wow. Very professional! It looked like something I'd see on late night Cinemax, only without the porn. :)
My only criticism was the title. It was *too* foreshadowing. I had the film figured out as soon as we met the neighbors.
Great score, and Mary was really really great.
I'll watch the commentary after the kids go to bed.
Have you hit the festival circuit with this?
Thanks Xixax! I have hit the festival circuit, but with only limited success. I was told by one festival director (who did accept it) that most fests try try to program shorts under 15 min, so they can fit in as many as possible. I guess that's a decent enough reason...I'm still trying, though.
Alaina, who played Mary, is on her way. She's incredible to work with. You've probably seen her already in commercials/ads/Dawson's Creek. I'm indebted to her for doing this movie.
One of my friends told me, back at the script stage, that the title might be too suggestive, and that maybe I should change it. My response was probably in the vein of William H Macy's impression of PTA when he suggested that Magnolia was a little long. :lol:
That is the reason that I saved the title for the end credits, blindly hoping that maybe people would forget what it was called while they were watching it....
I'm very intrigued about the idea of including sex in movies (i.e. The Brown Bunny or John Cameron Mitchell's new film), so maybe someday I'll make something that WILL include the porn.
Before I order, I'd like to know if the disc works on PlayStation2's. That's the only DVD player I've got, and it doesn't read all discs (i.e., most of my Troma DVDs)
Hmmmm...I'm not sure. Does anyone else know whether you can play DVD-Rs in a Playstation 2?
Yes, DVD-R's will play in PS2's. You should be A-OK.
Seeing as the online payment is paypal, do you have to be a member and validate your card and everything? I'd pay by check but I'm in the UK, and my bank wont do it.
Yeah, I just did all that.
Well, just ordered your movie buddy. Look forward to recieving it.
gotta support the coz any way I can
spoilers
very very well done! what was the budget?
unfortunately, i cant really comment on the story because i sorta knew the ending from the start (i think you gave it away in your journal or something). but i didnt think it was too melodramatic (maybe some did because of the music, which i found a little annoying at some spots. maybe because it was too loud, or maybe because it was trying to be too sad)
i did find it creepy, because you didnt show the baby (that was a good decision). maybe if you had made the neighbors actually acting "normally," like calling them up to let them know they had the baby, have big smiles and wave while walking him... it wouldve been much more insane to learn that hes dead, especially if they kept up the attitude afterwards as well "we saw the baby..." "yeah, isnt he just adorable?" but maybe thats not the direction you were going.
the commentary and the documentary were great. very informative and funny. unlike SOME people here, i think its great that you can admit you have flaws as a filmmaker. but anyway, from what i saw, i think you articulate your ideas pretty well. maybe i can understand you more because im a filmmaker myself. when i work with my uncle on one of my movies, we hardly even speak to each other (well we dont have to explain anything)... sometimes we just mention certain movies, or just make weird sounds and demonstrate and we can understand each other. i dont know if the actors ever did though.
also the menu and the cover of the dvd are great. i especially love the little "1" on the spine. i think youve allready mentioned it on your site, but are you planning on releasing lullaby on dvd? or have you become ashamed of the movie and never want anyone to see it again?
i found 2 easter eggs (the "love" short and the notes) are there anymore?
question: were you trying to say something during the dinner scene, where the neighbors are close to each other and the others are apart? (sorry i forgot their names)
im very impressed with the film, and i cant wait for your next one.
I'm really glad you liked it, Cecil.
You're right about being able to communicate with other filmmakers. It's great, you can just say something totally abstract and they'll understand. Actors usually think differently, I've learned. Some of them have told me they have no idea what the hell I'm shooting until they see it all cut together. Alaina (Mary) was great because she understood every ridiculous direction I gave her...but for the most part, it really helps to give actors 'playable' directions, rather than abstract ideas.
Throughout the movie, I tried as much as possible for there to be a subtle distance between Tom and Mary, the main couple. When they're sitting at the table, definitely. Also, when Tom answers the phone, even though he knows his wife is on the other end, I thought it was important that he says "This is Tom."
There are a handful of additional easter eggs hidden within the 'notes' section, and one of them will answer your question about the Lullaby DVD. I was wondering if anyone would mention the number on the spine...as long as I have any control over it, I thought it would be fun to number my movies like that. Total Criterion rip off, of course. :wink:
Now that I've gone fishing for all the extras (I think I've found them all), I feel I've even got a better deal than before. I almost feel guilty for taking the XIXAX discount, it's such a good deal.
I was happy to See L.F.L. (I'll shorten to letters because I get the feeling you kind of enjoy P.T. Anderson films) on my television screen and I beleive that it's your best film. I hope you weren't kidding in the commentary because I really do feel like it was just fucking great and I think you SHOULD do a zombie movie. I've got a partial screenplay for one that I someday hope to film.
Anyway...I think more people should be talking about this, so I wanted to add some more thoughts.
i have really been meaning to give you a little write up on what i thought... for now, since i am quite busy with finals and whatnot, i will say that i did like it... i was very impressed with the production value... and i swear that that guy must be willem dafoe's son or something. ok, must go study. will write more soon.
Very good job. It's like...a real film. Really great DVD design. The whole thing is like a professional DVD.
As for the story, although, when you boil it down, its a simple idea, I still enjoyed it thoroughly. I figured out the ending fairly early(and I was positive when I saw them walking with the 'baby'. The look on the girls face gave it away) but it didnt bother me. I can't explain it any better then that, but you should be very proud that it didn't bother me. I agree with I think 'regular karates' comment that the color correction might have been a bit too much, but it only struck me on the second viewing. The first time around, it jsut sort of added to the rich look of everything. You also said something about thinking that it lagged too much. I disagree. As a matter of fact, when it ended, it felt way shorter then 20 minutes, so you're pacing was very good.
As for the documentary, its extremely motivating to watch. After I saw it all, I felt like going out and shooting something at like 3am.
As for the commentary, it was entertaining and informative at times. I think its ok for you to say you can't direct actors well. I can't either. Why can't they jsut do whats on the page. Always looking for 'motivation'.
Great easter eggs, too. It was like a surprise. And I'm glad you did the editing thing. I was a bit disappointed none of it was in the documentary, so at least you gave us a little taste.
I think that's all for now. I'll let you know when I watch it again.
p.s. how much did the whole thing set you back, if you dont mind my asking?
p.p.s. Where did the husband guy come from (from the normal couple, not the one with the black hair). I'm sure I've seen him before. Has he done anything else?
Thanks for keeping this post going, RK! I'm always happy to discuss it further...
That's good that it didn't drag for you, Recce. It actually moves pretty quickly for me most of the time, as well...but every now and then, I have my doubts. Probably because I've watched it about two hundred times. I was careful to pace things pretty tightly, back at the script stage...making every line count.
You guys haven't seen Karl (Tom) before, but as Xerxes said, he does look strikingly similar to Willem Dafoe. In person, he often looks a lot like Stephen Tyler as well.
It's supposedly 'against' the rules to say how much an indie film cost...but I'll just say that, from beginning to end, it cost over five thousand but under ten.
And RK, I do think LFL is my best film in that it's the one that has come out exactly like I imagined it. It also is a nice representation of my personality...twistedly romantic.
Quote from: Ghostboytwistedly romantic.
Fuckin a bro
On the flip side of things, I got a review from Film Threat yesterday. It's pretty negative...and while I have no problem getting slams, I had to laugh at this one. It's just not very well written.
http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=4585
I'm thinking of using 'Pretty Goddamn Boring' as a blurb on any future posters for the film. :wink:
QuoteThe only thing keeping you going is the faint chance of someone having a homicidal outburst, or something completely disgusting happening. Of course, nothing so entertaining occurs. It's a predictable outcome brought to you by some really uninteresting folks.
Yeah, if homocidal outbursts and 'something disgusting happening' define entertainment for that reviewer, he really has no business writing reviews...for anything. I wouldnt be discouraged by him. They probably hired some 15 year old who can't sit still for five minutes to watch 'Still,' thinking it'd be some kind of cute irony.
Oh wow, he's so qualified to be reviewing films. He sat through it for 20 minutes and ran through the basic outline of the film. I hope he doenst get paid for this. I wouldn't worry about that idiot, ghostboy. He seems to be some retard who enjoyed 'gone in sixty seconds' and 'fast and furious'. Obviously doesn't know shit about films. Plus, there was only one tiny paragraph about what he thought about the film and he only said it was boring. Nothing about the aesthetic value of it or anything. Obviously never tried to make a film himself. It's extremely easy to criticize. And he can't even criticize properly. 'It's boring!' 'Well, is there a particular aspect of it you didn't like...'. 'No, boring, gimme gimme money!'
You just got my order. I can't wait to see it!
We just had new neighbors move in a couple weeks ago, and that's exactly how we were. curious, excited, nosey....that guy really doesn't know what he was talking about, honestly and its cool that David can have a laugh at that kind of stuff.
Still was a nice treat to recieve on a Saturday afternoon.......
first of all, the disc in general is better than at least half of the one hundred and eighty that I own. cool extras, especially the Doc which was truly inspiring. My mom's stomach couldn't handle L.F.L, but I thought it was a great pleasure.
Still looks beautiful. all the way from the opening shot of that amazing looking house (nicely edited by the way) to the final CU of Mary's eyes opening then cutting to black (I loved that).
My Favorite Moments: The bedroom scene right after David's "Kubrick Montage" (which was beautiful as well). Tom and Mary in bed though was my favorite, perfect editing. I wanna say something youd see in a Soderbergh movie, but that scene was all David man, No One Can Touch It!
Alaina (Mary) is Great...a fine actress who I know we will be seeing more of. Her reaction to the dead baby was PERFECT. Yeah, I had the ending figured out, but her reaction along with Helen's creepiness coming out of the bedroom with the bright light (which David mentions in the commentary - I felt it too) then the shot of her with the baby in the window all the way to the final shot of Mary's discomfort in bed then her eyes opening....nicely done.
Good call on saving the title for the end.
I also loved the dolly shot of Tom and Mary walking to Mark and Helen's house. I don't know why but it reminded me of Eyes Wide Shut. I think it has something to do with Tom's coat.
anyway, cool movie. Get This Now If You Haven't yet and remember: It's Even More Eerie When You Play It Loud!
Terrific write-up, Poser! I'd write more right now, but I'm in Los Angeles, where 'Still' will be playing tomorrow night, and I only have a few minutes left at this Internet Cafe. But your words cast a ray of sunlight on this INCREDIBLY smoggy day (I can't even see the Hollywood sign).
where is it showing anyway??? i doubt that i will be able to go, seeing as how i am wrapped up in finals stuff at the moment, but anyway, how long you gonna be here???
i'm not sure if you'll ever be on to answer this, but you know
I'm not sure if he will be able to answer you so I'll pass on the info to you. It's playing tonight (06/04) at 8pm at Cinespace. (http://www.cine-space.com/) Forget studying you should see this instead. He will be in L.A. until Thur.
I just got the DVD after having it order a while after this discussion began, but I thought i'd just add a little blurb... I thought it was very good, and the whole packaging of the DVD was excellent. Overall, the whole thing looked very professional. Its very inspiring on many levels. Have you considered selling it through a distributor? There are many independent distributors that sell shorts like this on DVD... Image Entertainment being one of them (the have the whole "Thumb" series... thumb wars, thumbtanic, bat thumb)... www.image-entertainment.com. Keep up the good work... can't wait to see what's next.
Nick
Thanks man. I need to look into the whole distribution thing. There are probably lots of venues I've overlooked, lots of chances I've passed up...I'm so terrible at self promotion!
Hopefully, something new and (relatively) big will be in pre-production soon...
If you don't mind me asking, what did you shoot it on, and what was your budget? (I'm always curious, as I'm a filmmaker as well.)
Quote from: GhostboyTime for some blatant self promotion (apologies in advance). My short film 'Still' is now available on DVD...
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I'm selling it through my website. It's only eight bucks (plus shipping). BUT...you can knock two dollars off the price if you type XIXAX in the Special Instructions field when you order.
I hope you all can check it out, especially if you're into the indie filmmaking process (the disc has a pretty good documentary on it that's ten minutes longer than the film itself). All the info is on my website, but this link below will take you directly to the ordering/info page: http://www.road-dog-productions.com/stillpurchase.html
It was shot on super 16mm. As for the budget...well, I spent more than I initially wanted to. It was over three thousand (the original budget) but under ten.
Btw, how did the screening in LA go?
The LA screening was great. I didn't make any contacts or anything, but it was just incredibly satisfying. The response from the audience was really good, and the projection and sound was the best I've seen yet (as far as watching it on a big screen). A great time.
Nice. I'll probably order it from you in the next couple weeks or so.
the production featurette is longer than the film.
is that a first in film history?
what was the running time for HEARTS OF DARKNESS?
ghostboy, what is it like the first time you show your film to a random audience on a big screen? i can imagine its a weird mix of magic and terror.......what was it like for you?
boy i cant wait till my day comes......
It depends, but usually its totally nuts. Every time I show a film for the first time to a (paying) audience, I'll be on the verge of hyperventilating through the whole thing. You're just so worried something's going to go wrong. Subsequent screenings are usually much more relaxing and pleasant, but the first one is like a rollercoaster (even if the movie is slow, like my movies usually are).
But there is NO sweeter sound than the applause afterwards. At festivals, audiences generally applaud for everything, but you can still sorta tell whether its genuine or not. It makes you feel like you're floating, and when people come up to you afterwards and tell you they liked it or something like that, it'll just make you want to cry because you're so fucking happy. All of a sudden you feel like your whole life has been validated. And if your family is there, its even better because its like proof to them that you haven't been fucking around and wasting money...that it's all REAL.
Just ordered it. Looking forward...
aw
I watched the actual film part of this when I first got it in the mail several weeks ago, but neglected commenting on it because I wanted to explore the extras first. I finally did this afternoon, and though I couldn't hear anything because my roommate was bitching about the sound being too loud (trying to sleep at 3 in the afternoon :roll: ). That's beside the point though. Aren't roommates lovely?
Anyway, as others have said, the features (documentary and commentary) are more interesting in the film, though I think they're a bit intimidating. All that just for a 22-minute short? :shock: The sound on the documentary (and to a lesser extent, the film itself) wasn't that great, so I'm gonna have to watch all of it over again with no one around to bitch about how loud it is. I missed some of the things people were saying in the doc, but got the gist of it. I thought it was odd, though, how you as the director kind of sat back and didn't do much during the actual shooting (that's the way it seemed, though of course I could be wrong). Your loud-mouthed friend that called "Quiet!" and "Sound!" seemed to be running things more. You seem a little more soft-spoken. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Just an observation. I think I'd probably regress on a set that big, with so many other people around doing things. They'd just get in my way, and I couldn't imagine having to incorporate all them. So kudos to you and your crew for getting things done.
The short itself was a little cheesy. I liked how it looked, but one of the actors freaked me out a bit. The guy who played the husband of Alaina's character. He just looked funny, like a criminal in a cheesy erotic film, like something you'd see on Cinemax, or like Gary Busey. Yes, Gary Busey. The plot did seem a little soapy. I noticed you said in the commentary how the story was supposed to be about the couple without the child. I didn't get that. I thought it was obvious that the focus was on the couple next door and that baby you never see. So you may want to go back and work out how the focus got off. I think some parts of the film were extraneous and could've been cut. If this was a feature, they might serve a purpose, but there's a lot of unnecessary dialogue (something you said you want to get rid of), and IMO, unnecessary scenes.
Of course, I say all this with the greatest respect, because this right here, what you've put together, is a big accomplishment in itself. More than anything I've ever done. Just trying to give a little constructive criticism.
You said in the commentary that most of these people were your friends and that's how you got them to help. Some loyal friends, I must say. Don't know if I could ever find 20 people to cooperate like that. Some crazy questions: Where'd you get the equipment from? Where'd the money for the film come from? How much did you end up spending? Who got paid on this? How'd you trick 'em in to working for free or for such pittance? Enter it in any festivals? If so, which ones, did they get accepted, and how'd they do? I know you already said something about it, but I'd just like to hear a little more elaboration is all.
Also, you may know this, you may not, but I'd consider entering this thing in the IMDb since it's been available to the public, and seen at a festival or two. Great way to at least establish your work in the "public record," if you can call it that.
http://us.imdb.com/Guides/new-titles
For anyone wondering, the DVD Ghostboy has put together is an $8 well spent. Great way to support indie film. :yabbse-thumbup:
Thank you very much, sir. I really appreciate the constructive criticism. You brought up some interesting points that I feel like discussing (because I always like discussing my own films, narcisism be damned).
I think the production ended up being a little 'bigger' than I had planned. When I first wrote the script (in one day), I thought, this is something I can shoot in two days on DV just for the heck of it. Then I decided I wanted to shoot it on film, and from there it just got bigger.
On the set, when the cameras weren't rolling, I was either rehearsing with the actors or giving my stamp of approval to the various people doing things (the camera and light crew getting the next shot set up, the costumes getting selected, the set being decorated, etc.) It sucked, though, because I like to be very hands on, technically, and I didn't really do much of that on this project, other than supervising everything. I hated not operating the camera (and I think the movie would have been a lot better if I had), and will never forego that again.
The AD, though, did run the set, and that's how it's done on big movies. He did a great job. Incidentally, he is one of the people in the commentary that I mentioned that I'm not friends with anymore. He and the DP and the UPM were sort of a click (they had all worked together before and went to school together), and they didn't like any of my friends, who like me had a more guerilla approach (equally effective, and more fun in my opinion). They were very traditional, and we ended up jarring on a lot of things. There wasn't any friction on the set, but we haven't really spoken since the shoot.
Quote
You said in the commentary that most of these people were your friends and that's how you got them to help. Some loyal friends, I must say. Don't know if I could ever find 20 people to cooperate like that. Some crazy questions: Where'd you get the equipment from? Where'd the money for the film come from? How much did you end up spending? Who got paid on this? How'd you trick 'em in to working for free or for such pittance? Enter it in any festivals? If so, which ones, did they get accepted, and how'd they do? I know you already said something about it, but I'd just like to hear a little more elaboration is all.
Some of the crew were friends of friends, but most of the key members are very close friends of mine. We all just happen to love making movies (but, luckily, are interested in different aspects, i.e. sound and art, etc.), so it's the best possible situation. The sound guy and JMJ, who shot the doc, are probably my two closest friends. We all work on each other's projects. No one got paid a cent, but that's what's so great about having a group of people passionate about filmmaking -- we all do it just because we love making movies.
We rented the equipment from some of the various equipment rental places around Dallas (there are a lot of them). I used to work for one of them, so I was really familiar with exactly what I needed, and also managed to snare a discount. Everything came out of my pocket, except for a few donations from family members. The movie was initially budgeted at three thousand dollars...it ended up costing a bit more. I'm still sort of broke from the experience, but I'd say it was worth it. I've entered it in a lot of festivals, and made it into five, but nothing too noteworthy. It's been well received at all of them, though (at least the ones I've been to). Also, I have submitted it to IMDB about four times, to no avail.
And lastly (I don't mean to drag this essay out too much further), as far as there being unnecessary scenes and dialogue -- you're probably right, but at the same time, when I was preparing for the shoot, I could have given you a reason for everything shot and every singe line, because I tried to make it as tight as possible.
Anyway, I can explain why I think the movie is about Tom and Mary, as opposed to the new neighbors, but before I do -- did anyone else who watched it pick up on that, and what is your take on it? Did I succeed at all in that goal, in anyone else's eyes?
Thanks again, Onomatopeia...
i thought it was about all four, but mainly tom and mary
Yeah, that's what I was going for. It's a portrait of a hollow marriage, one that is most likely coming to an end, but that subtextual plotline is sort of hiding behind the mroe obvious story of the neighbors. The clues are in the structure of the film -- the beginning contrasted with the end being the most obvious, and also the way each act ends -- with Tom and Mary in bed, and what goes on between them in each of these scenes. And also of course in the birth control pill scene that I mentioned in the commentary.
My biggest influence in the way I structured the story was Kieslowski's The Decalogue.
hey, what program did you use to make the DVD (I haven't ordered mine yet, but I plan to very soon)? Just curious.
I am really interested in seeing it now. I'm trying to be more well rounded in the indy film area.
Anyway I'll ask my dad if I can order it today. :-D
(I'm on an emoticon binge. Don't mind me.)
Man, just reading about this film has gotten me excited. I'm reading the production diary on your website, very fun to read. It's very inspiring to read about people going out and accomplishing what they want.
is that Michael Jackson in a surgical mask holding a baby?
if so, i want it.
Blast from the past...
I felt like bringing this post up again because yesteday I watched 'Still' for the first time since...well, almost since I started this post. It hasn't sat particularly well with me over time. There's an awful lot I like, but certain parts really rub me the wrong way. Especially the score, which I never felt worked very well (as I discussed on the commentary track) but felt obliged to put in anyway. It was counteractive to the mood I was trying to create. And I remember how much I liked the initial rough cuts, which had no music at all.
Anyway, I was thinking yesterday about Altman, and an interview in which he was talking about The Gingerbread Man and how his instinct in making it was to use no musical score. He chickened out, and he says he wishes he hand't because it would be a better film otherwise. I realized I'm in the lucky position where I can still change things, so I went into the original edit of my film and removed the score and did some minor sound remixing on it. I don't know if I'll ever actually do anything with this version, but at least now I can look back on it without cringing so much.
I've sold about sixty or seventy copies of the original version on the DVD, and there are probably an additional 50 copies or so floating around as well. Just so you guys know, those of you who bought it, you have an edition that will never be seen again. If the film ever surfaces again for some reason (like an extra feature on some future DVD), it'll be the 'remixed' version I made yesterday. I wish I had stuck to my guns originally and given you all a much better version of the movie, but at least now I've learned my lesson.
Did you write the score? If not, who did?
It was a composer who had scored a movie for a friend of mine. He did a wonderful job on that, which is why I asked him to do it - but we just weren't on the same page. Basically, I wasn't as sure of myself as I should have been. I kept asking him to make it 'quiet' and 'subtle;' subconsciously, what I was probably trying to tell him was that I really didn't want a score at alll.
Keep us updated on the progress of this. I enjoyed the first cut a lot and found it extremely helpful on the guidance to approaching production and the production methods incorporated.
What's your plans for Still's future?
Quote from: Raikus
What's your plans for Still's future?
It really doens't have any, at this point. It played at a few festivals around the country in 2003, and it sold more copies on DVD than I expected to, and that was the extent of its public run. I hadn't ever planned on doing much else with it (until yesterday). I've moved on to bigger and better projects - projects I definitely would have been unprepared for had I not this short film under my belt.
You know how you always look back on things you've done with the hindsight you've gained in the time since finishing them and wish you'd done things differently? Basically, with this sound remix, I've acted on that hindsight. I'm not going to re-release it or anything, but if it ever does show up again, I won't cringe so much when watching it.