Matthew W. Phillips

Tyler, the viewing public doesnt agree on everything and you know this. Even Academy pictures are sometimes argued about by the public because some feel certain pictures got snubbed while others are viewed as not worthy of what they got. What defines a "good" picture anyway? Good technicals? Good acting? Even acting is a charged word because different people feel differently based on who they connect with. Some like the more subdued approach of actors while others like the "larger than life" performance. I have worked with people who come from play and musical backgrounds and those are other approaches to acting as well. Maybe a "good" picture is something that helps you unwind after a long day. Maybe it is a movie with unintentional humor but still a pleasure to watch? Who really ever defined what a "good" movie is? I suppose I missed the memo. Edit: Next, we will discuss what "good" music is and who fits the bill.

That may be so but you are coming across as a bit bitter lately. Perhaps some rest is in order...not to mention considering your professional reputation before you make controversial comments.

Pardon me but that is BS. You do not get to dictate to me what a good film is just because you repeat yourself. Just because you have an inflated opinion of yourself, your work, and your opinion doesnt change the fact that EVERYONE is entitled to decide what they want to watch, like, and create.

I hope this is not out of turn but your post sounds extremely condescending. I used to talk to you about two months ago and you seemed like a friendly and down to earth guy...what happened?

I love how the term "bad" is being thrown around in this thread as though there is some universal standard about what is entertaining and what isnt. If speaking technically and comparing to Citizen Kane, practically every movie is bad. If speaking of what gives people a good time for 90-120 minutes then that becomes a whole different matter. I derived entertainment from some pretty "bad" movies in the past. But I didn't care what others thought of them because I thought they were fun flicks to pass the time. Not everything has to be a "Birth of a Nation" type film to be worth watching. One of my favorite such films is the original Warlock with Julian Sands. Not a masterpiece by most any definition but I would have more fun watching it than 90% of new releases out now.

Thank you Rob!

I took your advice, Landon, and removed the MPAA screen from the trailer. I do not want to do anything to anger a group like that. I appreciate you and a few others on here who are looking out for me on some issues.

Thank you, Richard, for the help. I will just remove their branding and not worry about it unless it makes sense. I was hoping to host my local premiere using the Tugg service...does anyone know if you can still screen your film at a multiplex through Tugg without an MPAA rating?

I figured not. If I read the page correctly, it will be $3k for my budget bracket.

Thank you for that. I do plan to get it rated but I am not sure of if I am required to get permission to use the not rated. I will look into this issue.

David, if you are out there, I picked up on your distaste for my previous transitions. I discovered Resolve's built in Fades so I used those instead to the liking of some of my cast. Hopefully this version will be a bit easier on the eyes. https://youtu.be/kC9nN0ehRMA

Not yet, friend. Am working on getting a local screening in my hometown first.

Haha, you noticed that people do that as well? I thought that was just a local quirk because no one in Northern California pronounces anything correctly, it seems. :lol:

Thank you , Tyler, for watching and giving your opinion. I appreciate it.

Rest for a bit and then make the final cut as polished as I can with what little budget I have left. I am holding a hometown screening for it here in Sacramento in October. I am hoping that I can appeal to the "cult film" niche like David mentioned because I was sortof going for that from the get-go since I have always liked those types of off-beat films since I was a kid. I admit though, I lack your savvy to know how to actually realize contacting the right people to make a go of it. Thank you Justin. In that case, I suppose the film may be cheaper than modern University tuition!

I admit that I am not usin a calibrated monitor to grade. Didnt have the budget for it. I was using manual transitions in Resolve by manipulating the parade color curves to create a manual "fade in/fade out" effect that was more unsettling than the polished ones that come standard in many NLEs. I am worried about the black levels because they look fine on my monitor but you arent the first person to say they look "not black" on theirs.

I am not sure if this is where we are supposed to put trailers as I have never done one before. I know I said I wouldn't come back but I wanted to announce that, for better or worse, I completed my first feature film. I had a tiny budget and non-union talent but I got it done and learned a ton. I wanted to thank everyone here in the past who gave me advice that saved me from some pitfalls. I also want to apologize to others whose advice I ignored to my own peril and I ended up learning the hard way. Nonetheless, no amount of research and talking to others can ever substitute for actually making a feature...even a cheap one. I admire all of you who have made features in the past and still continue to do so (Richard B...please forgive me for my negative words in the past.) Okay, enough talk...here is the trailer for my new film entitled "Malum." I have also attached the movie poster as well. https://youtu.be/GAWi3gtL5Ok

So what makes your opinion better than anyone else's? I merely stated that I dont get Fincher's work (or more specifically why people nuthug him so much) and you, Tyler, and Justin start being condescending. I would like to honestly know what makes you three's opinion so damn special? I realize I am an butt sometime but I did not indeed to be this time. I only added an opinion in reference to Tyler's initial comment (which praised Fincher and subtly put down RR all in one quote.) But I even tried to qualify it by stated that I knew my opinion was in the minority. But you three had to be pretentious butts and take it personal like I slapped your mother. Fine then, I'll give you what you want...I'll stop commenting on this site because I do not subscribe to the groupthink of the "Directors" here that havent done anything of note anymore than I have. I'll just go make my two-bit useless and hack feature that isn't worthy of this site. Peace out.

I cannot take credit for that line. I have seen it on at least a dozen reviews. I loved that movie but Pitt was cringeworthy in such a pivotal scene.

Brad Pitt? The man who nearly ruined 12 years a Slave with that terrible accent? I suppose I really am a hack because the Brad Pitt love is...

We arent practicing science here...this is ART. Artists do not need to do anything special or appreciate anything to make art. Fincher is YOUR idea of greatness. I personally love Baroque art and style and music. Others prefer impressionism...some like abstract...deal with it. Not everyone regards everything in the same way. i feel that if Fincher never existed, cinema would still march on.

Sounds like a tautology to me. He is a great filmmaker because he is a genius.

I am gathering that you are implying that taste is no longer subjective but is an objective truth? It isnt. I would rather listen to Bach or Vivaldi than The Beatles. Fincher has good visuals and the films are technically proficient but what I meant by not "getting" him is that he doesn't really connect with me. Kubrick connected with me. He made me think. I left the movie still pondering it sometimes days after I saw them. Fincher is...well...I just move on with life and usually I end up having conversations with film snobs about why I can dare have the nerve to have an opinion that isnt the perceived prevailing view.

Okay, so someone has to like Fincher to make films? I think that is about the dumbest statement I have ever heard. What if musicians made pretentious statements like that about other musicians? There is such a thing as "preference" and "genres." I think you sound incredibly narrow minded to suggest that not liking Fincher movies is akin to a singer not hearing pitch. Truth is, the Fincher thing is only among the film community. I have heard many "lay people" who think his movies are downright stupid...my wife being one of them. She thought Fight Club had a good story that turned absolutely ludicrous at the end with him shooting himself and asking for gauze afterward.But I am sorry that us "laypeople" do not have the refined taste that you do, Justin. Thank you for informing me that I should cancel my feature and go do something else since I obviously cant cut it because I do not get Fincher.