Brandon Adams

Just got back from the theater. I thought the film was mediocre. The story is your standard drug flick, the acting isn't great, though I thought Farrell was decent. However, the look of the film was unique. In comparing it to Bad Boys II, something with a similar setting and comparative plot... Miami Vice stood out as distinct, making the story and setting stand out as distinct resulting in less comparison by the viewer (me) to other similar, slick films. In a sense I guess I feel like it gave the film some breathing room to stand on its own for critique. The choices made with the HD camera have the ability to present the story in a different way that tends towards realism. Though I thought the video look brought me out of the story at several points, at other times it was great. And I love the digital noise. I have to say that I think the final shootout is worth going to the movie for. The HD look, combined with excellent sound design and Mann's choice of coverage, make for a unique drug deal gone bad shoot out that stands out from the rest (if only a little).

Locations will be primarily daylight exterior with about half in a forest location. Other scenes are a campfire scene and a quick scene at night outside a building. Plus one scene in a classroom.

I am directing a short next month. We were hoping for a S16mm camera but were unable to get it. We were able to get a 35mm camera, however. The DP would like to consider the possibility of shooting 35mm instead of regular 16mm. He said he thought he could get short ends for a price that would be make it reasonable. What considerations do I need to consider? How much can you get short ends for? We were planning on shooting somewhere around 3000' of 16mm, I guess somewhere around 7000' of 35mm. Anyone have any idea how much that might cost off the top of their head? I was told processing is the same per foot, and then telecine wouldn't be any more than 16mm cause it will be the same amount of time. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I'm shooting some product shots for a spec with soda bottles. Does anyone know where I can get some kind of motorized spinning table? Or how I could rig one? I know its not really lighting, but I wasn't sure where else to ask the question.

The price I got from the film emporium site was .56/ft I also saw some fuji film on sale for cheaper, maybe .36/ft I think... but I don't remember the site, sorry.

I was curious if anyone had any thoughts about ipod video? To me it seems like an incredible opportunity for short film makers.

Thanks for the replies. Film emporium helped. I'll give kodak a call, I wasn't sure if they had prices or if sellers did.

Can anyone direct me to prices for 35mm raw stock?

I thought that the mixing of the different types of footage was very distracting. You went from drama to music to snake to drama, there wasn't much of a flow (I didn't have the music turned on). It also seemed a little dark, could be my monitor. I would recommend cutting the second island shot. The first one is great, the second one is the same, but worse because of the camera movement. I like the opening and closing shot.

No go for me either. Just a white bg.

It's hard to honestly critique the work with such extreme compression and no motion. Why are they compressed so much?

Thanks for the response with your lighting setup, very helpful. The comment about underexposure wasn't towards the silhouette, but towards the sky. The sky looks underexposed. I like the silhouette.

Glenn, Start a new topic for your work in the forum (rather than adding it here), and I'll post some comments on it.

Not bad. I'm not a big fan of the opening shot. I don't know why its underexposed the way it is. The shots with the water look great, as does filling the glass. My problem is the editing. Up through the filling of the glass is good. But the following shots are misplaced IMO. There is a build from the drop to the pour, but then it jump cuts back to the drop in mid splash, then cuts to even another splash. I would take out those last two splashes and replace them with something else, or find some other way to edit it. Shots look good though. Do you know what the lighting setup was?

Thanks so much!