elvworks

Thank you for your indepth reply Mr. Mullen, I always appreciate your insightful posts. And thanks for bringing me up to speed on the forum rules. I will make the necessary changes. Rick

I said this a while back, almost a year ago and some people got real mad, rude even. Some were nice, some agreed and some had their own unique input, which is great, one can always learn. In the last year, a good amount of movies have been shot digitally (video, hd, whatever you want to call it), this time next year, even more movies are going to be shot digitally. It is taking over, the public is getting used to it, and you will too. You got used to cell phones, remote controls, digital cameras, hd tv, the list goes on. Embrace digital, but love film. Rick

Digital is taking over.

Really beautiful screen grabs. Did you crop it or use an anamorphic adapter? All the best, Rick

Actually, I was just at the store today and was watching several 16/9 tv's playing 2.35 movies and it didn't look that bad. The black bars on the top and bottom were even less than a 1.85 movie on a 4:3. So it looks like 2.35 is the way to go. I guess I was always watching 2.35 movies on my 4:3 tv and forgot about the world of 16:9 tv's evolving. So we're all good, thanks for your input. Rick

I love this forum, I really do. It makes the internet fun again. Rick

Hi John, thanks for the informative reply and for setting me straight on the exact AR's. Also, I bookmarked that site and will be scouring it soon. I know with film, you really only have two ARs to use, flat or scope. But in filming for DVD but still trying to give the audience a somewhat cinematic feel, there are more options with the AR you use, thus you can make something creative and unique, as long as you framed for that specific AR. It's a little bit of a tough call because on tv's 4:3 and 16:9, you want to use as much screen as possible, but at the same time, you want the widescreen feel. So that's why the 2:20 AR looks like an attractive solution. Any thoughts? Regards, Rick

Hi Mark, That's funny. The Robber thinks he's in the clear and finally rid of this kid but here in the distance comes this kid running after him. The Robber would have to leave something else behind though because then we lose the comical EXT shot of him running away from the car still wearing his mask and holding the bag of money. (Plus he can't take off his mask because that would enable the kid to I.D. him and even the kid doesn't want that). It would be funny though. So we can just add something else the Robber would leave behind. Yeah, I'm down. That's all I was hoping for, for someone to make it if they wanted. We can go back and forth via e-mail, see what has to be worked on and you'll have a completed script and the freedom and flexibility to adapt it as you see fit. Presently, I changed the end to make it shorter (the one presently online), as opposed to the earlier version you read, but maybe something in the middle of the two would be just right for it. So Mr. Williams, for the sake of not inundating our fellow forum friends with e-mails every time we add to this string, perhaps we should continue via e-mail. My e-mail is fieryphoenixe@yahoo.com I agree Capitan, I hope by the time it's all said and done, it would even get your seal of approval. :D And special thanks to everyone on this thread. I will be printing out this thread and going through it to double check what I would have to change because I do appreciate everyone's comments. Also, if this short is made, I would definitely want all who contributed here to see it. A collaborative effort. Rick

P.S. - I have already started to make revisions I think is necessary from everyone's valuable feedback on this thread. Rick :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I would say your best bet is to go to the bookstore and find a book on it. It will give you more of a full view of what you need to do, more than you can receive here. Also, after the book is written, the rules for submitting screenplays, fiction and non-fiction to agents/publishers differ and you'll need to know what those rules are. All the best to you, Rick

(Mark, what did you have in mind?) Wow, this is serious. I didn't expect all this when I woke up this morning. I have to say I do understand everyone's point of view, even the Captain's. I sent this to two writer friends and the general consesus is either you see it clearly or you have some serious problems with it. I believe it all comes down to vision or maybe aligning your vision to someone else's. I do not mean this as a flaw, please let me explain. The other day I stumbled upon the script to the "Pirates of the Carribean." A movie I love, a movie I saw five times in the theatre and hundreds of times on DVD. I even have the soundtrack. I know every word, scene angle, cut, everything. If I was stuck on an island with a big screen tv and dvd player and allowed one DVD, I might pick this one. It's one of the top three. I love everything about the movie, the story, the visuals, the pacing, the characters. Keira Knightly is hot, Johnny Depp is very entertaining, Orlando Bloom does pretty good, and the rest of the characters. So anyway, when I happily stumbled onto this script and started reading it, I was shocked when the words were dead on the screen. They had no life what's so ever. They didn't scream out at me. I may as well been reading one of the millions of movie scripts littered on the internet. I was shocked, how could this be the move I cherish? It came down to, I didn't see it. It happens to everyone. We're all different. I didn't have the vision that the movie turned out to be, not even close. It was almost scary. I'm sure you can argue I may have been comparing what I read to the movie. Naw, I felt no connection between what I was reading and the movie. I realized the producers and directors and everyone else for that matter added their vision to the story, whether in art or acting. So, now we're back here to "The Get Away" haha, what a funny name. I believe and think this story is good, and if done, the producer/director would add his vision to the mix, as well as the characters. Could it be tweaked? Ofcourse, but I believe the root story, the premise, is strong. I can easily picture it in my mind as I read it. But that's just me and a few others. Thanks all for your time. I do welcome your posts. :D Rick

Well, I'm definitely listening to what you're saying. That's why I posted the script here, for feedback. Sometimes it's hard to accept criticism but if you learn to see what you can apply, you can be better, so I'm definely listening to you and the others on this thread. I will definitely keep polishing it. All the best and thank you for your time, :D Rick

Yeah I was going to do it in post and frame for desired AR. Good deal, thanks. Rick

I was thinking of the 2.20 ratio. That's what I believe that trailer was show in, real close anyway. It was just a little bigger on screen than the 2.35 ratio. This way the best of both worlds could be attained. Rick

I didn't start shooting yet. I was going to go with 2.35 but thought since it was a DVD release, and most people's tv's are 1.33 or 1.78, maybe it wasn't the best use of their screens although I wanted the scope feel. That's why I was asking if there was a ratio between 2.35 (but I would like to use more screen space) and 1.85 (which is a little too high). Just for the record, I love 2.35, and 1.85 when viewing on tv. It's just this movie has a set of rules of its own. Thanks, :D Rick

For an upcoming feature that will be a DVD release, I originally wanted to use the 2.35 aspect ratio but it seems impractical for a DVD release. On the other hand, I wanted people the have the widescreen scope feel especially with the beautiful scenery available. And 1.85 is too high for what I feel this movie needs. My question is is there an aspect ratio used between 2.35 and 1.85??? The other day I saw a trailer for the Memoirs of Geisha and it seemed as if it were somewhere in the middle. It looked really great. The best of both worlds sort of. I figured with the emergence of 16x9 tv's, could there be a new aspect ratio on the horizon? Best regards and thanks! :D Rick

Hmmm......interesting Mark, thanks! I certainly will give that thought. Regards, Rick

Mark, THANK YOU for getting it. :D (Although I thank everyone for reading it) I think everyone is taking this as real life. I saw it like almost Napoleon Dynamite style. Not that I was trying to copy it but along those lines. It's just supposed to be "Man, this robber got into the wrong car" kind of thing. He would never have suspected to deal with a kid like this. In real life, it would be scary and people would be timid and do what the Robber commands. But I think people can live vicariously though this kid, who starts to see this Robber not so frightening as first thought. The way I came up with this idea was I was actually idling in front of a bank waiting for my Mom to get out of the supermarket which was adjacent. And I was looking at the bank and thought, "What if a robber came screaming out of the bank, gets in my car and orders me to drive. That would be crazy and possible." Now that is drama, and action and if it was told in that sense, I don't see how it could end in five pages. But if it's comedy, you can do some stuff that isn't normal and get away with it. No pun intended. All the best to everyone, Rick

Now you're quoting me but taking what I said out of context. It was a pleasure, Rick

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you're going to quote me, please quote me and not type what you remember I said. Or just scroll up and re-read it. It appears that there are several here that shoot music videos, I'm not out to belittle what you do, I am just making an observation across the board. I have access to MTV, MTV2, VH1 and even some spanish networks where videos are played. From what I see, most, (I didn't say all) look the same, or undistinguishable from another and pretty much look ridiculous now. Especially the hip-hop ones. The whites bleed through so I used the word camcorder because that's what it looks like. But I also said there are some that are really nice and visually appealing. I am not talking about those when I say "camcorder." And I am aware that many are done on 35mm. So please understand, I'm not talking about the good ones although they are few and far apart, I'm talking about all the other stuff that we are inundated with. I just see a steady drop in quality when it comes to videos in general. As far as music tastes, I grew up on Hip-Hop/Rap/Rock/Country/Classical, etc. etc. etc. You name it. Whether the song in that style is something that I like, I guess that is to be argued. But I've watched videos for their production values when I didn't even like the song. It's amazing how everyone flipped out instead of just not even listening to me. Maybe, just maybe, I might be on to something. If you are making videos and it looks good, then that's great. If you are making videos the way I described, then it's up to you to take critism the way you want. It almost sounds as people are defensive about this. Now what I do, is put the VCR on the six hour speed, tape six hours and later zoom through all the undesirables. Hey, if I'm alone on this, then fine. Rick

Thanks everyone for reading it and for your input. It really is just supposed to be "funny dry humor." As Mark said, this guy who thinks he's in control realizes he's not and this kid is going to do what he wants anyway. In the beginning, he appears to be very submissive to his mother and in turn, makes the Robber slowly have to submit to him. I think it's funny. I wasn't trying to go for any drama or action. It's almost like, this fast paced event of robbing a bank must slow down to this kid's speed. When writing scripts I normally try to give the Director as much latitude as possible so they can add their vision thus leaving alot of things open. As long as they see the story, that's what matters. Then the Director can deliver the project to the audience visually. But I did examine everyone's input and have already started to make changes. You can always learn from everyone's feedback. You guys are great! All the best, and hope you laughed. Rick

Thanks Alex for reading it. Alot of good input there. I definitely have to go back in there and polish some things. It's tough when you want to keep it short, cause you want to tell alot and five screenplay pages goes by so fast. Thanks again for reading it, Rick

Max, it sounds like you're working hard at it, keep it going man. Rick

Hi Mark, Thanks for taking the time to read it and for your enthusiastic words, means alot. In reply to your question, this is the only short I have written. I never thought I would write a short but took a stab at it. I normally concentrate on bigger stuff, but when you're trying to break into the biz, you do what you have to. But I admit, this was really fun. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks again, :D Rick

I figured "Off Topic" could be a good place for this post. I invite you to read my short screenplay (5 pages) and let me know what you think. If you really like it, and want to film it, then go for it. I would just like a credit and copy. Here is the logline: 'Everyone has their limit before they take matters into their own hands.' Here is the summary: This is a comedy short screenplay entitled 'Get Away,' about a quirky kid who's waiting outside the bank for his mother when suddenly a bank robber gets in his car wearing a ski mask and orders him to drive. The short can be viewed as a .pdf file at this address: http://www.geocities.com/fieryphoenixe/getaway.pdf I look forward to hearing your comments. :D All the best, and thanks for taking the time to read my story. Rick