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watch I, Creator -- A 4 Minute Preview

ROC said:
It's only 2,000 new and I'm sure you can find it used for cheaper. This is compared to your 1,500 Sanken.

It's a huge step up from the Sanken.

Research it. It's a beautiful mic. It also weighs about the same as a highlighter pen so your boom op can easily maneuver and won't get tired using it.


Okay. First mixing lesson:

Dialogue is king.

You get this level set before anything else.

This is what the pro mixers do. They premix the dialogue to get that set and in the pocket and then bring in the effects balanced against the dialogue so you can still understand the words and let the effects support the dialogue. Of course there is "fun time" to let the effects really blare. Also, I think you should back off on whatever noise reduction you have on the voices. They sound way too dull and sucked out. Most people don't notice the hiss you're trying to get rid of, as well.
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Good points. I had to leave some hiss in when the actors were whispering. Otherwise their whispers would be too faint. I also left in natural wind sounds from the outdoor footage.
 
Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC said:
Good points. I had to leave some hiss in when the actors were whispering. Otherwise their whispers would be too faint. I also left in natural wind sounds from the outdoor footage.
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I don't have the slightest idea how to accomplish it, but I believe if a sound is constant (like a hiss), it can be at least partially removed. Gonna have to defer to ROC or Alcove.
 
But what I'm saying is you can't do too much of it or you start eating into the voice which is what I heard in your 4 minute.
 
ROC said:
But what I'm saying is you can't do too much of it or you start eating into the voice which is what I heard in your 4 minute.
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Exactly true!

A good technique is to digitally raise the volume of the audio clip 6 to 12 db with Sound Forge before applying the Sound Soap because it will soften the audio and sometimes slightly move the audio on the timeline to throw out the sync. So, it may have to be adjusted around the original audio.
 
I have been taking into account reverb of the scene. The outdoors in the woods had natural echoes with the dialogue. I went with that flow for the sound effects to make them more natural to the environment.
 
Buddy Greenfield said:
This could possibly rule in a so bad its good kind of way (No offence), and not that it's really bad,
just maybe a bit too ambitious for the budget or something.

The guy at 2:24 is awesome. lol

I really like ultra low budget stuff like this and would love to see it.


-Thanks-
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The guy at 2:24 is the survivalist, an ex-Delta Four captain hired by Dr. Robert Bruno to train Angela and Gail.
 
Cracker Funk said:
I don't have the slightest idea how to accomplish it, but I believe if a sound is constant (like a hiss), it can be at least partially removed. Gonna have to defer to ROC or Alcove.
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In the 4 minute preview, the hiss is actually blowing wind in the outdoor footage. Since the cuts are short and fast, they can be mistaken as just a hissing sound.
 
Buddy Greenfield said:
His delivery and tone kind of reminds me of Roger Ebert.

Does he have many lines in the film?

-Thanks-
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Yes. He has the biggest supporting role in the movie. He's a bad ass Delta Force guy who got charges of raping a woman dropped for rescuing an ambassador's daughter from terrorists. He's actually Dr. Robert Bruno's guinea pig for testing Angela's firmware. An organic woman would either run away from the survivalist or attempt to kill him in self defense. It's interesting to see how he fares against Angela and Gail when tempers flare.
 
Cracker Funk said:
This is going to be difficult for me to say, without sounding like an A-hole. Please know that I'm not trying to chop you down or discourage any future work.

In my opinion, a movie has to acheive a certain aesthetic to be taken seriously by most audiences. The cinematography needs to be professional-quality; the acting, audio, everything needs to be professional quality. Without acheiving that, I believe most audiences just won't take a movie seriously. They might watch it, but they watch it knowing that they are watching something ameatureish and I think they kind of giggle inside at the comparatively poor production values. It is for this reason that I believe a low-budget production will be most effective if it keeps things light and fun.

Speaking of your movie in particular, you might think my idea of giving it a "Laser Cats" treatment is crap, but actually I mentioned that because you kind of already have done that. "I, Creator" does not have the aesthetic of "Terminator". It has the aesthetic of "Laser Cats". I'm not just talking about cinematography, but props, costumes, locations, everything. Instead of letting that be a detractor, you could use it as a strength, have some fun with it, ramp up the tongue-in-cheek humor to level 10.

For "I, Creator 2", you're talking about having it take place in a spaceship and then on a distant planet populated by Amazon women. You can't really think that any audience is going to take that seriously, do you? I'm not saying don't make it. I'd love to see it. But me, personally, I only want to watch it if you make it fun, take advantage of the inherent humor that already exists in a low-budget futuristic sci-fi.

I see no reason why you can't tell the same story, with the same interesting characters that you've created, while making us laugh at the fun of it all.
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I must say there are a lot of very tall and strong men who think Terminator 3 and Terminator: TSCC looked ridiculous to them that a 5'6" girl (Cameron) can beat up big strong men--Terminator or not and the TX Terminator in T3 fighting Arnold looked silly to them too. They told me they didn't want to see little girls beating up big men in I, Creator. When they saw how tall Angela and Gail are, they like the way I cast them as cyborgs.

I hope to do a better job with the casting for the sequel for a planet of Amazons.

One filmmaker on another board asked how did I make Angela and Gail look so tall that their heads practically mopped the ceiling. They are giantesses in the script as another connection to Frankenstein with his seven foot monster.

How can a very tall woman manage in a real fight with a man?

Watch Isis fight THREE men : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZh7r78qAVg
 
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Oh God. I don't even know where to begin. Maybe since I am in NYC I should sit you down for a coffee or something.

My short film cost $15,000 in 2001/2002 dollars. That including about 5 grand for the 35mm blowup. The short was just over 15 minutes in length. We shot on Super16 over 3 very long, grueling days. Edited on Avid in NYC over 1.5 weeks of (again) long grueling sessions. I had great locations, a pro crew and the results are a short that looked far more expensive than it cost and that is according to those who saw it at various festivals.

Making a full length feature as an amateur is beyond risky. Embracing complicated sci-fi ideas is akin to suicide. It just won't work.

I had a hard time sitting through your little trailer. Sound is bad. Lighting is bad. Acting, is bad. The framing of every single shot seems off. The music is so bad I kept turning the volume off.

And you spent 20 grand of your own money and are talking about a sequel?

Look, I think everyone here wants to help you. My advice is this: DO NOT attempt another feature until you make a couple short films. Simple ideas, well told. Learn your craft. Explore how to set up a shot. How to move the camera.

I have actually made two additional shorts that will never be seen by man because I was so annoyed with how they looked. Both were shot on MiniDV right before HD became affordable and I just couldn't go from shooting on film to shooting on video. In the editing process I wanted to puke. But both shoots, which cost about ZERO dollars, were wonderful learning experiences. You do not need to spend money to make shorts. You can have a budget akin to a weekly shopping bill.

You really need to go back to square one and maybe get together with another guy or gal who wants to make films and work out a good story. Scripting is so important. A camera man who knows what he is doing and is damn good at it is crucial.

I could go on.
 
msp1518 said:
Oh God. I don't even know where to begin. Maybe since I am in NYC I should sit you down for a coffee or something.

My short film cost $15,000 in 2001/2002 dollars. That including about 5 grand for the 35mm blowup. The short was just over 15 minutes in length. We shot on Super16 over 3 very long, grueling days. Edited on Avid in NYC over 1.5 weeks of (again) long grueling sessions. I had great locations, a pro crew and the results are a short that looked far more expensive than it cost and that is according to those who saw it at various festivals.

Making a full length feature as an amateur is beyond risky. Embracing complicated sci-fi ideas is akin to suicide. It just won't work.

I had a hard time sitting through your little trailer. Sound is bad. Lighting is bad. Acting, is bad. The framing of every single shot seems off. The music is so bad I kept turning the volume off.

And you spent 20 grand of your own money and are talking about a sequel?

Look, I think everyone here wants to help you. My advice is this: DO NOT attempt another feature until you make a couple short films. Simple ideas, well told. Learn your craft. Explore how to set up a shot. How to move the camera.

I have actually made two additional shorts that will never be seen by man because I was so annoyed with how they looked. Both were shot on MiniDV right before HD became affordable and I just couldn't go from shooting on film to shooting on video. In the editing process I wanted to puke. But both shoots, which cost about ZERO dollars, were wonderful learning experiences. You do not need to spend money to make shorts. You can have a budget akin to a weekly shopping bill.

You really need to go back to square one and maybe get together with another guy or gal who wants to make films and work out a good story. Scripting is so important. A camera man who knows what he is doing and is damn good at it is crucial.

I could go on.
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What you call "amateur" many others consider "Indie."

The sound is being revamped because it was much worse than I expected it to be.

I said eraly on the light could be better. That goes for the camera work too. The DP was shooting his first feature and just worked on one short before my feature. He was all that was available when two others dropped out just before the shoot.

Enjoy your "Professional crew" and get ripped off for spending too much. I've been there and done that with a 10 minute short that cost me $50,000. Never again. This 10 minute feature was also edited on AVID. Big deal! The best part of that production was the editor. He knew his stuff.

The acting happens to be damn good. Your lack of understanding of robots, cyborgs, and the science fiction world is obvious.

If you had a hard time viewing the 4 minute preview, move on. Judging from the number of hits on Youtube, many others have been enjoying it.

You obviously hate good music. The music is topnotch. SPOILER: one of the bands who supplied music in the movie won two grammy awards and I'll bet you hate their music too.

In making science fiction on an Indie level, one must go back to the basics of science fiction from it's early roots before special effects, expensive sets, and action scenes where story mattered. This was made with the early days of the original Outer Limits and Twilight Zone in mind.

You obviously have such high standards, you'll NEVER get a feature made.

Here's a double feature that will have you envious, because it's in distribution: http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/oLHZeIG3Pu2ZToq2an/browse/item/85663/4/0/0

Oh man, those video lights in frame, those video lights seen outside the windows for the nights shoots, and the GREAT continuity. This is Indie film. Enjoy!

When you get a collection of Indie movies and independent films, you"ll know all about these great gems in distribution.

I'm working on a sequel. But, realistically know that it may never come to be. A lot will ride on DVD sales.

PS: When the audio is fixed up as good as can be done with present resources, it will be up for sale on CreateSpace.com. Amazon.com already sent me a second invitation to sell it on CreateSpace.com. Fans are more concern about the sound than the lighting.

Here again is why movie making is subjective. msp1518 doesn't like the music, when many others before him LOVE it. The digital composer did GREAT work on the feature and he sound score this 4 minute preview. And, yes, one of the two bands that supply music won two grammy awards. The other band is Heavy Metal and supply the end credits music. The music was a big hit at the screening party and with people viewing the beta copies of the movie.
 
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Female Combatants! I saw it awhile back -I love that stuff.

There are a few that are similar, but I think it's Female Combatants
where they shoot like a 20 minute fight scene as the sun is going down, in a public park. lol


-Thanks-
 
Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC said:
What you call "amateur" many others consider "Indie."

The sound is being revamped because it was much worse than I expected it to be.

I said eraly on the light could be better. That goes for the camera work too. The DP was shooting his first feature and just worked on one short before my feature. He was all that was available when two others dropped out just before the shoot.

Enjoy your "Professional crew" and get ripped off for spending too much. I've been there and done that with a 10 minute short that cost me $50,000. Never again. This 10 minute feature was also edited on AVID. Big deal! The best part of that production was the editor. He knew his stuff.

The acting happens to be damn good. Your lack of understanding of robots, cyborgs, and the science fiction world is obvious.

If you had a hard time viewing the 4 minute preview, move on. Judging from the number of hits on Youtube, many others have been enjoying it.

You obviously hate good music. The music is topnotch. SPOILER: one of the bands who supplied music in the movie won two grammy awards and I'll bet you hate their music too.

In making science fiction on an Indie level, one must go back to the basics of science fiction from it's early roots before special effects, expensive sets, and action scenes where story mattered. This was made with the early days of the original Outer Limits and Twilight Zone in mind.

You obviously have such high standards, you'll NEVER get a feature made.

Here's a double feature that will have you envious, because it's in distribution: http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/oLHZeIG3Pu2ZToq2an/browse/item/85663/4/0/0

Oh man, those video lights in frame, those video lights seen outside the windows for the nights shoots, and the GREAT continuity. This is Indie film. Enjoy!

When you get a collection of Indie movies and independent films, you"ll know all about these great gems in distribution.

I'm working on a sequel. But, realistically know that it may never come to be. A lot will ride on DVD sales.

PS: When the audio is fixed up as good as can be done with present resources, it will be up for sale on CreateSpace.com. Amazon.com already sent me a second invitation to sell it on CreateSpace.com. Fans are more concern about the sound than the lighting.

Here again is why movie making is subjective. msp1518 doesn't like the music, when many others before him LOVE it. The digital composer did GREAT work on the feature and he sound score this 4 minute preview. And, yes, one of the two bands that supply music won two grammy awards. The other band is Heavy Metal and supply the end credits music. The music was a big hit at the screening party and with people viewing the beta copies of the movie.
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I gave constructive criticism and you went off the wall, got all defensive and argumentative and even started to be insulting. You will never get anywhere in the film industry if you cannot take the hits.

Independent Film does not = shit. The vast majority of independent films I have seen are at least competently produced.

So let me say this straight out: Everyone here is trying to be REALLY kind to you because the footage available on Youtube is embarrassingly awful. Everything about it is low grade. Z grade. It’s crap.

I tried to be nice. I did my best to give you advice that I believe would help you improve as a filmmaker.

But you had to be completely defensive. So I will continue to be perfectly honest…

The music I was talking about is the music in the trailer. I’ve no idea what music is in the actual film, but the music in the trailer is just jarringly bad.

I was not "ripped off" on my short by hiring a sound guy a and small crew that knew what the hell they were doing. The crew worked hard and the results were there for all to see. My short received a standing ovation at the NY Film Festival and those New York crowds are tough. They will boo, hiss or walk out if they don’t like a film. After the premiere I was approached by a producer who asked me to do seven days work rewriting his project, which was about the shoot. The money I was paid for that one job paid for my 35mm blowup.

What amazes me is that despite it being my first short film, it had some success. And I learned from it all. I took whatever tough talk was thrown my way and thought about it.

Meanwhile, I’ve been involved as a writer with two films that have been produced. Feature length films. I was brought in to do re-writes on both (the scripts were just laughably bad), so I guess you’ve no idea what you are talking about.

Good luck to you. I hope you win lotto because you are gonna need it.
 
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Oh man, msp1518, don't bother with this one.

As you can see I already tried giving him top-notch advice to no avail.

He apparently knows everything there is to know about making movies and can therefore take no advice from people who actually work on top-grossing Hollywood films.

Don't worry. He knows how to mix. He's going to fix the voices in the mix. He has already turned their volume up and brought down the music and effects. Genius.

He also knows everything there is to know about lighting. If I walked into my bathroom right now with my iPod nano and recorded some video, that would have better lighting than 90 percent of that 4-minute feature.

Never again will he pay $50,000 on 10 minutes, though. $20,000 is much less money...

Videos go viral on You-Tube because of their poor quality, as well. # of hits doesn't mean it's good and people like it. The phenomenon is like that of the parody Ke$ha and GaGa music videos that people LAUGH AT and send to others to LAUGH AT.

I'm surprised there are no comments on his video on You-Tube, though. I'd be curious to what the general public say about this.

He doesn't need any luck. He knows everything already. I just got word he's been chosen to DP and Sound Design "Avatar 2", he's so good.
 
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