Political Ad: "It's Morning Again in America" - Apr 24
I recently read a commentary on this ad in which the commentator talked about how personally he wasn’t a Reagan fan, but he thought this ad was a great piece, especially as a part of the whole message Reagan presented. At a time in our nation when Americans didn’t have an abundance of national pride, Regaan brought a message of hope and of good feelings about the USA. Interesting to watch, especially in the midst of this political season.
Video: Ireland's Festival of Hope - Apr 3
Here’s the first video from Daniel’s work this week in Ireland. They’ll be working on the videos during the day and editing and posting at night.
Video: Stuck - Mar 28
Creative. There’s not much more to be said.
Stuck from Yark on Vimeo.
Video: Children See, Children Do - Mar 11
This will be my last post for the next week and a half. Don’t give up on me though! Idea Central will be back up and running the week of the 22nd. We’ve got some interesting stuff in store, including a behind the scenes look at Fireproof, an interview with the sound guy on the film’s set, and more of the same inspirational clips, great news, and informative articles that are a part of what we do here! Anyway, have a great week, and we’ll see you again in the blog world soon!
Video: Salford University Promo - Mar 5
We’ve been researching college and university promo videos in preparation for a project we’re doing for a school. Most of the promo videos I found were unexceptional as far as look and artistry were concerned. The following video was one of the notable exceptions. Doesn’t communicate a lot of substance about Salford University, but it does give it a high class feel. I love the picture frame concept. Like to use that sometime in one of my own projects.
Also, notice how the sound effects contribute to the soundtrack. The cell phone ring, the traffic, the crowd noise – all blend into the rhythm of the music. Rather cool.
Video: The 5 Great Voice Over Artists - Feb 19
Got a link to this vid thanks to fellow producer Micah Bomgaars. I’m sure you’ve probably heard at least one of these voices before. Don LaFontaine is considered the trailer voice by some. Anyway, enjoy hearing Don LaFontaine, John Leader, Al Chalk, Mark Elliot, and Nick Tate in action, making fun of their own voices.
Video: From the Ashes - Feb 7
This video is compelling, both in subject matter and in artistic treatment. I think the producer and editor did an excellent job both telling moving stories and yet not relying on the strength of story alone but instead marrying the content with some great graphical work, musical scores and editing.
Update: Destroying Perceptions of Beauty - Jan 30
Update
I checked out the other Dove films to see what they were like and found them generally unimpressive. Evolution, the one I posted is the best by far. I guess that’s why it won several Cannes awards. Of the other films, I’ll post them, all except Onslaught. That one, if you’re not a fan of indecent and risque images, you’ll want to avoid it!
I’d heard of Dove’s campaign to promote “real beauty”, but hadn’t seen much of it. A friend pointed me to this commercial, and I was impressed by the clever but simple way it illustrated the artificial realities of the beauty/modeling industry. I’m always a fan of simple visual concepts to illustrate profound truths (or advertisting slogans!), and this one ranks up there with the Hi, I’m a Mac commercials from Apple.
Video: The Price of Belief - Jan 30
This is my week for posting videos! The featured clip today was produced by Open Doors International, a ministry founded by Brother Andrew and focused on the persecuted church. It’s a powerful video essay about the price a North Korean pays to be a Christian. On the producing side of things, I really liked how they made it a moving interview, putting you into the environment instead of just a sit-down with a nice background. It adds visual interest and accentuates the subject matter.
Video: Darfur Now - Jan 18
One of the purposes of this blog is to highlight films that matter – that advance a cause worthy of our time and attention. I don’t know much about this documentary, but I decided to feature it since I like some of the artistic elements in the trailer, particularly the way they do a freeze frame on a person and slowly desaturate it. Also, I think Darfur is an issue that needs our constant attention. We shouldn’t forget the suffering that has been going on over there. Finally, I want to encourage you to make films and documentaries and TV shows and whatever else about issues that really matter.
Film: An International Ministry - Jan 16
Each month, Darwin and the other three evangelists show films to as many as 4,000 people, and about 800 make commitments to Christ. The evangelists document their efforts with reports and photos, which Darwin eagerly shows as he talks about what God has done in churches across the country. He picks up one particular picture and smiles, pointing to someone who looks like a woman but is really a 22-year-old man.
“This man was a homosexual and believed that he was a woman. After watching The Climb, he accepted Christ. He said that as he watched the film, he felt so alone. When it ended, we prayed for him. He accepted Jesus Christ and began attending church, reading his Bible and acting like a man.” Flipping to an “after” photo of the young man, Darwin adds, “Now, a year later, he’s getting married!”
You can read more here about the ministry of the Jiminez family as film evangelists in Latin America. Of the Worldwide Pictures films I’ve seen, their scripts haven’t been outstanding – some were good, some were a bit lame. But, that being said, God is using them to reach people with truth. Be encouraged by that. Your video project might be lacking in areas, but God can use it. I’m not saying don’t strive for excellence. I AM saying that you should do the best you can and then leave the results to God. Do all for His glory and let Him bring increase. This article is also a reminder to me not to look down on the amateur Christian films I run across. Maybe they’re lacking in a lot of areas, but God could still use them (I just won’t expect them to be a Hollywood hit!)
Really Big Stop Motion - New Bravia Ad - Jan 3
Some creative stuff done for ads is just, well, awesomely creative. I love this new Bravia ad. It doesn’t have quite the impact as their previous two, but it’s still some pretty impressive stop motion. Think of the time that would take…Also, check out the “making-of” video that accompanies the commercial on the Bravia site.
Video: The Beauty of Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Jan 2
Who’d have thought toilet bowl cleaner could be so fanciful? I don’t have any specific video or production techniques to point out in this commercial – the beauty of this one is simply its beauty. But if you’re more into analyzing today, feel free to post about it in the comments.
Video: Inanimate Emotion - Dec 19
Conveying emotion using an inanimate object as the victim – this IKEA commercial is a great example of imaginative storytelling through shot angles, editing, and color treatment…plus the nice twist to the ending that makes you want to view it twice. Watch & enjoy!
The sneeze that shook the world - Dec 17
All it took was 5 seconds for you to watch that sneeze from 1894. And this unassuming (and what we would call boring) film that was the first to be copyrighted in the US was a hit. Intended originally for publicity purposes, it was shown at an exhibition along with some other short films for which the audience paid a mere (by today’s standards) quarter to view. It became famous, and Fred Ott in later years claimed to be one of the first “film stars”. How far film technology and technique has come. And yet one thing probably hasn’t changed. People PAY to watch even simple films because there is something compelling to us about moving images. This art form has an influence all its own. It can connect us to situations and experiences in ways other mediums can’t always accomplish. We see it, we believe it, we connect to it. It’s one thing for me to read about the genocide in Rwanda. It brings me to tears and horrifies me. But to see it in Hotel Rwanda takes that experience to a whole new level. I now experience the horror (in very small measure) and see images that burn themselves into my consciousness. What are you doing with your video skills to leverage the power of this medium? Remember the sneeze, and make productions that will truly impact.
Non-conformity & art - Dec 6
I would guess that anyone who has been a great original in art or science was original not because they tried to be different, but because they pursued something. Einstein didn’t come up with new ideas for the sake of originality. He pursued answers to some real problems—and apparently found them. Walt Whitman didn’t redefine poetry because he avoided convention; he sought to give expression to the essence of America, and succeeded rather well.
Read the rest of this great blog post from my webmaster about the virtue of non-conformity. For those of us in a pursuit that often prides itself on being artsy, sometimes we can get carried away with being different just for the sake of being different, whether in clothing, production trends, haircuts, etc. This post is a good reality check for why we’re doing what we’re doing…
Trailer: Noelle - Dec 4
A new film set to hit select theaters Dec 7th, this is distributed byGener8xion Entertainment, the same people that brought you One Night With the King. I was disappointed by their retelling of the book of Esther, but hopefully Noelle will have a stronger storyline. I hope to review it soon, so keep watching this blog!
Video: The Power of Makeup - Nov 29
Some incredible makeup jobs done on these actors. If you’re interested in the makeup aspects of the industry, these commercials should be inspiring.
Commercial: Before & After Views - Nov 19
Thanks to Jonathan Goff who alerted me to this side by side comparison of a Nike commercial. First watch the entire commercial as finished, then take a look at before all the massive amounts of compositing work were completed. Pretty cool. It’s amazing what can be accomplished with green screen and CG.
Actually, here’s the commercial itself. Then you can watch the non-composited version through the above link:
Video: ACS Documentary style spot - Nov 7
I love the documentary feel of this piece. I identify with Raina as a mom, and then feel sadness because of the burden they face with health bills and denial of access to treatement. This may be advocating socialist medicine (of which I am NOT in favor), but it’s still does a great job at capturing your heart. Pay particular attention to the b-roll, and the shots they use to convey emotion.
Interview: Theory of Everything's David DeVos - Oct 25
I spoke with David DeVos, the writer and director of Theory of Everything, which I previously reviewed on my site here. He’s a nice guy, and obviously had a passion for both the Lord and for filmmaking I’ll be publishing this interview in bits and pieces over the next week. If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d encourage you to get a copy of Theory of Everything to watch – that’ll make the interview more meaningful.
IC:Tell me about the financing of the film. How did you raise money?
David: We basically financed the film ourselves. I do a lot of commercial work, so we’d been saving for some time. The first film I produced (and self-financed) isn’t even worth mentioning. Since producing it, I did commercial work and was learning and stuffing money away, and had an idea for another film percolating around in my head. Once we committed to making it, there went our life savings! We even sold our house so that we could finish the film (along with other reasons). It was really a consuming process.
We haven’t made our investment back yet. You’ve got to be patient with the faith based film industry. There’s not a lot of money in this genre because there’s not a huge audience. The money from the film just trickles in a little bit at a time, so I know it will be a while. I certainly hope we get our investment back. But I wouldn’t trade the experience. I feel very fortunate to have gotten to do the film.
IC: You have a wide variety of locations in the film. How did you go about securing places?
David: Getting locations involved a lot of begging and borrowing, and a lot of gracious lending from others. Momentum gets going and you are ALWAYS asking. The hospital was actually where my wife had our daughter (who was born during the making of the film). When we were hunting for a place for those scenes, we talked to her OB who was on staff there. He pointed us to the right people to talk to. As far as Gene’s house goes, it actually belonged to a friend of mine and was scheduled for demolition. Since the house is supposed to be filled with junk, we did a lot of dumpster diving to get newspapers and odds and ends. We had to dress the whole thing. When it came time to knock the house down for the movie, we ran into legal issues over the property, so had to find another, similar location.
IC: You chose to act in your own film. Why?
David: I wrote the script in my own voice – I knew the character. I knew his ups and downs, his questions. Also, the father-son relationship is something very important to me in my life. And I’m a pilot so that fit the character as well. Really, the script took my loves and put them into the lead character. I could connect easily with him. Some warned me that I wore too many hats on this film, but overall, acting was a choice I felt comfortable with.
To be honest, the acting and directing was easy. I love getting the performance – that’s the sweet spot. It was the producing that was challenging. The logistics of pulling everything together for a film was the hard part for me. My wife came in and helped alot.
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That’s all I have time to publish now. I’ll put part two up on Friday or Saturday (hopefully).
The 10 Commandments - Oct 24
The 10 Commandments opened in theaters on the 19th, I believe. I haven’t seen it, and probably won’t (Just not a fan of Bible stories on the big screen – too much room for error and misinterpretation), but I thought some of my readers might enjoy this interview with Cindy Bond, one of the film’s producers. One quote I thought was interesting was the following:
They [Promenade Pictures] make movies contrary to Hollywood’s system – they do their projects cost effectively and strategically. Promenade is building a brand – a family company with a Judeo-Christian worldview. They want to get consumers to trust them. Cindy analyzed the marketplace as a consumer. Cindy says Hollywood doesn’t make nearly enough family films with good messages to fill the appetite in the marketplace.
I’m sure she’s right. There AREN’T enough family friendly films for the market. Has any one seen the 10 Commandments that has an opinion they’d like to share?
Video: Barclays iShares commercial - Oct 17
Lighting, composition, flow – a thing of beauty and executed with exellence in this spot.
Does it sell me on their service…no. But hey, the commerical looks good.
Video: The Power of Human Energy - Oct 11
Lasting the entire 2 1/2 minutes of the commercial break during an episode of 60 Minutes, the new Chevron spot is part of the company’s campaign to bring energy issues into the spotlight. Whether or not the commercial affects the company’s image, this spot is still something to behold. From an editor’s perspective, I wondered how they came up with all the b-roll to cover the narration. Sometimes the shots didn’t exactly fit the spoken word, but still contributed to the overall message and feel. Nicely done, and something for some producer somewhere to be proud of.
Something I especially liked about the spot is the “reasonableness” of it – for example, it pointed out that energy is something needed by everyone and thus is an issues that has to be addressed. Playing of that first key point, the spot then shows what Chevron is doing to address energy needs. Some good writing going on there.
Video: Junkie Den commercial - Oct 4
Don’t have much time for commentary at the moment, but I think this is an excellent example of using story to portray the harsh realities of a person’s choices. In this commercial, that “one try” of meth is just the opposite – it’s instead a choice to become a junkie, addicted for life.
Dissection: Wal-Mart's New Ad Campaign - Sep 25
Put all dislike of Wal-mart aside for a few minutes in order to benefit from their new ad campaign. I consider it brilliant advertising. One of the mantras of Sergio Zyman, the former Coke Chief Marketing Officer, was sell the product! Simple idea perhaps, but how often executed? Wal-mart effectively communicates why you should shop with them instead of the competition. They keep the message simple and the visuals focused. Give it a look.
Why Films Should Be Made - Sep 20
“I can’t change the world, but I can make films. If I can make films that help people view things differently, then great. . . when there is something like a genocide that is so patently evil, unfair, and wrong, I think it behooves any human being, any citizen of the world, to make their voice heard about it. Making [this film] was my way of saying something about it. I make no apologies for it.”
-Michael Caton-Jones
I thought this quote from Director Canton-Jones was a fitting summary of one reason filmmaking and video production is so important. We’re the ones with the ability and tools to tell stories that impact others’ outlooks and potentially funnel their energies into a cause. To me, having a life goal to produce films that simply entertain and amuse for 90 minutes is foolish and wasteful (though it might be profitable!). Make a difference with your talents by seeking out worthy causes and investing some of your production skill into those venues. Ask the Lord what He would have you do with the gifts He’s entrusted to you. Make the most of all you have. We’re in the beginning stages of pursuing a film about North Korean refugees (have I already mentioned this?) and the more I research the topic, the more burdened I become for the suffering that is taking place in this world. I don’t want to simply pursue money making ventures and end up with full pockets and an empty soul. Remember the Bible’s admonition: “It is more blessed to give than to receive…”
Film: The Genius Club - Sep 18
A diverse thinktank, drawn from all corners of society. An unstable madman directing the group’s efforts. The task? One night to solve the world’s problems. Or life as we know it comes to an abrupt and fiery end. Sound interesting? That’s the premise of a film due to arrive on DVD this January, starring Tom Sizemore and Stephen Baldwin. You can find out more about the film at www.thegeniusclubmovie.com
Video: Freedom in Christ - Sep 6
Dissection: Interview Style - Aug 31
Watch the 2 camera cutting and b-roll on these pieces – it’s all basically boring stuff as far as screen action goes. And yet it works. The pieces (to me) are visually interesting, and have a rough, yet artistic feel. What do you think?
You can watch more of these interviews, plus some roundtable discussion between Sydney Pollack, Lawrence Bender, Nancy Meyers and other filmmakers at Open Forum, an AMEX sponsered website for businesses.
Dissection#3: Analogy & Message - Aug 24
This ad from our counterparts in the UK uses an analogy to get its message across. Analogies can be extremely powerful tools, or can make you scratch your head and say, “Huh?” Do you think this one is effective? I’ll post my thoughts soon.
Christian Film Online: The Hope - Aug 16
For those who aren’t familar with it, check out the web series The Hope. It’s a visual journey through the Bible, and endeavors to show the big picture of God’s plan for the world based on Scripture. I’ve never watched the whole thing, but I’ve been impressed by the sections I have seen.
Simple...but effective? - Aug 15
I’m always on the lookout for commercials that look like they might have been accomplished relatively cheaply. Helps give some inspiration for what can be accomplished on a smaller budget. Chase Bank has a series of commercials they’re touting on their “Freedom Card” website. They seemed pretty simple…but sort of dumb. Yet after watching the spots, I knew what the benefits of the Freedom Card were, and I thought it was appealing. On that basis, maybe they WERE effective. But they sure didn’t make me laugh.
Check out the spots here.
Simple...but effective? - Aug 15
I’m always on the lookout for commercials that look like they might have been accomplished relatively cheaply. Helps give some inspiration for what can be accomplished on a smaller budget. Chase Bank has a series of commercials they’re touting on their “Freedom Card” website. They seemed pretty simple…but sort of dumb. Yet after watching the spots, I knew what the benefits of the Freedom Card were, and I thought it was appealing. On that basis, maybe they WERE effective. But they sure didn’t make me laugh.
Check out the spots here.
Review: The List - Aug 13
From the official site:
Renny Jacobson, a young Charlotte lawyer, learns that his father has suddenly died. Returning home to Charleston, Renny is shocked to discovery that his father bequeathed his significant estate to charity, only leaving Renny an interest in an unknown, obscure entity – The Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd.
But what he doesn’t know about the List could be his undoing – forever.
You can watch the trailer here
And thus starts this supernatural thriller, leading the viewer on a ride that takes some great steps forward for the Christian filmmaking genre, yet as a story, does not quite live up to all that’s promised. I attended one of the premiere showings last night in Charlotte, NC, and was pretty impressed by the turnout. The church crowd appeared to be out in full force to support author Robert Whitlow’s venture into film. Having never read the book, I can’t vouch for how faithfully the big screen adaptation followed the novel, though I did hear one viewer complaining that “it wasn’t as good as the book”.
Message / Story:
It’s definitely not a boring storyline. There are enough plot twists to keep you guessing (unless of course you’ve read the book) and (partially) the needed character development to keep you engaged emotionally…well, at least with Renny. Other than Thr3e, this is one of the only Christian films that could truly classify itself as a “thriller”. It was refreshing to see a movie that wasn’t “heartwarming”, claiming to give a picture of the end times, or trying to get across its message through dialogue heavy scenes. In fact, I appreciated the effort to show the message through story and action rather than conversation. Spiritual dialogue scenes were kept to a minimum. Unfortunately, sometimes the story’s intended message suffered as a result. There were a few times where I wasn’t quite sure how I was supposed to interpret a scene that was obviously pivotal to the character development because almost nothing was said.
There’s something about secret societies that are just a bit creepy, and The List doesn’t disappoint in this regard. The script carefully walks the fine line between overdoing the sinister and still keeping grounded in reality. The personalities that make up the group are normal – almost strangely so. But upon deeper investigation, all isn’t what it seems. Who should Renny trust? What’s really going on? And that brings us to the climax of the film. I could definitely see signs of the film’s adaptation origins – every once in a while (especially near the end) there seemed to be logical jumps that were probably fully covered in the book, and were cut out for time’s sake in the script. This was fine at the beginning, but at the end it was dissastisfying. There were some payoffs, such as Renny’s relationship with Jo, that didn’t connect with me because there hadn’t been sufficient setup or conflict earlier. And there were other plot elements, such as the mysterious graveyard caretaker, that never payoff, leaving you wondering why a particular scene was included. I guess the biggest scriptwriting lesson I came away with is that the promise to payoff formula is important to fulfill…on both ends of the equation. The audience will only appreciate the fulfillment of something when they’ve seen the struggle to achieve (hence The List’s romance shortcoming), and they’ll be left slightly unhappy if (seemingly) important plot elements are never resolved.
Technical:
I’m not sure what the budget was, but if small, the lack of dollars didn’t manifest itself in limited production value. The lighting, the camera work, the acting – overall, I was impressed with the quality. There are many elements that take a film’s technical quality from average to great, and The List successfully nailed most of those details.
There are only two quibbles I have with the film’s technical aspects, and one of those items really surprised me. There was one particular scene, a dinner with the members of the List, in which the lack of ambient sound really hurt the scene. Two characters are having a private conversation in one corner of the room, but the room seems to be totally quiet except for their voices. I thought maybe everyone else in the room was listening in, but when the camera cuts to a wide shot, I was surprised to see that the other dinner guests were talking among themselves. Yet, when the camera cuts back again to the two, all room noise is gone again. It was very strange, and a surprising oversight.
The second quibble I have is with focus. The focus puller was obviously having a hard time with those walking toward the camera shots. Sometimes you almost wanted to squint because the picture was just fuzzy enough to make you wonder if it was your eyes or the screen.
Summary:
For the Christian film genre, I’d give The List a 7 out of 10. Renny Jacobson, arfully portrayed by Chuck Carrington, is a sympathetic character whose encounter with “The List” draws you in almost immediately. This film is blazing new trails for the religious film industry by focusing on story as the primary vehicle for its message. Marred mainly by plot jumps, strange portrayals of prayer and a weak ending, the film nonethless is generally a success. If you’re an aspiring screenwriter, I’d recommend buying a copy and going over the story with a fine tooth comb. I think you’ll discover some lessons of what works (and what doesn’t) when trying to simultaneously communicate truth and engage the viewing audience.
Review: Hometown Baghdad - Aug 9
Just began watching Hometown Baghdad, a documentary about 3 young Iraqis dealing with the effects of war and terrorism. Seems like a fascinating project, and while the shooting and editing style is pretty simplistic, the content is engaging enough to hold me throughout. Studio Daily recently did a case study of the series and conducted an interview with Mike DiBenedetto, the online distribution manager, about the series, which you can watch here.
If you can get the necessary exposure in order to attract an audience, plus have as your main objective sharing of information vs. amassing a profit, this is a great way to distibute.
Dissection #2 - Aug 7
Since the last post was about doing pro bono work or even work for hire for ministries and/or charities, here’s a promo video done by BluefishTV.com for some of their curriculum series. Yeah, it’s not as polished and flashy as “Sicko”, but this isn’t a feature film trailer either. Pay special attention to the cinema verite style of shooting, as well as the way the curriculum is promoted. Effective? Ineffective? Why? Let’s dissect!
Video as Art...and more than Fiction - Aug 1
Powerful, artsy, compelling productions that touch the heart of the audience – that’s our goal, right? Well, I’d challenge all you filmmakers that are focused solely on narrative films to expand your vision. Fictional stories are great tools for communicating truth…but true stories are even more powerful. I’m not saying you need to produce a documentary or create a script based on real-life events. But I am challenging you to look for real stories that need to be told and causes that need to be supported. Expend some time and energy doing pro bono work for a local ministry or charity. Put your artistic skills into high gear for truth, and for a truth that is rooted and grounded in reality.
To inspire you, here’s a vid that was done for the New Zealand branch of the International Day of Prayer group last year.
Spot: Watch the Reactions - Jul 19
The reaction shot is a valuable tool. Notice how this spot leverages reactions to lead the viewer in the interpretation of scenes.
Sicko dissection - Jul 10
Upfront I’ll say immediately that I’m not a fan of Michael Moore or his journalistic style. His “documentaries” are not factual in the sense that he’s not even trying to be objective or to present things as they are. He wants to present his message and truth is merely subservient to whatever his agenda is. Not a good documentary practice, in my opinion. But whatever you might think of him, you’ve got to admit that this trailer is exceptionally well crafted. But what makes it tick? How does Moore take such a dry subject and inject life into it? Time to dissect…
Review: Theory of Everything - Jul 6
Okay, okay. I’m a little slow with this review, but Netflix just recently added The Theory of Everything to their collection, and I’m too cheap to buy a movie unless I know it’s a winner.
Message:
A scientific quest, a troubled family, a degenerative disease – all combine in this religious drama to point the viewer towards the only element in the universe that binds everything together and proves the existence of God. I thought the story was interesting (though much different than I expected) and the message was clear. No sappy conversion scenes or long preachy monologues that so often plague the religious genre, which was a relief. The main character’s transformation from workaholic business owner to a caring family man did pose a bit of a jump to me, and I felt it was a bit weak. Overall though, it was a very strong script. There’s so few good stories in this genre and even fewer that aren’t apocalyptic or just dumb. I think the film’s writer, director and main actor, David De Vos should be commended for that.
Technical:
The lighting, the locations, the sound – everything had “professional” written on it. In fact, I can’t really think of anything to find fault with in this category. There were some beautiful arial shots that make me very curious about budget.
Artistic:
The directing and dialogue were very solid. The tension between the couple felt real, the integration of science and drama added an interesting layer to the plot, and the resolution was satisfactory. Realistic dialogue seems hard to come by, at least judging by the majority of Christian films on the market, but the “Theory of Everything” pulled it off nicely.
I’m looking forward to seeing what Mr. De Vos puts his hand to next. He’s proven he can write a good script and an innovative storyline with a message.
Review: Between the Walls - Jul 3
His father’s territory – exclusively. During his growing up years, Peter knew the room beyond the locked door was forbidden to both him and his mother. But time has passed, and with his parents’ house being repossessed by the bank, he comes home to help the moving process. But then he faces the door…and what lies beyond. Its contents will change every aspect of his life.
That’s the premise of Beyond the Walls, a film by Glowing Nose Productions. And now that I’ve given that intro, here’s the trailer.
As you can tell from the trailer, it’s a low-budget Christian film. So how well did it communicate? Here’s my take:
Artistic:
I was very impressed with the flashback scenes. Most of the strongest writing, acting and/or directorial moments were showcased when Peter pushed play on the tape recorder. The filmmakers also pulled off some very creative transitions into these moments. One of my favorite was a dolly shot that circled around Peter. One moment he’s in the present, sitting at the kitchen table, and as the camera moves around him, suddenly you see his mom there. It felt very natural and organic, pulling the viewer into the story.
Biggest weakness? The “preachy” scenes where the Christian character tries to reason with Peter. This type of writing seems to be a stumbling block for the majority of Christian indie producers, and I can understand why! Effectively communicating your message without being overly wordy is a challenge.
Another part of the plot I loved was the build-up to the room behind the door. I was hooked pretty quickly, wondering what would be found when the hinges turned. If you’re an indie producer, watch just for the way the story grabs the viewer here. But unfortunately, that payoff came too quickly and it took a while before the film engaged me again. A new plot hook needed to be introduced. Maybe build up the dad’s inner struggles more in order to bring a greater payoff to the forgiveness scene? I’d like to hear the filmmakers’ thoughts some time on how they structured the story.
Technical:
It IS low budget, so don’t expect Hollywood here, but overall the lighting and camera work were very good. Notice how they wrote the script to maximize the location – almost the entire movie takes place at the house. Smart. The GlowingNose guys also didn’t extend the movie too long, so you really don’t get tired of the house.
If you’re a Christian wanting to make a low, low budget film, then watch this picture. It’s definitely one of the better ones. But beyond the film itself are the DVD extras. The step by step story of production ups and downs provides insight into the true story of making a movie. They also provide some behind the scenes featurettes of how they did a scene from a technical standpoint.
You might need Netflix or Blockbuster Online to rent a copy – as with most of this type of indie film, few brick and mortar stores carry it.
Art for Art's Sake? - Jul 2
Talking to a fellow media professional recently, and they commented that the type of art they prefer to do now is simply for artistic expression rather than for communication. And that got me thinking about what the role of art in our (often) very utilitarian profession is and should be. I guess I default towards art only being a worthwhile investment when it clearly communicates. And yet I’m beginning to feel that there may be value to self-expression that doesn’t have as its primary goal communication. Exploring and discoveirng – that’s how our craft is honed, and how our creative ideas get fuel to grow. Sculpters learn through practice. Painters wield their brush to bring forth many a picture that no one sees. Writers scribble ideas, musings and thoughts in their personal journals. Can’t video artists create just for the sake of learning and personal growth? I’m not saying you won’t communicate – art naturally springs from your worldview and philosophy. You might have a very clear message come through your work. I just wonder if maybe sometimes we need to create simply to create, grow and learn.
So in that vein, here’s a title sequence from the OFFF 2007 Title opening – yeah, it had a purpose and was created for commercial reasons, but it’s a fun and inspiring look at artistic styles and trends. So watch, be inspired, and create!
BBC - Behind the Scenes - Jun 27
Ben Hammersley, a reporter with BBC WorldService is currently on assignment in Turkey. An uninteresting fact in and of itself – except that you can follow his trip, catch a glimpse of behnd the scenes moments and reflections, and at least in small part, follow the life of an international journalist. You can subscribe to the YouTube channel here.
Innovative idea, and great way to draw viewers into the BBC World’s stories (though viewership of these clips isn’t that high as yet). I think I would tune into his stories, just ‘cause I’m interested in seeing the end product. I just wish he’d give a few more details, such as challenges that occured, technical facts, etc.
Review: Seoul Train - Jun 5
One of the purposes of this blog is to encourage producers and filmmakers to invest their energy and time in films that really matter. Seoul Train by Incite Productions is a documentary that falls squarely into that category. I haven’t published any film reviews on here yet (though I’ve been busily watching ones to review), and am going to be reviewing based on 3 main criteria and how effectively they’re employed: * Message/storyline/script * Technical (lighting, sound, camera work) * Artistic (acting, directing, etc). The purpose of Seoul Train is to acquaint you with the North Korean refugee situation. The film uses interviews, Cinema Verite’ footage, and press conferences to tell a horrendous story of suffering and pain. Personal accounts of refugees are shared throughout the film, and are made very powerful by footage that was taken right before and during very harrowing situations. I felt like the filmmakers did a wonderful job connecting you with the subjects, especially one little girl, Han-Mi. You’re drawn into their desparate plight and suddenly the word “refugee” has a face, a name, a story. No outstanding camera work here. Everything, interviews inlcuded, is cinema verite’. While some of the interviews might have employed extra lighting, none of them look polished or professionaly lit. I wish they would have spent a bit more time on this – since some of the interviews were obviously sit-down extended sessions, I think it would have added to the message by making use of artistic lighting and stylistic backgrounds. A lot of hidden camera footage was used – some from inside North Korea by a camera that was smuggled in and out of the country. As earlier mentioned, much of the documentary is real-life events as they happen. The use of this type of footage gave a lot of strength to the piece and was its story backbone. I appreciated the way the stories were told, step by step, rarely giving away the outcome. I was on the edge of my seat (figuratively, of course) several times, and a surprise ending to one of the stories proved a double edged sword – relief at the outcome and yet a poignant reminder of how rarely these refugees find freedom. Good editing. If nothing else, watch it as an example of storytelling. If you’ve seen the above trailer for the Discovery Series Planet Earth, you surely wondered, “How did they get that shot?” Well, they’re answering at least some of those questions on their “making of” videos. You’ve got to scroll to almost the bottom of the playlist to find it. So what can you learn from the “Jiffy Lube Scam” video, as so many uploaders have labeled it? I would put forth a few observations of my own: An interesting vid with lessons that can be learned. I’ll blog more about it Wednesday, but watch it with an eye to technique and story. For those that can’t see the embedded vid, use this link. DJTV had a Production Notes episode about professional development that says it better than I could. Go watch it. ...and I hate cleaning up afterwards. Just thinking about the massive clean-up effort after this Sony Bravia Commercial makes me tired. Choosing to watch this series means you’re either in for the long haul, or else you’ll always be curious about what happened, or you know how to use Wikipedia and didn’t need to watch anymore. The Up Series is a collection of 7 total films (though only 6 are sold in this Amazon compilation), that follow 14 children throughout their lives. The first film, 7 Up, starts when they’re seven years old. Then, every 7 years another film is made. Some participants chose to drop out midway through the series, but by and large the majority stayed the course. I’ve only had a chance to watch the first three (7, 14, & 21) and I’ve got to get a Netflix membership so that I can finish them off. First, watch the trailer . Probably at your local library, My Flesh & Blood is one of my all time favorites. The filmmaker, Jonathan Karsh, followed the Tom family over the course of a year, and was able to become almost a “fly on the wall”, capturing very personal moments. The storyline intrigued me so much, I can’t say I focused on much to apply to my own filmmaking, other than that your subjects have to be willing to be open with you. If they’re not comfortable with the camera, you’re not going to be able to capture the range of emotions which will connect with your audience. Update: After a little more searching, I was able to locate the trailer Made me want to watch it again. I think the power of a story like this is that it takes you into someone else’s life that is vastly different from yours. I guess that’s what all good documentaries accomplish, at least in some measure or another. Life is stranger than fiction, or so they say. And even though my day to day existence doesn’t contain much fodder for prize winning television, there are many true stories out there that make for riveting viewing. If the term “documentary” makes you yawn, you might need to shed your preconceived notions of picture slideshows. This genre is full of creativity and artistic expression. In fact, I’d say that watching documentaries is one of the best ways to learn the elusive art of storytelling. So before you go to Blockbuster for yet another Hollywood crafted fable, take a few minutes to sit down with real life and learn what truly makes “better TV”. This first spot, an American Express commercial with M. Night Shyamalan, uses its soundtrack almost as another character in the spot. The eerie things that occur seem more creepy because the music punctuates and underscores the action. Why do you zoom, pan, tilt, dolly-in, or jib-up? Student Filmmakers mag had a good article this past month about making your camera movements a part of your visual communication. And that got me thinking about how often I just shoot without considering how the camera could be used to further my message. How about you? Ever done a nice little pan for no reason other than that it looked cool? That’s not bad, but could be shortsighted if you’re not taking the overall look and feel of your piece into consideration. It’s said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That may be true, but copycatting is also an effective way of improving your video skills. Try it out. Watch this commercial.
Message:
As powerful as the story was, there were definitely some weak moments, especially near the beginning. They overused on screen titles and took too long to begin the actual stories. Also, some of the interviews felt a bit amateurish and not well planned.
Technical:
Artistic:
Seoul Train is now on my list of top 10 films that matter. It’s a subject that needs to be talked about. You know its a good film when you can hardly sleep afterwards because the stories, names and faces keep running through your mind. We’re now tossing around the idea of doing a short about the MoFA 7…but you’ll have to watch this doc to know what that is.
Behind the Scenes Video - Jun 4
Anybody seen the whole series? I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet and would love to hear some reviews.
Lessons from Jiffy Lube - May 23
1. It hooks you through teases and hanging plot lines - They don’t just give you the whole story upfront. Instead, they draw it out and keep you wondering. Two examples – when the investigative reporter introduces the story, he says, “We’ve uncovered an apparent scheme…” without giving you the full details. At another point in the report, they ask Leo about why he cheated them, but don’t give you his answer. Instead the reporter simply says, “But we’ll return to Leo later.” Again, keeps you watching and doesn’t tell the whole story in one viewing.
2. Creative editing style adds energy and interest. News editing can be pretty standard fare. But this piece was given a shot in the arm through some of the editing techniques used, such as quick successions of different angles and shots, using a car passing in front of the camera to transition between shots, time-lapse footage, sound effects to give added punch to transitions, and the nifty little “Brady Bunch” style illustration of how many stores ripped them off.
The dramatic interview To me, the interview with the “insider” didn’t add all that much extra information, but it did give an added intrigue to the piece. There’s something so believable about an interview, and when the person has their voice altered and identity disguised – well! It seems as though you MUST be getting a real scoop.
Video: What do you think? - May 21
Video: Lighting faces - May 17
In defense of learning - May 10
I hate painting - May 9
But all that being said, when you see an amazingly executed commercial, do you ever wonder how they did it? Take a look at this behind the scenes short and you’ll discover how.
Doc #4: Up series - Apr 27
Why is the Up Series on my list of docs to watch? The power of the question. No, not so much the interviewer’s questions (these sometimes get tedious), but the plotline question that makes you ask after each film, “What will happen next?” Viewers keep watching when they have a question, when they wonder where the plot is going, and what development is going to surprise them next. This series of films did just that for me. Yeah, I’ll fastforward through parts, ‘cause the interviews get really long, but I do want to know what happens and how each person’s life changes from film to film.
For those Amazing Grace fans out there, the Up Series was directed by Michael Apted starting with Seven Plus Seven.
Doc #3: Lost Boys of Sudan - Apr 26
Want to do a Cinema Verité project? Spend an evening watching Lost Boys of Sudan first. The film follows several Sudanese young men as they leave their homeland and try to start life anew in the US. You almost never feel the intrusion of the camera, and the interviews are so organic and natural, it seems as though the subject is just talking to himself or a good friend, not to a producer.
I’d love to watch another “Making Of” for this film – something specifically dealing with the techniques used to keep the camera in the background and to capture so many transparent and honest moments.
Doc #2: My Flesh & Blood - Apr 25
Storytelling with Reality - Apr 24
This week I’m going to point you to some interesting documentaries which, at least in my mind, are effective artistically and/or in storytelling technique. But don’t be content to take my word for it. Watch with a critical eye. Take notes. Take what you learn and apply it to a project, even if it’s just a story about your dog’s fleas. If you can make a compelling story from real life events, you can probably make a pretty good fiction story as well.
The first one up is This American Life, which recently debuted on Showtime.
Now This American Life definitely isn’t a strictly factual piece. The host, Ira Glass, is moving the story along, giving it color and interpretation. What I found fascinating about this particular episode (the only one I’ve seen) is how they tie the two very different stories into one shared thread. I have no idea what the other episodes are like – if they resemble the radio show upon which it’s based, they’ll be a mix of interesting, risqué, compelling and profane stories. But I enjoyed this one and picked up some pointers to apply to my next production.
Watch the Soundtrack - Apr 20
This next spot for Nike places the soundtrack in the background. At times, the music almost feels like just nat sound from the stadium. The drums give energy and drive, but are muted so much that they blend in and allow you to keep focused on the VO.
Purposeful Camera Movement - Apr 10
I’ve got two spots for you to check out this week. The first piece uses very little extra camera movement, and to me, this lack of outside movement keeps you focused on the action.
This second spot, The Cold, uses movement to take you on a journey, following the cold germs as they travel from one person to another.
Learn from the Pros - Apr 4
Caught up in the story the first time you watched it? Now watch it again, this time with the sound off. Concentrate on the lighting, the framing or the editing.
What did you learn? You may have to watch the spot a few times, but when you’ve picked up something, go try and imitate it. Set some friends or family down for supper, and try to light the scene to look like “Stranger”. Try to get the DOF on the rolling artichoke. Try to recreate the suspense in a short script of your own.
Companies like Epoch get paid big bucks to produce spots like this – they obviously know their stuff. You can gain from their experience by watching and imitating. Get this mindset, and TV watching will never be the same again
Here’s few more of their spots to watch:
Standing Tall - ACS - Mar 30
Beautifully shot, cool concept, but does the ending VO work? What copy would you use to end this spot for maximum impact on the viewers?
Entertaining or selling? Or both? - Mar 29
If you’re work at all on marketing/promotional videos, read this article and watch the video on the sidebar about the Aflec duck. Some good perspective. Haven’t we all watched a commercial and thought “Wow. That’s was cool (or funny or gross or insert whatever adjective you want),” but afterwards couldn’t remember anything about the product being sold or even which company was being presented? Lotsa money wasted there…
This is an older commercial, but one which brands well. Regional sports = Fox Sports Net to me (that is, if I ever thought about regional sports). Their international sports series of ads are forever ingrained in my mind. Probably because I was so horrified by them.
Low Budget Inspiration - Mar 26
Think simple. Don’t let a lack of money be an excuse for a subpar production. As these two Apple spots illustrate, an effective commercial can be bare bones. The key to success is the dialogue and the delivery, not special effects or elaborate sets. The benefits of the imac are being sold to you disguised as a funny interchange and a visual analogy. How can you use this technique for your next production?
Visual Artistry - Mar 21
Even commercial video is (or at least can be) a study in art. Check out this BMW commercial. The effects were almost all accomplished in-camera.
Read about how they did it here.
Amazing Film: Amazing Grace - Mar 13
What is the heart of filmmaking? It is to create a message – a message that speaks to people, that changes their viewpoint, that takes them places they’ve never been and opens their eyes to a whole new world.
Amazing Grace accomplishes this masterfully. If you’re serious about being a filmmaker who creates work which really matters, study this movie. It preaches, and yet isn’t preachy. It takes you to a world you’ve never experienced, and lets you live it, feel it, breathe it.
And outside of message, the film challenged me to be excellent at my craft. There are lots and lots of people that want to make films that “matter”, but they haven’t taken the time to learn to do it with class and skill. Making a movie (or any type of production, for that matter) involves more that just vision and a good message. It takes learning to light, learning to write, learning to shoot, learning to direct, learning to produce, learning to edit, etc.
Keep on Message! - Mar 9
What’s the message of your current production? Know it and then stick to it and use every moment of screen time to hammer it – but do it tastefully and in an interesting manner. I think this Royal Bank of Scotland ad accomplishes that quite well.
Heartstring Yank: Effective Campaigning? - Feb 26
Campaign commercials are, in my opinion, a very difficult tiger for producers to tame. How do you promote your candidate in a way that sets him apart from the crowd and doesn’t feel like a bunch of empty rhetoric? Most Americans probably ignore 90% of the ads that air, but here’s one for W that uses a documentary style approach to tell a story, while at the same time trying to give you warm fuzzies about its subject. Does it work for you? Or does it go over the top?
Slomming - the power of analogy - Feb 6
This is a creative, well-acted spot that leverages the power of analogy to get its point across. I was particularly impressed by how natural the dialogue sounded. From my limited experience writing dialogue and my slighty vaster experience listening to it on movies, writing stuff that sounds real isn’t a walk in the park. But this one accomplishs it well. Kudos to the copywriters!