tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877439239195370071.post1548919579903736895..comments2024-01-12T02:47:43.965-08:00Comments on The Frugal Filmmaker: A Bad Review and "Crossing the Line"Scott Egglestonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137296612881724251noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877439239195370071.post-2469738321335097082011-07-11T15:01:45.608-07:002011-07-11T15:01:45.608-07:00The only thing that I didn't get is where did ...The only thing that I didn't get is where did the gun come from and the comment, "cover me". maybe a line could been inject in the beginning that could have tied in where the gun came from and "cover me". Overall it was great. Some people lack of imagination and creativity causing creators to spell it it for them. I enjoy work that causes me to push myself past the obvious; a direct imitation of life. Kudos.Jason ILhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03310794369764609811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877439239195370071.post-10718418528981791172007-08-14T06:41:00.000-07:002007-08-14T06:41:00.000-07:00Actually Andrew, I never "crossed the line" in a t...Actually Andrew, I never "crossed the line" in a technical sense, but that line from the original review refers to crossing the line of understandability.Scott Egglestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10150026764159298322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877439239195370071.post-6135036153085262072007-08-13T21:39:00.000-07:002007-08-13T21:39:00.000-07:00Interesting. I was googling for examples of viola...Interesting. I was googling for examples of violations of the 180 degree rule (or "crossing the line") and this seems to be one, though nobody remarked on it. I found it a little disorienting to move from one side of the car to the other because the characters change relationships to one another so dramatically. Is this an intentional violation of the rule to emphasize the "parallel worlds"? Or is it even a violation? I'm just learning about this stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877439239195370071.post-3031620868561272542007-05-25T21:44:00.000-07:002007-05-25T21:44:00.000-07:00Thank you Jen for your excellent comments! I think...Thank you Jen for your excellent comments! I think you are right about connecting with the characters in so short of a time. I think I tried, but didn't do so well. With only about one minute to do this, I should have tried harder. I also think the whole concept may have been too much to cram into a five minute short. The orginal script was seven pages, but it could have been a full length (22 minute) Twilight Zone episode.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your praise about the acting and the technical end. I feel like I'm getting better with every movie, but next time I'll work harder (and get feedback first) to make sure my script is built on a more solid foundation.Scott Egglestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10150026764159298322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877439239195370071.post-82718073127728656592007-05-24T14:22:00.000-07:002007-05-24T14:22:00.000-07:00"...the short form with any kind of story really p...<B>"...the short form with any kind of story really prohibits [connection with the characters]."</B><BR/><BR/>Wow, I have to completely disagree with this. It's hard to build character in a short time, yes, but it's not impossible. And a focus on plot over character development makes it even harder to get to the characters, but the characters can (and sort of have to) come through, despite all these difficulties. In real life, we humans feel connections to people we see doing the smallest things--a tough-looking kid gives his seat to an old lady on the train and almost blushes when she routinely thanks him. There's enough in that tiny moment for someone to feel like they know that kid. Finding those sorts of moments for your characters, though, that's not easy. <BR/><BR/>For an example of amazing character dev. in no time at all, have a look at the opening scene in Kenneth Lonergan's <I>You Can Count on Me</I>. Not the same genre at all, but this scene has two people we've never seen before in a car, and in about half a minute it's like we know them. Why? For one thing, they're talking about something else, and that something gives us a sense of them. But more importantly, that something else is something an audience member can think about, too, and in that thinking the audience becomes actively involved with them. It's a fine, fine scene (and Lonergan is one of the best playwrights alive right now, so it's not a huge surprise he can pull off something like that).<BR/><BR/>After the car stops in <I>Middle of Nowhere</I>, I'm afraid I also just don't get it. Basically, as soon as she pulls out the gun, I'm confused. (I took "cover me" to be a joke between civilians--if she were a cop, someone accustomed to responding to emergencies, wouldn't she be out the door before him?) <BR/><BR/>More confusing to me, though, was the fact that neither character was surprised to see the other materialize somewhere they couldn't be if the laws of physics were in effect. By the end, I sort of get that there's a parallel universe thing going on, but I'm not sure what that might be exactly, and I definitely don't know why. Here's where I think you maybe have hit on something impossible to do in five minutes--there isn't time to establish the rules of this universe. Heck, <I>Primer</I> and <I>Donnie Darko</I> are still confusing after 80 or more minutes!<BR/><BR/>But my hat is off to you for trying. (And who am I to say it's impossible? I know I couldn't pull off something that complex in such a short time, but this film has probably brought you closer to discovering the key to micro-sci-fi.)<BR/><BR/>So what if this one doesn't completely work? I want to rewrite everything I've ever written, including (or maybe especially) those that have already been shot. It's part of becoming better at what we do.<BR/><BR/>And along the way you've obviously learned a thing or two about casting and working with actors (solid acting here), production values (looks sharp) and editing/pacing (moves very well). All good things. Things you will need for your next films, too.<BR/><BR/>That's good work.jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17304254579849346848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877439239195370071.post-28709791369833063612007-05-24T11:55:00.000-07:002007-05-24T11:55:00.000-07:00I appreciate your honesty in sharing the negative ...I appreciate your honesty in sharing the negative feedback on your film. I'd already watched part of your short, and reading the review of it was quite instructive. Thanks for being open!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com