Our Films / Our Scripts

[Herman Witkam]

There are some talented people here!

If any of you filmmaker guys needs a composer/sound designer, feel free to check out my work.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Thanks Gordon again for the kind words regarding Sylvester.

I've been away for 5 weeks and it was a pleasant surprise to see my name in lights on my return.

Sylvester isn't available on-line (yet) as it's 23 minutes long but I will gladly send a dvd copy to anyone interested if they PM me with their address.
Regards.

[Cinesimilitude]

There are some talented people here!

If any of you filmmaker guys needs a composer/sound designer, feel free to check out my work.

Herman, I love your samples on your site, and will definitely contact you in the next couple of months regarding a score!

[davebert]

Excellent stuff, I agree. In regards to the DVX1000, this was a camera my friend/co-director and I were looking to get in preparation for an actual narrative feature. Cheap (looking for a really, really shoestring budget), 24p shots... but do people here still think its the best on the market for an entry level camera that can give at least the slightest impression of professionalism? Or is there a new model on the block to be watching the price drops closely on? We are still using a camera I bought for $500 three years ago without any extra lenses or filters, and it definitely gives an awkward home video vibe. I just don't want to pay for film stock, in the same way that I don't want to pay for actors.

Oh, and where should I look to catch some used deals on these cameras; I have been watching Craigslist, as I assume filmmakers are updating and shedding their equipment all the time, but opportunities have been few so far, even in NY. Surely there is some kind of trusted insider forum with solid swapping/selling area?

I predict a 2008 Best Our Film category in this upcoming years' member awards...

[Oedipax]

but do people here still think its the best on the market for an entry level camera that can give at least the slightest impression of professionalism? Or is there a new model on the block to be watching the price drops closely on?

It's really kind of in flux right now, there's a lot going on with new cameras. I think one camera to keep a close eye on is Canon's shockingly-affordable HV20 which shoots 24fps at 1080p (!) and is set to retail for $1000! In terms of its form-factor, it's a palmcorder-style camera, not the best for giving off an air of professionalism necessarily, but it has its advantages for guerrilla style shooting on the sly. I'm very interested in seeing what people do with it. On the technical side, there's an HDMI-out port on the camera which carries an uncompressed 4:2:2 signal if you have the right card to do live capture with. For greenscreen & effects work, this would be a great option to have.

There are also several prosumer HD cams to consider - Panasonic's HVX200, Canon's XH A1, JVC's HD100, etc. All of these cameras have their merits and are worth considering if they're within your price range.

Then finally on the (very) high end of the spectrum, two amazing new cameras that will no doubt be having an effect on independent films: the Red One camera, which does up to 4.5K (4520x2540!) uncompressed at $17,500 (body only) and the Silicon Imaging SI-2K which does 2K (2048x1152) for $12,500 (again, body only). Both of these cameras have a lot of hidden costs involved before you could get much done with the camera, in terms of additional camera hardware (lenses, hi-def field monitors, hard drives that can withstand the transfer rates and space demands for uncompressed video, as well as a system powerful enough to edit it on, etc. etc. etc.)

But the overall point is, the DVX is by no means the no-brainer single solution it was a few years ago, when its only real competition (in my opinion) was the Canon XL2, which I didn't like as much anyway. There's a lot more options these days, everything's changing at a rapid pace.

[Cinesimilitude]

the HV20 is what my friend and I are strongly considering for our projects this fall, All I can hope for is easy focus change, cause If It doesnt have good DOF, I won't touch it. I wish Nikon would get into video, cause then It would be a no-brainer...

[Oedipax]

the HV20 is what my friend and I are strongly considering for our projects this fall, All I can hope for is easy focus change, cause If It doesnt have good DOF, I won't touch it. I wish Nikon would get into video, cause then It would be a no-brainer...

I neglected to mention it in my other post, but your mention of Nikon reminded me... another thing to consider in all of this is the recent advent of so-called 35mm adapters, for use with cameras like the DVX (and many others). The short explanation is that 35mm-like DOF is achieved by taking in the image from any still lens (you can get different mounts, i.e. Nikon, Canon, Pentax, whatever) and filming that image with your camera's stock lens (which, once calibrated to eliminate vignetting and achieve edge-to-edge sharpness, remains at the same fixed zoom setting). Some really great images are coming out of this technique, with nice filmlike bokeh, depending of course on the quality of your lens & adapter (and how good a job you've done setting it all up).

The three popular ones at the moment are the Redrock M2, the Brevis35, and my personal favorite, the SGPro. Once again, they each have their strengths and weaknesses. I plan on getting the SGPro soon, though. A lot of people are anxious to try these adapters out on the HV20.

[davebert]

Yeah I think I was actually thinking of the HV20, because $1000 sounds just about right, but of course we'd love for something that's compatible with the 35mm effect lenses. Professionalism in my reference was in regards to end product; I actually prefer a handheld-size camera, but if the bigger models at the same price point get the better picture, I will sacrifice portability.

I love the look of film and am excited to work with it at some point in the future, but I think digital is truly the best thing for real independent work in this current climate--it makes potential costs affordable for all, if you can cut the right corners in shooting on a budget.

[Cinesimilitude]

I plan on getting the SGPro soon, though. A lot of people are anxious to try these adapters out on the HV20.

That is pretty exciting news. I would love to use one of my still lenses to achieve bokeh with that camcorder, please let us know what your results are once you've tried it.

EDIT: Here is the SGPro example footage page. some of it looks amazing for how little it costs.

[chaddoli]

Hopefully this thread won't turn into a camera tech, but if you are shooting a feature that you hope will do anything, do not shoot on mini-DV. I'm sure money is tight, but trust me, the Panasonic HVX is the way to go. It looks fantastic! When my lazy editor finishes my film (within the next week or two), you can see the glorious HD image. With P2 cards and all, it'll set you back somewhere between six and eight grand (I borrowed mine), as opposed to the four thousand (?) DVX. It's worth it.

[exte]

if you are shooting a feature that you hope will do anything, do not shoot on mini-DV...

Right, Inland Empire went nowhere.

[chaddoli]

I guess I was ignorantly taking as a given that no one with name recognition like David Lynch, Danny Boyle....etc. posts here. We can all bring up examples of whoever (Jonathan Caouette as well, I guess) that made a successful mini-DV feature. But if the $2000 difference in budget makes a HUGE difference in your production value and therefore respectability. I think it is an incredibly wise investment.

[miless]

I don't really understand why many big filmmakers are switching over to digital (such as Michael Mann) because their films still cost the same amount of money to make (because most of the budget is spent paying actors)...
I now exclusively work on film, and I am loving the results... All of my money goes towards processing and props (at least at this point)... but I am currently working on getting money for a feature film (I calculated that I will require $15,000 if I shoot it in a very particular way)...
For me, the image is as important as the story (and sound design), so lowering my standards for digital video will ultimately compromise the final product (at least in my opinion).

[Jason]

All Angels Have Rat Tails

The Man with Apple-Shaped Boxing Gloves

MySpace containing these and everything else

[Oedipax]

All Angels Have Rat Tails

The Man with Apple-Shaped Boxing Gloves

MySpace containing these and everything else

Hey, how cool! I stumbled across your work a while back while googling about for Harmony Korine related stuff. I really enjoyed it.

[che-etienne]

I don't really understand why many big filmmakers are switching over to digital (such as Michael Mann) because their films still cost the same amount of money to make (because most of the budget is spent paying actors)...

night shoots in Mann's case.

On topic, I don't know. As much as mini-dv may be dying out in the near future, if not already, I feel like for amateur budgets, and I'm assuming that includes all of us, its best to stick to the best bang for the least buck. I have an XL2, and as much as that may be getting outmoded fast (already is). I'm going to keep it, because as far as I'm concerned it's not an old camera until I've broken it in myself.

[miless]

okay, so my new film is up on YouTube.

It is entitled PROCESS, and here is the artist's statement that accompanies it (it was my senior art project)

Process is dually defined as both a systematic series of mechanized or chemical operations that are performed in order to produce or manufacture something and as a natural or involuntary series of changes. The chemical operations performed are those to create a drug, and the series of changes are a direct cause of the first, withdrawal.

Withdrawal, causing hallucination through process, is affecting the very consciousness of its victim. He can no longer distinguish between his different mental spheres. Nightmares and reality are incorporated into one waking life from which there is no escape.

Through this confusion life seems altogether lost in the shadows. The process becomes a short-lived cycle with no distinguishable beginning or end. Thus a Möbius strip is born.

I shot it on 16mm film (Kodak Vision2 500T). It took me a while (roughly 7 months of production... and six years of development) but I am happy with it.
I hope others will comment upon it.

[miless]

this thread sure died quickly

[domino harvey]

My guess is the board's resident filmmakers have already posted their films and until they make more, well, here we are

[Ovader]

I would like to post my short film "A Dream Of Life" here as well but I am in negotiations with a distributor so I want to avoid burning any bridges. The film was produced with my Filmmakers' Co-operative from a provincial government grant. Is anyone else here a member of a Co-op?

[Cinesimilitude]

Finally got around to adding Miles new film and Jason's work to the directory.

the group of guys I worked with in high school are all together again and there is a good chance I'll have something new to show very soon.

[Jason]

You guys should consider submitting to Tromadance if you feel any of them are suitable. It's free, so we gave it a whirl and got in. They are now putting us on their Best of Tromadance DVD and screening it in New York this month.

I did have to sign over all rights to the film to them for the next 20 years. They now have the right to reshoot, make any sequels or novellizations they want. A novel based on The Man with Apple-Shaped Boxing Gloves would be either the weirdest or worst book ever.

[davebert]

Eek! I'm always reluctant to dabble in rights releases, even for the smaller stuff. Never know when some unassuming short would make a fine extra on a future personal compilation or a feature film.

My current project is an internet project that will dispense advice culled from a certain popular social networking site, but there is also a film project that should be brewing.

What could be pretty cool, the co-op got me thinking, is if us NY folk could collaborate sometime on some project of mutual interest. C.H.U.D. 8?

[Jason]

Eek! I'm always reluctant to dabble in rights releases, even for the smaller stuff. Never know when some unassuming short would make a fine extra on a future personal compilation or a feature film.

Eh, I'm not that delusional. For now I'm just glad if anyone is watching. It'll be at least 20 years before Criterion is wanting to put out a DVD of our early works.

[Jason]

Quarantine: Chuck & Nash Part III

The last 48 hour film festival they came up with the terrible idea to do a Script Scramble. We were stuck with this hunk of garbage. We decided to bring back characters from an old film that everyone but us loves. We stretched the '75% original script' rule, but I think overall we salvaged it nicely, though no one else seems to think so. First everyone criticized us for imitating Korine and now with this one people say we ripped off Lynch because a character has a mask.

We almost won 1st as two judges rated us very high with several 10s, but one judge gave us 2s and 3s across the board and we came in 2nd.

The team that wrote 'Quarantine' got our script and made this. He is way too proud of the script he wrote and how his adaptation of our script came out.

"the walls are probably lined with
lead, no signals in, no signals out"
Me: You know, the signal has nothing to do with the charge?
Him: no and i doubt the character would know that either

C&N III also contains the most disturbing scene we've made.