Getting a Head in the Movie Biz - FINISHED

almost tossed my cookies when you cut the head off..... LOve the short. Great job!

and no I'm not. Someone had to hold the camera!

I like it

great script!!

I love the story overall

and you make it so well

Congrats!! 

I like it!!

great work Lady!! 

 
I just saw it again a second time around today!

Very enjoyable!!

Bill is a GREAT protagonist, it was definitely a smart move to cast him in the lead. Very likeable, even after he turns into an insane murderer!

I'm starting to recognize your actors from the other films too, and thats cool in many ways! Christine, you're blessed to have talented people helping you, very nice!

Your daughter has a LOT of acting in her, I agree with what EZ said in the radio show last night.

The gore, oh man, is it gory. The neck slicing scene made me WINCE!

Alright, now my notes. I think the color is better in this final form than it was in the teasers, whatever you did in between was a step in the right direction.

Sound. This is usually something I bite my own tongue for, because my own work doesnt have very good sound, but I truly believe its fully half of a movie's experience. I'm not sure what can be done to improve it. Its not bad as it is, but its not at the same level as the visuals either. This is a shot in the dark: maybe try using audacity (you can download it here, its free: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) and use the noise reduction filter. It wont make a huge difference, but every bit helps.

Editing: I completely understand being in love with one's own material, and it was PAINFUL for me to turn my film CAMERA GUY from 8 minutes to 5 for the OTL contest, but you know, 1 year later today when I see it again, I realize I did the right thing by cutting it, and actually I even feel I could have cut some more, like the first long scene at the beginning. So here too, I feel you could shave off like 2 or 3 minutes from this (most of it could come off the first half, before he drills into her head) and you'd end up with something tighter.

The BEST part of this film is when he drills into her head. When the blood squirted into his glasses, I actually laughed out loud, that was just beautiful. That part has great timing. Then the next scene, with the PA (for Pizza Assistant) is bossing around the set, that was great too! And I didn't mind at all that the sound was distant in that scene, because the camera was stationary, so it felt like it was -supposed- to be that way, and it worked perfect. Seeing your other clip of the bossy PA on the set, (remember I told you that part alone would make for a nice youtube clip?) I even feel you could put -more- of that into the actual movie and it would work. The middle of the movie is definitely my favorite.

There are minor nitpicks, for instance there's a series of quick cuts near the end of the first pizza guy scene that somehow break the pace, and personally, I would speed up the clips of Bill hitting the PA with the hammer (to make the hits feel more brutal, and I would also cut half a second earlier so we dont get to see the hammer stopping, etc), but overall its a charming little piece, and I'm so proud to see the name "KarmaCritic Films" on the screen.

Cpparker, you're a model for us of ACTA NON VERBA, and the pirate attitude, I'm honored you're part of our community.

Now, I have to rush and try to finish RUDOLF before the 5th, its looking less and less likely for me to get my double share of the VOAT anymore!! 

 
I forgot to mention: try putting this on Revver on LiveVideo.com, I realize you're hosting it out of fistfulofbrains.com, but its a huge file so it takes a long time to load, I had to wait for like 20 minutes before I could click "play", and I'm on broadband!

That's it, that's all now :)

Great work!! 

datz a crazy feeling... having those visions and beatz when you first read da script... then seeing da difference from your perspective.

YOU A TRUE STORYTELLER... keep making em! 

da beatz and that girl is ANIMAL... :)

Oh snap!!  Brad's right, that head sawing insert was marvelous!!  I liked the music too, it blended the mad-cap comedy well with the horror.  Fun times!

I think a squishy noise is definitely in order. Who knew foam gelatin over blood soaked matress foam could be so squirm inducing, but I'm really glad it worked!

Bill is good, in fact he is really great at the role. My major comment is this - and it applies to myself and my efforts as well -  you are doing too many things on this film and it is hurting the film. I mean too many roles. It is a good enough film that some other local talent ought to be willing to "hook up" with you and fill some other positions on your next projects. I know on Hellion I lit the film, but hired a camera operator, it was weird at first, but in the end collaborating with her allowed me to spend more time and energy on the performance. Something to think about.

I agree about the hammer scene - I just don't buy the rubber mallet action, needs to be revisited in cutting. Maybe a close-up of Bill being frustrated that it isn't working - careful I don't want to "direct" your film. The very stylized part when he is using the other hammer, that is great, totally suspend my disbelief about the red color on the screen, that is great. Love the director (in the film) man I know the type, may have worked with someone just like him.

I did kind of want to see the one legged Crew member carrying a heavy box or something.  :-)

Congrats again, I'm probably two weeks from finsihing the edit, and finding music, but yours is finished. Excellent work. 

Steven Gladstone

Director/Cinematographer

http://www.gladstonefilms.com