Episode 1 - All About Food - Filmmaker Discussion

[BobbyMiller]

Hello everyone!
This is the official thread for episode 1 (http://www.indymogul.com/bestshorts/episode/BSF_20080925)!
You can discuss the films and the episode itself here.
Feel free to ask the filmmakers any questions you might have and we'll try to get them in here to answer them.
:bobby:

[Lab-Rat]

Pretty cool episode. I enjoyed it and am currently making my way through watching the films.

Cool stuff. I look forward to more....and may leave a voicemail later.....

[MDressel]

Hey, my name's Matthew Dressel and I made "Return to Menu". If anyone has any comments or questions, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

[Indi/visualFilms]

"Return to Menu" reminded me of a filmmaker in Austin TX named Matt Ryan (aka Mister Films). His short film "Melody" is very funny.

[BobbyMiller]

What did you shoot Return to Menu on? How long was the shoot? Where did you find your actors?

[MDressel]

What did you shoot Return to Menu on? How long was the shoot? Where did you find your actors?

We shot RTM on a JCV HDV 720p camera with a Brevis 35 adapter. I was making this short for really cheap, so I'm glad my camera man was able to donate his time and his camera package, otherwise I don't know what I would have shot it on.

The shoot took 2 days. The hardest part was actually securing the location which took a couple weeks of visits to the restaurant, phone calls, and letter writing. Even though I had graduated film school a year ago (and told them several times this wasn't for class), they continually called me a "student" through the whole process.

And for the actors, we held auditions where I found my Leslie. However, we went through several guys for the auditions and not a single one was promising. Luckily, two days before we were scheduled to shoot, I managed to remember an actor I had worked with on the past. I contacted him and even though he had to work (Art school teacher), he took the time off because he believed in the project.

There was a lot of luck that went into this film.

[Jonny_McBane]

That was a great episode! I loved the phone-messages: "I'm the only one..."

Also, all the shorts were really well made! How can I give my videos that "film" look?

[Ergo Pictures]

Cool episode! Will all of them be themed like that?

[MDressel]

Also, all the shorts were really well made! How can I give my videos that "film" look?

It's mixture of a great camera (with a great lens) and a DP who knows what he's doing.

[Ergo Pictures]

I've watched two of the full films now, just thought I'd give my two cents, for what it's worth.

I watched "Return to Menu" first. While the cinematography and general filmmaking was good, it wasn't very well written. Now, this is just an opinion, it just might not be my sense of humor, I just found the characters to be unrelatable, and the plot a little muddled. On the other hand, the acting was good, and the pacing of the story (if not the story itself) was perfect for it's length. I'd say keep the whole team, they did a fantastic job, just get a new storywriter. Oh, and on that note, the screenplay was good, just not the story. ^_^

Then I watched "60 Cups of Coffee", which I loved. The character was a hilarious spoof of those rebel without a cause types, and the entire cast of supporting characters all had very unique and distinct personalities. The cinematography and editing here was great as well, however the sound editing had some blaring flaws. This one made me laugh quite a bit though, and it was phenomenally well written.

[BobbyMiller]

Has anyone watched life of crime? I'm wondering if people aren't watching it because they don't click "read more" on our blog post? Let me know. The production quality isn't as high as the others, but I think it's really engaging and fun.

[MDressel]

I watched "Return to Menu" first. While the cinematography and general filmmaking was good, it wasn't very well written. Now, this is just an opinion, it just might not be my sense of humor, I just found the characters to be unrelatable, and the plot a little muddled. On the other hand, the acting was good, and the pacing of the story (if not the story itself) was perfect for it's length. I'd say keep the whole team, they did a fantastic job, just get a new storywriter. Oh, and on that note, the screenplay was good, just not the story. ^_^


Glad you gave me your honest opinion, Ergo. "Return to Menu" is by far one of the most polarizing films I've made thus far. People either go along for the ride or they don't; and have strong feelings either way.

[BobbyMiller]

Matt, thanks for being so cool with feedback and joining this thread. I think that should be commended regardless of how you feel about the film.

[MDressel]

Matt, thanks for being so cool with feedback and joining this thread. I think that should be commended regardless of how you feel about the film.

One of the best things any filmmaker can do is develop the thickest skin possible. You have to because the day is going to come when you're going to be sitting with an entire audience that doesn't like your film....and then they ask you up to do the Q & A.

[Ergo Pictures]

One of the best things any filmmaker can do is develop the thickest skin possible. You have to because the day is going to come when you're going to be sitting with an entire audience that doesn't like your film....and then they ask you up to do the Q & A.

Dude, I'm so glad you can do that. With that attitude, you'll go far. I'd watch anything else you made.

[Dead Iris]

I just have one concern about the first episode. All the shorts seemed to be comedies. I know there aren't a lot of good serious films by no-budget filmmakers, but it'd be nice to see the few brave souls who attempt it. I figured you would put other genres in there, but I just wanted to be sure that it wasn't a trend.

I should be releasing some serious shorts next year. Hopefully I could make it up there.

Loved the first episode. This is such a great show idea.

[BobbyMiller]

Hi Dead Iris,
Thanks for the feedback.

A major sticking point for me with this show is to make sure that it doesn't end up being all comedies.

As seen here in the show notes:
http://www.indymogul.com/bestshorts/page/about-the-show

"Make me laugh.
Make me cry.
Make me poop my pants. (?)
Comedy. Drama. Experimental. Documentary. And everything in between. It's all welcome here."

Also, I don't think all the films are straight comedies in the first episode. 60 cups of coffee has a weird darkness to it and Hot Spaghetti is more a horror.

So, yes, I definitely want a lot of variety!

[loosechange]

I watched 60 cups of coffee and was very impressed. I found it to be very inspirational to me, i dont know why, but after seeing it it got me motivated to get off the computer get out my notepad and start working on writing my own short film.

The only thing i noticed with it were some points where the audio just seemed to dissappear. The ambience was there and then it wasnt and then it was there and then it wasn't. Maybe I'm the only one who noticed it, but yea.

Otherwise I'm a fan of 60 cups.

[punkandska66]

60 Cups of Coffee was amazing. I loved it. I loved the feel to it, on the first shot and when he walks into the diner. The whole movie was just... wow. Written well, shot well, acted well, lit well, you get the point. I just loved it. The whole thing about "he's just looking around" was really kind of inspirational.

[Dead Iris]

Hi Dead Iris,
Thanks for the feedback.

A major sticking point for me with this show is to make sure that it doesn't end up being all comedies.

As seen here in the show notes:
http://www.indymogul.com/bestshorts/page/about-the-show

"Make me laugh.
Make me cry.
Make me poop my pants. (?)
Comedy. Drama. Experimental. Documentary. And everything in between. It's all welcome here."

Also, I don't think all the films are straight comedies in the first episode. 60 cups of coffee has a weird darkness to it and Hot Spaghetti is more a horror.

So, yes, I definitely want a lot of variety!

Ok, just watched all of them. You're right. I just wanted to be sure. I really enjoyed 60 Cups of Coffee. Return to Menu was very good, too. The others were also very good. All of them had me hooked.

EDITHas anyone watched life of crime? I'm wondering if people aren't watching it because they don't click "read more" on our blog post? Let me know. The production quality isn't as high as the others, but I think it's really engaging and fun.

I did. I agree, it was a fun one to watch. I like watching
the strange comedies once and a while.

Nice picks for the first episode, Bobby! Not a bad way to kick off the show. Not bad at all.

[loosechange]

just out of curiosity how is life of crime food themed?

[Nose Productions]

i think that they should have put a show by fronk and dego called midnight snack

[Dead Iris]

just out of curiosity how is life of crime food themed?

The longest scene took place in a dining room?

[dscheinert]

(why is life of crime food themed?)
(most was shot in the dining room)
Yeah,
and two of the characters like coffee a whole lot [that's food right]... and she's a thai fusion chef? Yeah I guess it's not very food themed, but I'm really honored be a part of the show and glad some folks watched the movie.
oh I made it. That's why I'm saying all that.
-daniel

[davidwardfilms]

Hi All

Sorry this is so late but thanks to everyone who viewed and commented on my short SIXTY CUPS OF COFFEE. What a great wee show this is! Please post any questions about SIXTY CUPS here and I'll happily answer them! Best regards... David Ward: www.davidwardfilms.co.uk