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I said the story was flawed because the script doesn't feel whole, complete. You don't have acts, or plot points, or conflict. The script has too much exposition/cause and not a whole lot of consequence/effect. It has a "so what?" feeling to it. Think about it. Although you could argue that the...

It made sense to me. Basically that first line establishes that the inmate was expecting someone else. And since the intern is meeting him for the first time, there's enough motivation/reason to justify the dialogue that ensues. Is that right?

I'm especially amazed at the location. Did you guys shoot that in an actual jail? It looks authentic (although it would make more sense in a dungeon from medieval times). I thought the best part of your film was the dialogue. Not really the script because the story is flawed, but the dialogue...

Does my critique make any sense?

Your film is a great example of visual storytelling. The grocery bags, the lipstick on the envelope, the melting candles were amazing! Attention to detail, as I often say, is what separates the men from the boys. There were a few shots that bothered me, but, overall, the camerawork and...

I was certain someone would catch me on those. Yes, I knew some of the people I mentioned haven't written many scripts, but they have written some. Nonetheless, they have good eyes for finding the best stories and best writers. They are able to foresee how a script will translate to the big...

A guess we can say that great filmmakers also know who to treasure and who to ditch.

I have wrestled with this question many times. It's also one of my favorite topics for discussion. First off, who is a "filmmaker"? It's really not there in the credits, is it? Filmmaking by Quentin Tarantino? No such thing. So who is a filmmaker? I think the term "filmmaker" is used rather...

There's no reason to post it on YouTube. Protect your creation. If you have a film that is festival-worthy, then you want to control who sees it. Check the link from the above post. WithoutABox is a great resource. Different festivals have different guidelines and different tastes. You may...

Is this what you're talking about? i've been on sets where we just called it graycard. But I suppose the official name is that one on the picture.

I forget the official name, but you're right, its purpose is to aid the colorist in matching the film reels. Any production working with actual film should record this palette with every new reel.

I went to your website and checked out the trailer. It's really hard to get excited with it because it has no dialogue. You gives us the impression that the actors don't talk in your film. Is that it? A feature film without dialogue? Not really a good first impression (based on the trailer)...

You will learn a lot around here. Make yourself home.

I saw True Grit. It was okay, but not great. I think our expectations are always too high with anything done by the Coens. The actress playing Mattie is fabulous. She's definitely up for some awards. Mattie is also an amazing character. She's strong, determined, and smart. She could be in her...

There's only one dramatic story out there... Someone wants something badly but something bad stands on his or her way. 98% of the movies ever made fall into this category. Why do movies feel so different from one another? Well, mainly the characters and location. Black Swan introduced us to a...

Nope. Though this particular frame looks like it. :D Anyone else?

I'm not a big fan of flash cards, but I know a lot of people use them. One thing I absolutely must have before writing the first line on my screenplay is an outline. It guides me through the process. I need to know the two Plot Points and a general idea of what the three acts are going to be...

I think that whole deal with the bracelet doesn't make much sense. Or rather, it makes too much sense and we understand why Safaa gets upset. Wouldn't your point be stronger if he got unreasonably angry? This little plot point with the bracelet seems to work against your theme.

Since Hitchcock came up (as he often does), I found a clip of him talking about this explosive tension. Just look up "Alfred Hitchcock On Mastering Cinematic Tension" on YouTube. I was thinking... I don't know where your scene takes place, but if you could somehow bring a child to where the...

I agree. Didn't Hitchcock say something similar? The bomb must never go off and kill your hero.