It's only 2,000 new and I'm sure you can find it used for cheaper. This is compared to your 1,500 Sanken.
It's a huge step up from the Sanken.
Research it. It's a beautiful mic. It also weighs about the same as a highlighter pen so your boom op can easily maneuver and won't get tired using it.
Okay. First mixing lesson:
Dialogue is king.
You get this level set before anything else.
This is what the pro mixers do. They premix the dialogue to get that set and in the pocket and then bring in the effects balanced against the dialogue so you can still understand the words and let the effects support the dialogue. Of course there is "fun time" to let the effects really blare. Also, I think you should back off on whatever noise reduction you have on the voices. They sound way too dull and sucked out. Most people don't notice the hiss you're trying to get rid of, as well.
Good points. I had to leave some hiss in when the actors were whispering. Otherwise their whispers would be too faint. I also left in natural wind sounds from the outdoor footage.
I don't have the slightest idea how to accomplish it, but I believe if a sound is constant (like a hiss), it can be at least partially removed. Gonna have to defer to ROC or Alcove.
But what I'm saying is you can't do too much of it or you start eating into the voice which is what I heard in your 4 minute.
This could possibly rule in a so bad its good kind of way (No offence), and not that it's really bad,
just maybe a bit too ambitious for the budget or something.
The guy at 2:24 is awesome. lol
I really like ultra low budget stuff like this and would love to see it.
-Thanks-
I don't have the slightest idea how to accomplish it, but I believe if a sound is constant (like a hiss), it can be at least partially removed. Gonna have to defer to ROC or Alcove.
The guy at 2:24 is the survivalist, an ex-Delta Four captain hired by Dr. Robert Bruno to train Angela and Gail.
His delivery and tone kind of reminds me of Roger Ebert.
Does he have many lines in the film?
-Thanks-
This is going to be difficult for me to say, without sounding like an A-hole. Please know that I'm not trying to chop you down or discourage any future work.
In my opinion, a movie has to acheive a certain aesthetic to be taken seriously by most audiences. The cinematography needs to be professional-quality; the acting, audio, everything needs to be professional quality. Without acheiving that, I believe most audiences just won't take a movie seriously. They might watch it, but they watch it knowing that they are watching something ameatureish and I think they kind of giggle inside at the comparatively poor production values. It is for this reason that I believe a low-budget production will be most effective if it keeps things light and fun.
Speaking of your movie in particular, you might think my idea of giving it a "Laser Cats" treatment is crap, but actually I mentioned that because you kind of already have done that. "I, Creator" does not have the aesthetic of "Terminator". It has the aesthetic of "Laser Cats". I'm not just talking about cinematography, but props, costumes, locations, everything. Instead of letting that be a detractor, you could use it as a strength, have some fun with it, ramp up the tongue-in-cheek humor to level 10.
For "I, Creator 2", you're talking about having it take place in a spaceship and then on a distant planet populated by Amazon women. You can't really think that any audience is going to take that seriously, do you? I'm not saying don't make it. I'd love to see it. But me, personally, I only want to watch it if you make it fun, take advantage of the inherent humor that already exists in a low-budget futuristic sci-fi.
I see no reason why you can't tell the same story, with the same interesting characters that you've created, while making us laugh at the fun of it all.
Oh God. I don't even know where to begin. Maybe since I am in NYC I should sit you down for a coffee or something.
My short film cost $15,000 in 2001/2002 dollars. That including about 5 grand for the 35mm blowup. The short was just over 15 minutes in length. We shot on Super16 over 3 very long, grueling days. Edited on Avid in NYC over 1.5 weeks of (again) long grueling sessions. I had great locations, a pro crew and the results are a short that looked far more expensive than it cost and that is according to those who saw it at various festivals.
Making a full length feature as an amateur is beyond risky. Embracing complicated sci-fi ideas is akin to suicide. It just won't work.
I had a hard time sitting through your little trailer. Sound is bad. Lighting is bad. Acting, is bad. The framing of every single shot seems off. The music is so bad I kept turning the volume off.
And you spent 20 grand of your own money and are talking about a sequel?
Look, I think everyone here wants to help you. My advice is this: DO NOT attempt another feature until you make a couple short films. Simple ideas, well told. Learn your craft. Explore how to set up a shot. How to move the camera.
I have actually made two additional shorts that will never be seen by man because I was so annoyed with how they looked. Both were shot on MiniDV right before HD became affordable and I just couldn't go from shooting on film to shooting on video. In the editing process I wanted to puke. But both shoots, which cost about ZERO dollars, were wonderful learning experiences. You do not need to spend money to make shorts. You can have a budget akin to a weekly shopping bill.
You really need to go back to square one and maybe get together with another guy or gal who wants to make films and work out a good story. Scripting is so important. A camera man who knows what he is doing and is damn good at it is crucial.
I could go on.
What you call "amateur" many others consider "Indie."
The sound is being revamped because it was much worse than I expected it to be.
I said eraly on the light could be better. That goes for the camera work too. The DP was shooting his first feature and just worked on one short before my feature. He was all that was available when two others dropped out just before the shoot.
Enjoy your "Professional crew" and get ripped off for spending too much. I've been there and done that with a 10 minute short that cost me $50,000. Never again. This 10 minute feature was also edited on AVID. Big deal! The best part of that production was the editor. He knew his stuff.
The acting happens to be damn good. Your lack of understanding of robots, cyborgs, and the science fiction world is obvious.
If you had a hard time viewing the 4 minute preview, move on. Judging from the number of hits on Youtube, many others have been enjoying it.
You obviously hate good music. The music is topnotch. SPOILER: one of the bands who supplied music in the movie won two grammy awards and I'll bet you hate their music too.
In making science fiction on an Indie level, one must go back to the basics of science fiction from it's early roots before special effects, expensive sets, and action scenes where story mattered. This was made with the early days of the original Outer Limits and Twilight Zone in mind.
You obviously have such high standards, you'll NEVER get a feature made.
Here's a double feature that will have you envious, because it's in distribution: http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/oLHZeIG3Pu2ZToq2an/browse/item/85663/4/0/0
Oh man, those video lights in frame, those video lights seen outside the windows for the nights shoots, and the GREAT continuity. This is Indie film. Enjoy!
When you get a collection of Indie movies and independent films, you"ll know all about these great gems in distribution.
I'm working on a sequel. But, realistically know that it may never come to be. A lot will ride on DVD sales.
PS: When the audio is fixed up as good as can be done with present resources, it will be up for sale on CreateSpace.com. Amazon.com already sent me a second invitation to sell it on CreateSpace.com. Fans are more concern about the sound than the lighting.
Here again is why movie making is subjective. msp1518 doesn't like the music, when many others before him LOVE it. The digital composer did GREAT work on the feature and he sound score this 4 minute preview. And, yes, one of the two bands that supply music won two grammy awards. The other band is Heavy Metal and supply the end credits music. The music was a big hit at the screening party and with people viewing the beta copies of the movie.