New Action Short from the Film Riot Guys

cameronchapman

cameronchapman

Ryan Connolly, the guy who does Film Riot, just released the action short they did a couple weeks ago, Losses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMhXexbDmv8

It was shot on a Red Epic, on a really compressed time frame (I think they shot it in a single weekend, after a 1-2 week pre-production period, and then spent another 1-2 weeks editing). It's impressive for a short film, period, but for one shot on such a short schedule, it's doubly so. There are a lot of effects, fist fights, gunfights, etc. I was really impressed with the acting and the stunts, personally.

It's all hand-held, and some viewers might not like that, but they said on an episode of Film Riot that it was because they had such a shortened schedule (the Epic was loaned to them by, I think it was Kessler Cranes, for a very limited time) they just didn't have time to set up dolly shots and the like.

Anyway, what does everyone else think?
 
Yea that was pretty sweet, for the time they did it in it was well made and very impressive. I felt it was lacking a decent narrative, but just taking it for what it is (get from A to B and kill everyone who moves in-between)... it was good and kept me watching.
 
I agree it was pretty good for what it was. Since it was a little less than 10 minutes I'll forgive it for being light on character.
 
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Having been a fan and watching these boys for almost two years now, I sorta feel like family. Josh, the little brother gets the entire spotlight and gets to be a bad a#$.. He doesn't say much in the short, but he looks pretty intense, pimples and all.

Interesting success story with these guys. Parlay there antics and love of film making into a pretty cool franchise..
 
wheatgrinder said:
Having been a fan and watching these boys for almost two years now, I sorta feel like family. Josh, the little brother gets the entire spotlight and gets to be a bad a#$.. He doesn't say much in the short, but he looks pretty intense, pimples and all.

Interesting success story with these guys. Parlay there antics and love of film making into a pretty cool franchise..
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I know what you mean. I'm a huge fan of Film Riot and have watched most of the old episodes (I only found them about 4 or 5 months ago). It's a great show and tons of useful information. I've played around with making a really wacky short film that incorporates all of the stuff they've taught on the show, just as an experiment. Then I realized just how many effects and such that would be. :no:
 
I also think that film riot followers enjoyed this a lot more. Seeing Josh in every video he's been in, now being a badass in losses is awesome. you already have the feeling that the character is developed somehow.
 
I don't need the character development, I'm entertained by it just being get from point A to B... but then again, somewhere in the past, I've probably mentioned that I'm not as concerned with character study movies as many film folk are. I was promised an action movie... they delivered, and their current episodes are breaking down how they made it! :)
 
knightly said:
I don't need the character development, I'm entertained by it just being get from point A to B... but then again, somewhere in the past, I've probably mentioned that I'm not as concerned with character study movies as many film folk are. I was promised an action movie... they delivered, and their current episodes are breaking down how they made it! :)
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I appreciate a film if it accomplishes what it set out to accomplish. If it's supposed to be a character study, cool. If it's supposed to be an action flick, also cool. This delivered on its promise to be an action film. I'm loving the breakdown episodes now that I've seen the film. Mondays and Thursdays are my favorite days! :D
 
cameronchapman said:
I appreciate a film if it accomplishes what it set out to accomplish. If it's supposed to be a character study, cool. If it's supposed to be an action flick, also cool. This delivered on its promise to be an action film. I'm loving the breakdown episodes now that I've seen the film. Mondays and Thursdays are my favorite days! :D
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So movie is just one thing? If you want it to be good, shouldn't it be more than just one thing? If I just want action I'll watch the Lakers.
 
brianluce said:
So movie is just one thing? If you want it to be good, shouldn't it be more than just one thing? If I just want action I'll watch the Lakers.
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To me, that's up to the filmmakers. With a short, I can appreciate a film that's just one thing. I'd rather have one really well-developed thing than trying to cram too much into a short span of time. With a feature, of course, it's a bit different. But even then, I can appreciate a really well-done film that's only one thing. I'd prefer it to be multi-layered, but it doesn't have to be to be entertaining/good/watchable.
 
cameronchapman said:
To me, that's up to the filmmakers. With a short, I can appreciate a film that's just one thing. I'd rather have one really well-developed thing than trying to cram too much into a short span of time. With a feature, of course, it's a bit different. But even then, I can appreciate a really well-done film that's only one thing. I'd prefer it to be multi-layered, but it doesn't have to be to be entertaining/good/watchable.
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To each his/her own. But sooner or later I think a filmmaker has an obligation to either giver us a story or character or both. And if you can't do either of those, I might be convinced to settle for a laugh. But Action for me, is icing, not the cake. This kind of thing is ultimately vacuous and 100% forgettable.

As far as I'm concerned, your script Cameron is the one with the real punch and fires the real bullets, not this thing.
 
LOSSES or also titled: Gunfight at the O.K. Film School Men's Dorm

No argument that it's well made. They know their AE plugins and fight choreography and action chops. Would like to see this team carry a feature with a solid script.

My main issue (with this film and so many others like it) is trying to buy all the young good looking well-groomed film buddies playing badass thugs. I'm sure they needed bodies and got all hands on deck, but the cast looked like they should be catering a party not packing heat.
 
Flicker Pictures said:
LOSSES or also titled: Gunfight at the O.K. Film School Men's Dorm

No argument that it's well made. They know their AE plugins and fight choreography and action chops. Would like to see this team carry a feature with a solid script.

My main issue (with this film and so many others like it) is trying to buy all the young good looking well-groomed film buddies playing badass thugs. I'm sure they needed bodies and got all hands on deck, but the cast looked like they should be catering a party not packing heat.
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Word. They make the most awesome video storyboard versions of the movies they really want to make. They do a great job, mind you. They are missing that key element for their genre...badasses.
 
CamVader said:
Word. They make the most awesome video storyboard versions of the movies they really want to make. They do a great job, mind you. They are missing that key element for their genre...badasses.
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It almost sounds ridiculous to say, but having a scene with peope with obvious age gaps adds production value. Get you away from the "I made this with my buddies" stigma.
 
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brianluce said:
It almost sounds ridiculous to say, but having a seen with peope with obvious age gaps adds production value. Get you away from the "I made this with my buddies" stigma.
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Absolutely. It's much like real life for a lot, if not most of folks...we interact with people of all ages. Films need to show that.
 
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