archived-videos VIPER (A Hitchcockian Thriller)

MooreEnt24

MooreEnt24

The Viper is coming...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBeJMbXW-x0
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A lone criminal, hiding in a safe house, is terrorized by a mysterious caller.

This short film draws inspiration from the cinematic stylings of Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and 'The Twilight Zone.' This short was shot in 2 days on the Canon 5D mark ii, and cost only $200 to make.

The film stars Bruce Spielbauer (Sargosi), Marco Garcia (Viper), and Mike Tracy (Sullivan).

The Director of Photography was Dillon Schneider of "Reel Big Films." The Original Score was composed by myself, George Streicher; and the short was cut by Austin Harvey Stock and Diandra Kendall Luzon.

We all hope you enjoy our little film and ask you to please SUBSCRIBE in support of our current and future filmmaking efforts!



Check out some of the BEHIND THE SCENES videos below!
To see more, go to GWSFilms on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZaWLQb6bh0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WuUvmjRpP8​
 
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ROC said:
You're very welcome. I like helping.

A few weeks??

I could get those notes done in a few hours. C'mon now!

Filmmaking is fast! No time to waste!

Who is doing your sound editing and mixing? A team or just one guy?
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We're both busy guys. I'm working as an editor on a TV show right now and he's working on a feature. We penciled in a meeting in the next few weeks. It's just one guy working on the final touches for the mix.
 
Oh, I get it.

Awesome. Well, I look forward to the next version and let me know as soon as I can see it because I am very interested.
 
Amazing job. Just fantastic! I can tell alot of hard work, time, and love went into the making of this great little piece of cinema. You guys keep up the good work! hoping to see more from you in the future!
 
I think the dialog in the begining could use improved and the people that call him could use that dialog inproved as far as the preformance by the actors. Those are the two things that jumped out at me for improving. But the acting when the guy was really talking seemed better versus when it was him talking in his mind. I think overall you did a great job. The cinematography was great. You really did have a good suspense going with the way you filmed/edited. I thought you did a good job with the set design of adding a crazy mental state to it. I liked the crooked lamp and the papers on the foor.

It did have a sorta horor feel to it the way you zoomed in on the door nob when the guy was coming in or the phone ringing etc...
 
rockerrockstar said:
I think the dialog in the begining could use improved and the people that call him could use that dialog inproved as far as the preformance by the actors. Those are the two things that jumped out at me for improving. But the acting when the guy was really talking seemed better versus when it was him talking in his mind. I think overall you did a great job. The cinematography was great. You really did have a good suspense going with the way you filmed/edited. I thought you did a good job with the set design of adding a crazy mental state to it. I liked the crooked lamp and the papers on the foor.

It did have a sorta horor feel to it the way you zoomed in on the door nob when the guy was coming in or the phone ringing etc...
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Thanks for your comments! It did kind of turn to "horror" a little near the end.

If you're interested in a short horror film, I made one called TOTAL ECLIPSE last summer with the same actor. You can check it out here, if you're interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTAHxWHtfH0
 
The camera movements were very smooth. Did you guys have some kind of steadicam?

Also, what lenses were used?

You've now made a thriller, a horror film. How about a short comedy?
 
This was really well made. Kudos to you and the team! Did you ever try a version without the voiceover? I'd be curious if the story would come through without hearing what's going on in his mind.

Good work and best of luck with festivals and future projects! :clap:
 
Theodebernacius said:
The camera movements were very smooth. Did you guys have some kind of steadicam?

Also, what lenses were used?

You've now made a thriller, a horror film. How about a short comedy?
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We had a 18mm, 25mm, and a 50mm - that's what I can remember. We did use a steady cam at some points.

Also, we actually shot a short comedy in the same month - that one will be coming soon!



Flicker Pictures said:
This was really well made. Kudos to you and the team! Did you ever try a version without the voiceover? I'd be curious if the story would come through without hearing what's going on in his mind.

Good work and best of luck with festivals and future projects! :clap:
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That's a good idea! Kind of like the theatrical vs. director's cut of Blade Runner. I'll give that shot!
 
Yeah, give it a try. I think the exclusion of his thoughts would keep us guessing more about what is going on with him and his scenario in general. Just a idea.

There's nothing wrong with it or his delivery, but taking his inner dialog out of the mix might get our minds spinning a bit more.
 
Theodebernacius said:
All canon lenses?

I look forward to watching to comedy!
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Yes, I believe they were all Canon lenses. I don't recall us having to use an adapter of any kind.

I'll post a thread for the comedy when it's completed - might be a little while, though.

In the mean time, we're looking at little festivals to submit VIPER to.

Anyone have any suggestions?
 
Sorry dude. Hitchcock was the master of visual storytelling. This was all voice over exposition. Everything was audio.

Result -- I started reading other forum posts just listening and waiting for something to happen. The visual data was sort of unnecessary, superfluous. It works better as a radio play.
 
polfilmblog said:
Sorry dude. Hitchcock was the master of visual storytelling. This was all voice over exposition. Everything was audio.

Result -- I started reading other forum posts just listening and waiting for something to happen. The visual data was sort of unnecessary, superfluous. It works better as a radio play.
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The "Hitchcockian Thriller" subtitle is rather misleading - I wasn't trying to make a Hitchcock film. I simply added that to YouTube to make it more alluring than just "Viper" and because those who enjoy Hitchcock might enjoy this as well.

If anything - I think the music is more Hitchcock than the visuals; and I was more interested in achieving an atmosphere in this short. I've considered cutting back on the voice over. The film that I was inspired by for the voice over was Spielberg's "Duel" (the diner scene). I wanted to capture that kind of paranoia.

However, I do feel it could use less narration and more quiet suspense. I am a fan of sound creating suspense and atmosphere.
 
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ROC said:
Music to my ears.

Did you handle my points yet? I want to see it again.
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Not yet. Like I said, I'm juggling several projects (including one of my own).

I'll definitely post the link to it on Vimeo when it's up. I'm considering reworking the voice over.
 
Flicker Pictures said:
Is it easy to export a version with and without the voiceover? Maybe offer both versions? Good luck with it!
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I'll have to get the OMF file of the mix from my sound guy. I'm very interested to see what that's like, as well.

However - I think some of the dialogue is essential for exposition. But, I think there are some spots that I could omit it and it would still work, if not work better.
 
I've just uploaded a "MUSIC ONLY" version and an "AUDIO COMMENTARY" version as annotations to "Viper."

You can check them out here!

Music Only Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyPQBB6pyI8

Director's Audio Commentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbtHXVUufn4


Enjoy!
 
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