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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Autism - Shot on Epic & R1

Kacey Baker

Kacey Baker

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Hi All

I wrote and directed these two scenes, we had a ball. I filmed the exterior on my R1 and Adam Eden filmed the exterior on his Epic. :)

Sure there's tonnes of issues with it, like poor sound, I am yet to record ADR... but for a first at this I'm simply really happy to share something with you other than cookie crunching Hip Hop videos.. errghhh.

 
great work, definitely a good subject. wondering if you've seen mozart and the whale? highly recommend that.

i think this is beautifully shot and there's some good moments. it certainly works as a treatment, but i think the subject demands a little more time. all the concepts and ideas and the plot/situation is great, but i think it all just happens WAY too fast, i.e. information overload keeping the viewer from truly get invested as they should. and, we need to meet the kid (at least an insert/memory), not just talk about him. anyways, keep it up - develop this towards feature length or an episodic narrative and you'll be fine, just don't try to do too much at once, keep it simple and let the necessary background information come naturally and slooooowly - especially deep emotions that need to come to surface.

you should take this free storytelling course with some of us... definitely will help to push yourself as a writer/storyteller
 
half the battle is making an attempt... i'm still recovering from mine, lol

my advice...

either do some pickups/re-edit to make a treatment to go along with a feature length script on this subject
OR
move on right away to gathering inspiration that leads you to your next project. if you already have some, get offa here and get on it!

either way, go ahead and decide that you're going to do something ;)
 
Yeah I'll be moving on. The 'Doctor' is an A-list TV Actor here in Australia, it was a miracle he agreed to working with me in the first place, he really liked the script and got it. Thats what I learnt on my 1 week Director's course, that if you story is strong you'll be surprised who will come on board , I learnt lots:) There's no hope for pick ups.
 
yep and yep (:

i assume/hope discussion will start up in the thread as soon as everyone gets around to getting into it after the weekend. don't hestitate to speak up. and in any case LOTS of discussion on the site
 
Great! I felt it wich was not yesterday. Bravo!
 
Really nice work you have here! Not sure what it is but I was drawn into the story almost immediately. In most cases when watching a short I get bored and skip ahead, but watched the whole way through.
 
Thanks Arthur, I really appreciate the honest feed back, very encouraging.

Perhaps it was because the female asked so many questions? Why are we parking here? How can we afford this? What happens if we are successful? The husband's answers are so luke warm that maybe you watched on for validation and solid answers? Perhaps?

I love Sylvester Stallones early stuff, he once said in an early interview that to keep the viewer locked in you need to give them hope and then take it away from them, then try and build the hope back up. Thats what I tried to do over and over. I know 7 minutes isnt enough time, so it maybe have been to congested as mentione above.

Eitherway, know you were hooked is humbling :)
 
Great work Kacey! Really enjoyed that. Do you know Adam Eden outside of this project or did he just pop up one day?

Jim
 
Kacey Baker said:
Thanks Arthur, I really appreciate the honest feed back, very encouraging.

Perhaps it was because the female asked so many questions? Why are we parking here? How can we afford this? What happens if we are successful? The husband's answers are so luke warm that maybe you watched on for validation and solid answers? Perhaps?

I love Sylvester Stallones early stuff, he once said in an early interview that to keep the viewer locked in you need to give them hope and then take it away from them, then try and build the hope back up. Thats what I tried to do over and over. I know 7 minutes isnt enough time, so it maybe have been to congested as mentione above.

Eitherway, know you were hooked is humbling :)
Click to expand...

There definitely was tension in the beginning which drew me in; what kept me watching is what I think you did regarding Stallone's method. Although it is only a 7 minute concept and things changed quickly, I can picture a longer version where the viewer has time to digest what's going on. And the lighting was very nicely done as well! Did you rent out that entire space and fill it with actors?
 
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Arthur Woo said:
There definitely was tension in the beginning which drew me in; what kept me watching is what I think you did regarding Stallone's method. Although it is only a 7 minute concept and things changed quickly, I can picture a longer version where the viewer has time to digest what's going on. And the lighting was very nicely done as well! Did you rent out that entire space and fill it with actors?
Click to expand...

Yep, we had about 30 extras, and a decent crew donating their time. For the restaurant scene my wife decorated, she's a corporate and wedding event decorator so she have it a nice feel.Lighting wise Adam used an over head tungsten china ball to give it a moody feel, I was going for a Social Network feel, lots of browns and earthly yellows etc. The exterior I shot myself using two red head tungstens both placed about 20 meters away, one on the actors other for the alley.
 
Hey Kacey dont give out all of my secrets!

Only joking...

Looks great, lets have a chat about edit etc over a beer soon
 
That is a solid little piece of drama. It works for me. The full feature would be paced differently. ADR?? I guess the audible buzz in the outdoors scene is what you are referring to. My personal preference would be to give that buzz an excuse for being there rather than ADR it out. Maybe add a nearby overhead street lamp which has been hit by a stone. Maybe construct a visual or audio transition to the overhead street lamp from a preceding scene to the street scene opening. The actors' diction is good and comprehendable as it is. ( Lamps are sometimes a point of obsessive focus for some autistic persons ). Also my personal preference for the underscore if used there would be to choose something which is less competitive with voice frequencies or replace it with environmental ambiences like cars passing to compete with the buzz. If there are cut points which jump the level of the buzz, then maybe sudden ambience sounds like a carhorn, or accelerating motorcycle to cover those jumps. -- Please do not pay much attention to my comments as I am far from qualified to offer any advice.
 
Kacey Baker said:
Yep, we had about 30 extras, and a decent crew donating their time. For the restaurant scene my wife decorated, she's a corporate and wedding event decorator so she have it a nice feel.Lighting wise Adam used an over head tungsten china ball to give it a moody feel, I was going for a Social Network feel, lots of browns and earthly yellows etc. The exterior I shot myself using two red head tungstens both placed about 20 meters away, one on the actors other for the alley.
Click to expand...

Nice! Thanks for the insight on the lighting. I was wondering what method you were using as I do like the look
 
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