Theatrical Trailer up!

[Mark Toia]

Jesse...

Mate you have shown how tough you are by not loosing your marbles over some of these comments you have received. I admire that.

Let me tell you a little story of a time I had Mr Kodak (Not George Eastman but One of his big CEO's) come to my studios, some 20 years ago. At that time, I thought I was king dick!! .I asked him to be open and honest and if he could critic my work. He did. Then he looked at me and said it was no good and I had to do a lot better to cut it in the real world of top end photography...
To be honest, I wanted to kill him were he stood, I was full of anger, but it didn't, I thanked him for his comments and off he went on his merry way. I was guttered for weeks... I did a lot of sole searching as well, probably a bit like you feel now. Once I calmed down and got over the ego hit. I moved on. What this hit did was spur me onto finding that top shelf look he was talking about, I studied, experimented, practiced, practiced, practiced...
20 years later, I have won about 150 cinematography and direction awards from around the world. I've made a fortune over that time and I'm still looking for new ways to better my craft.
I mentor a lot of young film makers now in my spear time. Some will make it, some wont. The ones that won't are the ones that don't listen to good advise or harsh feedback, don't action good advise and don't keep learning and training there mind. Some are just plane lazy and are happy what they are doing.
Take these guys on this RED forum and there feed back and use it as fuel to better your skills.
Believe it or not. this shit only makes you stronger and they have done you a great favor. Like what Mr Kodak did to me. You will honestly look back and laugh at this moment, like I do now.

Oh, forgot to tell the end of the story.. Mr Kodak visited me the other, he's retired now. He slapped me on the back and said good on you for hanging in there. He said he gave advise to many many young film maker and photographers over the years and he said only the strong, hardworking, talented survived.

Best of luck Jesse, There's a great future out there for you, just work harder, learn harder, sell harder.

There's no short cuts.

Oh and take your trailer off Myspace until it's finished.

Best of luck for the new year.

 

[Jesse Johnson]

Jesse...

Mate you have shown how tough you are by not loosing your marbles over some of these comments you have received. I admire that.

Let me tell you a little story of a time I had Mr Kodak (Not George Eastman but One of his big CEO's) come to my studios, some 20 years ago. At that time, I thought I was king dick!! .I asked him to be open and honest and if he could critic my work. He did. Then he looked at me and said it was no good and I had to do a lot better to cut it in the real world of top end photography...
To be honest, I wanted to kill him were he stood, I was full of anger, but it didn't, I thanked him for his comments and off he went on his merry way. I was guttered for weeks... I did a lot of sole searching as well, probably a bit like you feel now. Once I calmed down and got over the ego hit. I moved on. What this hit did was spur me onto finding that top shelf look he was talking about, I studied, experimented, practiced, practiced, practiced...
20 years later, I have won about 150 cinematography and direction awards from around the world. I've made a fortune over that time and I'm still looking for new ways to better my craft.
I mentor a lot of young film makers now in my spear time. Some will make it, some wont. The ones that won't are the ones that don't listen to good advise or harsh feedback, don't action good advise and don't keep learning and training there mind. Some are just plane lazy and are happy what they are doing.
Take these guys on this RED forum and there feed back and use it as fuel to better your skills.
Believe it or not. this shit only makes you stronger and they have done you a great favor. Like what Mr Kodak did to me. You will honestly look back and laugh at this moment, like I do now.

Oh, forgot to tell the end of the story.. Mr Kodak visited me the other, he's retired now. He slapped me on the back and said good on you for hanging in there. He said he gave advise to many many young film maker and photographers over the years and he said only the strong, hardworking, talented survived.

Best of luck Jesse, There's a great future out there for you, just work harder, learn harder, sell harder.

There's no short cuts.

Oh and take your trailer off Myspace until it's finished.

Best of luck for the new year.

Wow... that's really inspiring.

Yeah, I'll admit I was a little hurt. But I must be on the right track because I've already done what you said. I've taken what everyone has said and used it as fuel. When someone kicks you, you don't quit. You get back up! There is no doubt in my mind that this film will be great, I just have to make sure that it lives up to MY expectations.

Thank you sharing your story with me.

I guess I'd better stop posting on here and strap myself into the chair in front of my editing system. I definitely look forward to hearing your thoughts on the finished project.

 

[Mark Toia]

One last thing Jesse,
It can't meet your expectations, it has to meet the sales agents, or the studios expectations... and ultimately the paying customers.

Sorry mate. I learnt this the hard way too.
Find someone that is highly experienced in film sales, film editing, film color grading, film scores and mixing to help you, teach you the ways. But make sure they are experts with years of experience and not hacks.

This was the best thing i ever did in my early days and those people I will never forget.

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

That was very inspiring Big T. Skyline I really can't wait to see it when you are done man... thanks for sharing it. Please post it again whenever you decide to.

 

[Jesse Johnson]

That was very inspiring Big T. Skyline I really can't wait to see it when you are done man... thanks for sharing it. Please post it again whenever you decide to.

Yes it was. Thanks again Bit T.

The negative feedback hasn't scared me at all. You can bet I'll be posting the trailer again as well as other pieces of footage once I've had time to finesse them.

And I WON'T be posting them on myspace. :sarcasm:

 

[Shawn Booth]

Jesse, don't look at it as negative feedback. It's honesty. I refrained from posting originally because I didn't know how to give you the crit you needed without coming off as harsh and being accused of hurting one's "feelings"...

In this industry - you need thick skin, period. No one cares about your "feelings". This industry is a business at the end of the day (even if you're just trying to create, blah blah blah).

There's a lot more to shooting than the camera used. Lighting, production design, shot composition... these lacked from yours. And it's okay - you're still learning (as we all are, you never stop learning or know all).

Embrace and relish the "negative/harsh". You will learn and become a better filmmaker. Thank those who rip your projects and hard work - you'll end up making better films.

You posted unfinished work and asked for comments. You got what you asked for and now you're upset by that?
Myspace is innocent in this, even if I were sitting next you watching your broadcast monitor, your lens choices/compositions wouldn't change. Lack of lighting/prod design is still lack of lighting/prod design.

Keep working on it. Finish it. Then move on to the next one. And the next one. and then the next. And next. Next. "Keeping on trucking."

All of the responses here are spot on. Big T's is great on the constructive side while the harsh ones are also what you need to hear. At least no one is bullshitting you with, can't wait to see it, looks great, awesome. It's not those things and that's okay.

 

[Nik Manning]

Yo Jesse,
Remember also if you need help to always ask. You could be the best director but suck as an editor or vice versa. So many hats to where. Try to find some people in your area that may want to help you. Your half way there because your shooting the movie.