Trailer - Need Honest Opinion

[paulherrin]

EDIT: A month might not be long enough to tell a good story on film, but there's a chance it will be long enough to tell one on the 7D. I do have a script I wrote a while back, thankfully.

definitely not what i meant...

 

[Matt W.]

Here are some books that have been instrumental in figuring out where I went wrong when intuition failed me:

First Time Director, Gil Bettman
Directing Actors, Judith Weston
Directing Feature Films, Mark Travis
Working Director, (forgot author)
The Eye is Quicker, Richard Pepperman (Editing)

It's a big cheezy, but Save the Cat brought all the esoteric writing books like Robert McKee's 'Story', and Joseph Campbell, into perspective.

I've read about half those, will look into the rest. The idea of film school is that the books are all somewhat contradictory and narrow-focus (and, honestly, rarely all that practical) so I want something cohesive and theoretically broad instead or as a supplement. Then again, I guess the more you read the more it comes together. But I'd rather learn it all at one place. Anyhow, I've already cut about 20 seconds, will hopefully cut about 20 more and redo the titles, too, for my next round of applications. Your advice re: the trailer makes a lot of sense now that I think about it, and I'm applying what I can of it so thanks.

definitely not what i meant...

I know, don't worry. (Not that I necessarily agree; Wong Kar Wai made Chungking Express in like two months, but then again he's Wong Kar Wai.)

 

[Rob Ruffo]

I hate to state the obvious but a film that makes light of drug use might not sit well with many Universities. Watching your film one might easily get the impression you yourself are a frequent user (not because it's bad, I don't mean it that way, I just mean it somehow feels, if not pro-drug, then at least drug-friendly.) I'd avoid touchy subjects like that.

 

[Matt W.]

I thought it was really ridiculous and funny! I was compelled to keep watching the trailer all the way through.

I actually kind of wished it was all just about those guys and their wasted youth...

Thanks, that means a lot. If I don't get in this year (though I'm applying all over so fingers crossed), I'm turning this into a feature script and shooting an entirely different short. Which I should have done in the first place.

Also, your reel is pretty awesome.

As for the drug stuff, I can't see it being a big deal, but maybe it is. I mean, virtually every movie has someone breaking the law or temporarily not abiding by the strictest moral standards. I may be totally wrong, though.

 

[paulherrin]

don't let me or anyone else tell you who to be. do what you're gonna do man. if that's what you're all about, by all means, be who you are, just don't expect everyone else to appreciate it. you always have to be realistic and aware of your target audience - if that only includes you and your buddies that smoke - no worries. but if you really want to reach a wider audience, it's time to focus on your perspective and worldview.