My new Short film... (First time using real actors!) at DVinfo.net

Mike Horrigan · June 5th, 2007, 10:31 AM

Well, I entered this short film into an online festival. It was a little rushed in the end due to various reasons so I will be releasing a second edit in the not too distant future. It will be much more polished, tighter edit (this one drags a tad), and another scene will be added that ended up on the cutting room floor due to time limit constraints.

We used a few locations in this one as well.

It is about a bumbling Spy who has to retrieve a briefcase that contains secret documents.

Robin the Spy

Small download, hope you enjoy it. <50MB

PS- I'm not looking for votes, just for opinions and feedback in this thread. Just looking to learn and grow as a filmmaker.

Thanks,

Mike

Neo Castillo · June 5th, 2007, 03:09 PM

Are the blown out white intentional?

Mike Horrigan · June 5th, 2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo Castillo

Are the blown out white intentional?

Yes, but if you have your monitor set improperly (80% Brightness and such...) it will look much worse.

But yes, the whites were blown out a tad on purpose. Just experimenting with CC.

Richard Grebby · June 5th, 2007, 04:55 PM

I liked some of the camera work, but felt the lens flares were a little over the top and didnt look all that good. Overall I liked the set up of the shots.

Nice work.

Mike Horrigan · June 5th, 2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Grebby

I liked some of the camera work, but felt the lens flares were a little over the top and didnt look all that good. Overall I liked the set up of the shots.

Nice work.

Awesome! I appreciate the feedback and totally agree. The new edit is only going to contain one lens flare effect.

Thanks,

Keep them coming.

Mike

Zach Stewart · June 6th, 2007, 08:43 PM

I agree with the lens flare comments, but all-in-all i liked it. cleaver. the only thing that jumped out at me was the audio. the effects are nice be make sure the levels are about even. it was hard to hear at points and too loud at others. also might want to add some ambient noise to the church scene, because i could hear where you were cutting between audio channels. Shots where nice and quality looked great.

Bruce Foreman · June 7th, 2007, 12:16 AM

Hey, Mike

I enjoyed that one. Tell us a little more about getting "real actors".

Looks like that HV20 is working well for you.

Mike Horrigan · June 7th, 2007, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Foreman

Hey, Mike

I enjoyed that one. Tell us a little more about getting "real actors".

Looks like that HV20 is working well for you.

Well, what I mean by real actors is that I didn't get any friends to do this one. I had a local casting call and people who are in theatre and taking acting classes auditioned.

I'm planning a shorter edit of the beginning, and a revamped edit in the middle. I'm also adding an office scene.

The entire thing will also be scored from beginning to end, instead of only in parts.

Hopefully the pacing will work a little better.

I'm loving the HV20! Just starting to get used to it...

Mike

Mike Horrigan · June 7th, 2007, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach Stewart

I agree with the lens flare comments, but all-in-all i liked it. cleaver. the only thing that jumped out at me was the audio. the effects are nice be make sure the levels are about even. it was hard to hear at points and too loud at others. also might want to add some ambient noise to the church scene, because i could hear where you were cutting between audio channels. Shots where nice and quality looked great.

I totally agree! The audio issue will be fixed in the final cut.

Thanks for the input.

Mike.

Reese Leysen · July 8th, 2007, 03:05 AM

Looks great, the timing of the shots doesn't feel completely cinematic though but as you said it was rushed in the edit.

Did you use a lens adapter or any extra lenses for the HV20?

Mike Horrigan · July 8th, 2007, 12:52 PM

Actually, anyone looking at Robin the Spy should use the new much improved edit.

Found HERE

I just used the HV20 while filming, no attachments, adapters, or anything else.
Thanks for the comments!

Mike

Matt Crosby · July 9th, 2007, 05:19 AM

Great film Mike, agreed the tech points. What about giving your actors more back story to flesh out the life of the film a bit? What music do they like? Which underpants did they choose to wear today. What did they have for breakfast. Why did they choose that church. What would you really do if a bullet was fired from a pen in a room like that. Remember how insane the French inspector became when he had to cope with Cleusueau (Peter Sellars)? Does this man in the church have an ulcer because of Robin. Does the girl secretly have a crush on the man with the book? on Robin? We need to find out what the stakes are for each character. How important is it to get the brief case. Just how many times has Robin mucked things up. Just how bad is he at his job. I think if you increased the urgency and the complexity, the comedy would be heightened. I'm an actor myself, so I guess I focus on these types of things... is it appropriate in a camera forum? don't get me wrong - I did really like the film - I laughed out loud when the car drove off and left the brief case for Robin: well done!:))

Mike Horrigan · July 9th, 2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Crosby

Great film Mike, agreed the tech points. What about giving your actors more back story to flesh out the life of the film a bit? What music do they like? Which underpants did they choose to wear today. What did they have for breakfast. Why did they choose that church. What would you really do if a bullet was fired from a pen in a room like that. Remember how insane the French inspector became when he had to cope with Cleusueau (Peter Sellars)? Does this man in the church have an ulcer because of Robin. Does the girl secretly have a crush on the man with the book? on Robin? We need to find out what the stakes are for each character. How important is it to get the brief case. Just how many times has Robin mucked things up. Just how bad is he at his job. I think if you increased the urgency and the complexity, the comedy would be heightened. I'm an actor myself, so I guess I focus on these types of things... is it appropriate in a camera forum? don't get me wrong - I did really like the film - I laughed out loud when the car drove off and left the brief case for Robin: well done!:))

Thanks for that! I hope you took the time to watch the new edit posted above (and in my signature). It flows a bit better.

As for all your tips, I totally agree! Unfortunately, we were under a 6minute time limit (including credits) so I don't know if I could have fit it all in.

I do agree though. Great character advice.

Thanks again!

Mike

June 5th, 2007, 10:31 AM	#1
Mike Horrigan Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ottawa Canada Posts: 755	My new Short film... (First time using real actors!) Well, I entered this short film into an online festival. It was a little rushed in the end due to various reasons so I will be releasing a second edit in the not too distant future. It will be much more polished, tighter edit (this one drags a tad), and another scene will be added that ended up on the cutting room floor due to time limit constraints. We used a few locations in this one as well. It is about a bumbling Spy who has to retrieve a briefcase that contains secret documents. Robin the Spy Small download, hope you enjoy it. <50MB PS- I'm not looking for votes, just for opinions and feedback in this thread. Just looking to learn and grow as a filmmaker. Thanks, Mike __________________ My short films... The Interview & Calls From The Führerbunker

July 8th, 2007, 12:52 PM	#11
Mike Horrigan Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ottawa Canada Posts: 755	Actually, anyone looking at Robin the Spy should use the new much improved edit. Found HERE I just used the HV20 while filming, no attachments, adapters, or anything else. Thanks for the comments! Mike __________________ My short films... The Interview & Calls From The Führerbunker

July 9th, 2007, 05:19 AM	#12
Matt Crosby Tourist Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4	The spy Great film Mike, agreed the tech points. What about giving your actors more back story to flesh out the life of the film a bit? What music do they like? Which underpants did they choose to wear today. What did they have for breakfast. Why did they choose that church. What would you really do if a bullet was fired from a pen in a room like that. Remember how insane the French inspector became when he had to cope with Cleusueau (Peter Sellars)? Does this man in the church have an ulcer because of Robin. Does the girl secretly have a crush on the man with the book? on Robin? We need to find out what the stakes are for each character. How important is it to get the brief case. Just how many times has Robin mucked things up. Just how bad is he at his job. I think if you increased the urgency and the complexity, the comedy would be heightened. I'm an actor myself, so I guess I focus on these types of things... is it appropriate in a camera forum? don't get me wrong - I did really like the film - I laughed out loud when the car drove off and left the brief case for Robin: well done!:))

June 5th, 2007, 03:09 PM	#2
Neo Castillo Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 66	Are the blown out white intentional?

June 5th, 2007, 04:55 PM	#4
Richard Grebby Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Kent, England Posts: 134	I liked some of the camera work, but felt the lens flares were a little over the top and didnt look all that good. Overall I liked the set up of the shots. Nice work.

June 6th, 2007, 08:43 PM	#6
Zach Stewart Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 176	I agree with the lens flare comments, but all-in-all i liked it. cleaver. the only thing that jumped out at me was the audio. the effects are nice be make sure the levels are about even. it was hard to hear at points and too loud at others. also might want to add some ambient noise to the church scene, because i could hear where you were cutting between audio channels. Shots where nice and quality looked great.

June 7th, 2007, 12:16 AM	#7
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Hey, Mike I enjoyed that one. Tell us a little more about getting "real actors". Looks like that HV20 is working well for you.

July 8th, 2007, 03:05 AM	#10
Reese Leysen Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 114	Looks great, the timing of the shots doesn't feel completely cinematic though but as you said it was rushed in the edit. Did you use a lens adapter or any extra lenses for the HV20?