Short film

Lloyd Choi · March 30th, 2007, 08:25 PM

Short film I shot for school (rush job!). Entered it into the DVXuser dramafest.

http://www.lloydchoi.com/videos/wastedwebb.mov

Reese Leysen · March 31st, 2007, 05:00 PM

Ok it's really late here and the last thing I just did before going to sleep is check out this short...

So, I'm about to go to bed but just had to make a quick comment first, I'll give a more in-depth comment tomorrow.

So here it is: I rarely find the stuff that gets posted here very engaging (no offence to anyone) but this was really good stuff, liked it quite a bit and didn't have any sort of amateur-feel to it. Great job!

Jason Burkhimer · March 31st, 2007, 06:17 PM

I really liked it, especially the end! I think the audio could be balanced a little better, like slightly decrease the level on the music so the voice is a little more clearer. I had trouble understanding what she was saying a couple of times when there were vocals in the musical background. just my 2 cents. Great story, and a good look!

-burk

Lloyd Choi · March 31st, 2007, 08:22 PM

Audio: there is one major thing that I learned on this shoot... make sure the right microphone input is turned on! I had it off while we were doing the voice over, so the voice only comes in on the left speaker.

I have so much appreciation for htose sound engineers on feature films. It's an art form in itself.

Thanks for the comment guys!

Reese Leysen · April 1st, 2007, 02:25 AM

Ah yes, indeed, the audio does need tweaking. You should have the voice run on both left and right channels.

Ok, for some more in-depth feedback: when you look around on this forum and on other filmmaker forums, every now and then you encounter productions by people who really have built up a huge amount of experience and a great arsenal of equipment to get the job done right. Except... Well, they often lack that last bit of insight and style that makes their productions truly engaging.

And that's a pity, because that bit of insight and style makes a far greater difference than all the rest. And if this is a rush job, you seem to have plenty of it. Wasted has a very low-budget indie look but at the same time it absolutely looks cinematic and not amateuristic. It's well-written and well-acted, it has a great flow, and everything comes together in a stylish way.

Rock on, man. Interested in seeing more of your stuff.

Jamon Lewis · April 1st, 2007, 03:46 AM

That was cool, I liked it. There were a few points technically that i could comment on but I'm sure you have figured out already...but MOST IMPORTANTLY you got your point across, the piece flowed, good editing, all the shots seemed deliberate, the acting was good and convincing, I think the piece was great, it didn't seem amateur and the things that weren't "right" weren't wrong enough to distract me from the story or getting the point of it.

Keep up the work God Bless

Lloyd Choi · April 6th, 2007, 08:27 PM

Thanks for the kind words guys.

You can see some more of my work, which isn't much, at my website http://www.lloydchoi.com

I'm in the works for 2 more short films.

Gary Hanna · April 7th, 2007, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloyd Choi

Audio: there is one major thing that I learned on this shoot... make sure the right microphone input is turned on! I had it off while we were doing the voice over, so the voice only comes in on the left speaker.

I have so much appreciation for htose sound engineers on feature films. It's an art form in itself.

Thanks for the comment guys!

Why not just balance the pan in post?

Lloyd Choi · April 11th, 2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Hanna

Why not just balance the pan in post?

That's genius! Seriously, didn't think about that haha.

Now... have to figure out how to do that in Premiere Pro.

Mike Horrigan · April 23rd, 2007, 07:01 PM

Nice work! I saw the ending coming shortly before you unveiled it, but I liked the way that you told the story.

Very nice work.

Mike

David Cummings · April 24th, 2007, 10:06 PM

I have a hard time saying anything negative about this. my only critisism is the narative which seemed to have a little bit of a kiddish tone.

otherwise I really like the video as a whole. BRILLIANT!

Ben Winter · April 24th, 2007, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloyd Choi

That's genius! Seriously, didn't think about that haha.

Now... have to figure out how to do that in Premiere Pro.

Just use the Fill Left or Fill Right (depending on which channel has the audio) filter on your audio tracks. See? Problem solved :)

Matthew Johnston · April 25th, 2007, 10:12 AM

Great work. Only scene I didn't like is when she is leaving work, and the hand held shot has a lot of up/down bob.

Other than that, I thought it was really a great piece.

Lloyd Choi · April 26th, 2007, 09:58 PM

thanks for the comments guys

Thanks Ben, will try that out for sure!

Matthew, I was going for a more shaky camera work, but it ended up WAY too shaky, which I agree with you. But alas, must move on and learn from my mistakes. Learned a lot from this shoot that I will take it my next films.

Cheers

Phil Kay · April 27th, 2007, 10:44 AM

I love it! had a look at your other stuff too - you've got a 'look' and a style of your own and that's good.

I really liked your static shots on 'Wasted' because they are similar to the kind of stills I take. Have a look and see what you think? http://www.flickr.com/photos/philkneen/

I think most of the shots I would compare are on page 3.....

Anyway,superb short,well done.

March 30th, 2007, 08:25 PM	#1
Lloyd Choi Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 106	Short film - DVX100a + Letus Short film I shot for school (rush job!). Entered it into the DVXuser dramafest. http://www.lloydchoi.com/videos/wastedwebb.mov

April 23rd, 2007, 07:01 PM	#10
Mike Horrigan Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ottawa Canada Posts: 755	Nice work! I saw the ending coming shortly before you unveiled it, but I liked the way that you told the story. Very nice work. Mike __________________ My short films... The Interview & Calls From The Führerbunker

April 25th, 2007, 10:12 AM	#13
Matthew Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: grand rapids michigan usa Posts: 54	Great work. Only scene I didn't like is when she is leaving work, and the hand held shot has a lot of up/down bob. Other than that, I thought it was really a great piece. __________________ www.mattjohnstonrally.com

March 31st, 2007, 05:00 PM	#2
Reese Leysen Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 114	Ok it's really late here and the last thing I just did before going to sleep is check out this short... So, I'm about to go to bed but just had to make a quick comment first, I'll give a more in-depth comment tomorrow. So here it is: I rarely find the stuff that gets posted here very engaging (no offence to anyone) but this was really good stuff, liked it quite a bit and didn't have any sort of amateur-feel to it. Great job!

March 31st, 2007, 06:17 PM	#3
Jason Burkhimer Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 220	I really liked it, especially the end! I think the audio could be balanced a little better, like slightly decrease the level on the music so the voice is a little more clearer. I had trouble understanding what she was saying a couple of times when there were vocals in the musical background. just my 2 cents. Great story, and a good look! -burk

March 31st, 2007, 08:22 PM	#4
Lloyd Choi Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 106	Audio: there is one major thing that I learned on this shoot... make sure the right microphone input is turned on! I had it off while we were doing the voice over, so the voice only comes in on the left speaker. I have so much appreciation for htose sound engineers on feature films. It's an art form in itself. Thanks for the comment guys!

April 1st, 2007, 02:25 AM	#5
Reese Leysen Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 114	Ah yes, indeed, the audio does need tweaking. You should have the voice run on both left and right channels. Ok, for some more in-depth feedback: when you look around on this forum and on other filmmaker forums, every now and then you encounter productions by people who really have built up a huge amount of experience and a great arsenal of equipment to get the job done right. Except... Well, they often lack that last bit of insight and style that makes their productions truly engaging. And that's a pity, because that bit of insight and style makes a far greater difference than all the rest. And if this is a rush job, you seem to have plenty of it. Wasted has a very low-budget indie look but at the same time it absolutely looks cinematic and not amateuristic. It's well-written and well-acted, it has a great flow, and everything comes together in a stylish way. Rock on, man. Interested in seeing more of your stuff.

April 1st, 2007, 03:46 AM	#6
Jamon Lewis Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NY NY USA Posts: 95	That was cool, I liked it. There were a few points technically that i could comment on but I'm sure you have figured out already...but MOST IMPORTANTLY you got your point across, the piece flowed, good editing, all the shots seemed deliberate, the acting was good and convincing, I think the piece was great, it didn't seem amateur and the things that weren't "right" weren't wrong enough to distract me from the story or getting the point of it. Keep up the work God Bless

April 6th, 2007, 08:27 PM	#7
Lloyd Choi Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 106	Thanks for the kind words guys. You can see some more of my work, which isn't much, at my website http://www.lloydchoi.com I'm in the works for 2 more short films.

April 24th, 2007, 10:06 PM	#11
David Cummings Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: denver, colorado Posts: 80	I have a hard time saying anything negative about this. my only critisism is the narative which seemed to have a little bit of a kiddish tone. otherwise I really like the video as a whole. BRILLIANT!

April 26th, 2007, 09:58 PM	#14
Lloyd Choi Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 106	thanks for the comments guys Thanks Ben, will try that out for sure! Matthew, I was going for a more shaky camera work, but it ended up WAY too shaky, which I agree with you. But alas, must move on and learn from my mistakes. Learned a lot from this shoot that I will take it my next films. Cheers

April 27th, 2007, 10:44 AM	#15
Phil Kay Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Peel,Isle of Man(UK) Posts: 194	I love it! had a look at your other stuff too - you've got a 'look' and a style of your own and that's good. I really liked your static shots on 'Wasted' because they are similar to the kind of stills I take. Have a look and see what you think? http://www.flickr.com/photos/philkneen/ I think most of the shots I would compare are on page 3..... Anyway,superb short,well done.