INTROSPECTACLE - Feedback

Bradley L Marlow · April 13th, 2006, 09:21 AM

Wow. Didn't think my film would have been one of the first posted. Nonetheless, here we go.

This film was made without a crew - just me and some equipment.

Two costumes, one Canon XL1s, a home made car mount and various odds and ends. I discovered how challenging it is to film oneself when you can't see exactly what it is you are shooting...lol.

Since it was "ok" in the rules - "You must use your city/town/countryside as a backdrop!" - I decided to use my "countryside" as the backdrop given that is pretty much what we have out here in the sticks.

I welcome all comments, critiques and thoughts. Please feel free to let me know and hope you enjoy the film. Thank you very much!

Best wishes~
Bradley

Ben Lynn · April 13th, 2006, 09:59 AM

You made a great short. The jumps in the editing (hard music changes with fast scene cuts) really added to the character. We all know someone like that so it was a fun piece to watch. Cheers.

Ben

Bradley L Marlow · April 13th, 2006, 10:04 AM

Sure appreciate your comments. So happy you liked the piece and that you identified with the character.

Best wishes~
Bradley

Hugh DiMauro · April 13th, 2006, 10:18 AM

Brad:

Stunning cinematography. The images were fabulous. Your use of light and framing just blew me away. You are also an excellent character actor. For a one man show you did a great job. Alot of work went into your movie and it shows. You just raised the bar on the technical end of things. Makes me want to work that much harder on my projects. Thank you for giving us a high technical goal towards which to strive.

Bradley L Marlow · April 13th, 2006, 10:24 AM

Very kind! I'm glad you liked the visuals and especially grateful for the comments on the acting...lol. It's been a while since I played a full character role and wasn't sure how it would all work out. Much appreciated.

Best wishes~
Bradley

Meryem Ersoz · April 13th, 2006, 10:27 AM

fabulous use of location! also a great sound mix! i've made a one-man band film for a DV challenge, so i can totally appreciate how much goes into doing it, but nothing as complex as this.

i don't know how you managed to get some of these shots of yourself, by yourself, framed so accurately, especially face-down, bloodied with a sharp object in your sphincterdoodle.

excellent job, bradley. you amaze me with your many talents.

Bradley L Marlow · April 13th, 2006, 10:44 AM

Really appreciate your comments and was secretly crossing my fingers that you would like it. I value your thoughts.

I can certainly relate (now) to how much went into your one-man band film.

One of the tricks I used, after too much guessing, was to lay down a semi-stuffed pair of shorts or set up a second tripod with the "Grim Twin" head on it. Frame it up, start the camera rolling, set myself up in approximately the same spot, throw the shorts or Grim out of the frame and hope for the best.

"Sphincter-doodle"...lol. Glad you caught that.

Best wishes~
Bradley

Lorinda Norton · April 13th, 2006, 11:22 AM

Dear, Sweet Crash. I love this guy!

Well, Brad, you did it. You had me laughing my head off, then choking up when I realized what was going on with our hero. I wish no one had to look back and have regrets like that.

But let's dwell on the funny stuff! Because I was a bit of a rock hound as a kid I really laughed when the man and the legend got into his hunt like he did. "NOPE!!!!" LOL!!!! You're a great actor.

Beautiful job, as usual. Ain't it great livin' in the sticks? :)

Chris Barcellos · April 13th, 2006, 11:23 AM

This was my first film, and seeing the work you guys do will certainly motivate me to improve. I loved the pace, and the craziness of the film-- as well as the great scenery and backgrounds.

Bradley L Marlow · April 13th, 2006, 11:35 AM

Am so happy that you liked the film. Especially glad that you laughed...and got choked up. Was hoping for something like that.

YES! It is great living in the sticks. With so few people around, felt I was able to get away clean...and not be hauled off to the rubber room.

Really value your comments and thanks again!

Best wishes~
Bradley

Bradley L Marlow · April 13th, 2006, 11:47 AM

Glad you liked the pace and the locations and sure appreciate you taking the time to write.

No matter where we are in the process of creating films, I'd be willing to bet that each of us is highly critical of our own work. The DV Challenge, for me, has been one of the greatest educational experiences I can remember. No wonder they call it "Cheaper than Film School!"

I look forward to seeing your film.

Best wishes~
Bradley

Edward Slonaker · April 13th, 2006, 12:06 PM

GREAT job, Brad! Love the location shots and the character was a hoot. The opening sunrise sequence looked like it came straight out of "Texas Country Reporter." Excellent.

Good thing I took that Evelyn Wood speedreading course! ;)

William Gardner · April 13th, 2006, 12:24 PM

Nice job! Really pretty shots and nice editing work! Particularly the transition from the pretty opening sequences with the dissolves to the more frantic character stuff with the quick cuts, worked well!

Good work!
Bill

Bradley L Marlow · April 13th, 2006, 12:26 PM

Very happy you liked the locations...and the character, "Crash Malone". Is the Texas Counrty Reporter a local TV show? Would sure like to see that.

I noted that you are from "Hell's 6 Acres" in Texas, which is very interesting to me. The reason is because one of the very first locations I wanted to shoot here is a place called "Hell's Half Acre" Wyoming. Filled with bizzare rock formations and a strange valley, this spot was actually used in the film Starship Troopers.

Later, once the realization hit that I would have no crew at all, elected to shoot at the lake which is only 10 miles away. Hall's Half Acre is 75 miles away. Glad I decided on the lake!

Best wishes~
Bradley

Bradley L Marlow · April 13th, 2006, 12:36 PM

Very happy to know you liked the scenery and the editing.

That morning was absolutely beautiful and it is so rare that I'm up for a sunrise. Such a nightowl! However, it was 25 degrees out there and of course I brought everything BUT my coat! Was freezing my sphincter-doodle off...lol. Fortunately, as the day progressed, it warmed up.

Much appreciated!

Best wishes~
Bradley

April 13th, 2006, 09:21 AM	#1
Bradley L Marlow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central Wyoming Posts: 484	INTROSPECTACLE - Feedback - DVC#5 Wow. Didn't think my film would have been one of the first posted. Nonetheless, here we go. This film was made without a crew - just me and some equipment. Two costumes, one Canon XL1s, a home made car mount and various odds and ends. I discovered how challenging it is to film oneself when you can't see exactly what it is you are shooting...lol. Since it was "ok" in the rules - "You must use your city/town/countryside as a backdrop!" - I decided to use my "countryside" as the backdrop given that is pretty much what we have out here in the sticks. I welcome all comments, critiques and thoughts. Please feel free to let me know and hope you enjoy the film. Thank you very much! Best wishes~ Bradley Last edited by Bradley L Marlow; April 13th, 2006 at 10:25 AM.

April 13th, 2006, 10:04 AM	#3
Bradley L Marlow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central Wyoming Posts: 484	Thank you Ben Sure appreciate your comments. So happy you liked the piece and that you identified with the character. Best wishes~ Bradley

April 13th, 2006, 10:18 AM	#4
Hugh DiMauro Trustee Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,207	Wow! Brad: Stunning cinematography. The images were fabulous. Your use of light and framing just blew me away. You are also an excellent character actor. For a one man show you did a great job. Alot of work went into your movie and it shows. You just raised the bar on the technical end of things. Makes me want to work that much harder on my projects. Thank you for giving us a high technical goal towards which to strive. __________________ Interesting, if true. And interesting anyway.

April 13th, 2006, 10:24 AM	#5
Bradley L Marlow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central Wyoming Posts: 484	Thank you Hugh Very kind! I'm glad you liked the visuals and especially grateful for the comments on the acting...lol. It's been a while since I played a full character role and wasn't sure how it would all work out. Much appreciated. Best wishes~ Bradley

April 13th, 2006, 10:44 AM	#7
Bradley L Marlow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central Wyoming Posts: 484	Thank you Meryem Really appreciate your comments and was secretly crossing my fingers that you would like it. I value your thoughts. I can certainly relate (now) to how much went into your one-man band film. One of the tricks I used, after too much guessing, was to lay down a semi-stuffed pair of shorts or set up a second tripod with the "Grim Twin" head on it. Frame it up, start the camera rolling, set myself up in approximately the same spot, throw the shorts or Grim out of the frame and hope for the best. "Sphincter-doodle"...lol. Glad you caught that. Best wishes~ Bradley

April 13th, 2006, 09:59 AM	#2
Ben Lynn Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 636	You made a great short. The jumps in the editing (hard music changes with fast scene cuts) really added to the character. We all know someone like that so it was a fun piece to watch. Cheers. Ben

April 13th, 2006, 10:27 AM	#6
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	fabulous use of location! also a great sound mix! i've made a one-man band film for a DV challenge, so i can totally appreciate how much goes into doing it, but nothing as complex as this. i don't know how you managed to get some of these shots of yourself, by yourself, framed so accurately, especially face-down, bloodied with a sharp object in your sphincterdoodle. excellent job, bradley. you amaze me with your many talents.

April 13th, 2006, 11:22 AM	#8
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Dear, Sweet Crash. I love this guy! Well, Brad, you did it. You had me laughing my head off, then choking up when I realized what was going on with our hero. I wish no one had to look back and have regrets like that. But let's dwell on the funny stuff! Because I was a bit of a rock hound as a kid I really laughed when the man and the legend got into his hunt like he did. "NOPE!!!!" LOL!!!! You're a great actor. Beautiful job, as usual. Ain't it great livin' in the sticks? :) __________________ Lorinda

April 13th, 2006, 11:23 AM	#9
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	This was my first film, and seeing the work you guys do will certainly motivate me to improve. I loved the pace, and the craziness of the film-- as well as the great scenery and backgrounds. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

April 13th, 2006, 11:35 AM	#10
Bradley L Marlow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central Wyoming Posts: 484	Thank you Lorinda Am so happy that you liked the film. Especially glad that you laughed...and got choked up. Was hoping for something like that. YES! It is great living in the sticks. With so few people around, felt I was able to get away clean...and not be hauled off to the rubber room. Really value your comments and thanks again! Best wishes~ Bradley

April 13th, 2006, 11:47 AM	#11
Bradley L Marlow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central Wyoming Posts: 484	Thank you Chris Glad you liked the pace and the locations and sure appreciate you taking the time to write. No matter where we are in the process of creating films, I'd be willing to bet that each of us is highly critical of our own work. The DV Challenge, for me, has been one of the greatest educational experiences I can remember. No wonder they call it "Cheaper than Film School!" I look forward to seeing your film. Best wishes~ Bradley

April 13th, 2006, 12:06 PM	#12
Edward Slonaker Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hell's 6 acres in S. Texas Posts: 203	GREAT job, Brad! Love the location shots and the character was a hoot. The opening sunrise sequence looked like it came straight out of "Texas Country Reporter." Excellent. Good thing I took that Evelyn Wood speedreading course! ;) __________________ Edward Slonaker El Pilon Productions San Patricio, Texas www.elpilon.com

April 13th, 2006, 12:24 PM	#13
William Gardner Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 216	Nice job! Really pretty shots and nice editing work! Particularly the transition from the pretty opening sequences with the dissolves to the more frantic character stuff with the quick cuts, worked well! Good work! Bill

April 13th, 2006, 12:26 PM	#14
Bradley L Marlow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central Wyoming Posts: 484	Thank you Edward Very happy you liked the locations...and the character, "Crash Malone". Is the Texas Counrty Reporter a local TV show? Would sure like to see that. I noted that you are from "Hell's 6 Acres" in Texas, which is very interesting to me. The reason is because one of the very first locations I wanted to shoot here is a place called "Hell's Half Acre" Wyoming. Filled with bizzare rock formations and a strange valley, this spot was actually used in the film Starship Troopers. Later, once the realization hit that I would have no crew at all, elected to shoot at the lake which is only 10 miles away. Hall's Half Acre is 75 miles away. Glad I decided on the lake! Best wishes~ Bradley

April 13th, 2006, 12:36 PM	#15
Bradley L Marlow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central Wyoming Posts: 484	Thank you William Very happy to know you liked the scenery and the editing. That morning was absolutely beautiful and it is so rare that I'm up for a sunrise. Such a nightowl! However, it was 25 degrees out there and of course I brought everything BUT my coat! Was freezing my sphincter-doodle off...lol. Fortunately, as the day progressed, it warmed up. Much appreciated! Best wishes~ Bradley