DVC 6 Feedback :: Fresh Baked (James Huenergardt) at DVinfo.net

James Huenergardt · August 25th, 2006, 08:26 PM

Well, my film will most likely be posted on Saturday and I will be out all day.

This is my first DV Challenge entry as well as my first short film attempt.
As you'll see in the credits, it was me and two other people, so at least I had some help.

This was shot using a Sony Z1U for those interested.

Looking forward to your comments/suggestions.

Enjoy!

Jim

Lorinda Norton · August 26th, 2006, 11:10 AM

Oh man, why chocolate chip? That's my favorite! Now I'm so hungry...

Beautiful images--that time lapse of the cookies baking was amazing!

Back in a bit; gotta go find something to eat... :)

Robert Martens · August 26th, 2006, 11:45 AM

This is among the most professionally packaged films to date, everything seemed so polished. Great, great job. Especially the whack in the head the wife gives her husband, I like that.

Honestly, I didn't get it the first time through; felt like the movie ended before anything happened. I thought maybe she had taken the cookies somewhere, and was waiting for the next scene, at what I assumed would be the party. Then I went back and saw the gag with the minivan, and I love it.

I still can't figure out if anything came of the husband saying "anything for you, dear"; afterward, the wife raises her eyebrows, and I thought something was going to happen, when in reality she's no longer paying attention to the guy, and is raising her eyebrows to indicate an idea related to making the cookies. You might spread those two actions out a bit, this close together they seem to be intended for one another.

Chris Barcellos · August 26th, 2006, 12:16 PM

Super job. And those Toyotas work well as an oven here in California...

Kris Holodak · August 26th, 2006, 08:38 PM

I loved that you could tell an entire coherent story in only 2 minutes. I think often we're stuck trying to cram in too much that 3 minutes won't do and so the story comes out unclear. You have proved that we don't need more time, we need the right story for the time we have. On the technical side I liked the camera moves and the tight editing.

Smile,
Kris

Michael Fossenkemper · August 26th, 2006, 08:42 PM

Ahhhhh, I get it now. Great job. Really looked great. Sound was super. Really good camera work. Very natural dialog. Damn I suck.

James Huenergardt · August 26th, 2006, 08:43 PM

Thanks for the feedback.

I wish I had some cookies left over to send you Lorinda! The timelapse was a lot of fun. We went to a friend's house with an oven that had a window. We had to take the door off the oven and take this 'grill' off so we could see through the glass. Then I shot it at an angle, tried to light it as well as I could and sped the over 8 minutes of footage to about 5 seconds.

Robert, I have high aspirations, so I try my hardest to really put together a quality production, thanks for the compliment.

I've had others not 'get it' the first time either, and this was a bit of a quandry for us. Not giving too much away, but still wanting the twist at the end. I see your point about the wife and the husbands comments. That makes sense.

Hey Chris, just noticed you're in Elk Grove! Ha. I grew up in Modesto. It was HOT over there about a month ago.

Jim

James Huenergardt · August 26th, 2006, 08:47 PM

Kris, my goal was to make it as short as I could and still tell a story. A college professor in my design/writing class told me something I remember over 20 years later (man I'm getting old) 'brevity, brevity, brevity'. That's the key.

So often, we think a short film that has a limit of 3 minutes HAS to be 3 minutes. It doesn't.

Thanks for the camera and editing compliments.

Hey Michael, thanks for the nice words. Maybe next time I can make the ending a little more 'gettable' (is there such a word???)

Jim

Michael Fossenkemper · August 26th, 2006, 08:53 PM

hahaha, I like to have to think. If it wasn't for these DVC's, my brain would just wither and die. With most movies today, I'm not used to having to think. (I just re-read this and I sound like a moron).

Lorinda Norton · August 26th, 2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Huenergardt

I wish I had some cookies left over to send you

That's so nice of you! But not necessary anymore. I baked some cookies in these intervening hours and have polished off several--feel much better now. :)

James, this is such an accomplished movie; not one thing "wrong" with it. Unusual for me, but I got it the first time through! Just wanted you to know in case you're keeping track.

We all "think" through different eyes. That's partly what makes the movies so cool. :)

Dick Mays · August 27th, 2006, 06:19 AM

I'm slow too. I didn't get it the first time through. I thought she was taking the cookies to a neighbors house. Very funny.

Also very beautifully shot, and tightly scripted.

Justin Tomchuk · August 28th, 2006, 11:38 AM

This is one of my favourites. James, amazing job. It looks like this one will be a tough contender in the finals.

James Huenergardt · August 28th, 2006, 11:51 AM

Hey Justin,

Thanks for the kind words. I really like the coloring in your clips and the beautiful location.

I used to fly for Delta Connection out of Boston and would overnight in Halifax. Never got out much, but I always liked flying up there.

Take care,

Jim

Sean McHenry · August 29th, 2006, 10:14 AM

Hey, that was good. I too missed the baking in the car bit the first time through. Had to back it up to get it. If you don't get it, it seems like you missed something important, and in fact I had.

Shot very well. The young lady can act as well. Nice. Kept the color in check, had some clever bits, music fits nicely, etc.

To keep from loosing people, perhaps I would have done a zoom out looking at the cookies through the windshield of the car when the wife takes them out? Seems like that needs a bit of clarifying only in that a large group of people seem to have missed it, like myself.

Still, great job.

Sean

James Huenergardt · August 29th, 2006, 10:35 AM

Thanks for the comments.

Yes, we struggled with how to 'reveal' the twist at the end. That would have been a good idea to zoom in through the windshield.

I was also thinking about having a 'cookies' POV facing the rear of the minivan and having a CU of the cookies, the 'oven' (back hatch) opens, cut to a wide of the woman pulling the cookies out to a reverse of her coming around and closing the 'oven' door.

My wife will appreciate your comments about her acting. It is great to have a partner who loves this stuff and is willing to work hard at it.

Thanks again Sean,

Jim

August 25th, 2006, 08:26 PM	#1
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	DVC 6 Feedback :: Fresh Baked (James Huenergardt) Well, my film will most likely be posted on Saturday and I will be out all day. This is my first DV Challenge entry as well as my first short film attempt. As you'll see in the credits, it was me and two other people, so at least I had some help. This was shot using a Sony Z1U for those interested. Looking forward to your comments/suggestions. Enjoy! Jim

August 26th, 2006, 11:10 AM	#2
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Oh man, why chocolate chip? That's my favorite! Now I'm so hungry... Beautiful images--that time lapse of the cookies baking was amazing! Back in a bit; gotta go find something to eat... :) __________________ Lorinda

August 26th, 2006, 12:16 PM	#4
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Super job. And those Toyotas work well as an oven here in California... __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

August 26th, 2006, 08:43 PM	#7
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	Thanks for the feedback. I wish I had some cookies left over to send you Lorinda! The timelapse was a lot of fun. We went to a friend's house with an oven that had a window. We had to take the door off the oven and take this 'grill' off so we could see through the glass. Then I shot it at an angle, tried to light it as well as I could and sped the over 8 minutes of footage to about 5 seconds. Robert, I have high aspirations, so I try my hardest to really put together a quality production, thanks for the compliment. I've had others not 'get it' the first time either, and this was a bit of a quandry for us. Not giving too much away, but still wanting the twist at the end. I see your point about the wife and the husbands comments. That makes sense. Hey Chris, just noticed you're in Elk Grove! Ha. I grew up in Modesto. It was HOT over there about a month ago. Jim Last edited by James Huenergardt; August 27th, 2006 at 12:34 AM.

August 29th, 2006, 10:14 AM	#14
Sean McHenry Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,193	Hey, that was good. I too missed the baking in the car bit the first time through. Had to back it up to get it. If you don't get it, it seems like you missed something important, and in fact I had. Shot very well. The young lady can act as well. Nice. Kept the color in check, had some clever bits, music fits nicely, etc. To keep from loosing people, perhaps I would have done a zoom out looking at the cookies through the windshield of the car when the wife takes them out? Seems like that needs a bit of clarifying only in that a large group of people seem to have missed it, like myself. Still, great job. Sean __________________ ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m shooting on D.V.’ - my hero - David Lynch http://www.DeepBlueEdit.com

August 26th, 2006, 11:45 AM	#3
Robert Martens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 820	This is among the most professionally packaged films to date, everything seemed so polished. Great, great job. Especially the whack in the head the wife gives her husband, I like that. Honestly, I didn't get it the first time through; felt like the movie ended before anything happened. I thought maybe she had taken the cookies somewhere, and was waiting for the next scene, at what I assumed would be the party. Then I went back and saw the gag with the minivan, and I love it. I still can't figure out if anything came of the husband saying "anything for you, dear"; afterward, the wife raises her eyebrows, and I thought something was going to happen, when in reality she's no longer paying attention to the guy, and is raising her eyebrows to indicate an idea related to making the cookies. You might spread those two actions out a bit, this close together they seem to be intended for one another.

August 26th, 2006, 08:38 PM	#5
Kris Holodak Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 302	I loved that you could tell an entire coherent story in only 2 minutes. I think often we're stuck trying to cram in too much that 3 minutes won't do and so the story comes out unclear. You have proved that we don't need more time, we need the right story for the time we have. On the technical side I liked the camera moves and the tight editing. Smile, Kris

August 26th, 2006, 08:42 PM	#6
Michael Fossenkemper Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NYC, weeee. Posts: 417	Ahhhhh, I get it now. Great job. Really looked great. Sound was super. Really good camera work. Very natural dialog. Damn I suck.

August 26th, 2006, 08:47 PM	#8
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	Kris, my goal was to make it as short as I could and still tell a story. A college professor in my design/writing class told me something I remember over 20 years later (man I'm getting old) 'brevity, brevity, brevity'. That's the key. So often, we think a short film that has a limit of 3 minutes HAS to be 3 minutes. It doesn't. Thanks for the camera and editing compliments. Hey Michael, thanks for the nice words. Maybe next time I can make the ending a little more 'gettable' (is there such a word???) Jim

August 26th, 2006, 08:53 PM	#9
Michael Fossenkemper Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NYC, weeee. Posts: 417	hahaha, I like to have to think. If it wasn't for these DVC's, my brain would just wither and die. With most movies today, I'm not used to having to think. (I just re-read this and I sound like a moron).

August 27th, 2006, 06:19 AM	#11
Dick Mays Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 690	I'm slow too. I didn't get it the first time through. I thought she was taking the cookies to a neighbors house. Very funny. Also very beautifully shot, and tightly scripted.

August 28th, 2006, 11:38 AM	#12
Justin Tomchuk Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 164	This is one of my favourites. James, amazing job. It looks like this one will be a tough contender in the finals.

August 28th, 2006, 11:51 AM	#13
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	Hey Justin, Thanks for the kind words. I really like the coloring in your clips and the beautiful location. I used to fly for Delta Connection out of Boston and would overnight in Halifax. Never got out much, but I always liked flying up there. Take care, Jim

August 29th, 2006, 10:35 AM	#15
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	Thanks for the comments. Yes, we struggled with how to 'reveal' the twist at the end. That would have been a good idea to zoom in through the windshield. I was also thinking about having a 'cookies' POV facing the rear of the minivan and having a CU of the cookies, the 'oven' (back hatch) opens, cut to a wide of the woman pulling the cookies out to a reverse of her coming around and closing the 'oven' door. My wife will appreciate your comments about her acting. It is great to have a partner who loves this stuff and is willing to work hard at it. Thanks again Sean, Jim