Lady X heads to Taipei at DVinfo.net

John Locke · June 23rd, 2003, 03:31 AM

Lady X heads West...to the East!

Having completed her assignment in Kelowna, Canada, Lady X crosses another ocean to continue her mission in Taipei, Taiwan. There, she activates sleeper agent Graham Fagan, instructing him to recover a curious artifact. Fagan only has a matter of hours to complete his mission, which is soon complicated by the appearance of an old "friend." Part 1 of 2.

Watch it now! Go to http://www.ladyxfilms.com and click the "Current Episode" link.

The Lady X Crew

================
Episode 04 Details:

Directed by: T.C. Lin
Camera Operator: T.C. Lin
Edited by: T.C. Lin
Produced by: T.C. Lin and Dean Karalekas
Written by: Chris Jones, Dean Karalekas, and T.C. Lin
Based on a story by: Chris Jones
Lighting: Da Shan
Special Effects: Dean Karalekas

Cast: Ling Wei (Lady X); Dean Karalekas (Graham Fagan); Dolly Deng (Song Mei-hui); Maurice Harrington (Raoul Bunt), Lee Yi-ping (Old Guo)

Music: Composed and performed by Darrell Gallant

Fight Choreographer: Shirzi

Till Kraemer · June 23rd, 2003, 04:31 AM

Really a nice episode. The locations, characters and
dialogues were great. I especially loved humorous sentences
like "Unique, huh?".

The only thing I didn't like that much was the way she held
her gun. I doubt anyone with a minimum knowledge of
weapons would hold a gun like this. Furthermore the fight
choreography was nice but the flow was a bit unrealistic.
It looked obviously like a choreography, not like a random
sequence of attacks/defenses.

Bottom line: I was well entertained and gave it 5 stars.

John Locke · June 23rd, 2003, 05:02 AM

Dean Karalekas and Dolly Deng really did a wonderful job! I can envision seeing them on the big screen someday.

Actually...everything is well done...great filming, soundtrack, editing, dialogue...everything. Two thumbs up...and both big toes.

Like Till says, the only thing I'd fault with it would be the fight scene. Choppier editing and more camera movement would've made it seem less choreographed. Also, even though it's cliché, I would've preferred hearing some of the more pronounced "swish/smack" sound effects in Asian fight movies. But even so, I still enjoy the fight scene.

Anyone else see a resemblance between Dean and Clark Gable (in appearance, voice, mannerisms AND style)?

P.S. Okay, TC...so how in the heck did you make the watch special effect? That's the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. Was that AlamDV?

Tao-ming Lin · June 23rd, 2003, 05:38 AM

I'll let Dean answer that one, since he did the watch effect. I think it was AlamDV, plus some Photoshop. Dean?

Zac Stein · June 23rd, 2003, 06:26 AM

I think the theme/music was ever so slightly influence by "enter the dragon" *grins*

HAHAH upadate- i just caught the fight scene!! hahahah sorry sorry, that was great, it was kinda like thai chi.... ohh man i want more, next time "wiff feeeeeeewling"

Zac

Dean Khan · June 23rd, 2003, 06:34 AM

The watch effect? Let's see, first I started off by getting good and drunk.

TC took some REALLY close footage of my watch and sent me a frame from that. I just fed it into pshop and masked the face and parts of the side--anything that other pieces would be hiding behind. I cut and pasted the buttons into new layers, added some pictures of darts (hidden behind the mask until they were needed), and tweened the movement in illustrator.

I played around with moving the frame so it wasn't such an obvious still, but those experiments all ended as dismal failures. It was my first time doing what is essentially an animated gif, so I hope you like it. (We're all amateurs, right?)

Fortunately, Chris came up with the idea of blurring the darts as they deploy--something that hadn't occurred to me. something akin to go-motion, I think he said. I think it made a huge diffence.

Our resident musical genius, Darrell, added the sound effects, and voila.

Cheers.

- DK

Kevin Burnfield · June 23rd, 2003, 08:43 PM

I enjoy this project a lot... and actual wish I would have gotten in on it.

I loved the location stuff for this one. Great locations and used pretty well.

Like most, my problem was the fight scene. Tighter, quicker cuts probably could have helped along with some different angles.

Cutting from one side to the other can give a good look to martial arts scenes. One shot of her doing starting a spin kick, just starting to spin on her one foot (even if the actress couldn't do one even if she wanted to) and a cut to a shot of a foot coming across the face/head of the actor sells the action. The audience's mind fills in the bit where she actually completes the turn and lifts her leg in the momentum.

Plus they need to make some contact... or you need to get a little behind one of them so they can sell the punch or kick. From the side it's a tough sell because they either need to be hitting each other or you can see the miss.

Oh, and who doesn't love a lead who makes his entrance getting his ass kicked out of a bar or casino and down a flight of stairs! LOL! great entrance.

K. Forman · June 24th, 2003, 06:11 AM

I thought it was the best one yet! I won't go into the fight sequence... What is the saying- You can't beat a dead horse? The driver was great ( And part Ninja apparently :), as well as the new agent. Was I the only one reminded of Will Riker from Star Trek TNG?

The shooting came out beautiful, beautiful lighting and framing.

Jay Gladwell · June 24th, 2003, 11:38 AM

I found the lastest episode's lighting to be exceptional! Very impressive. Just goes to show what can be done with DV.

John, et al, would it be possible to ask the filmmakers to include a brief list of equipment used on the shoot--like camera(s), lights, etc.? Just curious.

Thanks!

John Locke · June 24th, 2003, 06:52 PM

Hi Jay,

There's a list of equipment and software used on each screening page on the Lady X site. Scroll down about halfway on each film page and you'll see it.

So far, no one has listed their lighting equipment though. Maybe the producers can chime in on what equipment they used.

John

Tony Teulan · June 27th, 2003, 02:57 AM

just a question, due to the next episode being Part 2, does this mean it will be the first episode not to begin with Lady X giving a mission?

I wonder if this is the case or if T.C. plans on having another agent assigned to rescue the agent from 4 and retrieve the item...

Alex Knappenberger · June 27th, 2003, 03:39 AM

Wow, i'm still laughing from the fight scene. In all fairness and repsect to the Fight Choreographer and the filmmakers, i'm not cracking on it in anyway, but you have to admit it was pretty funny. Other then the way she held the gun (which was pretty humorous) and the giggles at the fight scene, it was a good one.

Tao-ming Lin · June 27th, 2003, 07:00 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Tony Teulan : just a question, due to the next episode being Part 2, does this mean it will be the first episode not to begin with Lady X giving a mission?

I wonder if this is the case or if T.C. plans on having another agent assigned to rescue the agent from 4 and retrieve the item... -->>>

Ours is one episode stretched out over two parts, so you won't see Lady X again until the end of the next part. As for the story...well, you'll see.

Tony Teulan · June 27th, 2003, 07:23 AM

It was quite a good episode, felt the most film-like, more than the three before it but that fight sequence just looked way too choreographed. Slow-paced, blows didn't land, there was no feeling of danger, angles were prettty boring. Did like the shots in the marketplace and the like and setting was well-established. 8/10

Tao-ming Lin · June 27th, 2003, 07:40 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Tony Teulan : It was quite a good episode, felt the most film-like, more than the three before it but that fight sequence just looked way too choreographed. Slow-paced, blows didn't land, there was no feeling of danger, angles were prettty boring. Did like the shots in the marketplace and the like and setting was well-established. 8/10 -->>>

I had hoped to avoid resorting to the whole "our actors don't know martial arts so we'll just shake the camera and cut a lot" school of fight-scene filming, but I now admit I was wrong in that regard. Well, live and learn, that's part of what this is all about. Needless to say I will re-edit that bit for the DVD, though.

June 23rd, 2003, 03:31 AM	#1
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Lady X heads to Taipei Lady X heads West...to the East! Having completed her assignment in Kelowna, Canada, Lady X crosses another ocean to continue her mission in Taipei, Taiwan. There, she activates sleeper agent Graham Fagan, instructing him to recover a curious artifact. Fagan only has a matter of hours to complete his mission, which is soon complicated by the appearance of an old "friend." Part 1 of 2. Watch it now! Go to http://www.ladyxfilms.com and click the "Current Episode" link. The Lady X Crew ================ Episode 04 Details: Directed by: T.C. Lin Camera Operator: T.C. Lin Edited by: T.C. Lin Produced by: T.C. Lin and Dean Karalekas Written by: Chris Jones, Dean Karalekas, and T.C. Lin Based on a story by: Chris Jones Lighting: Da Shan Special Effects: Dean Karalekas Cast: Ling Wei (Lady X); Dean Karalekas (Graham Fagan); Dolly Deng (Song Mei-hui); Maurice Harrington (Raoul Bunt), Lee Yi-ping (Old Guo) Music: Composed and performed by Darrell Gallant Fight Choreographer: Shirzi __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

June 23rd, 2003, 04:31 AM	#2
Till Kraemer New Boot Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 10	Well done... Really a nice episode. The locations, characters and dialogues were great. I especially loved humorous sentences like "Unique, huh?". The only thing I didn't like that much was the way she held her gun. I doubt anyone with a minimum knowledge of weapons would hold a gun like this. Furthermore the fight choreography was nice but the flow was a bit unrealistic. It looked obviously like a choreography, not like a random sequence of attacks/defenses. Bottom line: I was well entertained and gave it 5 stars. __________________ If you can dream it, you can do it. --Walt Disney

June 23rd, 2003, 05:02 AM	#3
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Dean Karalekas and Dolly Deng really did a wonderful job! I can envision seeing them on the big screen someday. Actually...everything is well done...great filming, soundtrack, editing, dialogue...everything. Two thumbs up...and both big toes. Like Till says, the only thing I'd fault with it would be the fight scene. Choppier editing and more camera movement would've made it seem less choreographed. Also, even though it's cliché, I would've preferred hearing some of the more pronounced "swish/smack" sound effects in Asian fight movies. But even so, I still enjoy the fight scene. Anyone else see a resemblance between Dean and Clark Gable (in appearance, voice, mannerisms AND style)? P.S. Okay, TC...so how in the heck did you make the watch special effect? That's the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. Was that AlamDV? __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

June 23rd, 2003, 06:34 AM	#6
Dean Khan New Boot Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 9	The Watch effect The watch effect? Let's see, first I started off by getting good and drunk. TC took some REALLY close footage of my watch and sent me a frame from that. I just fed it into pshop and masked the face and parts of the side--anything that other pieces would be hiding behind. I cut and pasted the buttons into new layers, added some pictures of darts (hidden behind the mask until they were needed), and tweened the movement in illustrator. I played around with moving the frame so it wasn't such an obvious still, but those experiments all ended as dismal failures. It was my first time doing what is essentially an animated gif, so I hope you like it. (We're all amateurs, right?) Fortunately, Chris came up with the idea of blurring the darts as they deploy--something that hadn't occurred to me. something akin to go-motion, I think he said. I think it made a huge diffence. Our resident musical genius, Darrell, added the sound effects, and voila. Cheers. - DK

June 24th, 2003, 06:52 PM	#10
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Hi Jay, There's a list of equipment and software used on each screening page on the Lady X site. Scroll down about halfway on each film page and you'll see it. So far, no one has listed their lighting equipment though. Maybe the producers can chime in on what equipment they used. John __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

June 23rd, 2003, 05:38 AM	#4
Tao-ming Lin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 159	I'll let Dean answer that one, since he did the watch effect. I think it was AlamDV, plus some Photoshop. Dean?

June 23rd, 2003, 06:26 AM	#5
Zac Stein Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 730	I think the theme/music was ever so slightly influence by "enter the dragon" grins HAHAH upadate- i just caught the fight scene!! hahahah sorry sorry, that was great, it was kinda like thai chi.... ohh man i want more, next time "wiff feeeeeeewling" Zac

June 23rd, 2003, 08:43 PM	#7
Kevin Burnfield Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Princeton, NJ Posts: 363	I enjoy this project a lot... and actual wish I would have gotten in on it. I loved the location stuff for this one. Great locations and used pretty well. Like most, my problem was the fight scene. Tighter, quicker cuts probably could have helped along with some different angles. Cutting from one side to the other can give a good look to martial arts scenes. One shot of her doing starting a spin kick, just starting to spin on her one foot (even if the actress couldn't do one even if she wanted to) and a cut to a shot of a foot coming across the face/head of the actor sells the action. The audience's mind fills in the bit where she actually completes the turn and lifts her leg in the momentum. Plus they need to make some contact... or you need to get a little behind one of them so they can sell the punch or kick. From the side it's a tough sell because they either need to be hitting each other or you can see the miss. Oh, and who doesn't love a lead who makes his entrance getting his ass kicked out of a bar or casino and down a flight of stairs! LOL! great entrance.

June 24th, 2003, 06:11 AM	#8
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	I thought it was the best one yet! I won't go into the fight sequence... What is the saying- You can't beat a dead horse? The driver was great ( And part Ninja apparently :), as well as the new agent. Was I the only one reminded of Will Riker from Star Trek TNG? The shooting came out beautiful, beautiful lighting and framing.

June 24th, 2003, 11:38 AM	#9
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	I found the lastest episode's lighting to be exceptional! Very impressive. Just goes to show what can be done with DV. John, et al, would it be possible to ask the filmmakers to include a brief list of equipment used on the shoot--like camera(s), lights, etc.? Just curious. Thanks!

June 27th, 2003, 02:57 AM	#11
Tony Teulan Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Posts: 43	just a question, due to the next episode being Part 2, does this mean it will be the first episode not to begin with Lady X giving a mission? I wonder if this is the case or if T.C. plans on having another agent assigned to rescue the agent from 4 and retrieve the item... __________________ - Tony Teulan Cinefoundry

June 27th, 2003, 03:39 AM	#12
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	Wow, i'm still laughing from the fight scene. In all fairness and repsect to the Fight Choreographer and the filmmakers, i'm not cracking on it in anyway, but you have to admit it was pretty funny. Other then the way she held the gun (which was pretty humorous) and the giggles at the fight scene, it was a good one.

June 27th, 2003, 07:00 AM	#13
Tao-ming Lin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 159	<<<-- Originally posted by Tony Teulan : just a question, due to the next episode being Part 2, does this mean it will be the first episode not to begin with Lady X giving a mission? I wonder if this is the case or if T.C. plans on having another agent assigned to rescue the agent from 4 and retrieve the item... -->>> Ours is one episode stretched out over two parts, so you won't see Lady X again until the end of the next part. As for the story...well, you'll see.

June 27th, 2003, 07:23 AM	#14
Tony Teulan Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Posts: 43	It was quite a good episode, felt the most film-like, more than the three before it but that fight sequence just looked way too choreographed. Slow-paced, blows didn't land, there was no feeling of danger, angles were prettty boring. Did like the shots in the marketplace and the like and setting was well-established. 8/10 __________________ - Tony Teulan Cinefoundry

June 27th, 2003, 07:40 AM	#15
Tao-ming Lin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Taipei, Taiwan Posts: 159	<<<-- Originally posted by Tony Teulan : It was quite a good episode, felt the most film-like, more than the three before it but that fight sequence just looked way too choreographed. Slow-paced, blows didn't land, there was no feeling of danger, angles were prettty boring. Did like the shots in the marketplace and the like and setting was well-established. 8/10 -->>> I had hoped to avoid resorting to the whole "our actors don't know martial arts so we'll just shake the camera and cut a lot" school of fight-scene filming, but I now admit I was wrong in that regard. Well, live and learn, that's part of what this is all about. Needless to say I will re-edit that bit for the DVD, though.