Film Noir "The Lady in White" Short Film at DVinfo.net

Glen Chua · October 6th, 2010, 12:00 AM

Hey guys,

"The Lady in White" is a short film I shot with the Canon XH-A1. The film is inspired by the old mystery radio plays in the 1940s. I wanted the film to feel like an old radio play, and have that old film look, but in a contemporary way.

Synopsis:
A man driving home late one stormy night, encounters a mysterious bride in the middle of the woods.

Let me know what you think! Thanks!

Henry Williams · October 6th, 2010, 12:25 PM

That was really, really pretty. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you don't mind me asking, what did you do in the grade to end up with such lovely black and white?

Daniel J. Brant · October 7th, 2010, 02:47 AM

Excellent! Visually quite beautiful- good choice going with the partial desaturation rather than full B&W. Production design was excellent, music and effects were atmospheric and the performances were solid. And it told a story- something that is quite rare to see in the micro-budget indie web video world. If felt like a classic ghost story and the design, cinematography and atmosphere were a big part of that. I was initially a little uncertain as to what the ending meant, but I think I'm on the right page now! For me, telling a story is the main thing, what it's all about and you've rightly put the story first with everything else supporting it. Congrats!

On a somewhat geekier note, it's nice to see something like this come from a camera like the XH A1. So much of what's around the web at the moment is DSLR material and there's this consensus that low-budget + cinematic = DSLR. It's good that someone's proving that great cinematic visuals can be achieved on a 1/3" HDV camera. Hats off to you, sir!

Glen Chua · October 8th, 2010, 12:25 AM

Thank you for the kind words! I really wanted the film to feel like a classic ghost story. I wanted the audience to feel like they were listening to a radio play. It was definitely one of the toughest shoots I have ever done, from the car problems to the pouring rain, to a bear coming out in the middle of the woods.

Henry, for the color grading, I simply used Final Cut's color correction tool. I knew that I wanted a very gray and mono-tone look from the beginning when I wrote the script, so I made sure the production design was done in a way to reflect that. The costumes and the make-up really helped with that, pretty much was just made the actor's faces white and gave them a real ghostly pastey look.

I'm glad you guys enjoyed it! Hope to hear more feedback!

Henry Williams · October 8th, 2010, 05:21 AM

many thanks, Glen.

Brian Luce · October 10th, 2010, 02:34 AM

Great light, photography, props, costumes, sets. Top to bottom. And one pretty looking lady. I thought the sound however was overwrought -- to the point of distraction, too many cues telling me what I'm supposed to be feeling and lastly I didn't get the story. What was that money bucket about? A guy meets a woman in the woods and it turns out she was a ghost of a bride who got left at the alter? Do I have that right? Technically awesome though.

Did you have a fog machine? How'd you create that?

Nice work. I liked that shot of the moon.

October 6th, 2010, 12:00 AM	#1
Glen Chua Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: British Columbia Posts: 98	Film Noir "The Lady in White" Short Film Hey guys, "The Lady in White" is a short film I shot with the Canon XH-A1. The film is inspired by the old mystery radio plays in the 1940s. I wanted the film to feel like an old radio play, and have that old film look, but in a contemporary way. Synopsis: A man driving home late one stormy night, encounters a mysterious bride in the middle of the woods. The Lady in White (2009) on Vimeo Let me know what you think! Thanks! __________________ Production Website: www.moonliteproductions.com Portfolio: www.glenchua.com

October 6th, 2010, 12:25 PM	#2
Henry Williams Major Player Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewisham, London, United Kingdom Posts: 408	Wow! That was really, really pretty. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you don't mind me asking, what did you do in the grade to end up with such lovely black and white?

October 7th, 2010, 02:47 AM	#3
Daniel J. Brant Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 27	Excellent! Visually quite beautiful- good choice going with the partial desaturation rather than full B&W. Production design was excellent, music and effects were atmospheric and the performances were solid. And it told a story- something that is quite rare to see in the micro-budget indie web video world. If felt like a classic ghost story and the design, cinematography and atmosphere were a big part of that. I was initially a little uncertain as to what the ending meant, but I think I'm on the right page now! For me, telling a story is the main thing, what it's all about and you've rightly put the story first with everything else supporting it. Congrats! On a somewhat geekier note, it's nice to see something like this come from a camera like the XH A1. So much of what's around the web at the moment is DSLR material and there's this consensus that low-budget + cinematic = DSLR. It's good that someone's proving that great cinematic visuals can be achieved on a 1/3" HDV camera. Hats off to you, sir! __________________ Daniel J Brant Corporate, Fiction and Promotional Video- enborneriver.co.uk

October 8th, 2010, 12:25 AM	#4
Glen Chua Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: British Columbia Posts: 98	Thank you for the kind words! I really wanted the film to feel like a classic ghost story. I wanted the audience to feel like they were listening to a radio play. It was definitely one of the toughest shoots I have ever done, from the car problems to the pouring rain, to a bear coming out in the middle of the woods. Henry, for the color grading, I simply used Final Cut's color correction tool. I knew that I wanted a very gray and mono-tone look from the beginning when I wrote the script, so I made sure the production design was done in a way to reflect that. The costumes and the make-up really helped with that, pretty much was just made the actor's faces white and gave them a real ghostly pastey look. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it! Hope to hear more feedback! __________________ Production Website: www.moonliteproductions.com Portfolio: www.glenchua.com

October 8th, 2010, 05:21 AM	#5
Henry Williams Major Player Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewisham, London, United Kingdom Posts: 408	many thanks, Glen.

October 10th, 2010, 02:34 AM	#6
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	Great light, photography, props, costumes, sets. Top to bottom. And one pretty looking lady. I thought the sound however was overwrought -- to the point of distraction, too many cues telling me what I'm supposed to be feeling and lastly I didn't get the story. What was that money bucket about? A guy meets a woman in the woods and it turns out she was a ghost of a bride who got left at the alter? Do I have that right? Technically awesome though. Did you have a fog machine? How'd you create that? Nice work. I liked that shot of the moon.