FXhomer23824 (25th Jun 2007 22:10)

Its funny how he lights the cigarette on the blade. The effects are well done and put where rthey are supposed to be. Especially the hollogram.

 

pixelboy (9th Jun 2006 07:02)

Thanks for your input, Solithar. I will certainly check out your article and take your criticisms into account as I continue with this project. I was relieved to hear your positive comments on the effect shots. When this trailer got such bad feedback, I questioned the quality of the effects, and the effects have been my main focus for this project. They're what I'm most experienced with, and what I have fun doing. This is the first time I've attempted to make a film with a cohesive story and any characters. All of my other work has been effects tests, or school projects. That may explain why I've made so many mistakes with this film. So again, thanks for all of your input, I'm sure it'll help me out.

 

Sollthar (9th Jun 2006 00:12)

I'll try to post some pointers as why this is as bad as it is, maybe it'll help you make the film actually better - seeing you spent on year on in already. I will be as honest as I can. - The intro text in your movie works... it's a bit too much text, but that can be forgiven (don't forget, you're making a film here, not writing a book - try not to rely on text, but use moving IMAGES) - the first shot with the morph is actually quite nice. It's a bit slow perhaps, but nice. Good effect. - Then there goes all downhill with the next shot for several reasons... First of all, making a story BELIEVABLE is the key to making a film GOOD. So obviously we're dealing with Jedi Knights according to the text, so lets see what we got: Two guys wearing everyday clothes, not a single bit of creative costume idea (don't get me wrong, why a modern Jedi MIGHT actually wear such clothes, to an audience, it's not believable. I don't look at you and think "oooohhhh JEDI" when you wear normal clothes... You don't look like a jedi... not a bit). Then there's that halfhearted fight... Do I believe they're fighting? No, not a second. Why? Because obviously, they're not trying to hit hard. This "fight" has no power at all. It's not believeable. Then... well... the whole thing plays in a house... surely the most anticlimactic thing to have for two jedis to fight... And then of course, there's your tripod and greenscreen visible in the frame, which takes that nothing you have left the audience to actually believe what you tell away completely. A tripod and greenscreen shouts "these guys are making a movie" and not "they're jedis" Then congratulations, you have made the worst filmmaking decision to be made. Sorry to be that direct here, but I can't even begin to imagine why you'd even think this could be a good idea... - The next shot has a bit more power, a slight bit. Again though, the scenery doesn't feel "WHOA" but more "Oh look. They've gone to the garden now..." - Hehehe, then comes the comedy moment. After your text, obviously I'm expecting a foe... a big bad fellow... But this shot of this guy randomly turning his head for no apparent reason... is just... funny, in a very very bad way. (even if you tell me now, it was supposed to be funny). It's just random... sorry.. - The effect shot with the hologram looks good! Good effect! - Then the "throw-my-lightsaber-up-and-look-cool" moment you have there... Well. It makes me smile. Why? Because - even though it's a cool effect no doubt - it's actual execution is as halfhearted as the first battle, and absolutely random. He's alone in that shot. Why would he even do that? Just because it looks cool? Which it doesn't? If you're thinking now "But this makes sense in the context of the movie!" I can only remind you, that this shot needs to make sense in the context it's HERE for this to work. Not somewhere else. And here, it doesn't. - The next fight again... No power, obviously rehearsed and pretty badly executed too. And again: Guys in jeans... In a backyard... Not even trying to get a feeling across... You're not ven trying to sell your story to me... - Well.. Obviously meant to be funny... It isn't... Why? Because even though this might be intentionally bad, it's not really funny because the rest isn't much better. And again, I don't believe the context, I think "Oh, these guys think they're funny... hmmmm..." and you don't want the audience to think that. - The next few shots are okay again. They don't make sense to me, but they're alright. Solid compositing, the framing isn't too off... That's good. - Then again, your tripod... See above... - Then there's this effect onto the guys gun, which I simply don't get... - The cigarette thing could actually be cool. funny. witty. But again, it isn't, because the acting is just bad... He has no coolness to him at all. - The sunglasses thing is nice. Cool idea, nicely pulled off! - While the backwards effect is a nice idea, it doesn't work... Again... Because it's execution is just halfhearted. It feels like there is no energy at all. Same as the fights. Like you guys would fall asleep soon or die of boredom. - The "head off" thing doesn't look too bad either, but it's so random, by that time, the trailer just makes me feel absolutely clueless about what I've just seen... I would seriously recommend you have a look at my filmmaking article here: http://fxhome.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23797 Read it, then rethink your movie and try to improve it. Sorry if I sound harsh, I hope you can take something out of it and learn and improve, for your own good, if you're actually working on this movie for a year.