MattHawkins Online - Film Making Forum

You should also try watching this TV series called 24. They have very typically cliched plot lines like mid eastern terrorists, revenge assasinations, etc. etc. but they manage to pull it off so convincingly because of good acting and unexpected story twists.

I think sets would be rather expensive at this level and unless your school is willing to fund you, I feel you should utilize whats available (i.e. a friend's house, your dad's office, your relative's warehouse) when you write your script. Dont be too ambitious but dont be too small scale either. Tr...

Well I guess what we're trying to say is that its really up to you and if you think you can do it, you should give it a shot. There is, after all, no harm trying and if you're determined enough and dont get to disappointed, you can improve and better your skills. Nonetheless, we have already warned ...

If your school is supporting you, I think you should try to get money from them. Even though our school is friggin rich, it still took quite a bit of hassling and begging on my part. I would suggest that you first write a proposal to your school admin.

I agree with UF but I'd say for your second film its pretty good. Keep trying.

make an effort to use some actual language skills. When you've got the grammar skills of a seven year old, generally speaking people aren't going to take you seriously Man thats kind of personal aint it? No offense Sgt, but I think while we can insult, criticize, compliment, or derail his film, we ...

Well, we've always had 20-30 people for our films so bodies were never really a problem. If yours is a film whereby everyone looks the same (i.e. alot of bad guys wearing black with ski masks), you could just keep re-using dead bodies. Or if not, have them switch around clothes and stuff. If your ca...

Yes Final Cut is good. It is the equivalent of Adobe Primere (If not better). Although i dont have a mac, I regret not buying one. Well, we got $2,000 because: 1) Our school is filthy rich 2) We 'proved' ourselves by getting into the finals of some nation wide competition on our own accord 3) I wrot...

Haha I agree 110%. No offense or anything man, but seriously. How are you going to film WHOLE COUNTRIES being conquered and governments being overthrown and all that. Sure, you could do that on ameteur CGI or have little micromachines running around but how seriously will people take it? I dont mean...

Haha what a coincidence. I started a new filmmaking club at my school. We got a $2,000 budget to make a large-scale film. I have to do all the work and I am essentially the guy that does everything. I have to find more successors haha. People are willing to act and look cool but dont wanna commit to...

Hosting movies for download or viewing?

For viewing, I'd suggest Google Video or www.youtube.com

I agree. Its one of those things which you either love or hate with no inbetweens. Camera style is wayy to jerky and jump cuts are so distracting. However, for some fight scenes I thought it was pretty appropriate.

Haha I think theres to be a good hybrid blend of both reality and fantasy. Something which is both facinating and breathtaking whilst still being rooted in the fundamentals of this planet so people dont go: 'Damn that was so unrealistic.'

Nah. I never said I wanted to copy him. I was just extremely intrigued by his style of camera direction and editing because no other hollywood director ever utilizes it. Wanted to learn for myself too though I would never copy it - People would just go 'bah tony scott wannabe!'. You get the idea...

Hey nice movie. Awesome FX. Never seen such good special effects since Star Wars Revelations (Independent Starwars production). Congrats on your big break thus far. Seems much more expensive than just $600 haha. Loved the blanks. Mix of WWII and horror has been done before in games (Castle Wolfenste...

Lol hes one of the most popular modern-day directors. Brother of the more famous Ridley Scott who made Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, etc. Tony Scott made Top Gun, Man on Fire, Domino, Crimson Tide, etc. etc.

I meant 28 Days Later - Not 28 Days starring Sandra Bullock. In 28 Days Later, Europe is infected with a virus which turns its populations into zombies which move damn fast (Not like those lumbering losers from Resident Evil). Think Outbreak coupled with Reign of Fire and other flicks which depict c...

Yes definately. But as independent filmmakers, how many of us can profess to hiring an entire FBI/NSA squad, blowing up a bus, or shooting in the UN as they did?

Haha this movie sounds like 28 Days Later or something like that where Europe is consumed by Zombies in 28 days. Well, I dont know what equipment you have so I'll suggest the most primitive method. You could always film from a lower angle with the ground higher than it actually seems. (i.e. film fro...

Dont mean to double post but does anyone here at all know how to do Tony Scott editing styles with Adobe?

Haha. Trust me, I know what thats like =S

Do you have alot of money to pull this off? Sure, its a great idea, but do you have a FBI squad or a nuke or that sorta thing? It sounds like the kind of thing only Hollywood Studios do. I used to think of such big scale stuff last time and it didn't turn out that great so I scaled down the entire t...

Yeah i look forward to it!

No offense or anything but doenst it sound a little like those old slasher flicks? Why not inject a new approach to the film which Hollywood hasnt come up with yet? Otherwise people will watch your film and go 'hey a remake of friday the 13th or freddy vs jason - this time with a rake'. Just some ad...

Yes that its true. But in this day and age where the media and publication sector has been around for so long, virtually everything that can be done HAS been done by Hollywood. Indie films only retain originality in terms of abstract/experimental short films which, unless you sense its deeper meanin...