COUNTDOWN: Epic 60 People Action Film

[buck_suck]

Hey Everyone!

I'm back! After a long and painful 'vacation', I've returned to unveil my latest project haha. I would've posted earlier but I didn't have internet so here goes. Basically , I have been working on this 30 minute film, Countdown, for the past 3 months. Shot with a wide spectrum of random handycams and an XL2, DVX100B and a PD-170, Countdown is essentially a huge 60-70 people production. Organizing everyone was admittedly rather difficult to carry out because we only had one and a half days to shoot everything due to location constraints.

Anyway, I shall quit blabbering and let the production speak for itself. I've been told that actings a bit under par but I think its the best we could do as 16/17 year olds in high school.

Synopsis:
A cop desperately trying to hide a dark secret, an opportunistic mob boss, and a seemingly innocent office worker victimized by circumstance: Each of them driven by their own selfish motivations. Little do they know that when their paths collide in a complex chain of unprecedented events, their actions would ultimately lead to their inevitable demise ten minutes later.

In one of the largest and most epic films ever attempted by the finalists of Project Pilot and the Canon Film Festival with a cast and crew of over seventy people, Countdown is a fast-paced, intricately-spun and twisted action-thriller about the trappings of wanton greed, unavoidable causality, and most of all, ironic twists of fate.

10 Minutes. 3 People. 1 Destiny.

The links are as follows:
Google Video (This might be a little laggy) : http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 7208786893
Google Video (Bloopers): http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 2266674867


Download Site #1:http://www.mediafire.com/?b4v94d6guu4
Download Site #2: http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?a ... LaIqSPkY8=
Download Site #3 (Bloopers): http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?a ... IINIZTBIc=

Here are some posters and unedited screen grabs:































Please do enjoy the film and let me know if you have any comments, criticisms, feedback, suggestions, opinions, or hate - Anything goes. I wont take it personally so please do take the time to comment honestly. We would really appreciate it. Being only 16, we're looking forward to improving ourselves with your comments so fire away! Thanks.

Btw, as you probably realized, not all of our music is original so I am currently looking for composers before I send this around the festival circuit. Do feel free to contact me if you're interested. Thanks!

[ctbullet]

that was frigging awesome, loved the story and scale of the production

few critisms

1. story- you seemed to crame a lot of shots and seperate storylines in th 10min time frame you allowed, seemed a little farfetched
2. continuity- one shot was twilight or dawn, couldn't tell then all of a sudden was broad daylight in a simple transition across a roof
3.muzzle flahses- were good at the start, seems like you rushed to finish them by the end, probably because of the amount
4.similar- this movie is very similar to your previous film, seems same location, swat team assaulting a warehouse...

loved
1. camera work- the quality was stunning and the shots were well planned
2. props and costumes-
3. actors- you're very lucky to have so many poeple to help you, with the amount of actors and crew it has paid off
4.the bad guy- a very good triad character and a good actor
5. split screening effect- seemed to work well for explaining the story
6.the direction- was impressive

i still can't belive your 16 and this is an amateur film, can give hollywood and run for its money

[Jperson]

Looks great, except it is a 10 minute countdown in a half hour film! I'll tell you what I think properly when I've finished, but it soooo great! Brilliant!

[buck_suck]

Hey Ctbullet!

Haha yeah you still remember BLINDED? Yeah it is indeed the same place with the exception of the newer office/cubicle parts which most of the film is situated in. Anyway, thanks for your comments - Yeah it is a little rushed, mostly because we were trying to contain it to 30 minutes flat; also, we tried to incorporate alot of plot twists (Maybe too many!)

But yeah anyway, thanks for your criticisms and comments. Will definately try to improve on it but I doubt we'll ever do something this large scale again because I am now living in America and the rest of the crew is in Singapore. But yeah. Thanks (: Really appreciate it.

except it is a 10 minute countdown in a half hour film!

Haha glad you noticed heh. Basically, its half an hour because its supposed to be the last ten minutes of 3 characters lives (The triad guy, hostage, cop) so its 3 x 10 min. Anyway, do let me know what you think after you watch. Be honest! Thanks

[delta_echo]

Excellent work! I found it thoroughly enjoyable. The acting was more than decent considering how many amateur actors you had to deal with. The story was a little hard to follow, but nothing bad. The locations (especially the warehouse) are excellent. Camera work was smooth and unnoticeable (which is how it should be if you ask me!).

Much can be said about tactics used, but the average public doesn't know any better. With the scope of the production, it would seem time to move to a few blank firing weapons rather than total reliance on dubbing in the muzzle flashes. Once again, though, pretty good job overall.

Always look forward to seeing your projects. Thanks for sharing them with us.

[buck_suck]

Haha no problem. My pleasure. Thanks for comment.

Well, we would've used real guns but they're illegal where we shot the movie (Singapore). In fact, the airgun replicas we used were illegal too so we had to may smuglers over the black market to get them in for the purpose of this movie. In fact, after I left for the States, the other directors got busted by cops shooting the prequel to this film. You get the idea =S

[Ornsack]

YES!

Love it! I get far too excited when I see someone actually attempt something like this on this forum (costumes/grading/production values/etc) rather than churning something out in an afternoon (something we're more than guilty of at the moment)

Nothing much to say that hasn't been said already. Ctbullet said it all!

[buck_suck]

Haha thanks man (:

hmm Is there any way I can improve on what I have right now apart from what Ctbullet has said?

[Jimbobsquarepants]

wow looks great! i havnt watched all of it yet but i was just wondering, did you make the animation of the countdown timer yourelf or did you get it from somewhere else?

[buck_suck]

Haha thanks for your kind comments! Countdown timer eh? Nope I have a graphics designer from Perdue University who made that. We didnt lift it off somewhere though the concept is admittedly similar to '24' which has a yellow clock instead.

[buck_suck]

Bump! - No more comments?

[maj_barnes]

I'm watching it, leave me alone.

[buck_suck]

Haha okay my bad! Sorry! (:

Hah maj_barnes I used a few of the sound effects you gave me some time ago! Gotta thank you for that!

[buck_suck]

No one? Bump (:

[Ornsack]

Comment on other peoples films before you start moaning that people aren't commenting on your own film!!!

Here's a lovely film worth commenting on, for example - viewtopic.php?t=9844

[buck_suck]

Ah okay Ornsack. I get the idea(: I watched your film. Its pretty sweet. I'll make some actual comments later. Thanks.

As a result of an acute shortage of replies and views to this post and shamless thread bumping by me, I've decided that perhaps the big a** download and laggy google videos are taking their toll on viewership (Or lack thereof)... So I decided to do a trailer:

Countdown Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwmgDaCoiD8&eurl=

Hopefully *fingers crossed* there'll be a greater incentive to watch the film now.

[Jimbobsquarepants]

seriously decent trailer i liked the reloading of the guns and stuff

[buck_suck]

Thanks!

[SgtPadrino]

The only real problem I had was the muzzle flashes- they should've been much more opaque. Also the whole 24 split screen thing. Other than that, I really liked it. The shootout between the cops and gangsters at the end was well done, even if it did go all Tony Scott on everyone. The SWAT teams didn't act or move completely authentically, but a general audience probably won't notice - something to think about with your next movie. I also really liked the big reveal at the end - good song choice/well edited.

How much did the costumes cost? From what I understand, tactical gear is a lot cheaper over there than in the US.

[buck_suck]

Dude its a hell lot more expensive in Singapore - Namely because its illegal so we had to bribe some smugglers to ship it in for us from Hong Kong. I'm not kidding haha. So in the end it came up to be about $200-$300 per kevlar vest. The guns were all illegal too. Singapore doesnt allow ANYTHING (even if it doesnt fire) that resembles a firearm, even toys, to enter the country. So yeah... Alot of money went down the drain towards that.

Thanks for your comments too btw. I used Action Essentials to do the muzzle flashes. I have no idea how to use Adobe AE and my computer, supposedly a top of the line dual core 4 GB RAM PC, kept crashing opening the premiere file towards the end of the film; hence the half-done, sucky graphics. Heh guess this is why mac and FCP in general is sooo much better haha.

Anyway, I'm in the US now permanently and I must say guns and vests here are much cheaper ^_^

Btw, any other things I could improve on? Did you get the plot?

[JARHEAD]

This is a big a** file, I'll leave it downloading tommorow when I am at school, if you want I can host it on my website also, you should get 30kb's in aus, then more in USA as that is where the servers for my site are located!

[JARHEAD]

Hey, the server you had it on was damn slow, I backed it up on mine for you, download here: http://www.growlingdog.net/downloads/files/Countdown Finalized (Compressed).wmv

Ok, just watched it..

Good:
-acting, your so lucky to have so many people
-most the editing
-camera work (most the shots were setup quite well)

Bad:
-If your trying to go for a 24 style short film, when the guy is on the phone it shouldn't sound like he is, if you kinda know what I mean
-Camera angle keeps changing way to much
-Not in real time

Overall: Like it, it reminded me of 24

JARHEAD

[.teh^bauer]

Hi, I just downloaded your film and....wow! I've roamed this forum for a while + other websites and downloaded just about every action/CT flick I can find, and this one is easily the best, overall

My Positives:
- Amazing props (the guns, the cars, news crews - all that)
- Costumes were really believable, oh how I would love to get Kevlar Bodysuits like that!
- Storyline was pretty good, twists at the end were cool.
- Some of the acting was alright
- I loved the cinematic style you used. Quick rewinds, quick shots, and there was one bit where the camera zoomed in on the smoke grenade, reminded me of 24.
- I enjoyed hearing some of my favourite Man On Fire tracks, and you used them really well. Same for the 24 track you threw in there at the end (great piece of music that) EDIT: Having just watched it again, I believe thee are some snippets from the Broken Arrow OST too? (The punch sounds)? That too is a great track. lol

Negatives:
- Acting was average on the whole (though, will you get any better in amatuer filmaking?)
- While the SWAT teams looked awesome, there were some shots where they were pretty much shooting each other in the back. And yaeh like others have said, some of their tactical efforts weren't all that tactical.
-I disliked how the gangsters pulled out their guns at the same time, repetetively. Pretty cliched.
-File size seems to discriminate against us folk with lesser internet connections (I only just squeezed it in my 10hr session limit)


But, like I said, this is the best action/CT film i've ever come across. You are now my benchmark for whenever I get around to making this CT film I was gonna.


And thanks too to JARHEAD for putting this file on his server

[Lawriejaffa]

So whats the director doing in LA now though!