Hey Gutless Wonder, it's clear you have talent but you have a few genres that just didn't seem to mix well.
It's like I was watching elvis meets grease meets super bad!
I sure it's difficult to tell a full story in 12 minutes, but I needed to know more of his relationship with the girl. What made it special!
Then I would have more of an understanding for his plight.
And it would have been funnier, if the boyfriend would have kick you ass more.
The slut phrase didn't have the impact because if you would have told us the car had been from owner after owner after owner, that would have made to whole slut theme stronger.
Also, I think having the film end with you getting in the car, and it not starting is a better ending. Not the getting out and kicking at it.
I liked the opening shots and a lot of the cinematography - it is well thought out and has a style. Making video footage black and white has become a cliche either as an attempt to make the film or period piece, give it a tougher look or trying to set a stylistic mood. If a filmmaker is going to commit to a black and white it there should be a strong reason and not just a vague notion of "cool."
Having said that I enjoyed the first sequence of shots, nice low angles that get us down under the car with him, nice compositions with the radio and tight shooting to establish the atmosphere of his garage/room.
The first speaking scene is difficult, mainly because, as afar as I can tell, you are recording audio from the camera. You either need a good boom or mic these two guys wireless (good boom operator preferable).
You should have worked out the relationship between these two guys a little better. Given it a bit more depth. Obviously, one is a happy-go-lucky bullsh#t artist who talks a line before he speaks and the other tries to be James Dean cool. Working out their exchange, giving a little more space in their back and forth could have strengthened their boundaries.
When they talk about the girlfriend remember, he is telling his friend he is going to MARRY her while he doesn't have a clue that she's creating on him. That's a big issue and it hanging like over-ripe fruit.
And the other really huge issue of misplaced love is the Ford Mustang. Look, a 1991 Ford Mustang is a fools nightmare. Its not boss. It's not a cool racing machine. It's not a sports car. It's not an early Shelby Mustang or even a newer one totally spec'd out. It is a piece of crap. If the films title "Gutless Wonder" is in reference to the car, you're on the right track, although it is gutless there is nothing wonderful about this Mustang.
The relationship with the girl is shallow and pointless - how could he ever get to the point of laying out some scratch (that he could buy parts for his car with) for a ring, when here is obviously nothing there between them. If the misdirection on this was intended than you have some work to flesh the lack of perceptiveness and misunderstanding out.
The fighting scene between jock and greaser is ridiculous and the cheap way out at this point in the film.
The writing is so so but the movie had a lot of heart It's just amazing how the directing and pacing pulls you straight through. I was hoping he was going to marry his car though, but I'm insane. This movie, pretty amazing, but I'm not surprised. It's about what I expect to see from Kellan. Pretty good, man, pretty good.
Did you really get the rights to all those Elivs songs or were you pirating them? If you did, bravo, if you didn't...it's really not ethical to have it in this contest. (Sorry, dude.)
I did like the retro feel and the unconventional definition of unrequited love...with a car, with a girl? It would have been interesting telling it from the girl's POV.
I liked it. I also think the comments and postings by others are extremely valuable. When taken to heart, constructive criticism will always get your farther than a compliment ever will. I do feel that some critics forget about the limited resources many of these writers/actors have. For example, edgy boneweather comments on the use of a 1991 Ford Mustang in this video being weak. First off, this guy is probably in college. Do you really expect him to have access to a Shelby GT, Ford GT, or Boss? Even if he did, is it really necessary? My imagination works, does yours? Heck, maybe he should quick run out and buy $50,000 of digital equipment then as well. Especially if he has the capability of putting an $80,000+ car in this video. I think comments are extremely valuable but should always be kept in line with the areas mentioned by movie critic: acting, directing, cinematography, story, etc.
A good boom operator in an amateur video? Is this Hollywood? One sec, Brad Pitt is calling.
So I saw your film and I liked the 50s style black and white film you made, and how you made the car a character almost all in itself. It seemed pretty cool.
A question I had about it was the whole deal with the music you used, because isn't it copy written or has the music entered public domain. I was also wondering whether you saw my film (Committed) and what you thought of it.
Finally a short film that didn't over reach, wasn't trying to be a super important statement film like most of the others. I liked the title, the choice of B&W, I got a few chuckles out of it. The one concern is the use of known music and name brands that w/o permission could get this pulled from the screen, but I think this is my favorite so far.
10 comments:
Hey Gutless Wonder, it's clear you have talent but you have a few genres that just didn't seem to mix well.
It's like I was watching elvis meets grease meets super bad!
I sure it's difficult to tell a full story in 12 minutes, but I needed to know more of his relationship with the girl. What made it special!
Then I would have more of an understanding for his plight.
And it would have been funnier, if the boyfriend would have kick you ass more.
The slut phrase didn't have the impact because if you would have told us the car had been from owner after owner after owner, that would have made to whole slut theme stronger.
Also, I think having the film end with you getting in the car, and it not starting is a better ending. Not the getting out and kicking at it.
Acting: b-
Directing: b-
Cinematography: A
Story: C-
Production Value: B
I liked the opening shots and a lot of the cinematography - it is well thought out and has a style. Making video footage black and white has become a cliche either as an attempt to make the film or period piece, give it a tougher look or trying to set a stylistic mood. If a filmmaker is going to commit to a black and white it there should be a strong reason and not just a vague notion of "cool."
Having said that I enjoyed the first sequence of shots, nice low angles that get us down under the car with him, nice compositions with the radio and tight shooting to establish the atmosphere of his garage/room.
The first speaking scene is difficult, mainly because, as afar as I can tell, you are recording audio from the camera. You either need a good boom or mic these two guys wireless (good boom operator preferable).
You should have worked out the relationship between these two guys a little better. Given it a bit more depth. Obviously, one is a happy-go-lucky bullsh#t artist who talks a line before he speaks and the other tries to be James Dean cool. Working out their exchange, giving a little more space in their back and forth could have strengthened their boundaries.
When they talk about the girlfriend remember, he is telling his friend he is going to MARRY her while he doesn't have a clue that she's creating on him. That's a big issue and it hanging like over-ripe fruit.
And the other really huge issue of misplaced love is the Ford Mustang. Look, a 1991 Ford Mustang is a fools nightmare. Its not boss. It's not a cool racing machine. It's not a sports car. It's not an early Shelby Mustang or even a newer one totally spec'd out. It is a piece of crap. If the films title "Gutless Wonder" is in reference to the car, you're on the right track, although it is gutless there is nothing wonderful about this Mustang.
The relationship with the girl is shallow and pointless - how could he ever get to the point of laying out some scratch (that he could buy parts for his car with) for a ring, when here is obviously nothing there between them. If the misdirection on this was intended than you have some work to flesh the lack of perceptiveness and misunderstanding out.
The fighting scene between jock and greaser is ridiculous and the cheap way out at this point in the film.
I liked the end when the car wouldn't start.
HAHA "I'm gonna Bruise him up."
The writing is so so but the movie had a lot of heart It's just amazing how the directing and pacing pulls you straight through. I was hoping he was going to marry his car though, but I'm insane. This movie, pretty amazing, but I'm not surprised. It's about what I expect to see from Kellan. Pretty good, man, pretty good.
I enjoyed this film.
Did you really get the rights to all those Elivs songs or were you pirating them? If you did, bravo, if you didn't...it's really not ethical to have it in this contest. (Sorry, dude.)
I did like the retro feel and the unconventional definition of unrequited love...with a car, with a girl? It would have been interesting telling it from the girl's POV.
Kellen,
you rule!
Laurel
I liked it. I also think the comments and postings by others are extremely valuable. When taken to heart, constructive criticism will always get your farther than a compliment ever will. I do feel that some critics forget about the limited resources many of these writers/actors have. For example, edgy boneweather comments on the use of a 1991 Ford Mustang in this video being weak. First off, this guy is probably in college. Do you really expect him to have access to a Shelby GT, Ford GT, or Boss? Even if he did, is it really necessary? My imagination works, does yours? Heck, maybe he should quick run out and buy $50,000 of digital equipment then as well. Especially if he has the capability of putting an $80,000+ car in this video. I think comments are extremely valuable but should always be kept in line with the areas mentioned by movie critic: acting, directing, cinematography, story, etc.
A good boom operator in an amateur video? Is this Hollywood? One sec, Brad Pitt is calling.
Overall, good constructive comments.
So I saw your film and I liked the 50s style black and white film you made, and how you made the car a character almost all in itself. It seemed pretty cool.
A question I had about it was the whole deal with the music you used, because isn't it copy written or has the music entered public domain. I was also wondering whether you saw my film (Committed) and what you thought of it.
Finally a short film that didn't over reach, wasn't trying to be a super important statement film like most of the others. I liked the title, the choice of B&W, I got a few chuckles out of it. The one concern is the use of known music and name brands that w/o permission could get this pulled from the screen, but I think this is my favorite so far.
i think edgy boneweather is kind of a d-bag.
Shania, name-calling is really smart and useful... Grow up.
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