Experimental Sci-Fi Short Film

[citizenkhan]

Hey everyone,

I haven't posted any of my work in a while and thought that I'd share my newest film with the community. It's not very Fallout-y, but I think there are Fallout-esque elements buried in there.

I've been working on this thing for a year now, using all sorts of different media - machinima, 16mm film, still photos, and video. It's a short film about the near future; a little hard to explain in a synopsis, so you might as well just watch it

http://vimeo.com/2300967

 

[Rhett Butler]

You are a really talented writer! Really compelling stuff. Stylistically I wish you'd just picked one or two media and stuck to it, and I didn't like the use of still photos at all, but there were lots of really cool moments in there. Really good writing though, it drew me in. Can't wait for part two.

 

[Brother None]

Nice.

I really like the use of still photos. It reminds me of La Jetee, especially with the way it also uses sound, and it makes sense as a transition in points, but I did not like the way it was extended beyond simple transition and used in large parts of narrative...I'm not sure that works.

The plot is really good, though, and how it thematically ties with experimenting with using digital or analog means is pretty clever.

Your dad's a pretty good voice actor too. Maybe a few less pauses, it borders on the Shatnerian at times.

I kinda like the aesthetic too. The use of light reminds me of Gattaca (not a great film but interesting aesthetic), but I do kinda feel you didn't go far enough with making it "sci fi-ie", not necessarily inside the memories but more in the real world.

 

[citizenkhan]

Thanks! Sorry I didn't reply earlier - didn't realize you guys had watched it.

Rhett, thanks for the compliment about my writing! I can't take full credit for the quality of the dialogue - the screenplay was used as a framework rather than a manual, so much of what the actors say was spontaneous. I had worked with Charlie previously and knew that he's a first-rate improviser. It's a real pleasure to work with talented actors. I'll be sure to post a link to part two here - though who knows when it'll be done.

Brother None, I definitely agree with you about the stills being a bit "heavy." I had originally conceived of them as transitions (as you noted), but because of budgetary constraints I had to use a lot more than I would have liked. Also, the Cloisters wouldn't let me shoot motion film in the museum, but I was able to negotiate with security to let me do stills. The sound was recorded analog on a old Nagra specifically to evoke 1960's soundscapes - so I'm glad you noted its similarity to La Jetee.

Thanks very much about the plot! I'm very happy you noted the thematic/technical interplay... that juxtaposition was the seed of the whole story. It's an issue that those of us who've inhabited virtual worlds since pen & paper RP and MUDs are acutely aware of, but that the general public doesn't really care about. That they don't care worries me, as the line between reality and "virtual" reality (not that there ever was one in the strictest sense) is getting thinner every day. I've always been annoyed that people not only behave differently in cyberspace, but that they expect that every one else does as well. Though I'll shut up about all that, since it's kind of dry and pretentious.

My dad thanks you This was his first time playing a speaking role in a film (he'd worked with me in a few non-speaking roles before this), and I thought he did extremely well in spite of it.

Thanks again for the comments and praise.