Topic: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the DIF forums but am a long time listener. I'm a character animator by profession but i also have a passion for films and filmmaking.

Just to test what we could do with a camera that I bought recently, me and my friends made a very short scene/film.

Check it out. And please let me know what doesn't work. It would be a great help in whatever I do next.

Thanks!

PS. The music is from the movie "UP". I hope that's not a huge problem, since this is just a test.

http://vimeo.com/34036651

Last edited by rdsarna (2012-01-15 14:16:45)

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Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

I think you need to do some work with the camera, you haven't included any colour at all!   tongue 

Really nicely made short, gets in makes its point then ends.

Good Job!

Extended Edition - 146 - The Rise Of Skywalker
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Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

Hey Faldor,

Thanks for the comments. I'm glad you liked it.

Hey, I just realised the colour thing. haha.

I intentionally didn't make it in colour because I'm pretty fresh to the field of colour grading. And I need a lot more experience and practice to produce content in colour.

Also, we used available light and it wasn't the best, neither constant. smile

Hopefully, next time we'll be able to get some better lighting done for the shoot.

Thanks!

Last edited by rdsarna (2012-01-15 18:06:31)

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Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

That was perfect. At first you're thinking "oh, great, another one of these." Then you're thinking "the music choice is a little weird." And then you start grinning.

Photography was good, smart call going black and white to avoid tricky color correction. I have no critiques off the top of my head, that was just a nifty little short.

Great job, glad you've become post-y-er. smile

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

Same here, I thought it was fantastic! Absolutely no issues with it whatsoever. It looks great, flows well and has a nice little twist.

Mesa likes this.

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Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

Fantastic little film you got there.  big_smile

"Life is about movies; anything else is a bonus!"- Me   cool

Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

Hey thanks Teague. Your reply was like a mini-commentary for the film  big_smile
It's really encouraging to know that you thought the film was good. I was just trying to achieve something that doesn't look too amateurish and has a little bit of a narrative to it.

Hey Owen. Thanks for watching and commenting on the film. It's great to know that it flows well because that was also one of my goals to make the editing invisible as it should be. I still feel it is a bit choppy at places but maybe its just to my eyes.

Thanks Snail! Appreciate your comment  smile

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Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

Great, twisted little vignette. Nice shot selection and the camera work added a lot to the story. Liked the reveal of the body.

When using available light, knowing how and where to take light away becomes really valuable. For instance, on some of the white walls, if you flag off some light from the window, you can get a soft shaded gradient on that wall to make it a little more dynamic and help shape the space. Similarly, every wall in that room is bouncing light around and adding fill. You can further shape light then by hanging some thick black fabric or a curtain or something to cut down on bounce behind the camera. Then, if you want to add more, you can use a piece of poster board or something to bounce the light exactly where you want it. Really cheap way to get light under control and use it to your advantage.

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Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

Same here, great short.

If I were forced to formulate a negative point, I'd say that the cut at 0:47 lacks some angle difference for the character's face, but I'm not even sure it bothers me in any way.

Anyway, I loved how the music keeps the same tone while the movie actually changes with the twist. It brings some funny irony.

Last edited by Saniss (2012-01-16 17:34:04)

Sébastien Fraud
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Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

That makes me want to know more about how that all came about. Did the guy actually kill her, or was it a "World's Best Dad" thing, where she OD's and he decided to make it look like suicide instead.

Unfortunately, the cops are totally gonna know she didn't write that letter if they find anything else she'd written.

I like this a lot.

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Re: Sorry, Seema - A short test/film

Hey Paulou, thanks for the tip.
I had to read a couple of times to get it properly. Then I researched about it a bit and I think I fully understand what you suggested. It's definitely something that would be of huge help as we don't have lights for shoots. Thanks a lot.

Hey Saniss, I see why that cut might be distracting. Thanks for pointing it out and watching the film smile

Hi Sqiggly_P, I'm glad that the film made you curious to know more! That's a huge compliment , I think.
And ya the guy isn't very safe. Although, I did try to suggest that he was copying the girl's handwriting by placing that red diary just above the letter. Haha....Cheers!

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