Amazing to think it’s been a year since the shoot!
We’ve done several test screenings with people unconnected with the film and we’re at the point where we’re really happy with the story and the reception to it. Here’s a three minute taste. Please don’t spread it around yet. Please do email me with your feedback on it, as we’re doing a revision this week.
I’m being flown out to Austin for Fantastic Fest later this month (in my alternate identity as a videogame expert) and I plan to do some advance promo for the movie. I’ve had some cards printed up (see above) and hopefully it’ll plant a few seeds for when we’re ready to launch this thing in 2011.
The real bottleneck at the moment is SFX and post audio. If you know people who’re good with After Effects and Pro Tools, feel free to send them the link to the trailer or introduce me over email. It’s deferred payment but would be good experience and exposure for the right people. Any leads on good places to recruit would be appreciated too!
Some really cool stuff there.
I like the complexity… and that it’s a middle ground between “clerks” lo-fi and maybe “American Astronaut” mid-fi.
I’m gonna hit you hard because I want this film to be a success…
Something about the pacing feels odd. It seems like you’ve let things linger that shouldn’t, or maybe you need a few more fast-paced montages between chapters, i.e. some quick irrelevant but sexy shots between each introduction.
Or maybe you are trying too hard to convey the content & context… i think people want some ideas and some cool visuals, a couple funny jokes, or awesome effects, or mind-blowing moments to let them know this movie will mess with their mind. Or give them something to talk about.
http://www.clipland.com/Live/video/5840
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfHfTt2-3pI
Like the guy painting over the signs, it’s maybe not necessary for his character to explain that. Digital Janitor? He’s wiping off logos? Done.
Conversely, “in-world” goes by pretty quick, we never see him transform from real to virtual so that’s not obvious. Could be: He puts on goggles, a flash, then he’s in world… done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L86AAGZ9BBg
I think the chinese woman’s sound is too tinny or echoey or something as well. She should be the hifi first-world media celebrity looking down on them – as it stands, that whole bit looks a little cheap to me. Reduces the contrast you are trying to create between shit jobs and awesome job land.
Maybe the whole trailer should be a trailer for the Chinese TV show which frames the whole film?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j7ktrLOC1w
My bottom-line: ghosts with shit jobs. What does that mean? Hit them over the head with the meaning of this phrase, because it will help the audience remember the title, and explain it to their friends. That’s the key to sci-fi. Think “The sheep look up.” Or “Midwich Cuckoos.” Or “Day of the Triffids.” You aren’t making “do androids dream of electric sheep” or “star wars” or “invasion of the body snatchers” – films with clear obvious titles. More like “blade runner.” What’s a blade runner? Why do I want to see this movie? A blade runner is a dude that retires replicants, i.e. kills robots. Yeehaw! Explain that once, or three times clearly and everybody gotta see it.
I also think the silk-gatherers lacks gusto… it’s too odd to be left, it’s confusing, maybe you need like one or two closeups of the silk so we know what it is. Maybe use that cool production shot of TO covered in silk.
And don’t be afraid of voiceover / text to fill in gaps, instead of letting the pacing slow down to clear up confusion. It’s a trailer!
In a land before time… in a place the world forgot… a man without a past… meets a woman without love… can TIME stand still? could HOPE come from the SHADOWS? Could ADVENTURE change a LIFE…
CHEESY SPECIFIC:
title: GHOSTS WITH SHIT JOBS
VO In a land after economics…
(NA bankrupt, shots of homeless)
VO in a continent left behind…
(chinese host intro, more clips)
title: GHOSTS
VO two brothers without fear
(stunt clips)…
title: SHIT JOBS
VO a woman with no shame
(intro clip, shots of her working)
title: GHOSTS
…
VO a janitor erasing himself to death…
(clips of him working)
(clip of him feeling dizzy / pain)
(doctor clip)
title: SHIT JOBS
and a couple making babies the new-fashioned way
(quick montage of baby making).
title: GHOSTS WITH SHIT JOBS
OK that’s enough I hope I haven’t made you cry ;-)
Spent last weekend gathering TV’s from craigslist for free. 3 carloads. For a theatrical show for which I’m designing the video…
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* WHERE’S MY ARTICLE, WORLD?
http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Flick_Harrison
* FLICK’s WEBSITE & BLOG: http://www.flickharrison.com
PS LOVE the baby with styrofoam peanuts packing in afterwards. Love. It.
And the baby on the table looks really odd – is it real or not? That stuff is GOLD.