And while shooting in black-and-white can really simplify the process of filmmaking – and in this case really enhances the movie itself – I noticed that in many shots the contrast didn’t match. Some shots would be too washed out, while others were too grey. This is one issue that is glaringly obvious in black-and-white, and really needs to be addressed. However, it’s not all that difficult to fix in post production. I also noticed that there were a few shots in which the grain didn’t match, and that seemed to correspond to the level of contrast. It might be a good idea to take the original footage, adjust the contrast level, and then add the grain effect so that all the shots match. It may be worth a few re-shoots as well.
Use of Audio
I really liked the music in this film. Once again, it added to the whole western feel, as well as matching the action on screen.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this film was that none of the audio was recorded while shooting, but added afterwards instead. Even though there is very little dialogue, I was still very impressed at how well the ADR’d dialogue matched up. In addition, there were some really great added Foley effects. For example, when Trixie is spying on our hero, she stands on a mattress in an adjoining room and peers through a peephole in the wall. The squeaking sound effect that accompanied her footsteps matched perfectly. Also, during that scene there was the added touch of the maid’s heavy breathing while she was spying.
The idea to wait until post to record audio for this film was probably a really good one as it doubtless saved a lot of time and money during production. And considering the number of scenes that were shot outdoors, there probably would’ve been the need for ADR anyway.
Use of Budget
For a short film, $2000 is a pretty good price tag. The final result is interesting to watch, with a great soundtrack, and an intriguing story. However, the contrast issues and problems with artifacts in the video really do detract from the viewing experience. It may be a good idea to spend some time and money to fix the contrast and, most importantly, the very obvious rendering issues.
Lasting Appeal
This is a good short film to watch. It’s entertaining, as well as interesting. The black-and-white, grainy style along with the setting and soundtrack would probably attract some western fans. The subject matter will reel in fans of gangster/heist flicks. And there are some great added aspects of humor that most any viewer can appreciate. I know that my cat-hating boyfriend in particular would really enjoy the part in which Trixie sticks a cat inside our hero’s engine in order to slow him down.
If the previously mentioned visual issues can be fixed, it will definitely be a great film to watch.
Overall Comment
This film really has some great elements to it. I love the black-and-white grainy feel, the soundtrack is excellent, and there are some very cool camera moves. Plus the film has just the right balance of humor and seriousness that keeps an audience interested. This is definitely a movie to be seen!
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Content |
7.8 |
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Visual
Look |
7.0 |
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Use
of Audio |
9.2 |
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Use
of Budget |
7.0 |
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Lasting
Appeal |
8.0 |
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Overall
Score |
7.8
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