I really enjoyed the audio in Panzer Corps. The musical score was wonderful. Congratulations are in order for whoever decided to use Russian born Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s work. It functions incredibly well here.
The sound effects and mixing in post were also pleasing. The sounds of the bullets whizzing by, explosions, etc. added so much in support of the visuals. The location sound was also well captured. The dialogue was always isolated, clear and audible. Great job!
The only audio issues I found have already been mentioned in previous portions of this review. They also stem from the acting as opposed to being technical issues. Other than these, I would consider the audio a shining success.
Adam Valuckas’ budget totaled $5,000. Here’s the breakdown:
$2,500 – replica guns, surplus uniforms, spray paint and small set dressings.
$1,500 – Post Production: sound effects, stock footage
$500 – food and Porta Potty
$500 – Promotional Materials: posters, mailers, festival entry fees*
(*Technically, promotional materials shouldn’t be included in the film’s budget, as these are considered marketing costs and are never factored into the production budget of a film)
This budget seems on-par for what I’d expect it would be. The items I’m least familiar with are the guns and uniforms, but it doesn’t surprise me that they would cost that much for several cast members. The budget looks appropriately spent and not at all unreasonable. Mr. Valuckas also had the use of a house for his crew and cooking, and the advantage of owning his own camera, lights and editing software. Without those, he’d have had to budget much more.
Interest in films about war has endured for generations. I expect the same for generations to come. War films illustrate the concepts of conquest, victory, defeat and redemption as no other genre can. I definitely recommend this film to viewers who enjoy films about war. I also recommend it to others who, like me, appreciate the aesthetics of a well shot and edited film.
Panzer Corps has a solid foundation on which to move forward. The camera work, shot composition, musical score and editing are all commendable. It’s already very impressive and, with a few small changes, this film will be outstanding. I look forward to seeing a revised version and knowing how it fares in the festivals to which it is submitted.
