|
|
 |
Despite having only one Rode video microphone between them, the filmmakers managed to get some very impressive sound on their two camera shoot. The video microphone was used for interviews, while the on-board camera on the other camera recorded B-roll footage and wildsound. Because Brett Swain is a fairly well known Australian actor, he was able to call in some favors on the audio end of the film. One of these was from Risk Studios, a professional level audio studio with some free time that volunteered their services on Royboys. In the end, their mix was amazingly good and they were able to get the most audio quality out of the mics that they possibly could.
And, because of Risk’s commitment to excellence, they actually took things one step further. In the rotating shot mentioned in the Visual Look section where the Royboys were singing their team fight song at the end of the game, all of the audio was totally blown out. As such, the engineers of Risk recorded themselves singing in lieu of the team and then mixed it to perfectly sound as though it was the original, non-distorted audio. The final shot is seamless and an excellent example of creativity. While most no-budget filmmakers don’t have friends in high places, the international recession can be a great time to see if production houses will help out with low-budget productions that might have cultural or national significance. I know that I’ve had some amazing things open up just by letting folks know about a project I was working on. No one wants to be bored and, if there’s down time at a big post facility, sometimes the managers are willing to let their engineers sharpen their skills on no-budget work.
For a 28 minute documentary, $100 AUD is an amazingly good value. While it will take some more money to add the additional footage, explanation, and narration to make this a good fit for an international audience, it’s already used all the money available to it amazingly well. I hope that the necessary funds for making this film as all-embracing as it can be will be freed up and the time will be taken to do so.
Right now, the lasting appeal of Royboys is limited to folks who are in the Australian community, especially in the suburbs of Melbourne. Even though its main emphasis is the Fitzroy community, not on Australian rules football, the AFL emphasis can’t be separated by the international visitor due to the strangeness and similarities that they form. When things are unexplained, the human mind will dwell on it until it either figures it out or it is explained satisfactorily. Once the game is clarified and explained, the international viewer can sink into the story and really unpack the tale about community that this documentary conveys.
Michael Wannenmacher manages to be amazingly game at anything he sets his hands to. His narrative work has received high scores here at MFM and, now that he co-helms a documentary, it too receives strong marks. While it still needs some work to be as good as it could be, especially for an overseas audience, it’s an amazingly good step in the right direction. I hope the filmmakers are inspired to create a longer length film that can explore more of the potential of this project.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Content |
7.4 |
Visual
Look |
7.7 |
Use
of Audio |
8.9 |
Use
of Budget |
9.0 |
Lasting
Appeal |
7.0 |
|
8.0 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The
director of two feature length films and half a dozen short films,
Jeremy Hanke
founded Microfilmmaker Magazine to help all no-budget filmmakers make
better films. His first book on low-budget special effects techniques, GreenScreen Made Easy, (which he co-wrote with Michele Yamazaki) was released by MWP to very favorable reviews. He's curently working on the sci-fi film franchise, World of Depleted through Depleted: Day 419 and the feature film, Depleted. |
|
|
|
|
|
