The movie had a really great piano score playing throughout which added a lot of feeling. There was a unique piece of music for Karen and Tim’s dance, but also a beautiful piano score that cropped up throughout the rest of the movie.
With that said, the film’s audio did start at an odd place, though. The movie started with an image of Karen’s and Tim’s feet as they stand on stage and begin the play. But the music doesn’t start until several seconds into the play itself. It is kind of odd, and I initially thought that the image was either a preview for something or some sort of production company logo. The music really ought to start around the same time as the image, or even before it.
Of the $250 budget, $200 was used to get the score from a composer, and the rest was used for transportation and tapes. The set was a lecture hall stage which was free, as were the cast and crew.
Hiring a composer to write a score was an excellent idea, as the music is really great. It is also good to see that the filmmakers made use of resources available to them for free, and kept extra expenses to a minimum; though I initially wondered where the camera, lights and audio equipment came from, as they do serve to enhance the film. (However, after my initial viewings, I found out that the director owned all of the equipment, which allowed this extremely low budget.) The ease of set dressing and costuming certainly played a part in the lower budget, as did the assistance of Theater Rice.
This film is very technically sound, and manages to mix together both theatre and movie conventions in a very unique way. The result is a very beautiful and compelling film.
In my opinion, there are a few things that might need to be re-examined, but at this point it is still a good and interesting movie.
At one time or another, every one of us has been the third wheel. It is difficult to hide one’s feelings, and, if they come out, things can be even more awkward between friends. CurtainCall is a well-done and artistic film, as well as a poignant one.
