Antman's Film Contest #34: Finish the story V2.0

[drapeama]

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GvcacYKZDMY/Tewisk2RbEI/AAAAAAAAAxg/qWanzjI_Gxo/Winners3.jpg


"Finish the story v2.0"

just like the #33: Anyone can submit the start of a story, and the filmmaker chooses one, and finishes and films it! You just can't pick your own!
We'll update this post with another 10 more themes as soon as we'll have all them, so a total of 20 themes will be available to "finish" your vision of it!
If you were already working on one and never has been able to finish it by the deadline, as it's a v2.0, you're allowed to continue and submit it for this specific round. I hope this version 2.0 of a previous theme that has attracted a lot of people will be honoured by a lot of videos submited!

Now, as james cameron once said: "pick up your camera. Shoot something. Put your name on it. Now you're a director."

be one and submit it for this round! Good luck everyone!

Reminder of the rules:
1) can't be longer than 5 minutes
2) shouldn't be rated over pg-13.
3) video should be posted on vimeo official (http://vimeo.com/groups/antmansfilmfestival) page only. Videos for the current theme will not be available to view until the contest deadline > managed by vishus (http://www.hv20.com/member.php?3240-vishus), ajuk (http://www.hv20.com/member.php?21073-ajuk) and drapeama (http://www.hv20.com/member.php?21859-drapeama).
4) the winner can enter the next competition!
5) a) use of copyrighted material/songs : As long as it's not the center point/plot of the story, it's allowed. Otherwise user will be disqualified. Example: A coca-cola can/sony tv somewhere in the movie isn't considered as a copyrighted infringement.
B) use of copyrighted music both in lyrics, score or performance, other than such that is recorded incidentally during normal filming, without a release will result in the video being disqualified.
6) entries must be made specifically for the theme submitted to, within the deadline. All entries made before the announcement of the theme will be disqualified.
7) users judging the contests, official judges (http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?43072-official-contests-judges&p=400925&viewfull=1#post400925) or not, should use the template available here (http://www.hv20.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12943&d=1314328449) to post their reviews. Of course, only the officials judges' reviews will be considered to decide on a winner.
8) deadline will be announced in a 24h time format (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24-hour_clock). The week starts on sunday and ends on saturday. Days are starting at 00:00 and ends at 23:59. also, please refer to this utc/gmt (http://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_utc.aspx) time to calculate the deadline in your zone (check on the right and select your country & state/province).

Contest deadline is sunday april 8th 23.59 utc (11.59pm)
submit your entries to the following group only: http://www.vimeo.com/groups/antmansfilmfestival (http://www.vimeo.com/groups/antmansfilmfestival)

the ideas you can work with:
1. "while watching a movie, you fall asleep. When you open your eyes again, nothing is the same."
2. "you read an article in the newspaper. It is so shocking that you rush out towards what you read."
3. "you're not sure what's on the other side of that door. You know that opening it is going to be trouble, but you have to."
4. "you're on your way to an important event when your vehicle breaks down."
5. "you decide you want a coffee, but when you open the fridge... You realize there's no milk. But, there's zombies outside... And it's not safe. Will you get the milk, or risk a morbid day without caffeine?"
6. " you are walking down a street and feel something in your pocket. You reach in and pull out a watch. Something doesn't seem right, the watch is running backwards."
7. "you're a schizophernic aspiring filmmaker and decide to make a film so you call up a bunch of buddies however they give you a hard time so you decide to make it yourself, but one thing is stopping you..."
8. "you arrive home and find a stranger in your house, who's behaving as if it were his home. Naturally you are startled by his presence, but more curiously, he's equally disturbed by your appearance."
9. "a van drives down a dark street, unloads a dust bin, removes a manhole cover and places the dust bin on top of the hole."
10. "you wake up and decide that today is the day they die."
11. "You fall asleep watching one of your favorite movies, but when you wake up, you see that your life is playing out exactly like the movie's main character's life."
12. "You look outside the window. They are out there. They are coming for you. You have to get the hell out of here! "
13. "The main character would have a great advance if he'd have a bicycle to help him - he gets the opportunity to steal just what he needs - goes for it - seems to succeed - the second it's clear that he'll succeed he thinks it's not right and changes his mind - decides to walk away without leaving bad blood."
14. "You hear about an internet video that apparently drives the person who views it crazy. Is this video real or just an elaborate prank?"
15. "There is a strange kid next door who keeps meeting with a mysterious person outside your window. What are they up to?"
16. "You are lost in a dead place with no people, where are you? Are you dreaming?"

17. Tba
18. Tba
19. Tba
20. Tba

[drapeama]

Hey guys, feel free to share your themes so we'll be able to add them to the first post. Otherwise I'll try to find 10 others before next week.

[paperkut12]

"You fall asleep watching one of your favorite movies, but when you wake up, you see that your life is playing out exactly like the movie's main character's life."

Hope that's OK.

[Reelaxed]

You look outside the window. They are out there. They are coming for you. You have to get the hell out of here!

[Playing]

They are out there.
Just please no Zombies :(:(:(

Edit: Everybody of course can do whatever they like, but hell, have I had enough of Zombies.

[RockDonkey]

The main character would have a great advance if he'd have a bicycle to help him - he gets the opportunity to steal just what he needs - goes for it - seems to succeed - the second it's clear that he'll succeed he thinks it's not right and changes his mind - decides to walk away without leaving bad blood.

[paperkut12]

Just please no Zombies :(:(:(

Edit: Everybody of course can do whatever they like, but hell, have I had enough of Zombies.

Killer Care bears.

[Reelaxed]

Just please no Zombies :(:(:(

Edit: Everybody of course can do whatever they like, but hell, have I had enough of Zombies.

well, if it makes you feel any better: zombies probably wouldn't know you're inside so "getting the hell out of here" wouldn't make much sense. :D

[drapeama]

"You fall asleep watching one of your favorite movies, but when you wake up, you see that your life is playing out exactly like the movie's main character's life."
Hope that's OK.
Added!

You look outside the window. They are out there. They are coming for you. You have to get the hell out of here!
I like the idea!

Just please no Zombies :(:(:(
Edit: Everybody of course can do whatever they like, but hell, have I had enough of Zombies.
To add to Reelaxed's idea: they can be pretty much anything else than zombies : Men in black, Police (because you'd be a bad guy hidding in a house with hostages) or whatever you want! There's no limits, you just see what you want to see.

The main character would have a great advance if he'd have a bicycle to help him - he gets the opportunity to steal just what he needs - goes for it - seems to succeed - the second it's clear that he'll succeed he thinks it's not right and changes his mind - decides to walk away without leaving bad blood.
Not bad, I don't know how it's could be written other than this way, but I'll add it. Hope it's ok?

well, if it makes you feel any better: zombies probably wouldn't know you're inside so "getting the hell out of here" wouldn't make much sense. :D
Just check what I wrote about it! ;)

[RockDonkey]

Yeah, I thought why not a version where the outcome is set in stone, but you would have to come with a creative solution about the small details in the conflict between the two? Movies are more than plot, they're as much about
personal chemistry between the protagonist and the antagonist.

[Brendan_pr]

Here are some more ideas to get the list completed :)

the one I posted on that one forum:

"You hear about an internet video that apparently drives the person who views it crazy. Is this video real or just an elaborate prank?"


and here are a couple more:

"There is a strange kid next door who keeps meeting with a mysterious person outside your window. What are they up to?"


"You are lost in a dead place with no people, where are you? Are you dreaming?"


can I use one of my own ideas? :hv20-smilie03:

[drapeama]

can I use one of my own ideas? :hv20-smilie03:
I don't see anything against that. What do you think guys?

[drapeama]

What do you think guys?
3 Themes added.

Is there anyone that's working on something for this round?

[Brendan_pr]

3 Themes added.

Is there anyone that's working on something for this round?

I will be again :P really hope someone else can get one done too

[drapeama]

I will be again :P really hope someone else can get one done too
I have a whole script finished (it's the first time I ever get that ready to shoot something!) and I have friday scheduled to shoot with my buddy from the work (in the #26) and another girl form the work too. Should be packed during the weekend!

[Playing]

OK. So I started shooting Theme #7, but what do you mean "one thing is stopping you..."?
So far four things are stopping me.

[drapeama]

So far four things are stopping me.
Only two here: Actors and Availability. Together.

[Almohada]

I have a whole script finished

Wow! That was quick! Unless it's another one

[drapeama]

Wow! That was quick! Unless it's another one

It was a script for the current theme, not my personal project!
It's a premiere though (working with a proper script for a short!).

[Playing]

When you see my scriptwriter in the short, you will see what I have to put up with.

[drapeama]

Anyone working on something?
I actually have a completed script, but having hard times to get my actors together to shoot the scenes...anyone else that could need more time (read = deadline extension!!)

[Playing]

I finished mine. Did not think I could do something, but a big job just ended for me, so I had the time. Anyone else?

[drapeama]

I finished mine. [...] Anyone else?
I'd like to. If everything goes well, we should be able to "start" shooting on Wednesday, allowing me 4 days to complete shooting, editing and uploading an entry...
Is playing the only one actually working on something?

[Playing]

I'd like to. If everything goes well, we should be able to "start" shooting on Wednesday
Hi Marc, hope you will get in a video.
Anyone else?

[drapeama]

Hi Marc, hope you will get in a video.
Anyone else?

With an extension I might be able to get one done. Otherwise, I only have wednesday to shoot everything and edit by friday (this weekend is my father and charlie's son birthday on April 8th) so I'll be a little tight in the schedule.
If we let it due on April 8th and no one else do something, we'll have to claim Playing the winner by default.

[Playing]

I'd rather win against you than by default :)

[drapeama]

I'd rather win against you than by default :)
Just suggest the extension and let's see what AJUK and Vishus thinks about that!

[Playing]

I don't mind an extension. Maybe some others also have something on the go.

[Vishus]

Just suggest the extension and let's see what AJUK and Vishus thinks about that!

I've been completely AWOL. I hate extensions, but I hate one entry even more. ;)

I say go for the extension and make this a contest again!

[Brendan_pr]

I am done my entry as well and have been waiting for the deadline :)

[drapeama]

I hate extensions, but I hate one entry even more. ;)
I say go for the extension and make this a contest again!
Things just changed, we'll keep the deadline as is.

I am done my entry as well and have been waiting for the deadline :)
Then, let's respect the deadline, as we have 2 entries. Only one uploaded so far though.

[Playing]

Mine is also uploaded and pending with the group.

[Almohada]

So Drape, you won't be able to finish your entry?

[drapeama]

So Drape, you won't be able to finish your entry?
Never before the deadline, because Saturday and Sunday I'm busy with Charlie's kid birthday party so...Let's judge the entries we have, as they've done it by the deadline!

[AJUK]

We've got two entries uploaded so far, so it's officially a contest :) Still a little time for any last minute entries.

[drapeama]

We've got two entries uploaded so far, so it's officially a contest :) Still a little time for any last minute entries.

Yep! At least we have more than a single entry!
I'll try to work harder for the next one!

[Playing]

I've done some marketing on the Religion thread. Maybe these guys can leave their heated discussions long enough to make a video for the next theme. :)

[RockDonkey]

Nice last cut Brendan. That last cut is exactly on the right frame. The birds in the opening are also awesome. Not optimally cut there though. Or maybe it would need something to support the theme. Mist is a blessing for dreamy footage. Many powerful shots.

Playing, your deep relaxation is contagious. I love how you return to the guy who writes the script and the bottle has a reason to be there. However I feel you cut the corners too much. The main character does not call anyone as I expected.

[Playing]

Hi RockDonkey thanks for being the first to comment.
You've seen the guy who was writing the script, so I take no responsibility for that.
As for the crew, nice guys, but their priorities were elsewhere.
I guess I didn't pay them enough and they were not happy with the caterers, so...

[drapeama]

Lately but here's my review:

Playing - Crossfade II

Story & Acting: 20/50
Sound & Technicals: 41/50
Score 61/100

Overall Appreciation & Comments:
To be honest, I had hard times to follow the story between you & you & you talking about different things!
The sound was great, nice work. The sound effects were nicely added. The music was a bit too loud to me.
There was some nice shots where you had to work in post which gives you the highest score.

It wasn't bad, but I think since I've watched Cashflow I'm hoping from more and more from you! But at least you (and I'm pointing myself here) did something to keep the contest alive, which deserve two thumbs up!


Brendan_Pr - Wrong End of Town

Story & Acting: 25/50
Sound & Technicals: 40/50
Score 65/100

Overall Appreciation & Comments:
Nice entry! The color correction was nice and gave the short a unique feeling, which was very close to the theme.
The foggy wheater was a gift when you shot the scenes! It gave that feeling of being alone on the earth and matched with the color correction it was completing it.
There wasn't much sound in it but it's clear that you put some work in post to give the footage that unique look, hence my rating!
It was a bit long to be honest, but it was a good effort. I think you've respected the theme quite well.

All in all, both entries were nicely done and great, but I preferred Brendan's short because I think it was a closer entry to the theme chosen.

[Playing]

Hi Marc, thanks for your feedback. I am quite taken aback by:


To be honest, I had hard times to follow the story between you & you & you talking about different things!

The theme is: "...making a film by yourself, but one thing is stopping you..."

I deal daily with friends, neighbors and clients who are Muslim, Jewish and Christian. Each with their own thick rulebook.

It would be absolutely impossible to complete a project with this crew on Friday, Saturday and Sunday because they all have to be off to mosque, synagogue or church. In addition the Jews wouldn't work, nor touch a camera or light on Saturday. There would also have to be halal and kosher food.

It will be interesting to see if the story is not obvious to others.

[HueyNRolf]

Brendan_Pr - Wrong End of Town

Good:

The location and color work, very moody. The soundtrack is nicely mixed.

Not so good:

The parkinson's cam spoilt what I did like about the pictures. Lack of story, I beg the filmmaker's pardon if it went over my head. But a good story can shine through and make other shortcomings forgivable.
Playing - Crossfade II

Good:
I enjoyed the playful approach to 'something stopping you.' Very creative.

Not so good:
The soundtrack is a bit unevenly mixed. The speech parts are inconsistent and the score a bit loud in places. In a few shots, the lighting could've been better, but good overall.

My vote goes to Playing - Crossfade II

[Playing]

Thanks Huey for your valuable remarks.

[AJUK]

It was great to see two hugely different entries, and kudos to Playing and Brendan for taking the time to put together films for the competition.


Crossfade II - Playing

Story & Acting: 25/50
Sound & Technicals:30/50
Score 55/100

Overall Comments:

I found a lot to like in this entry, in particular the use of the different characters and the ways in which you tried to give each clone a different attitude.

I liked the writing scene and the use of audio to underline the scene being written on the screen.

Overall I felt it was a slightly overlong and some tighter edits would really have helped a lot, there were a few places where there were pauses between the cuts.

The camerawork and lighting were functional, presumably a by-product of the fact that you were working alone. You did a good job within those limitations.

With a more polished lighting setup and some grading this would have scored even higher from me. 




Brendan_Pr - Wrong End of Town

Story & Acting: 10/50
Sound & Technicals: 40/50
Score 50/100

Overall Comments:

I loved the mise-en-scène you achieved here through the weather and the location. The film had a really great atmosphere thanks to the weather.

The camerawork felt a bit random, rather than designed, and although the abstract style is perfectly valid, it would be nice to have seen something a little more structured.

There was no narrative, but the location and the fog really would have made for a knock-out background to even the simplest of stories, so this film did feel like a missed opportunity to me – especially given the theme of ‘no-one around’.

The grading and editing worked well, and especially the sound editing, with the chainsaws and the incessant creaking of the structure. I felt the overall length was too long given that there was little in the way of narrative progression.

With such a great location and fantastic atmosphere, this only needed a narrative to give it purpose and you would have had a stunning short film.

[Playing]

With a more polished lighting setup and some grading this would have scored even higher from me.
Thanks AJUK. I should have made more of an effort to light the short to match the noir effect of Crossfade I. I was scared I would not be able to deal with the shadows when putting the scenes together, but I should have tried.

All in all I had fun making this. I always wanted to do something addressing the idiosyncrasies of religion without offending anyone.

[Playing]

My take on Brendan_Pr - Wrong End of Town:

Personally I hate shaky cams with a passion and I was waiting for some story to emerge.
The atmosphere, setting and color was first class.

[HueyNRolf]

All in all I had fun making this. I always wanted to do something addressing the idiosyncrasies of religion without offending anyone.

And I enjoyed watching it.

[Almohada]

I dont know if it's because it's 4:30 am in the morning but I cant seem to find the videos. They are on the Vimeo page? But how do I get to that? I don't know how tht group thing works over there. Does it say which stories they finisheD? can'tw ait to see them!!! I guess I'll check back tomorrow when I'm awake lol

[Playing]

I cant seem to find the videos.
They are here: https://vimeo.com/groups/antmansfilmfestival

[Brendan_pr]

I agree with all on the shakey cam. It was that persons first time filming and thus is not very practiced at holding the camera steady. Also agree on the lack of story, there isn't one really, it's basically all mood. Only had so long to shoot in the fog so I basically just walked around trying to look lost :p


I enjoyed Crossfade II, especially the part where the monitor starts dipping into another dimension.


Thanks for your comments everyone! I wish it was foggy like that more often so I could make one with more of a narrative in that atmosphere!

[Timbit]

Sorry I never got anything done for this round, guys... :( Been insanely busy, often putting in 18-19 hour days all week...

I am looking forward to the next contest though! :) (Not that I will probably have time to do anything, but I've had a craving to shoot something lately.. :D

[Playing]

often putting in 18-19 hour days all week...
Been missing you Tim.

[drapeama]

Hi Marc, thanks for your feedback. I am quite taken aback by: [...] I deal daily with friends, neighbors and clients who are Muslim, Jewish and Christian. Each with their own thick rulebook.
It would be absolutely impossible to complete a project with this crew on Friday, Saturday and Sunday because they all have to be off to mosque, synagogue or church. In addition the Jews wouldn't work, nor touch a camera or light on Saturday. There would also have to be halal and kosher food.
It will be interesting to see if the story is not obvious to others.

Ahhh! Reading that helps a lot to understand it. I'm not much religious and I don't know much about religions to start with, which makes me a little lost viewing your short about the various religious things that stops people from working on something...
It's probably only me that didn't get that part of the story, or maybe it's only because it was like 1am when I watched the shorts...
All in all, you did a good job, now that I understand it!

[Playing]

Hi Marc. I also grew up in an environment where everyone belonged more or less to the same religion, and I would not have known anything about the different customs either. But Cape Town is a melting pot and that makes it interesting.
Thanks again for your feedback, Kurt.

PS: and of course the director has to go off to take a conference call with the high priest of atheism :)

[drapeama]

Cape Town is a melting pot and that makes it interesting.

My hometown barely have more than only white canadians living there.
Where Charlie lives, Trois-Rivieres, it's been only 5 years max since we can see people from outside Canada that comes to study here, before that it was the same as my hometown.

[Timbit]

Been missing you Tim.

Same. I overcame my forum withdrawls, but am happy to be *tentatively* back for now. :)

[Playing]

Uhuu...Anybody Out There?

[drapeama]

Uhuu...Anybody Out There?

2 votes out of 3: Playing's Crossfade II the official winner for this round!

I'll update the banner and send it to you via PM later tomorrow.
Please refer to the General Discussion thread for suggestions for the next round.

[Playing]

Thanks Marc, will do.

[drapeama]

can I use one of my own ideas?:hv20-smilie77:

I'd usually say no because the deadline is now over, and as it has to be made within that deadline and specifically for the contest, as stated here:

[6) entries must be made specifically for the theme submitted to, within the deadline. All entries made before the announcement of the theme will be disqualified.

Contest deadline is sunday april 8th 23.59 utc (11.59pm)
submit your entries to the following group only: http://www.vimeo.com/groups/antmansfilmfestival (http://www.vimeo.com/groups/antmansfilmfestival)

...but iof you want to try something , you canalways make one, upload it to vimeo (not in the group though) and link it via the vimeo link here. It won't be an "official" entry but you'll have something submited for fun and it's free practice! Just post a new thread in the Footage subforum and name it "Antman's Film Contest #34 - your title".
Be sure to check the next round, and feel free to submit something!