Straight 8 on channel 4

Post by **matt5791** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 12:46 pm

If anyone is interested there are two programmes coming up here in the UK on Channel 4 soon, each one featuring many of the best Straight 8 films that were screened at festivals like Cannes

3 November 12.50 (night)
10 November 12.30 (night)

I am not 100% sure whether they mean 3 / 10 November TV listings (ie technically 4 / 11 November)

Best check the official TV listings, but well worth a look. Some people have done very well.

More info:

http://www.straight8.net

Matt

Post by **Lucas Lightfeat** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:59 am

I haven't posted here in ages, but I had a browse today and linked to the site above.

Pardon my French, but the film I saw there, "Heel," is nothing short of FUCKING AMAZING!!! It took an age to download, but it is truly extraordinary what can be achieved with Ã‚Â£12 worth of film. I am humbled. Respect!

Lucas Lightfeat

Post by **matt5791** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:26 am

Lucas Lightfeat wrote:I haven't posted here in ages, but I had a browse today and linked to the site above.

Pardon my French, but the film I saw there, "Heel," is nothing short of FUCKING AMAZING!!! It took an age to download, but it is truly extraordinary what can be achieved with Ã‚Â£12 worth of film. I am humbled. Respect!

Lucas Lightfeat

I absolutely agree. From a technical standpoint it is brilliant and must have taken ages to do.

I enterd a film myself, but sadly it turned out to be rather crap - I didn't keep it moving quickly enough (especially in view of the fact that part of it included a car chase) and I think that this is really the thing to watch out for. In my defense we only spent a very short time preparing for it so that is my one excuse.

Matt

Post by **rick dangerous** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:54 am

I'll certainly be tuning in, sounds great! I had'nt heard of straight 8 before so thanks for putting me on to it matt. I also agree 'heel' was a great film and if thats anything to go by the programs on channel 4 will be welcome relief from the rubbish that seems to clog up the TV schedules.

Tell us more matt about your entry, I'm interested in how you went about the project and its results.

Post by **matt5791** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:33 pm

Basically I decided to enter at the last minute. Between myself, my fiance and her three brothers we decided to produce a film that revolved around a car chase. OK mabey this was a liitle ambitious, but we filmed it in North Shropshire on a Sunday afternoon. My fiance and her brother played the two parts and her other two brothers kept a log of all shots with and used a stop watch. A brief synopsis is my fiance is walking, in deep thought, beside a lake (long lens, windy day etc etc.) she then stumbles upon her brother who is supposed to be a long lost lover/friend/family member - anyway, someone she wants to speak to, but someone who doesn't want to speak to her. Thus the chase ensues with plenty of action shots (wheels skidding etc etc) people out walking enjoying the afternoon wondered what was going on. The chase is plotted with a number of shots from each of the cars and we used the mostly deserted country lanes around ther area. The story culminated when they reach a church yard and chase each other on foot, and eventually my fiance's brother "dissappears" in front of a grave stone which was our only optical effect (fade out and then backwound the film). She is then in amazement - What was he, a ghost or what?

The final shot of the film involved his car disappearing also - apart from it didn't disappear because I forgot to move it after backwinding the film! Doh - What was I thinking - not very much I suppose.

The sound track was a sort of fast moving electronic track and a "spooky" wind through the trees sound for the disappearing scenes.

The problems with it were:
Poor acting
Too slow
Crap sound
Ended wrong

On the plus side:
The story worked for a 3min 20sec film.

Matt

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 6:26 am

A digital frame counter is another option for keeping track of elapsed time.

Post by **Jeremy** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:20 pm

I have been watching the Straight 8 website with interest and intend to put a film in next time round - I'm sorry mate but you can't blame poor acting for your film not getting in - its your job as Director to make sure its right.

Look forward to beating you - see you in Cannes?!

Post by **jedi knight** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:22 pm

yeah i agree with jeremy on this - you cant use bad acting as an excuse, because most of the films that win have crap acting anyway, so thats actually a good thing!

Post by **matt5791** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:23 pm

jedi knight wrote:yeah i agree with jeremy on this - you cant use bad acting as an excuse, because most of the films that win have crap acting anyway, so thats actually a good thing!

Mabey it wasn't crap enough?

Matt

Post by **Jeremy** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 5:28 pm

Maybe you ought to put it where we can look at it, so we can let you know what we reckon? Would be interesting to see one that didn't make it

Post by **timdrage** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 10:16 pm

Just watched 'Heel', pretty nice, very Gondry-esque!