Posts categorized ‘Showcase’
Jun 01 09
Showcase: Animated Shorts
These are two shorts I’ve had in my collection for a while now, but haven’t posted yet. Pretty simple as far as the 3D goes, but the story and mood work well for each piece, so they’re effective and entertaining short films in my opinion.
May 18 09
Showcase: The Guild & GTCMS
First of all, I’m shocked at myself for not showcasing this series earlier, especially with my parading Felicia Day around as a ‘web show extraordinaire’ in the past. Along with that, her co-producer has another web series I found recently and watched the first episode of, and it’s great fun as well.
May 11 09
Showcase: The Hunt For Gollum
As I’m sure many of you have heard over the past week, The Hunt For Gollum premiered on the 3rd of this month, basically blowing away most fanfilms of the past in one swell blow. This is the essence of a fanfilm: a movie based on another movie (series), made by fans for the fans with no financial benefits attached to the completion of the film (apart from the potential for being recognized and careers begun, etc.).
May 04 09
Showcase: Space Lasers
Dastoli Digital has been a filmmking crew I’ve admired for years now, since back in early high school, and I’ve actually had the privilege of emailing back and forth with one of its key members for a while, talking about filmmaking and asking about their processes, projects, etc.
Apr 27 09
Showcase: Signs
Today’s showcase item is something I found through Videomaker Magazine’s newsletter last week. It’s a pretty cool little short that shows pretty successfully the effectiveness of editing, a simple concept, and a good, short, human story. The coolest part I thought at first was identifying with the main (male) character of the story, and then being able to watch his life go on an upward curve from there. I suppose that’s what we most often find intriguing and lovable in the first place, when we find bits of ourselves in the characters whose lives end up being what we wish ours were. Or maybe it just gives hope. Anyway, on the low-budget side of things…
Apr 20 09
Showcase: Enter your shtuff!
I know I bragged about having massive amounts of links for you guys in the last post, but in my showcase section the list is puny. I’ve been on the rampage for learning, and slacked pretty majorly in watching. However, I do have some cool little opportunity-type links for you, and a portfolio to keep your eyes giddy whilst you await the next link dump post. Onward!
Feb 08 09
Showcase: Games, Zombies and ‘Net Stars
Well, it’s been about three and a half months since my last post, and while I apologize for the wait, I haven’t completely neglected this blog. I’ve amassed a pretty massive collection of showcase and link dump material for the next while, and continue to receive newsletters and am on the prowl for tutorials and resources. Long story short, the final project’s finishing up, and there’s a vast pool of links about to come your way in the next few weeks. Starting now… Gimme the goodies…
Oct 27 08
Showcase: Various
Alrighty… I think I stop trying to come up with meaningful titles for the topic part of each entry, since most of my posts are so scattered. Hopefully there’s some good stuff in there for you guys though. Anyway…since I didn’t get to it last night, here’s this week’s showcase entry. Gimme the goodies…
Oct 13 08
Showcase: Strange Behavior
Alright, so this may not be “low-budget,” per se, but it was made by one guy, so that in itself is admirable, and definitely a sort of DIY spirit type piece. Plus, you’ve got to admit, it’s freaking awesome. Check it out, and enjoy 
.
Oct 06 08
Showcase: Virals & Ads
Alrighty…so here’s this week’s showcase. I’ve noticed as I become more entrenched in the industry-bound mindset and more into the tools and techniques and whatnot of the professional side of things, I’m introducing more of that into my blog posts. I hope you guys don’t mind, but I’ll try to keep this low-budget aimed anyway, since that’s the purpose of the site in the first place. Now, that said, let’s move into the good stuff… Gimme the goodies…
Sep 22 08
Showcase: 10 Minutes
Alright, so this film clearly had at least the budget to transport crew to a foreign country, if not the budget to recreate an entire small town for the film. However, looking past that, the point I want to make is this: take a look at the amount of cuts in the film. The dramatic, realistic effect (not to mention huge technical respect from peers and knowledgeable audience members) that a fluid, long take gives a film is so great that you have to sit back in awe and admiration. Children of Men had the same effect on me in their climactic sequence where there’s an 8-to-10-minute shot with no cuts throughout. It’s a wonderful effect and something that only really takes planning at its most basic level, and anybody can do that, no matter their budget. It’s simple and practical in principle, painstaking in execution but pays off hugely in the end, plus I love the short film, so I figured I’d show it off and offer the little idea for you fellow filmmakers out there. Gimme the goodies…
Sep 15 08
Showcase: Steel
Well, here it is, another week, and I’m digging into my pocket of old showcase possibilities. This one I found a while back and was most impressed I believe with the fight coreography. Really, when you look at it, the whole thing could have been done with a very small budget, and a few good connections (someone with a nice car, a good eye for color-correction). I don’t have much else to say about it, but take a peek at the final product and feel free to leave suggestions for future showcase episodes, or thoughts on this one.
Sep 08 08
Showcase: The Assignment
Well I actually found this film a while back, but haven’t been on the prowl this last week for films to showcase, and decided to take a peek at my collection to see if there was anything amateruish I could post here. This one definitely seems to fit the bill, though it’s one of the more professional looking ones so far. I know nothing about this film, or about its creators, so suffice it to say this post is simply a showcase. Enjoy. Gimme the goodies…
Sep 01 08
Showcase: Via Optima
Well, this one’s also got to be quick, but I definitely want to share it. I discovered Via Optima via (haha!) their Instructables article on making a short film for 80 bucks. Now, that headline alone would grab most anyone’s attention, but being into this field as I am, it certainly grabbed mine. I haven’t finished the article yet – been very busy lately – but it sounds like a decently written article from two clearly talented young filmmakers. The film referenced in the article, and the most on their site, is their latest achievment in their brief filmmaking careers: a short called The Shepherd. Of course the acting isn’t award-winning, but given the fact that these were two guys and only a few friends and family members making the film, their production value is outstanding, and the story something I could see coming from Cronenberg, Aronofsky or maybe even Lynch. Backing away from Hollywood names and grand-scale comparisons, these are simply kids making a movie in their senior year of high school. It’s a short thriller by two 18-year-olds, and right from the title sequence they had me hooked. Definitely worth the 20 minutes it takes to watch. Oh, watch the trailer too. And take a peek at their Vimeo profile and website.
Aug 26 08
Showcase: Threesome :P
I know, I know, naughty me. Oh well . Today (and this time I have no excuse for the lateness of this post) I have a trio of showcase postings. So get ready, it’s going to be a wild ride.
First up, a short film I found while searching for another one I’d heard of a while back but couldn’t find. This is called The Date, and stars Rose Byrne, of 28 Weeks Later, Sunshine and Damages fame, among many others. It’s an Australian short flick, and further confirms my opinion that Aussies just know how to make good, entertaining movies.
WARNING: There’s a tiny bit of profanity in this one. If you’re a little kid you’d better have some huge-a$$ earmuffs ready. 
The Date (short film) starring Rose Byrne
Second on the list was a reenactment of The Dark Knight
trailer…by some little kids. It was funny and entertaining (and
actually surprisingly accurate) enough that I decided I had to post
it. It also embodies the attitude of no-budget filmmaking quite well.
No earmuffs needed.
The Dark Knight (kids version)
And lastly, but certainly not least(ly), is a short film entitled Ending The Eternal that I found perusing my brother’s Rue Morgue magazine while vacationing at his house. It’s a short vampire flick (good points from me), done well (more points), with a very clear low-budget style and attitude about it (more points). Written, directed and edited by Justin McConnell, it has potential, and I’d be curious after this to see what happens with his career in the field.