Hey everyone, I wanted to share the shortfilm I have been working on for months and the story behind it. (TL;DR at the bottom)
For a little backstory, this is my first real project since graduating college... and if we're being honest my first real project period. The initial idea was born in April and I began writing the script on an IBM Selectric II typewriter. As I ran through the drafts I determined this was the story to produce because it only had two characters, one location, and each time I read the script I got that feeling in my stomach that you get when you hit the big drop in a roller coaster. It sounds stupid but after spending years studying film I was itching to make something I could call my own, not these student projects bogged down by a lack of passionate peers.
Fast forward to the final draft of the script. From my production job I had one connection to a director in an improv group who had an acting buddy. I researched locations in the area and stumbled across a 20s style speakeasy bar in Old Folsom that was perfect. Talked to the event manager and rented it out for the day (wish a hefty cash discount). Over the next months I planned everything. Made the shot list, collected every prop needed, organized camera gear, built a custom vintage lens mount, talked through my vision for the film, assembled my skeleton crew, and more menial tasks needed to make this thing happen.
After months it was time to shoot the entire film in one 8 hour day. My actors flew in from Denver, CO and I posted them up in a hotel next to the location. We did a few table reads the night before and made some last minute changes to the shot list. We get to the location and my mind was bouncing around like a box of loose springs. I had to completely overhaul my shot list and adapt everything to the time we had. I stayed true to the vision as best I could but some compromises were definitely made. Aside from the challenges, a lot went well because of the planning. We had no problems with the camera, had plenty of storage, power, etc. The actors were pretty well prepared and mostly knew the lines. Lunch was easy to cater and overall, the day went by quickly despite rushing the entire time. This is the corny part where I talk about how I learned more from this one shoot day than I ever did at GCU film school. Truly nothing beats experience and you have to just get out there and do what you want to do, take it by the reigns, and get shit done.
I took a couple weeks to decompress before I touched the edit. I briefly looked at the footage to make sure we didn't fuck everything up. I spent a good couple months to edit it together, making sure to stay organized and not jump too far ahead in the process. It's too easy to want to start color grading or add sound effects before you've even finished the rough cut. I won't outline my exact process for editing since everybody has their own methods and I followed a pretty standard path (sync audio, picture lock, etc.) I recorded all of they foley which is like 95% of the sound effects in the film, found a piece of music on artlist.io that worked as bar ambience/diagetic music. Showed a few people the cuts as I went to get some feedback until I hit the final cut.
(Side note: somewhere in the process I changed the film to black and white and the difference it made blew my mind so I decided to keep it that way since it maintains the timeless twilight zone look and feel of the film. If anyone is curious enough to see one, I may release a color version eventually)
Anyway, that's a slice of the hard work that went into making this film. I'm not trying to act like it's the most poignant, artistic, or genius film of all time, just take it for what it is. However I do believe it hits the right notes to hopefully get into some festivals or maybe win. If you read all this, I appreciate your time and enjoy the film!
TL;DR I spent a while making a short film and I'd love it if you watched
For a little backstory, this is my first real project since graduating college... and if we're being honest my first real project period. The initial idea was born in April and I began writing the script on an IBM Selectric II typewriter. As I ran through the drafts I determined this was the story to produce because it only had two characters, one location, and each time I read the script I got that feeling in my stomach that you get when you hit the big drop in a roller coaster. It sounds stupid but after spending years studying film I was itching to make something I could call my own, not these student projects bogged down by a lack of passionate peers.
Fast forward to the final draft of the script. From my production job I had one connection to a director in an improv group who had an acting buddy. I researched locations in the area and stumbled across a 20s style speakeasy bar in Old Folsom that was perfect. Talked to the event manager and rented it out for the day (wish a hefty cash discount). Over the next months I planned everything. Made the shot list, collected every prop needed, organized camera gear, built a custom vintage lens mount, talked through my vision for the film, assembled my skeleton crew, and more menial tasks needed to make this thing happen.
After months it was time to shoot the entire film in one 8 hour day. My actors flew in from Denver, CO and I posted them up in a hotel next to the location. We did a few table reads the night before and made some last minute changes to the shot list. We get to the location and my mind was bouncing around like a box of loose springs. I had to completely overhaul my shot list and adapt everything to the time we had. I stayed true to the vision as best I could but some compromises were definitely made. Aside from the challenges, a lot went well because of the planning. We had no problems with the camera, had plenty of storage, power, etc. The actors were pretty well prepared and mostly knew the lines. Lunch was easy to cater and overall, the day went by quickly despite rushing the entire time. This is the corny part where I talk about how I learned more from this one shoot day than I ever did at GCU film school. Truly nothing beats experience and you have to just get out there and do what you want to do, take it by the reigns, and get shit done.
I took a couple weeks to decompress before I touched the edit. I briefly looked at the footage to make sure we didn't fuck everything up. I spent a good couple months to edit it together, making sure to stay organized and not jump too far ahead in the process. It's too easy to want to start color grading or add sound effects before you've even finished the rough cut. I won't outline my exact process for editing since everybody has their own methods and I followed a pretty standard path (sync audio, picture lock, etc.) I recorded all of they foley which is like 95% of the sound effects in the film, found a piece of music on artlist.io that worked as bar ambience/diagetic music. Showed a few people the cuts as I went to get some feedback until I hit the final cut.
(Side note: somewhere in the process I changed the film to black and white and the difference it made blew my mind so I decided to keep it that way since it maintains the timeless twilight zone look and feel of the film. If anyone is curious enough to see one, I may release a color version eventually)
Anyway, that's a slice of the hard work that went into making this film. I'm not trying to act like it's the most poignant, artistic, or genius film of all time, just take it for what it is. However I do believe it hits the right notes to hopefully get into some festivals or maybe win. If you read all this, I appreciate your time and enjoy the film!
TL;DR I spent a while making a short film and I'd love it if you watched
