Sprucilla and The Queen of Trees, 9min., USA
Directed by Chris DiFiore
Barē is a Halloween tree decoration living in the clearance aisle at Bargain Branch, but their dreams refuse to be boxed in. They think they’ve got what it takes to be crowned as the next Queen of Trees, even though they don’t have luscious green leaves or dazzling decorations like the other trees in the competition. After Barē gets some guidance from Sprucilla, a legendary Queen of Trees winner, they embrace their chance to shine as their true self and prove that being different isn’t a weakness—it’s a superpower.
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Stoned for Christmas, 14min., USA
Directed by Morgan Young
“Stoned for Christmas” is a multimedia whirlwind and a love letter to weed. This short film follows the adventures of one cannabis courier delivering at Christmastime.
Wax Wings feat. Miha and Lucille Croft “What if I Told you To”, 4min., USA
Directed by William Kennedy
Leaving no room for time wasters, ‘What If I Told You To’ elicits total scuzzy submission at the hands of London-based techno-protagonists Wax Wings and Miha’s unflinchingly dominant composition.
FILM DIRECTING SHOTS – One of the most over used cliches in film is “The Shots are all you have.” The following are what you need to think about practically so you can think creatively and device the best shot list and camera shots you possibly can:
QUESTIONS TO ASK? -What is the best viewpoint for filming this position of the event? -How much area should be included in this shot?
SCENE – Defines the place or setting where the action is laid SHOT – Defines a continuous view filmed by one camera without interuption SEQUENCE – A series of scenes or shot complete in itself
TYPES OF CAMERA ANGLES OBJECTIVE – The audience point of view SUBJECTIVE – The camera acts as the viewers eyes-movement POINT OF VIEW – What the character is seeing
SIX BASIC SHOTS
1) Extreme Long ShotTaken at a great distance. Almost always an exterior shot and shows much of the locale. Used a lot in Establishing shots
2) Long Shot
The distance between the audience and the stage in the live theatre
3) Full Shot
Barely including the whole body
4) Medium Shot
Knees to waste up. Useful for exposition scenes, carrying movement and for dialogue
5) Close Up
Concentrates on a relatively small object. HUMAN FACE
6) Extreme Close-Up
Might just show eyes or mouth
CAMERA ANGLES
Are the most important factor in producing illusion of scenic depth.
Which angle the object is photographed.
FIVE BASIC ANGLES
EYE LEVEL SHOTS- Provide frames of reference. Audience sees the event as if the scene happening right in front of them. Most scenes in movies are photographed from eye level. 5 to 6 feet off the ground. Capturing the clearest view of an object -Used to treat your characters as equals. Discourages viewers at judging them. Permits audience to make up their own mind.
BIRDS EYE VIEW- Photographing a scene from DIRECTLY OVERHEAD. Hovers from ABOVE like all powerful gods. IDEA OF FATE HIGH ANGLED SHOTS- Camera is tilted downward. Besides the obvious power shot, movement is slowed down during fast moving action. Ground is in the background. A person seems harmless and insignificant is photographed from above. -The higher the angle, the more it tends to imply fatality
LOW ANGLES SHOTS- Camera it titled upwards. Use to inspire awe or excitement. Motion in speeded up. Environment is usually minimized. Sky or ceiling is background. -Heightens the importance of a subject. Scenes depicting heroism
OBLIQUE ANGLE- Lateral tilt of the camera. As though the object is about to fall to one side. Point of view shots. Suggests tension, transitions, impending movement -Image that slants to the right – Acting Forceful -Image that slants to the left – Weak, Static
ASK YOURSELF -How much should be included in this shot? -Where should the camera be positioned to view this particular part of the action?
A SHOT SHOULD BE HELD NO LONGER THAN REQUIRED TO MAKE ITS POINT
Approach each sequence with a fresh attitude and strive to treat the action in an individual matter.
A definite change in camera angles will assure a smother flow of images
TAKE A LOOK AT: Film Director Quotes from some of the most famous directors of our time.
CLOSE-UPS -Among the most powerful storytelling devices available to the filmmaker -Allows removal of tedious or repetitious action -Can be used to provide a time laspe -Brings that dramatic punch
FRAMES-Area near the top of the frame can suggest ideas dealing with power, authority and apiration -Left and right edges of the frame can suggest insignificance -Dominant Contrast – Area the immediately attracts our attention because of a conspicuous and compelling contrast -Subsidiary Contrast – Structured image so that specific images are followed in sequence
Make sure to check out WILDsound’s Film Festival where you can submit your film and get it watched my industry people, plus hear firsthand to what people think of your film.
THE HUMAN EYE SCANS PICTURES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
HORIZONTAL LINES – MOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT VERTICAL LINES – MOVE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
DIAGONAL OR OBLIQUE LINES tend to sweep upward
TERRITORIAL SPACE – Movie images must tell a story in time, a story that involves human beings and their problems
THREE VISUAL PLACES -Midground -Foreground -Background
CRUCIAL DECISION – How much detail should be included within the frame?
HOW CLOSE SHOULD WE GET TO THE SUBJECT? -How much space is just right for the shot? -What’s too much or too little
AN ACTOR CAN BE PHOTOGRAPHED IN FIVE BASIC POSITION
1) Full Front – Facing the camera -Most intimate, vulnerabilities exposed -Audience agrees to become his chosen confidante
2) Quarter Turn -Involves a high degree of intimacy but with less emotional involvement
3) PROFILE – Looking off frame, left to right -Character lost in their own thoughts
4) Three Quarter Turn -More anonymous. Rejecting audiences
5) Back to Camera-Characters alienation from the world. Sense of concealment, mystery
Tightly framed shots – CONFINED
Loosely framed shots – FREEDOM
USING SPACE IN FOUR WAYS
INTIMATE Eighteen inches away. Distance of LOVE, COMFORT, TENDERNESS between individuals
2) PERSONAL -Eighteen inches to about four feet away. Reserved for friends and acquaintances
3) SOCIAL -Four feet to about twelve feet away. Business and casual social gatherings
Thank you for choosing our short musical film Grandpa’s Got A Brand New Pill. I appreciated the care that went into all correspondence. I felt heard and respected as an artist and creator. My team is inspired to tell more stories. This festival was a wonderful and surprising experience. JGM
Crisis Point, 3min., Romania Directed by Valentin Raileanu As a result of resource depletion, a virus outbreak stripping the afflicted of what makes them human and finally, war, humanity’s sovereignty has fallen. In dwindling numbers, the survivors have been driven out of their homes in the search for safety, while a former soldier travels through the toxic environment in search of a cure.
What motivated you to make this film? Valentin Raileanu, a talented and successful stuntman, fight choreographer, camera operator, and my mentor in this wonderful field, has always had a passion for filmmaking and a wealth of insane ideas to bring to life. This passion led him to explore the subtleties of being a film director. When he proposed the idea of a post-apocalyptic short to me, I immediately knew we had to do it. I fell in love with the concept of showcasing a violent and harsh reality as a consequence of human recklessness. It was also a great opportunity for me to put my newly learned stunt skills to the test. Since I was young, I’ve loved acting and dreamed of participating in film festivals with my own projects. Even though this isn’t our first project together, it is the first one we’re submitting to festivals.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Approximately 10 weeks in total, give or take a few days. Pre-production lasted 5 weeks (for choreography, camera rehearsal, and preview), followed by 1 week of shooting, and another 4 weeks for post-production (editing and FX).
A biography is a written account of a person’s life that tells the story of their experiences, accomplishments, and challenges. The word “biography” comes from the medieval Greek words bios, meaning “life”, and graphia, meaning “writing”.
Submit your Short Story to the Festival and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video for yourself.
Get FULL FEEDBACK on either the 1st chapter or entire novel book from our committee of Professional Writers, and Writing Consultants. Get your novel performed by a professional actor at the festival.
NEW OPTION: Or, just submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book). Great way to promote the sales of your book if you’re already published.
This festival has a guaranteed 4-tier set up for each accepted script. (No matter what, all screenplays submitted receive FULL FEEDBACK on their work.) 1) Full Feedback on your script 2) Actors performance video reading of your script 3) Blog interview promotion. 4) Podcast interview on the Film Festival ITunes show.
Deadline Today; LGBTQ+ Film & Screenplay Festival:
Two brothers find themselves entangled in a violent confrontation at a beach house in Malibu. One of the brothers loses his life, while the other, awaiting the arrival of the police, reflects on the events that led to this tragedy.
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Vera visits her husband Marik who suffers from advanced dementia at the assisted living facilities on their wedding anniversary – 50 years together. She grossly and audibly complains to those who are ready to listen about her ruined life with Marik. What if behind the irritation of a grossly swearing life-beaten old woman is hiding the tender and invincible feeling of love?
A powerful and inspiring documentary that follows a group of talented female drummers as they unite for a life-changing three-day retreat in Dallas, Texas. Through the raw energy of rhythm, unwavering mutual support, and a shared passion for music, these women forge deep, lasting connections and celebrate the transformative power of music to heal, empower, and unite.
Review by Julie Sheppard:
The documentary short, Beat Keepers, is subtitled Women With Rhythm which is, pardon the pun, bang on. We are introduced to a wide range of fascinating, diverse and talented women of all ages showing their true love for rhythm and drumming.
The film makes use of attractive CGI titles and framing throughout, often using pink hues in line with the fight against breast cancer. But it is hearing from the women themselves and their stories of survival, and their unity of sharing both a common love for drumming in conjunction with the fundraising event for breast cancer research, that makes this film so memorable.
This doc captures the vitality of the women present, even those virtually recorded, who show their skill for drumming, at various stages of experience, each with a slightly different style, from rapid fire rock to more chill and jazzy. The cinematography veers so close, you can almost feel the sticks hitting the drums. The camera also captures the sheer joy and excitement radiating off the faces of the drummers in action.
This project does an excellent job of elucidating the bias and discrimination that women have experienced over the years: being discouraged from drumming simply because they were women. Fortunately, this seems to be changing as women are getting far more confident to step up and play now, given groups such as this one. The 3-day drumming event has provided these women with an artistic outlet, but also the ability to release any challenges and frustrations that life has thrown at them, in a positive, productive manner.
Of course, given the thrust of the film, music is central and the recordings in the studio and outdoors are superb. When all is said and done, the viewer hopes that this will be a successful recurring event, and the beat will go on!
Festival Reviews 