Short I'm In

[James Smann]

Okay. Hi. So I don't have access to YouTube from work, but the link below is to a short my partner and I did with our new director friend. It's still to be called "rough" in that some minor changes will be made...and we know it's far from perfect, but I really like the guy's script, and my hatred for my performance is small enough to make me not embarrassed to show this to you all. Though after some feedback maybe I will be? Ha ha.

Anyway, check it out...I'm the guy you see, my partner is the VO guy. Check it...

LINK TO WMV FILE

[James Smann]

Oh hey, and any feedback is welcome. I mean, I don't need to hear "this sucks" but hearing "this sucks because ____" would be awesome. I respect the hell out of people's opinions here, so it'd be cool to see what you all think.

[scamboogah]

Put that on YouTube or Vimeo or something. I tried to view it, but the download kept hanging up.

[James Smann]

Will do. I'm trying to get one of the others to upload it since my office is cracking down big time on internet usage. They frown on logging into person FTP sites. But if they don't get it done today before I get home from work, I shall be doing so.

[James Smann]

So...here it is...

Clean House, Clean Mind
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quSRiXUOaFM[/YOUTUBE]

[scamboogah]

Doesn't work.

Post the youtube address under it, so we have the choice of going there manually.

[James Smann]

I suck at the internet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quSRiXUOaFM

[scamboogah]

It was interesting. Pretty well trod territory.

I actually think the weak link was the voiceover. Don't really know why it was affected so much. Do most people's inner monologue speak with a not-very believable British accent? Seemed like an odd choice that someone would make if they totally imagined Sir Patrick Stewart doing it or something.

Also, and don't take this the wrong way, but someone who obsesses over cleanliness wouldn't have such a dirty, cluttered place. The viewers can still see everything behind the clean table, and so it creates confusion. Is he only obsessed with cleaning one or two things?

Lastly, several shots in the beginning were screaming for a tripod. I know Youtube and Flip Mino have convinced everyone that they're obsolete, but nothing takes me out of something that's trying to be serious faster than the slight swaying that the breathing of the cameraman is causing.

It's very 'film school', which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There may be people that it's more intended for that will relate to it a lot more than me. A lot better than any movies I've made in the last four years, which would be none.

Hope this helps or is at least not the catalyst that causes some sort of school shooting or something...

[James Smann]

LOL. We're not film students actually...just a trio of dudes in their late 20's/early 30's making films, so I'll actually take it as a compliment that we were able to even look as legit as a film school movie.

Okay, so the voice over: I think we wanted to show as much difference between the dude and his "self-conscious" as possible. Like the voice really was its own entity...so the accent is there just to further separate himself...does that make sense? I'll talk to the guys about maybe re-doing the VO though...it's an interesting point you made, and worth considering.

Your comment about the clean tables and stuff behind the "set" pieces totally makes sense, and you're totally right...This is our first endeavor together, so feedback like this is invaluable, so thanks!

As for the obsessing on cleanliness, the idea was that he isn't a neat-freak at all, but rather he's using the clean-house/clean-mind mantra simply as a means to a)prop himself up and to motivate action and b) more accurately as a procrastination tactic from really actually doing everything. Since we didn't communicate that to you on first viewing, I'd say that's something for us to think about as well.

The tripod thing I can see what you mean...but not being the DP or the director or even the camera-dude I pretty much always defer to the director's/DP's vision...I try to stay where I'm supposed to be and act.

That being said, what did you think of my performance? It's been awhile since I acted in front of a camera, so I'm curious to see what you thought about that.

Lastly, THANKS! Thanks for taking the time to watch and have really valid and accurate opinions on the piece! If I posted up a link or two to some of the more straight "sketch" stuff I've done, would you be interested in it? I don't think it's awesome or anything, just curious to see what people think of it.

-James

[SlyBattery]

I think scamboogah made valid points. My only input is that at around 1:54 in the film, the folds on your shirt make it look like it said "erect" and it made me giggle. Sorry.

[James Smann]

I think scamboogah made valid points. My only input is that at around 1:54 in the film, the folds on your shirt make it look like it said "erect" and it made me giggle. Sorry.

Ha ha ha. I wish that was done intentionally. Yeah, I really dig Scammy's insights actually. I mean, I love the piece for what it is, but I re-watched the opening sequence and I see what he means about the camera being locked down for shots like that...then again, I kind of like the hand-held look too...

I'm proud as hell of this piece though. And I can't wait to work more with the dude who wrote the script and directed. The next few things we have slated are actually written more directly by my partner and I so I'm curious to see how they turn out...they'll be much less dark in comedic content methinks.

[James Smann]

Hello. So here's a sketch I did about four years ago now, that I'd like to see if anyone here likes or hates. I've always liked this one. It was with a now defunct sketch troupe (hence the logo in the bottom left for a dead website). Anyway, here's "Bacon Bob and Chuck."

YOUTUBE LINK