Help a Brother Out

[LGM]

Yea the shakiness bugs me. And you aren't nitpicking, that jerk of the camera was a flub but I couldn't afford to give up that shot.

[esper]

http://filmmaking.stormforcepictures.com/

Partway down the page, you'll find a how-to section that tells you how to make a camera dolly and a steadicam setup. I can't vouch for the dolly, but I've built the steadicam for my own stuff and it's fairly easy and inexpensive.

Now, remember me when you become famous!!!

[LGM]

I've made that steadicam, actaully. But the camera I used was too heavy to be supported by it. Course now there's a bit about putting a block of wood for the heavier cames, so thanks. There are some other links on that site I'll be checking out, too. I'll certainly remember you

[InCreator]

Originality is a good thing, but I disagree about shock value or comedic effect.

I think it isn't a must, but it's easiest way to make an interesting film. Only movies without any recognizable drama and which aren't documentaries neither I could think of, are art films. Like video art. Don't know if there's better word for it... Have you visited an art museum or exhibition and seen those artists who make extremely weird movies, and offer them as art? I have seen alot of those. And if film has usually content that has absolutely no point. Like a movie of man eating cereal. For two hours! That's it, just eating. Credits, fin. Or ice skating, while entirely nude (the one I saw last time, lol/eck!). I somewhat don't think that this kind of film was what lgm went for. And besides art, I can't think of a reason to make film which simply isn't interesting. Doesn't offer a story, situation or problem. I can't say that this was the case with lgm, I'm just explaining my point. But it doesn't have to be that complex. Your own example...

For example, what is Down By Law essentially? It's a story of three men escaping from jail and parting ways afterwards.

Men escaping jail! Criminals having a party after commiting another crime! A crime that has been one of the hardest one to pull in the world!

The theme itself sounds interesting already, doesn't it? So, who cares how interesting the movie actually was? I, as most of normal people, will never be in jail, never commit a crime to be sent into one, and never escape. So, it's interesting for me to watch this. Even though it's acted.

But also just for example, I can buy a pingpong table and play in my cellar. Seeing others doing this doesn't add much to my life and doesn't spend the time valuably while watching this. So, seeing this in a trailer leaves me cold. Of course, I haven't seen other scenes from film, and I'm sure that they could be much more interesting. Hm. I'm having this urge to actually see the whole thing after all this talk over a 5-minute clip. Buy DVD? Where? How?

Shakiness...
...was most annoying in starting scenes, like near car and when people prepared for game. Not much elsewhere.
Shakiness is good when used in right places. Have you seen "The Shield" (2002) TV-Series? It's full of shaking! Everywhere. But then again, it's used with action, and I can't imagine a scene of police rushing criminal hideout with steady and nice camera.

[LGM]

Yea Inc... You probably should watch the whole thing. The DVD should be out by next month. It all depends on when I get the color corrected version back.