While rummaging for another site to talk about, I find some
people on my mailing lists directing me to www.405themovie.com.
Well I promptly jumped across to the site. After watching the download, I could
say that it was a funny lark with some nice, simple special effects shots. A
week or two went by, and thought I would go back to the site, knowing there was
a how-to section posted. That was when I got a shock, actually a huge shock.
I didn�t know this, but the short film I saw two weeks
earlier was actually a major effects feast. What�s more the two gentlemen who
made this, did it in their meager spare time, with no budget. All they had was
their computers and software, and some experience mixed in with loads of talent
and drive. Well actually they did have to pay $75 to film on the freeway. Bruce
Branit and Jeremy Hunt the film�s creators are, by day, effects artists working
in Southern California. The short film was completed in just over 3 months,
using any spare time they had.
I thought the Airplane was the only CG element in the shots.
Oh no, it was so much more. They said the short had 62 shots, of which 42 were
special effects shots. Now that is a huge ratio to have even on a large
production. The first aspect to amaze me about the short film was the fact that
the cars were for the most part digitally created. The creators modeled the two
cars and the plane, while the environment was created by combining numerous
pictures that were shot on a digital camera. The road was created digitally.
Bruce and Jeremy shot a bunch of pictures of the highway, and then composited
them together, to make one long stretch of road. They even modeled the actors
to place them inside of the vehicles. All of these digital creations were then
placed into the shot scenes. The results were great, but I won�t elaborate
anymore, the site has all the juicy details.
Needless to say I was flabbergasted. I analyzed the short
film once more, trying to see if any of the effects were actually visible. No,
they were awesomely invisible. The one thing to realize however is that these
guys are professionals, so they know what to do. That makes a big difference
when making low budget productions. It gives you the edge, when harnessing the
money / value paradigm.
There is another wonderful aspect to this tale. Bruce and
Jeremy created a web site to share their work with the rest of the world. They
then e-mail about 30 of their friends to look at the short. Four hours later
the Toronto Digital Film Festival invites the Duo to show their work in
October. Four days later, after having 9,000 people watch the movie, I-Film, a
major Internet independent film distributor, reaches a deal with the guys to
stream their short on the net. Ten days later the film is the number one rated
and viewed film at I-Film. By the 26th of the same month Bruce and
Jeremy sign an agreement with CAA (Creative Artists Agency), a major artist
agency representing loads of stars and directors and the like. On the seventh
of July I-Film reported the movies had been seen over 100, 000 times. The true
amount of views is at least double that, but it is hard to track that info
across the net, with things like mirror sites. Startling statistics indeed. Of
course all this success is based on the fact that these guys made a great short
film. I doubt this would of happened if the movie was garbage. Added to this is
net�s best weapon, word of mouth, or should we say e-word of mouth. The once
difficult area of advertising is now much easier and effective.
This could be an excellent area for us as South African
Filmmakers to exploit. It bypasses the traditionally difficult areas of film
distribution, and gets our films out there. You can go directly to the viewers
and create a demand that will pull the big boys in. Again this is all based on
the film having good content.
Anyway, go and have a look at the �405� film. Ifilm have
loads of other shorts to view, and mail me if you find any gems.
www.405themovie.com - Main site
www.ifilm.com - Independent film site
Variety
- Variety Article
Hollywood Reporter
- Hollywood Reporter Article
LA Times
- Los Angeles Times Article
Reach me at : [email protected]
