A film submission: The Stalker & A Lonely Rockstar

[A1A2]

hello,

I posted this in the cave a few days ago, and it seems that some people didn't get the story, so I was wondering if I can get some feeback here and see if you understand the story behind this short film.

It's called ' The Stalker & A Lonely Rockstar'
on the bottom of the page. Only the 200x300 link works right now cuz I ran out of web space.

http://php.indiana.edu/~alan/T340_Pr.../T230_S250.htm

Some feeback on the film/music would be great

Thanks

Al

[M.Brane]

Bad Request

Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.

The request line contained invalid characters following the protocol string.

[A1A2]

Thanks for letting me know, Brane.

Did you try the 200x300 (6.8mb) link or the other? The 6.8mb one should work, I just tested the link again, and it's working. Please give it another shot.

thanks

Al

[Pedullist]

My mediaplayer is screwed...no vision, only sound.

I just want to tell you I LOVE YOUR MUSIC!

I try to fix my mediaplayer and will respond further later on.

[Khompewtur]

Nice work..

you are definitely suited for soundtrack work, i hope you can land a nice high profile gig..

that poor poor rockstar, he seems so lonely

[AlChuck]

Very, very nice job.

I think I get the story. Let me see if I can explain my criticisms clearly and please take them with a grain of salt.

When someone is an artist, there is usually a period of growth, where one has discovered this impulse and is working the new muscles. This is clearly in that period of your growth. The idea is, in a word, cliched. The word "sophomoric" comes to mind, though it has negative connotations that I really want to stay away from, because I see that you have a lot of talent and I want to be encouraging. I felt the same way, though more strongly, about the animation you pointed us to here a couple of weeks ago. Another word of derision often used is "artsy."

What I want to say is -- keep at it! You have a real eye for imagery and ear for music and sound and how they go together. While your work might strike me as a bit precious or pretentious now (negative connotations again! sorry!), I think this is only because you are in the early part of your arc, and with each piece you will grow a bit more, and with each criticism you absorb you will improve.

As you go on you will get lots of stuff like this, and much of it much harsher -- some people, like that Simon guy on that awful American Idol program, revel in their own supposed wit and wield it mercilessly -- and I just want to encourage you to let it wash over you, listen to it, but defang it and don't let it get you down. It's inevitable in any art form and you must learn to accept it and move on without it making you bitter or hurt, whether you agree with it or not. (OK, it's impossible not to feel some emotion about it -- but keep it balanced, and don't let it disturb your arc.)

In summary, very arresting imagery and music, a bit of a trite idea, a lot of obvious talent and potential. Go for it!

[Lt. Bob]

I thought it was pretty cool.
Did I get it right? Was he stalking himself?
I'm guessing you get "A"s huh?

Nice music man......and I like the animation........I'd like to know a little more about the pictures. Did you take them? Or source them from somewhere?

[A1A2]

man, this storm is really making me sick here, literally....I don't have a good power surge(sp?), so, I'm going to make this short, sorry

Pedullist:
Thanks for the kind words, man. I hope you will get to see the pictures soon.

Khompewtur
I know! That rockstar turned out to be even more pathetic than I planned! the model, Alex, was laughing and saying that this is way sad....

AlChuck
I'm always looking forward to meet honest/critical people like you. Thanks you!! I take criticism pretty well as long as they other person sounds rational, and you certainly do. The thunder is hitting here real hard right now. Please allow me a few hours to get back to you, but all in all, I really appreciate your honesty.

Lt. Bob
I shot those photos with a 49mm (I think, the regular film size camera), I did some of the prints, but most of the images were scanned as negatives (ran out of time to printing)

Thanks for all the feeback, you guys are the best

Al

[drstawl]

>Another word of derision often used is "artsy"

HEY HEY! Back up the Train!!!

I meant no derision by my use of that term. Just criticism, as was requested. When one takes a theme as simple as this and dresses it up in (I'll use A1A2's term here) dreamlike imagery with cool music over it- the whole thing tends to take on an overblown aura.

Like an artist painting a 10' x 10' canvas with a single dot from a Bic pen and expecting people to see the hugeness of the work.

[A1A2]

Originally posted by AlChuck
Very, very nice job.

I think I get the story. Let me see if I can explain my criticisms clearly and please take them with a grain of salt.

When someone is an artist, there is usually a period of growth, where one has discovered this impulse and is working the new muscles. This is clearly in that period of your growth. The idea is, in a word, cliched. The word "sophomoric" comes to mind, though it has negative connotations that I really want to stay away from, because I see that you have a lot of talent and I want to be encouraging. I felt the same way, though more strongly, about the animation you pointed us to here a couple of weeks ago. Another word of derision often used is "artsy."

What I want to say is -- keep at it! You have a real eye for imagery and ear for music and sound and how they go together. While your work might strike me as a bit precious or pretentious now (negative connotations again! sorry!), I think this is only because you are in the early part of your arc, and with each piece you will grow a bit more, and with each criticism you absorb you will improve.

As you go on you will get lots of stuff like this, and much of it much harsher -- some people, like that Simon guy on that awful American Idol program, revel in their own supposed wit and wield it mercilessly -- and I just want to encourage you to let it wash over you, listen to it, but defang it and don't let it get you down. It's inevitable in any art form and you must learn to accept it and move on without it making you bitter or hurt, whether you agree with it or not. (OK, it's impossible not to feel some emotion about it -- but keep it balanced, and don't let it disturb your arc.)

In summary, very arresting imagery and music, a bit of a trite idea, a lot of obvious talent and potential. Go for it!

Ok, the storm is finally gone, for now at least...

AlChuck

Firstable, I'm glad you are being honest, this is what this forum needs!

About being artsy, I must admit that the past 2 animations appear somewhat artsy, but that's not exactly my intention. Ok, this is going to sound like a chain of excuses, but, here it goes.
I find that b&w photos always look artsy (I use this term to describe something that's not commercial), and it gets worse when sequencing them with fades cuz it creates this dreamy effect.

That's being said,
Like you said, I'm at the early stage of my "art" development, conceptually and technically, and being original isn't on top my list at the moment. Kinda like picking up guitar, you learn the tabs of whoever you like, and once you feel comfortable playing, you start your own thing. But, I know I should start working on concepts, too, don't wanna end up being a low wage labor who does all the technical work while the art directors get well paid

Alchuk, if you don't mind, I would appreciate if you can point out some specific parts that strike you as artsy or lame. Of course the twist at the end is one...

again, thanks alot, man.

Al

[A1A2]

forgot to note, the classical guitar was played by Alex, the dude in the film. I wrote the riff, and the rest was his tune.

Has anyone seen the new movie, Identity? Saw it last night, some nice twists there, I enjoyed it. The ending kinda disappointed me a little, but overall a decent film in awhile.


Al

[AlChuck]

Ok, the storm is finally gone, for now at least...

Uh oh, are you in Oklahoma City by chance? (Or are you speaking of a metaphorical storm?

About being artsy, I must admit that the past 2 animations appear somewhat artsy, but that's not exactly my intention. Ok, this is going to sound like a chain of excuses, but, here it goes. I find that b&w photos always look artsy (I use this term to describe something that's not commercial), and it gets worse when sequencing them with fades cuz it creates this dreamy effect.

Just want to make clear-- I personally like artsy. It's just that when it's artsy but the idea is too cliched or pedestrian, there's nothing firm for the artsiness to hang off, and it becomes just some artsy piece. The artsiness calls attention to itself unless it's held together by the idea.

Alchuk, if you don't mind, I would appreciate if you can point out some specific parts that strike you as artsy or lame. Of course the twist at the end is one...

I think that's the only one, actually. Or, I should say, the twist is cliched enough that the whole piece feels artsy in the end, as I discussed above.

[A1A2]

Originally posted by AlChuck
Or are you speaking of a metaphorical storm?

lol, no, I am not that artsy. I am in Indiana, no tornados here, just nasty thunder storms for the past week or so.

Just want to make clear-- I personally like artsy. It's just that when it's artsy but the idea is too cliched or pedestrian, there's nothing firm for the artsiness to hang off, and it becomes just some artsy piece. The artsiness calls attention to itself unless it's held together by the idea.

That's an excellent point. I must have been too carried away with the technical side of this project. I'll always keep that in mind from now on. Thank you!
I missed the critique for this project when I tuned it in. This conversation definitely makes it up for me. thanks, man

Al

[A1A2]

bump

[macle]

Hi Al, finally got to see it! I thought it was great. I read the comments above about the 'artsyness' or 'clicheness', and all that, and the fact that you were focusing on the technical side, either way, i think you did a great job, considering the task of putting together film, photograghy, and music. The way you created movement with static photographs, and tension and emotion with the music...very cool!
And the music sounded great, too.

How did you do it exactly (gear, software, procedure)?

Macle