I have noticed that all the filmmakers and film students who select scripts here and make them into shorts are only interested in doing talking head films. Two actors exchanging dialouge and that's pretty much it. So it got me wondering:

Why talking head films? Where is the challenge in that?

How hard is it to shoot a scene that is all movement and action?

So on sunday I grabbed my nephew and a video cam and had a go at shooting a action short myself.

I'll let the results speak for themsleves. Follow the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_HaZN0Jvl8&feature=channel_page

I have absolutely no idea how to respond to this.

What this really needed was some kind of music to move it along.  

But it was good to see you out there playing with a camera.  

lol!

That was GOLD! More please ;)

**Disclaimer** No milk jugs were injured during the filming of this movie.  Well, maybe one.

Nothing to say, Shelton.  The movie spoke for you.

Was the face on the jug added in post production?

My boys own that exact same Nerf gun.

How... uh... suspenseful? Maybe if screenwriting doesn't work out, you could pursue a Michael Bay-type career.

How long did this take to shoot/edit if you don't mind my asking?

I think this short could've used a talking head, just to give it a little depth or something.

Student filmmakers can't afford special effects or crazy stunts and have to rely on dialog-heavy shorts.  This is why my helicopter exploding short, 'Exploding Helicopters,' was never produced.


Phil

Thank you everyone for taking the time to look at my humble Youtube vid.

To answer technical questions. Shot this in thirty- fourty minute hand held. Had to be quick cause my nephew has got a short attention span.

Editiing took an hour with cheap dodgey Edit program that come with camera.

I had drawn face on milk cartons with a black marker.

and Phil I hear you man. And while the camera set up and angle of dialouge exchange is basic and a no brainer, it still comes with its own complexities directing a quality performance for delivery of dialouge and I'm guessing caputuring the audio would challenge in itself.

Oh and I've read your short exploding Helicopters and already commented on the problem. You can't have a Lynx and Pelican pilot a helicopter as they can't see over the dash board. Fix that problem and I guarentee you your script will be more attractive to a budding filmmaker.    

  

Actually, I figured the face was pre-drawn.  :)

My favorite part of this vid was the sensous, exotic, 'Dance of the Milk Jug Assassin' at the end!

Haha -- this made me think of the Halloween OWC where the theme was milk.

While it may be faint praise, I have certainly sat through worse on that vast wasteland known as Youtube.

Congrats for picking up a camera and doing something, though.  For your next attempt, you need to incorporate some music, for sure.  That is the main thing missing here.

Glen, or anyone else for that matter.

Pick up a book called The DV Rebel's Guide by Stu Maschwitz. You'll be amazed how much you can do without a big budget and how you can fake things. it shows you how to make action films on a no budget.

Btw, I actually didn't think your vid was bad at all for what it was.  :-)

Quoted from tonkatough and Phil I hear you man. And while the camera set up and angle of dialouge exchange is basic and a no brainer, it still comes with its own complexities directing a quality performance for delivery of dialouge and I'm guessing caputuring the audio would challenge in itself.

There have been some good 'talking heads' movies.  The Big Chill is 95% people sitting around and talking.  What makes this different from other talking heads movies is that the dialog was great.  You watched the movie because you were drawn in the conversations.

Quoted from tonkatough Oh and I've read your short exploding Helicopters and already commented on the problem. You can't have a Lynx and Pelican pilot a helicopter as they can't see over the dash board. Fix that problem and I guarentee you your script will be more attractive to a budding filmmaker.

Hey, do I tell you how to improve your scripts?  Wait a sec; I do.  Nevermind.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe There have been some good 'talking heads' movies.  The Big Chill is 95% people sitting around and talking.  What makes this different from other talking heads movies is that the dialog was great.  You watched the movie because you were drawn in the conversations.

The best example of a talking head movie that's really superb is My Dinner with Andre.  I was alone when I saw this movie in the theatres and I had to take a bathroom break in the middle. I was so caught up in the movie and the feeling of being at dinner with someone that I actually excused myself out loud before I left.   If you ever get a chance, see it.

Quoted from mcornetto The best example of a talking head movie that's really superb is My Dinner with Andre.  I was alone when I saw this movie in the theatres and I had to take a bathroom break in the middle. I was so caught up in the movie and the feeling of being at dinner with someone that I actually excused myself out loud before I left.   If you ever get a chance, see it.

I'm surprised to see that it's not available on Netflix.  That's just crazy, as I've heard so much about it.  Maybe the local brick and mortar store has it.

Along the same lines, The Dinner Game.  French film that takes place mostly in one room.

That's all for now.  Off to write my latest talking head short. ;D

Haha. That video was priceless.

~Zack~

LOL evil milk jugs.

You should add music and dub over a voice for the milk. That'd be sweet.

Quoted from dogglebe There have been some good 'talking heads' movies.  The Big Chill is 95% people sitting around and talking.  What makes this different from other talking heads movies is that the dialog was great.  You watched the movie because you were drawn in the conversations.

Ugh, I think I'm the only person here that can't stand that movie. It felt like one big soundtrack to me.

Watched your video, tonkatough. Very random, but I laughed, especially at 0:24 with the hard closeup. It felt like a spaghetti western for kids.

Quoted from Sham Ugh, I think I'm the only person here that can't stand that movie.

Nup. You aren't the only person who can't stand that movie.

Thank you everyone for the encouraging support of my humble little video.

I think I am going to have to round up the rest of my nephews ( I have 5) and make another more epic Nerf video. Maybe battle the evil forces of small army of milk cartons. Music will be a big improvement.