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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /   General Chat  /  Dinah - by James Williams (jwent6688)
Posted by: Don, March 22nd, 2020, 11:13am
Check out the multiple award winning short filmed by James Williams - jwent6699

Before Dinah Kent committed suicide, she left an innocent video on YouTube. If you're heartless enough to dislike it, you will soon join her in the after life.

Posted by: jwent6688, March 22nd, 2020, 11:45am; Reply: 1
Thanks for putting this up, Don.

This is something we shot last summer that I thought was going to be a disaster and actually turned out better than I thought it would. Our DIY rain machine fell over twice. The neighbors were getting pissed about our giant strobe light. And we made so many continuity mistakes inside the house we had to go back three times and fix shots.

I never posted the script here because there wasn’t much to it. It’s all an attempt to grab some cheap jump scares, which is a lot harder than most think it is to accomplish.

Even while editing this I didn’t think it was very effective until I hired a U.K./Irish duo by the name of Weary Pines to do the soundtrack and they were awesome. Everything fell into place with the music.

If anyone wants to drop a comment, I’ll be here. Thanks for watching.

James
Posted by: ghost and_ghostie gal, March 22nd, 2020, 3:16pm; Reply: 2
@James.  Haha.  We thought this was pretty good.  It does so much with very little.  Yeah, methinks folks are gonna get a real kick out of this.  I'll stop gushing.  Good to hear from you again. Congratulations.-Andrea.
Posted by: Burcu, March 22nd, 2020, 4:37pm; Reply: 3
I really liked it. Congratulations :)
Posted by: SAC, March 22nd, 2020, 6:16pm; Reply: 4
Yeah, nice job, James. You’re right - the score adds a lot to the overall feel of the film, and augments it. Very good work, I think.
Posted by: LC, March 22nd, 2020, 6:42pm; Reply: 5
James, very nice! And very creepy. Kid's makeup sfx & mask was great, concept is great, and yes, that score is fantastic. Love the social commentary - to like or not to like - and the nod to bullying and careless online anonymity.

I can see you being hired to make a feature on the not too distant horizon (well, if it weren't for this pesky worldwide virus).

That beard really has a starring role too.  ;D

Seriously though, really impressive.
So much so, I'm going in for a second viewing
Posted by: jwent6688, March 23rd, 2020, 9:32pm; Reply: 6
Andrea, Burcu, and Steven... Thanks for checking it out. I'm glad you all seemed to like it.

LC,

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you liked it so much you wanted to watch it again. As far as features... I see far better directors out here doing top quality short films and when I pull up their resumes they're still featureless as well. It's an enigma of how to break in or find someone with a lot of money to give you some, but I'm having fun trying.

My next short is planned to be a sort of proof-of-concept film that'll I'll have a feature to pitch along with it. We were going to film in April, but I'm highly doubting even May now with all this crap going on.

Stay safe and healthy. Good to hear from you.

James
Posted by: eldave1, March 26th, 2020, 11:29am; Reply: 7
Well worth the watch, dude - congrats
Posted by: jwent6688, March 30th, 2020, 12:14pm; Reply: 8
Thanks for checking this out, Dave. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

James
Posted by: eldave1, March 30th, 2020, 12:26pm; Reply: 9
My pleasure - noice!
Posted by: Grandma Bear, March 30th, 2020, 1:25pm; Reply: 10
I've seen it three time by now. I think you did a gret job. Liked that you have a big old man being afraid of a teenage girl. Usually it's the other way around. Also liked the napkin at the end. Great job!  8)
Posted by: jwent6688, March 30th, 2020, 3:29pm; Reply: 11
Thanks for checking it out Pia. I thought I sent you the link a bit ago and never heard back so I was thinking you didn’t like it and decided not to say anything. Ha ha.

The little girl chasing the old man (he’s actually younger than me) is a little different but some have mentioned this is a little derivative of the Ring. These days all horror borrows a bit I guess.

The napkin shot was a pain. I’m no special FX guy and I didn’t think it was going to work but after watching hours of YouTube tutorials I figured out how to do it. Fun when it all works out but still a meticulous job.

James.
Posted by: Grandma Bear, March 30th, 2020, 3:59pm; Reply: 12
I thought I did mention it to you on FB? I did like it the first time I saw it after you sent the link. Maybe I commented on it on my page because I think you gave me the link when I posted my film. Either way. I liked it since the first time I saw it. ;D

Btw, Call On Me has been accepted into a festival!!! It's a first for me, so I'll definitely go unless this virus thing is still causing trouble.  :)
Posted by: jwent6688, March 30th, 2020, 8:25pm; Reply: 13
I had to go back through all my FB messages. Sorry about that. You did comment on it. I was sending it out to everyone at that point.

Congrats on your first selection to a film festival. Hopefully they’ll all be back up and running soon. And if you take home an award you instantly get to wear the title of “Award Winning Filmmaker”.  - then you’d have to seriously consider a future in feel good story telling.

James.
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