L'amour est... - a film - NOT SUITABLE FOR MINORS

[fingers]

http://www.apxc20.dsl.pipex.com/Lamourest.wmv

Refusing to accept their relationship is over, the good Doctor begins an experiment to discover how much Alice really wants to leave.

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crafted with 3DSMax.

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running time approx 3:40

download size approx 7mb

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[maxmad]

Is this part of a series?

[fingers]

nope

[maxmad]

Alrighty then, if I may be so bold. There's too much black screen at the start. Get it going sooner than 1 minute in or fill that with more of the imagery you've put in, e.g the ring, rose etc. The rose falling and the blood pumping are both very beautiful images and work very well with the score. You could really boost that as it conflicts with the darkness in the story.

However, I don't know what the story is and why a patient is being held prisoner. It is a bit confusing to be honest and doesn't come over as anything to do with love. I understand you may not wish to make a cliche but if the last two SW films are anything to go by storyline is pretty important to any film however long. I felt I'd missed the beginning that's why I asked if it was a series. I wanted to see why the Doctor inprisoned this person and if he was going to prove what he' done was for love. If you expand this and create sympathy for the prisoner and reason with why the doctor did it you could have an intriguing, good piece of work.

[fingers]

thanks for the response

did you read the synopsis in the first thread?

the long pauses of black was deliberate. whilst i admit the audience wont understand why i did it. i wanted you(the audience) to feel frustrated during the titles. its like when you are coming round after a nightmare, the concious brain is racing ahead of the subconcious and you get that lagging feeling. frustrated because you know people dont have lobster claws on their hands and the floor isnt made of toffee. it is all part of priming your brain for the actual film. whilst it may not appeal to you in terms of cinematic approach, i am happy that at least you experienced an emotion close to my intentions.

so thanks for the compliment.

the synopsis really tackles the other issues you have. although i dont think it is essential you understand why she is there. its more that you are sharing her experience, rather than voyeurristically observing her.

comparing me to the last 2 starwars films is rather insulting to lucas but i will take it as a huge compliment.

the film has nothing to do with love....anymore.

i really appreciate the feedback mate. whilst i have justified and contextualised the content of the film, i dont think it is vital to know. it is meant to be just experienced at face value.

and that is, Alice is having a shitty day.

[joojaa]

frustrated audience... fine for a secon and fine for a minute in the cinemas. On the web that translates to no audience since when they get frutrated they switch off the player (altough you get a hit for that too if thats what your after ). and stop downloading, seriously.

[fingers]

no...not interested in hits.

yes...i can see that it possibly isnt entirely suited to the 'now' generation on the web. i am hoping to get it into a festival. this audience has a slightly different dynamic and will see it through different eyes. juxtaposition of my film on these forums does it no favours. but hey ho. the comments are very welcomed.

its very hard to compromise the original vision just because of people impatience. even more so when the frustration was intended after all.

its a no win situation for me. it frustrated you...which is bad....which is good...

doh

[joojaa]

Yes well thats why most good moveis dont resort to gimics... or experimental stuff because it just does not work.

[maxmad]

I used to make work that was designed to frustrate people but you have to pull them in in the first place otherwise it looks petulant. You really have to think about grabbing peoples attention as the more imagery we're subjected to the more jaded we become so the easier it is to look elsewhere. You're shooting yourself in the foot here as this is not a medium that's as forgiving as say sculpture if your concept is a bit blurry. Your work looks good too so don't put it to waste. You've obviously spent many hours on this so shirley you want as wide an audience to your work as posssible. Even though not everyone will like it at the least you won't come over as elitist or some kind of art snob. Nothing puts people off more in my unfortunate experience.

[edbdbug108]

I must say that I felt for the women. I was surprised that she seemed not to feel any pain when she got down from the table. When she was walking she seemed more tired then hurt. I really enjoyed her horror after removing the heart monitor and when she placed it on the other fellow.

I did not have any sound when I played the animation (EWWWEEEE 4 ME) but the opening was long and I did feel like fast-forwarding too.

As a whole I liked it! I just did not get what the doctor was doing at the end.... what was he doing?

[david-schoneveld]

I have to respond. It was disturbing, I felt that she was in great pain and the story was technically well told, I also didn't have a problem with the timing in the begining. It's just so short and just disturbing, like why did you want to tell that. It also doesn't read b/c she is young and styalistically beautiful and you don't sence AT ALL there was a relationship between the doctor and her. Seems like "and now here's a spot of madness", and there's no point to the madness, not comment on it, just look at how crazy this is, but no point. I'll give you this, I did feel for her.

[fingers]

"Yes well thats why most good moveis dont resort to gimics... or experimental stuff because it just does not work. "

how are we defining gimmick?
i dont consider my film to be relying on gimmicks in the true sense of the word.
films like jurassic park and the matrix could be defined as being 'gimmicky' as they were often punted about based on the effects whilst the crux of the movie was based on a rather flimsy plot.
but no, i never intended any part of my film to be a gimmick or to try and carry it based on one. it is to be taken at face value only.

[fingers]

i really do believe experimentation is what personal films should be about. the boundries of film making will never advance as long as people hold the notion that experimentation cannot and will not succeed. i am comfortable that my film will not appeal to the masses. i am even more comfortable that i remained true to my original vision. i was always sensitive to who my audience would be.
man thats the beauty of the current technology. the variety of work thats being produced has created a very rich community. i just wish more people would abandon their preconcieved idea of what 'an animation' should be and just go with their gut.

[fingers]

"Even though not everyone will like it at the least you won't come over as elitist or some kind of art snob"

wow. i have never been called that before.

i would like my work to reach as wide an audience as possible, but not at the cost of the films essense. im really not an art snob and i dont think my work needs any kind of deeper understanding to be enjoyed.
like i have said, it is to be taken at face value only. if people dont understand it or plain dont like it, that it cool. im bummed that its not the best thing everyone has seen, but there is no such thing. except maybe the princess bride.

"the more imagery we're subjected to the more jaded we become so the easier it is to look elsewhere"

aaah...thats the problems with todays youth. the 'now' generation.

i personally feel sculpture is very unforgiven. unless the sculpt is superficially pleasing or of something familiar, you have to work at it, to appreciate it. it requires an understanding of what the sculptor message was and his intended meaning. the animation medium is a rather lazy medium in regards to the audiences participation. it is spoon feeding the story frame by frame.

[fingers]

it does work better with the sound

[fingers]

yep. i was aware as the film was coming together that it was not obvious what the relationship between the doctor and the girl was....but i felt perhaps it didnt matter. on some levels, it works even better if the doctor is just a cold hearted experimentor. it taps into something deep. it makes her even more lonely.

[joojaa]

Dont be overly defensive. I mean if one is open to experimentation one must also be aware thet experimentation mostly leads to nonsuccesful outcomes. Sure new things come upp all day long it soes not however mean all experiments are succesfull.

THis is one reason you dont se all teht many experimental things in maisteram movies. Theres just too little margin for error. ITs business so they cant afford NOT to do profit for the wast amounts of money put in.

The film is rather good for most parts. BUt you could rethink the length of the start. What you could try to do is first captivate the audience and then frutrate perhaps?

[fingers]

i really wasnt being defensive. i certainly dont want my 'text' to come across that way. i totally take on board what is being said.
i agree 100%, most experimentation leads to non-success. but its a process.
you dont see much experimental stuff in films because its a business and they have too much to lose. it is a shame because that attitude is what is killing the games industry. it just costs too much to make games for consoles now, so the little pioneers have been squeezed. thankfully, animation and film have the means to continue to innovate.
but yeah, im really not defensive. im attached enough to my work that i care about reaching my destination but not so much that i couldnt scrap it and start again learning from its weaknesses. as it happens all the work files are gone from my system and work has begun on the next film.
but it is complete, i wont ever change the beginning, and not because of arrogance or stubborness, but simply because it is done and dusted.
abandoned even...
im impressed with the feedback i have gotten on this forum, sure beats the 'KEWLS' and the 'that ROX!!!!!!' ive recieved elsewhere.
at least it had good music at the start...its bareable...

[david-schoneveld]

yeah I agree, I think the length in the beginning sets a tempo that makes the end so abrupt. My first impresion was that it was ok but then on more contemplation it, does make it that much more harsh on the audience. Also if it goes to ff the audience will not see the timeline like we do and we see how much is left to go. So I'm not sure how that will effect the view experience.

[fingers]

hmmm

yeah i had never considered the timeline factor....

it kind of messes with the context a bit.

the abrupt ending is probably made more so by the fact you can see the timeline....but it end before it gets to the end because of the credits.

is that nessesarily bad though?...dont know.....

such a fine balance.