Post by Dale on Sept 14, 2008 17:22:17 GMT -5
Casablanca and the Movies
Episode #4
casablanca3491 - Casablanca
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Rainy day, so I finished early.
THERE IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE AT THE VERY END!
Hello, MR Directors and patrons, and welcome to the fourth episode of “Casablanca and the Movies”. Today marks my most ambitious episode so far, as we have a lot to cover. So, expect a little longer episode today. First, as a special treat, we have a first look at the upcoming film “An Amazing Spiderman”, as I was lucky enough to see the work print version, then a look at the first scene from Mr. Vincent’s first film. After, we have our typical Trailer Analysis section, followed by 2, yes 2, interviews, that will be placed separately in order for a better chance to discuss the subject of them. Finally, due to time constraints, I will only be getting at one old film, besides the usual two. I will, then, update you on the news of the show and updates on what is going on.
So, if there is nothing else, let’s start!
First, lets look at “An Amazing Spiderman”, as I’m sure you all are quite interested in what sort of film it will be, and let me tell you that it more or less gives what the titles promises. It is brimming with supreme entertainment and has one of the more compelling stories of all the superhero films on here. Not to say it isn’t without its flaws, however, I was left very impressed, and surprised at how fast the script flew by.
It starts with what was the teaser:
The house is rotten and torn down. Almost nothing can be seen because of the lack of lightning. In the middle of the floor, a man is crawling back, stumbling, trying to get away from something. Then, a black "thing" jumps on top of him, and starts beating him. The thing punches the man over and over again.
Which really takes place towards the end as, the following shot are some words that say “Some Time Earlier”. What follows is both very entertaining and quite suspenseful as it takes us through Peter’s life, seeing his interactions and daily events, all suspiciously twisted to anger ever since a shower incident, which starts with a black substance leaking on him, then ends with:
Peter continues to flail from one end of the wall to the other, being overpowered by the black substance. He screams in terror.
We then continue to see Peter at work and such, where his boss offers him $100 per picture, and Peter gets very upset that it isn’t $200. We have a feeling that this black substance is making him “evil”, or more easily angered, even though family and friends guess that it is simply stress over college that is causing it. He is talking in class, being rude to people, and missing out on crime, as two cases occur with a total of 25 people dead. Is his Spidey-Sense not working? Is it a problem in his mind? Or did the black substance have something more to do with it besides just making him angry?
As we find out, we learn about it through one of the most thoroughly enjoyable film I have seen in quite a while. It is astounding how easily it moves from page to page, how easily it glides our suspense from scene to scene, telling us what we should wonder about and what is important, as if it is telling us a story, using cues such as “Now look here” and “Isn’t this scene thrilling?” It is a nice method, that adds up for an enjoyable read, as there is no real deep thinking needed, however, don’t mistake me for saying this film isn’t deep or has no intelligence, it is a smart film, and it has some nice depth in the character of Peter Parker, as we are taken through his inner struggles and his trials he goes through while trying to save both everyone in danger and himself. Another point this movie did, which I liked quite a bit, was making the character of Peter so likable. We were mad at him while he was angry, rude, but we understood, and sympathized with him, an emotion commonly left out of the superhero genre.
It is the second half where it really shines! It turns darker, scarier, and towards the last ¼ of the script is some sort of eerie, thrilling semi-masterpiece, that perfectly plays with our emotions. The flaws, which aren’t many, simply come in the first half where there are a few scenes of off-written dialogue, which hardly, if that, even matters as it all goes for the total effect of the film. This isn’t an action film, though it has action, it mixes suspense and tension and plays out as one of the finest superhero films I’ve seen on MR, and one of the really good thrillers as well, for that is what it deserves to be known as, a thriller. I would post scenes and lines, however, in order to truly get the feel for it, and why I love it so much, I believe you have to see everything, be pulled into the story, be accepted into its universe. If you do this, then you will be enchanted for the course of a horrifying journey into the realms of darkness, and what it takes for us to be pulled into those realms, the bottomless pits of hell.
Overall, it is a great film, a taut thriller, and an eerie suspense-laden ride. I’d highly recommend seeing it when it releases, as it is an adventure I believe everyone should take.
Now, moving from one event to the other, let’s take a look at a truly special event, Mr. Vincent’s first scene from his new movie! The film is called “Are You Game?”, and has one of the most intriguing storylines I’ve heard yet, as it follows an eccentric man who offers $1,000,000 in cold hard cash to anyone who is willing to play his game for 24 Hours. What the game is, isn’t quite answered in the plot, however, I have an idea that it is more sinister and dangerous then a simple game of Monopoly. Let’s start at the beginning:
“The scene is dark & cold. The camera sets upon a vast field of what used to be a lively area of land. That appearance has since changed through recent events & re-occurrences. The grassy terrains, plant & animal life now cease to exist.”
Wow! What an excellent mood-setter. We are now given vital clues to the atmosphere, and a mood is established. Already, I can say that this is the perfect first scene, since is gives us a setting and uses detail, as well as diction to establish what the images are making us feel. Then:
“What was once a luxurious sight to see has now been become known as the structure of the devil himself. The interior of the mansion is just as cold as the atmosphere outside.”
More detail, and this is even better, as it takes us inside the mansion after thoroughly giving us knowledge about the exterior. We can guess that the eccentric man lives in this mansion, and already we have a large hint at what the film will be like. Some people will probably be invited to this mansion, and once they arrive be creeped out by the atmosphere we already experienced, and then be paid some money for a game, which will probably be seemingly dangerous, however, that won’t turn out to be the case.
“The home is owned by a retired middle aged man who is tall in stature. He has brown hair with a visible tint of grey. He is a rich & successful business man who became wealthy by investing his money into stocks & bonds.”
I was right, it does seem that the eccentric man owns this mansion, and I assume that he will be a character similar to Vincent Price, as in the old man who has lots of money, and has a liking of the horrific elements of life, takes pleasure in seeing people frightened, and causing that fright. The rest of the scene plays out like a book as it tells us that:
“Anyone who can last 24 hours playing his game will win $1 Million Dollars of his amassed fortune. There is no catch and there aren’t any second chances. He has but only one rule and that is ‘anything goes’. Let the games begin. “
And that is something special about this film; it is more interested in telling us a story then exciting us with a good film. It tells us the story without narration, without images except for those created in our minds, which adds to the horror as we are forced to imagine what everything looks like, and thus, morph it to look creepy as we picture creepy, a nice writing technique!
With that short scene, we are given a wealth of information and a hint that this film will be very good, in fact, I’m actually expecting a masterpiece, as I cans see darkness in this film, I can expect fun, but moreso, I can see imagery and art perfectly fusing to create a world in the reader’s min din which all possibilities are open, and your guesses don’t stop until the end. We don’t see much films from Mr. Vincent, however, I bet that after this one, we will want to see much more!
Since I have two interviews for you, I’d like to space them out, so let’s look at one now. While we are on the topic, let’s do one of Mr. Vincent, who I was lucky enough to ask a few questions. Here it is:
Q: Hello Mr. Vincent, first of all I’d like to say what an amazing site you have here, truly, I can see that you put a lot of time into it, and it pays off because it is astounding what you have done. Are you pleased with Movie Reels? How long do you suppose it will run for?
A: Yes, I am very pleased with the current status of Movie Reels. When I launched it back in November 2007 -- my expectations of where it would be today are far beyond anything I could have imagined. It will run for a long while. It really comes down to the members of the site -- if they want to remain active or not. We are not going anywhere anytime soon.
Q: On top of running the site, you are also coming out with a film, though. Will this be your first film you have written? Will this not be your last or is it simply one film you just had an urge to write, basically, will we be reading more of your work as time goes by?
A: No, the first film I wrote was called 'The Wolf Man' -- evidently a film that SCF Films is best known for. I wrote it on October 5th, 1997. That was my very first and last film I have written so 'Are You Game' will be my 2nd. It all depends on my work schedule. I find it very hard to write when I have much more important responsibilities but to answer that question in the best way I can -- 'never say never'.
Q: I never knew you wrote the Wolf Man? What is the story to how SCF got to be known for that? Also, will your new film be in a similar style or has the distance between both films been so long that your style has evolved since then?
A: It's very different. Although -- I can't really go into many details because I haven't read it in over 10 years. The first scene was on a train with a conductor -- lots of suspense built up to him being torn & ripped apart by werewolves. My story did not have any transformations written into it. Unlike SCF Films 'The Wolf Man' -- there was no man transforming into a 'wolf man'. My style of writing is always very dark. The only difference between my new film and my film from 11 years ago -- is that I have greatly improved my writing technique.
Q: With your new film, as you said your writing style is dark, can we expect suspense, action, horror, ect... Do you find it easy, and beneficial, to mix genres and create a work that cannot be placed, or do you like to stick to "genre pieces"? Do you feel that action will benefit this film, or is this going to be an action-light film?
A: I find that my film will have a mixture of different feelings & genres all in one. When I write -- I use many different styles to keep everything balanced & interesting. There will be action in this film but as I said everything will be balanced out -- there will be a little bit of everything.
Q: I've read the story, and I must say how interesting it sounds! It seems like we will be glued to our seats, and, because I can't wait, you must tell me, are we in for a well-done ending? Does the movie, also, have any hints of surrealism or oddness in it?
A: Well, I have already thought out the ending to the film and I am almost certain that it will be remembered as one of the best closing scenes that will put up a challenge to any film on Movie Reels. Yes, it will have surrealism -- it will be very odd, twisted & dark as well. You should only view one of my films if you can handle what is to come.
Q: Two more questions, first, I am very excited for this movie, based on the information you gave me, and it sounds like a film that has taken you quite a while. I am guessing, due to your time and just how in depth this film sounds that there will be a huge pause between films, if there is another. Am I right? Did you really dive deep for this movie, did it ever get you frustrated while writing?
A: Well actually -- I have only written as far as the exclusive first scene that has been issued on Movie Reels. Once I begin writing -- it doesn't take long to finish. Being an avid horror fan my entire life -- the genre comes very easy to me & the images are very clear to see as writing progresses. If I were to do another film -- it wouldn't be until mid-2009 at the earliest. I like to keep my films & ideas fresh. Because of my work schedule -- it is very hard to write this film as I'm busy most of the day. I would like to have been further at this point but when October rolls around -- I get caught up in the mood of 'Halloween Month' so I'd expect that the ball would get rolling pretty quickly.
Q: And finally, what do you think about the show “”Casablanca and the Movies”? Is there anything missing from it, anything you’d like to see on that isn’t already?
A: I simply love the entire series. The episodes thus far have been very good. I haven't missed one to date. You simply have everything there is to make a perfect tv series. Nothing is missing because you truly have it all and I'm definitely looking forward to more episodes very soon.
Thanks for the interview!
That was a very nice interview in terms of knowledge, as we learned quite a bit about the owner of the site as well as the director of an upcoming film, eluded in mystery. We know now that Vince has a dark style, and I suppose we can expect quite a bit of that in his new film, since he said his writing quality is the only thing to have improved, which is quite obvious just by looking at the first scene. I do expect to see some action though, as Mr. Vincent said, which even more leads me to believe that this game is a little more dangerous then I thought, and since he is going to get caught up in the Halloween mood I think we can expect more of a horror, suspense film besides a Most Dangerous Game action, thriller film. Anyways, though, I’ll be there right when it comes out and I expect a lot of others to be as well.
Now, time for Trailer Analysis. First, let’s look at the Night of Eureka Trailer. It is a video, so I can’t post segments, however, I will still go over it in depth, and describes certain scenes that need pointing out. It starts off with a series of nice establishing shots, and while the camera is shaky, it is perfectly fine, as the film is almost a spoof of videos, of horror videos, in particular, and the shakiness gives it somewhat of a visual comicalness. These establishing shots end with a few pretty humorous shots of the vacuum, which make it look quite satanic. We are then shown a few action scenes, and a murder which gives me the utmost delight and the ability to say that I am excited for this film like no other. Just look at the gun and the knife which will be used against the vacuum, comic genius! And how the vacuum hose is flying through the air, in a particularly threatening manner. Great! I especially love the shot where the vacuum is moving forward, it just gives the video that “now I’ve seen everything” quality which confirms the absurdity of the movie. I would recommend that everyone watches this trailer, even just for kicks, as the teaser to this is more enjoyable and more well-made then most “movies” are in their whole runtime. The Night of Eureka franchise continues to impress and I am hoping that the series continues on, in the same manner as these first two, this one looking better then the first! (And the first is a classic!)
Secondly, let’s take a peak at a trailer to an unheard of film, which I don’t know all that much about, it is called “Terrence and Nikko Run the Mile”.
OVER BLACK:
NIKKO
Today... we will retake what is rightfully ours. We will create a... revolution, against this over standing tyranny, a stand against this torture!
SMASH IN: School Hallway
What a blunt opening statement! I think this film was trying to be clever; however, this basically gives us everything we need to know about it. It is a comedy, I take it, it is about teenagers, I take it, and I also take that it has a high risk of becoming a poorly constructed comedy, as a decent comedy is harder to write then the best of dramas.
TERRENCE
Dude, what the hell are you talking about?
INDY42 PRESENTS
TERRENCE
It's just the mile run. What’s the worst that could happen?
Well, there is the story. Petty isn’t it! Not that it can’t be quite good; however, the story isn’t going to be the saving grace, so let’s hope for a great screenplay. Then the trailer goes to:
CUT TO: DOG RUN
Terrence and Nikko are petting the dog.
NIKKO
Oh, you're such a nice dog.
DOG
(Whines)
The dog falls flat, dead.
TERRENCE
Look what you did, Nikko.
NIKKO
I didn't do anything.
CRAZY DUDE
You just killed my Fluffy!
Which must be a large part of the film because the entire trailer focuses on this (I was half sarcastic about it being a main part of the story). Now, this writing doesn’t appeal to me, as I like my comedies with wit. I don’t know about you, but I’m not cracking into hysterics. As I said in a short comment I left on the trailer:
I had low hopes for it, then I got to the:
TERRENCE
I think he's lost his marbles.
Nikko gives him a look.
NIKKO
He's got a shotgun, so that balances it out a little bit.
And that raised the bar a little higher. I am not expecting great things, however, I am looking foreward to some classic bits.
I was exaggerating. “Classic bits”. No. I don’t picture any classic bits in here, as it is bound just to be a story of kids supposed to run the mile who are goofing off in a series of “parody-ic” events, which, so far, doesn’t sound like the funniest thing o Movie Reels. However, look at me; as if I saw it, I don’t know what it will be like, this is just my 2 cents, and a preview.
Now, time for that second interview. As if it wasn’t full enough! This is with Xplayadam, the director of The Raven, quite an anticipated film, and Flaming Carrots 2, quite an odd looking film.
Q: Hello xplayadam, and thank you for letting me interview you. First, I would like to start off by saying that I really haven’t seen much of your work, however, I did go back and see Flaming Carrot, and it appears to me that you are somewhat of a different director. Your style is more surreal then usual, would you agree?
A: Yes. I'm not really into "realistic" directing as in everything is explained, I tend to try and mix fantasy with possibility. It all depends on the project; with each project I try to use it as a take on a "genre". "The Flaming Carrot" was kind of my version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", a very different looking character walking around and people aren't giving it much thought. The Flaming Carrot's origin is also just plain fantasy and even in that take it still doesn't make much sense. I always try my best to make my film completely different from my last.
Q: Also, I noticed that you were coming out with 2 new films, The Raven and Being Famous. Are you happy with how these films turned out, or how they are going? As for your style, do you think that they fit into that category? Can we expect films that are more visually impressive, thematically impressive, or script-heavy?
A: "Being Famous" has a "Clockwork Orange" or "American Psycho" tone. When I say that, I mean having such brutal acts matched with such "class". The ending of "There Will Be Blood" is very much like this. "Being Famous" is going well and the film is very much character driven, the tone is a tad bit more realistic then my other films and I'd say that "Being Famous" is very thematic. The theme of it drives the film also. "The Raven" is probably both script-heavy and visual. It is also character driven but in a much different tone, in "Being Famous" we see the main character reaching his horrid goal while in "The Raven" it's about a character who has a dark past and a even darker past and she doesn't want to embrace it, she's been gifted but she doesn't want that either, she just wants to be normal.
Q: When you write, how do you prepare, or what mood do you create? Do you often just write whenever you get a spare moment, or is there a certain atmosphere that you need to obtain in order to be really productive?
A: I definitely need a certain atmosphere to write. I can't just write whenever or I get distracted very easily. I also like to watch films that have a similar tone to the film I'm writing. For "Being Famous" I watched "American Psycho". "The Raven" was different actually, I wanted to try and create a film from the ground up, see if I could do that. It's going very well so far, although I did read a few "Teen Titans" comics featuring the character.
Q: You told me, about The Raven, that in the whole outline, there is only one action scene. Did you do this strictly for the benefit of the film, or was it accidental? Would you also say that due to the large drama level, it will be quite a dark, perhaps even deep, film?
A: I never intended it, in fact, I tried to write a few more action scenes in it but it never fit well with the story. The action scene is of course at the very end of the film. I would say that it's definitely dark and probably deep at times. I've tried to give it a overall haunted quality, the character most seem like a ghost who you can attach yourself to without having shared many her experiences.
Q: I once saw a poster and trailer to the Flaming Carrot 2, is this, indeed, still being released? I, controversially, left a positive review to the original, as I thought it had some unique oddness to it. And, while it was bad in all areas concerned, this weirdness showed courage by the director. Will we have this same courage in the next Flaming Carrot?
A: Yes. So many super-hero films try to explain it so it becomes understandable and you can think "well, this is possible to a extent". I want to throw that away, and give me "what the hell?" moments. I'm planning on having the film come out in December near the release of the first one.
Q: Speaking of the courage I mentioned, does this involve, often, a humor added to your films? Sometimes it appears you use an awkward wit to increase the surrealism of your films. Can we expect this in your further projects? Do you use horror in the same manner? Or suspense?
A: In parts of "The Raven" it'll be used but mostly at the begining. I wanted "The Raven" to start off as a dark but sometimes warming film that the more it went the darker and more tragic it became so tad bits of humor are used in the begining. I've attempting to use it a both horror and suspense in "Being Famous" but we'll have to see how that goes.
Q: Okay, two more questions. First, it seems to me, that due to the style, the themes, and what I’ve read so far, that The Raven will be your “Ultimate” film. Is this hinting at the truth, or does your heart lie with another film?
A: I think it is very possible that "The Raven" will be my "Ultimate" film. Most of my other films where more or less tests to use it I can handle dialogue and other elements. I'm using what I've learned for "The Raven". Althought it's based on a comic book, I think it's going to be very differnet from it and hopefully will leap it into it's own creation.
Q: And finally, the last question, how do you like the show “Casablanca and the Movies”? Is there anything missing from it, anything that I could add on to improve it?
A: I think it's fantastic. We always needed a show like this and it works well. I don't really think there is anything you can do it improve it althought when you do trailer reviews I think it'd be cool to post the entire trailer before you get into it so people who haven't seen it fet the chance to see the entire trailer for themselves.
Thank you for the interview, you are a wonderful person and I cannot wait to chat with you some other time.
Thank you too xplayadam, for the fantastic and productive interview!
I don’t know about you, but this just raised my excitement tremendously! The Raven may very well be xplay’s ultimate film, as it certainly looks it, and I love his comment on how he hoped it would become its own creation, as that was what I was hoping as well. And it seems like a nice mix of horror and suspense, as he was saying. Also, though, something that surprised me, was that I now have huge hopes for Being Famous. I love the atmosphere he was creating, a violent film with class. And having watched American Psycho, and seeing There Will Be Blood, has me more excited, as those are wonderful templates to follow for this kind of film. And how about having The Raven built up from the ground, wonderful! That takes a craftsmanship you don’t see too much in these modern days. Wonderful themes too! The Raven and their dark past, and then saying that Being Famous is his most realistic and thematic, a little out of style as he said that he sticks mostly to fantasy, but, I still expect great things!
Well, that’s it for today, as it is quite long enough. I hope you enjoyed and look forward to seeing you next time on “Casablanca and the Movies”.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE- The episodes that have been coming out daily, will now resume a strict every two days policy. There will be some days when I may make more if there is something important, and some days where it may be a week before another episode, as I might be on vacation (this will probably never happen). So, right now, the next episode will probably be released the evening of the 16, shouldn’t be early 17th, but you never know. Figure the 16th.
Episode #4
casablanca3491 - Casablanca
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rainy day, so I finished early.
THERE IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE AT THE VERY END!
Hello, MR Directors and patrons, and welcome to the fourth episode of “Casablanca and the Movies”. Today marks my most ambitious episode so far, as we have a lot to cover. So, expect a little longer episode today. First, as a special treat, we have a first look at the upcoming film “An Amazing Spiderman”, as I was lucky enough to see the work print version, then a look at the first scene from Mr. Vincent’s first film. After, we have our typical Trailer Analysis section, followed by 2, yes 2, interviews, that will be placed separately in order for a better chance to discuss the subject of them. Finally, due to time constraints, I will only be getting at one old film, besides the usual two. I will, then, update you on the news of the show and updates on what is going on.
So, if there is nothing else, let’s start!
First, lets look at “An Amazing Spiderman”, as I’m sure you all are quite interested in what sort of film it will be, and let me tell you that it more or less gives what the titles promises. It is brimming with supreme entertainment and has one of the more compelling stories of all the superhero films on here. Not to say it isn’t without its flaws, however, I was left very impressed, and surprised at how fast the script flew by.
It starts with what was the teaser:
The house is rotten and torn down. Almost nothing can be seen because of the lack of lightning. In the middle of the floor, a man is crawling back, stumbling, trying to get away from something. Then, a black "thing" jumps on top of him, and starts beating him. The thing punches the man over and over again.
Which really takes place towards the end as, the following shot are some words that say “Some Time Earlier”. What follows is both very entertaining and quite suspenseful as it takes us through Peter’s life, seeing his interactions and daily events, all suspiciously twisted to anger ever since a shower incident, which starts with a black substance leaking on him, then ends with:
Peter continues to flail from one end of the wall to the other, being overpowered by the black substance. He screams in terror.
We then continue to see Peter at work and such, where his boss offers him $100 per picture, and Peter gets very upset that it isn’t $200. We have a feeling that this black substance is making him “evil”, or more easily angered, even though family and friends guess that it is simply stress over college that is causing it. He is talking in class, being rude to people, and missing out on crime, as two cases occur with a total of 25 people dead. Is his Spidey-Sense not working? Is it a problem in his mind? Or did the black substance have something more to do with it besides just making him angry?
As we find out, we learn about it through one of the most thoroughly enjoyable film I have seen in quite a while. It is astounding how easily it moves from page to page, how easily it glides our suspense from scene to scene, telling us what we should wonder about and what is important, as if it is telling us a story, using cues such as “Now look here” and “Isn’t this scene thrilling?” It is a nice method, that adds up for an enjoyable read, as there is no real deep thinking needed, however, don’t mistake me for saying this film isn’t deep or has no intelligence, it is a smart film, and it has some nice depth in the character of Peter Parker, as we are taken through his inner struggles and his trials he goes through while trying to save both everyone in danger and himself. Another point this movie did, which I liked quite a bit, was making the character of Peter so likable. We were mad at him while he was angry, rude, but we understood, and sympathized with him, an emotion commonly left out of the superhero genre.
It is the second half where it really shines! It turns darker, scarier, and towards the last ¼ of the script is some sort of eerie, thrilling semi-masterpiece, that perfectly plays with our emotions. The flaws, which aren’t many, simply come in the first half where there are a few scenes of off-written dialogue, which hardly, if that, even matters as it all goes for the total effect of the film. This isn’t an action film, though it has action, it mixes suspense and tension and plays out as one of the finest superhero films I’ve seen on MR, and one of the really good thrillers as well, for that is what it deserves to be known as, a thriller. I would post scenes and lines, however, in order to truly get the feel for it, and why I love it so much, I believe you have to see everything, be pulled into the story, be accepted into its universe. If you do this, then you will be enchanted for the course of a horrifying journey into the realms of darkness, and what it takes for us to be pulled into those realms, the bottomless pits of hell.
Overall, it is a great film, a taut thriller, and an eerie suspense-laden ride. I’d highly recommend seeing it when it releases, as it is an adventure I believe everyone should take.
Now, moving from one event to the other, let’s take a look at a truly special event, Mr. Vincent’s first scene from his new movie! The film is called “Are You Game?”, and has one of the most intriguing storylines I’ve heard yet, as it follows an eccentric man who offers $1,000,000 in cold hard cash to anyone who is willing to play his game for 24 Hours. What the game is, isn’t quite answered in the plot, however, I have an idea that it is more sinister and dangerous then a simple game of Monopoly. Let’s start at the beginning:
“The scene is dark & cold. The camera sets upon a vast field of what used to be a lively area of land. That appearance has since changed through recent events & re-occurrences. The grassy terrains, plant & animal life now cease to exist.”
Wow! What an excellent mood-setter. We are now given vital clues to the atmosphere, and a mood is established. Already, I can say that this is the perfect first scene, since is gives us a setting and uses detail, as well as diction to establish what the images are making us feel. Then:
“What was once a luxurious sight to see has now been become known as the structure of the devil himself. The interior of the mansion is just as cold as the atmosphere outside.”
More detail, and this is even better, as it takes us inside the mansion after thoroughly giving us knowledge about the exterior. We can guess that the eccentric man lives in this mansion, and already we have a large hint at what the film will be like. Some people will probably be invited to this mansion, and once they arrive be creeped out by the atmosphere we already experienced, and then be paid some money for a game, which will probably be seemingly dangerous, however, that won’t turn out to be the case.
“The home is owned by a retired middle aged man who is tall in stature. He has brown hair with a visible tint of grey. He is a rich & successful business man who became wealthy by investing his money into stocks & bonds.”
I was right, it does seem that the eccentric man owns this mansion, and I assume that he will be a character similar to Vincent Price, as in the old man who has lots of money, and has a liking of the horrific elements of life, takes pleasure in seeing people frightened, and causing that fright. The rest of the scene plays out like a book as it tells us that:
“Anyone who can last 24 hours playing his game will win $1 Million Dollars of his amassed fortune. There is no catch and there aren’t any second chances. He has but only one rule and that is ‘anything goes’. Let the games begin. “
And that is something special about this film; it is more interested in telling us a story then exciting us with a good film. It tells us the story without narration, without images except for those created in our minds, which adds to the horror as we are forced to imagine what everything looks like, and thus, morph it to look creepy as we picture creepy, a nice writing technique!
With that short scene, we are given a wealth of information and a hint that this film will be very good, in fact, I’m actually expecting a masterpiece, as I cans see darkness in this film, I can expect fun, but moreso, I can see imagery and art perfectly fusing to create a world in the reader’s min din which all possibilities are open, and your guesses don’t stop until the end. We don’t see much films from Mr. Vincent, however, I bet that after this one, we will want to see much more!
Since I have two interviews for you, I’d like to space them out, so let’s look at one now. While we are on the topic, let’s do one of Mr. Vincent, who I was lucky enough to ask a few questions. Here it is:
Q: Hello Mr. Vincent, first of all I’d like to say what an amazing site you have here, truly, I can see that you put a lot of time into it, and it pays off because it is astounding what you have done. Are you pleased with Movie Reels? How long do you suppose it will run for?
A: Yes, I am very pleased with the current status of Movie Reels. When I launched it back in November 2007 -- my expectations of where it would be today are far beyond anything I could have imagined. It will run for a long while. It really comes down to the members of the site -- if they want to remain active or not. We are not going anywhere anytime soon.
Q: On top of running the site, you are also coming out with a film, though. Will this be your first film you have written? Will this not be your last or is it simply one film you just had an urge to write, basically, will we be reading more of your work as time goes by?
A: No, the first film I wrote was called 'The Wolf Man' -- evidently a film that SCF Films is best known for. I wrote it on October 5th, 1997. That was my very first and last film I have written so 'Are You Game' will be my 2nd. It all depends on my work schedule. I find it very hard to write when I have much more important responsibilities but to answer that question in the best way I can -- 'never say never'.
Q: I never knew you wrote the Wolf Man? What is the story to how SCF got to be known for that? Also, will your new film be in a similar style or has the distance between both films been so long that your style has evolved since then?
A: It's very different. Although -- I can't really go into many details because I haven't read it in over 10 years. The first scene was on a train with a conductor -- lots of suspense built up to him being torn & ripped apart by werewolves. My story did not have any transformations written into it. Unlike SCF Films 'The Wolf Man' -- there was no man transforming into a 'wolf man'. My style of writing is always very dark. The only difference between my new film and my film from 11 years ago -- is that I have greatly improved my writing technique.
Q: With your new film, as you said your writing style is dark, can we expect suspense, action, horror, ect... Do you find it easy, and beneficial, to mix genres and create a work that cannot be placed, or do you like to stick to "genre pieces"? Do you feel that action will benefit this film, or is this going to be an action-light film?
A: I find that my film will have a mixture of different feelings & genres all in one. When I write -- I use many different styles to keep everything balanced & interesting. There will be action in this film but as I said everything will be balanced out -- there will be a little bit of everything.
Q: I've read the story, and I must say how interesting it sounds! It seems like we will be glued to our seats, and, because I can't wait, you must tell me, are we in for a well-done ending? Does the movie, also, have any hints of surrealism or oddness in it?
A: Well, I have already thought out the ending to the film and I am almost certain that it will be remembered as one of the best closing scenes that will put up a challenge to any film on Movie Reels. Yes, it will have surrealism -- it will be very odd, twisted & dark as well. You should only view one of my films if you can handle what is to come.
Q: Two more questions, first, I am very excited for this movie, based on the information you gave me, and it sounds like a film that has taken you quite a while. I am guessing, due to your time and just how in depth this film sounds that there will be a huge pause between films, if there is another. Am I right? Did you really dive deep for this movie, did it ever get you frustrated while writing?
A: Well actually -- I have only written as far as the exclusive first scene that has been issued on Movie Reels. Once I begin writing -- it doesn't take long to finish. Being an avid horror fan my entire life -- the genre comes very easy to me & the images are very clear to see as writing progresses. If I were to do another film -- it wouldn't be until mid-2009 at the earliest. I like to keep my films & ideas fresh. Because of my work schedule -- it is very hard to write this film as I'm busy most of the day. I would like to have been further at this point but when October rolls around -- I get caught up in the mood of 'Halloween Month' so I'd expect that the ball would get rolling pretty quickly.
Q: And finally, what do you think about the show “”Casablanca and the Movies”? Is there anything missing from it, anything you’d like to see on that isn’t already?
A: I simply love the entire series. The episodes thus far have been very good. I haven't missed one to date. You simply have everything there is to make a perfect tv series. Nothing is missing because you truly have it all and I'm definitely looking forward to more episodes very soon.
Thanks for the interview!
That was a very nice interview in terms of knowledge, as we learned quite a bit about the owner of the site as well as the director of an upcoming film, eluded in mystery. We know now that Vince has a dark style, and I suppose we can expect quite a bit of that in his new film, since he said his writing quality is the only thing to have improved, which is quite obvious just by looking at the first scene. I do expect to see some action though, as Mr. Vincent said, which even more leads me to believe that this game is a little more dangerous then I thought, and since he is going to get caught up in the Halloween mood I think we can expect more of a horror, suspense film besides a Most Dangerous Game action, thriller film. Anyways, though, I’ll be there right when it comes out and I expect a lot of others to be as well.
Now, time for Trailer Analysis. First, let’s look at the Night of Eureka Trailer. It is a video, so I can’t post segments, however, I will still go over it in depth, and describes certain scenes that need pointing out. It starts off with a series of nice establishing shots, and while the camera is shaky, it is perfectly fine, as the film is almost a spoof of videos, of horror videos, in particular, and the shakiness gives it somewhat of a visual comicalness. These establishing shots end with a few pretty humorous shots of the vacuum, which make it look quite satanic. We are then shown a few action scenes, and a murder which gives me the utmost delight and the ability to say that I am excited for this film like no other. Just look at the gun and the knife which will be used against the vacuum, comic genius! And how the vacuum hose is flying through the air, in a particularly threatening manner. Great! I especially love the shot where the vacuum is moving forward, it just gives the video that “now I’ve seen everything” quality which confirms the absurdity of the movie. I would recommend that everyone watches this trailer, even just for kicks, as the teaser to this is more enjoyable and more well-made then most “movies” are in their whole runtime. The Night of Eureka franchise continues to impress and I am hoping that the series continues on, in the same manner as these first two, this one looking better then the first! (And the first is a classic!)
Secondly, let’s take a peak at a trailer to an unheard of film, which I don’t know all that much about, it is called “Terrence and Nikko Run the Mile”.
OVER BLACK:
NIKKO
Today... we will retake what is rightfully ours. We will create a... revolution, against this over standing tyranny, a stand against this torture!
SMASH IN: School Hallway
What a blunt opening statement! I think this film was trying to be clever; however, this basically gives us everything we need to know about it. It is a comedy, I take it, it is about teenagers, I take it, and I also take that it has a high risk of becoming a poorly constructed comedy, as a decent comedy is harder to write then the best of dramas.
TERRENCE
Dude, what the hell are you talking about?
INDY42 PRESENTS
TERRENCE
It's just the mile run. What’s the worst that could happen?
Well, there is the story. Petty isn’t it! Not that it can’t be quite good; however, the story isn’t going to be the saving grace, so let’s hope for a great screenplay. Then the trailer goes to:
CUT TO: DOG RUN
Terrence and Nikko are petting the dog.
NIKKO
Oh, you're such a nice dog.
DOG
(Whines)
The dog falls flat, dead.
TERRENCE
Look what you did, Nikko.
NIKKO
I didn't do anything.
CRAZY DUDE
You just killed my Fluffy!
Which must be a large part of the film because the entire trailer focuses on this (I was half sarcastic about it being a main part of the story). Now, this writing doesn’t appeal to me, as I like my comedies with wit. I don’t know about you, but I’m not cracking into hysterics. As I said in a short comment I left on the trailer:
I had low hopes for it, then I got to the:
TERRENCE
I think he's lost his marbles.
Nikko gives him a look.
NIKKO
He's got a shotgun, so that balances it out a little bit.
And that raised the bar a little higher. I am not expecting great things, however, I am looking foreward to some classic bits.
I was exaggerating. “Classic bits”. No. I don’t picture any classic bits in here, as it is bound just to be a story of kids supposed to run the mile who are goofing off in a series of “parody-ic” events, which, so far, doesn’t sound like the funniest thing o Movie Reels. However, look at me; as if I saw it, I don’t know what it will be like, this is just my 2 cents, and a preview.
Now, time for that second interview. As if it wasn’t full enough! This is with Xplayadam, the director of The Raven, quite an anticipated film, and Flaming Carrots 2, quite an odd looking film.
Q: Hello xplayadam, and thank you for letting me interview you. First, I would like to start off by saying that I really haven’t seen much of your work, however, I did go back and see Flaming Carrot, and it appears to me that you are somewhat of a different director. Your style is more surreal then usual, would you agree?
A: Yes. I'm not really into "realistic" directing as in everything is explained, I tend to try and mix fantasy with possibility. It all depends on the project; with each project I try to use it as a take on a "genre". "The Flaming Carrot" was kind of my version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", a very different looking character walking around and people aren't giving it much thought. The Flaming Carrot's origin is also just plain fantasy and even in that take it still doesn't make much sense. I always try my best to make my film completely different from my last.
Q: Also, I noticed that you were coming out with 2 new films, The Raven and Being Famous. Are you happy with how these films turned out, or how they are going? As for your style, do you think that they fit into that category? Can we expect films that are more visually impressive, thematically impressive, or script-heavy?
A: "Being Famous" has a "Clockwork Orange" or "American Psycho" tone. When I say that, I mean having such brutal acts matched with such "class". The ending of "There Will Be Blood" is very much like this. "Being Famous" is going well and the film is very much character driven, the tone is a tad bit more realistic then my other films and I'd say that "Being Famous" is very thematic. The theme of it drives the film also. "The Raven" is probably both script-heavy and visual. It is also character driven but in a much different tone, in "Being Famous" we see the main character reaching his horrid goal while in "The Raven" it's about a character who has a dark past and a even darker past and she doesn't want to embrace it, she's been gifted but she doesn't want that either, she just wants to be normal.
Q: When you write, how do you prepare, or what mood do you create? Do you often just write whenever you get a spare moment, or is there a certain atmosphere that you need to obtain in order to be really productive?
A: I definitely need a certain atmosphere to write. I can't just write whenever or I get distracted very easily. I also like to watch films that have a similar tone to the film I'm writing. For "Being Famous" I watched "American Psycho". "The Raven" was different actually, I wanted to try and create a film from the ground up, see if I could do that. It's going very well so far, although I did read a few "Teen Titans" comics featuring the character.
Q: You told me, about The Raven, that in the whole outline, there is only one action scene. Did you do this strictly for the benefit of the film, or was it accidental? Would you also say that due to the large drama level, it will be quite a dark, perhaps even deep, film?
A: I never intended it, in fact, I tried to write a few more action scenes in it but it never fit well with the story. The action scene is of course at the very end of the film. I would say that it's definitely dark and probably deep at times. I've tried to give it a overall haunted quality, the character most seem like a ghost who you can attach yourself to without having shared many her experiences.
Q: I once saw a poster and trailer to the Flaming Carrot 2, is this, indeed, still being released? I, controversially, left a positive review to the original, as I thought it had some unique oddness to it. And, while it was bad in all areas concerned, this weirdness showed courage by the director. Will we have this same courage in the next Flaming Carrot?
A: Yes. So many super-hero films try to explain it so it becomes understandable and you can think "well, this is possible to a extent". I want to throw that away, and give me "what the hell?" moments. I'm planning on having the film come out in December near the release of the first one.
Q: Speaking of the courage I mentioned, does this involve, often, a humor added to your films? Sometimes it appears you use an awkward wit to increase the surrealism of your films. Can we expect this in your further projects? Do you use horror in the same manner? Or suspense?
A: In parts of "The Raven" it'll be used but mostly at the begining. I wanted "The Raven" to start off as a dark but sometimes warming film that the more it went the darker and more tragic it became so tad bits of humor are used in the begining. I've attempting to use it a both horror and suspense in "Being Famous" but we'll have to see how that goes.
Q: Okay, two more questions. First, it seems to me, that due to the style, the themes, and what I’ve read so far, that The Raven will be your “Ultimate” film. Is this hinting at the truth, or does your heart lie with another film?
A: I think it is very possible that "The Raven" will be my "Ultimate" film. Most of my other films where more or less tests to use it I can handle dialogue and other elements. I'm using what I've learned for "The Raven". Althought it's based on a comic book, I think it's going to be very differnet from it and hopefully will leap it into it's own creation.
Q: And finally, the last question, how do you like the show “Casablanca and the Movies”? Is there anything missing from it, anything that I could add on to improve it?
A: I think it's fantastic. We always needed a show like this and it works well. I don't really think there is anything you can do it improve it althought when you do trailer reviews I think it'd be cool to post the entire trailer before you get into it so people who haven't seen it fet the chance to see the entire trailer for themselves.
Thank you for the interview, you are a wonderful person and I cannot wait to chat with you some other time.
Thank you too xplayadam, for the fantastic and productive interview!
I don’t know about you, but this just raised my excitement tremendously! The Raven may very well be xplay’s ultimate film, as it certainly looks it, and I love his comment on how he hoped it would become its own creation, as that was what I was hoping as well. And it seems like a nice mix of horror and suspense, as he was saying. Also, though, something that surprised me, was that I now have huge hopes for Being Famous. I love the atmosphere he was creating, a violent film with class. And having watched American Psycho, and seeing There Will Be Blood, has me more excited, as those are wonderful templates to follow for this kind of film. And how about having The Raven built up from the ground, wonderful! That takes a craftsmanship you don’t see too much in these modern days. Wonderful themes too! The Raven and their dark past, and then saying that Being Famous is his most realistic and thematic, a little out of style as he said that he sticks mostly to fantasy, but, I still expect great things!
Well, that’s it for today, as it is quite long enough. I hope you enjoyed and look forward to seeing you next time on “Casablanca and the Movies”.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE- The episodes that have been coming out daily, will now resume a strict every two days policy. There will be some days when I may make more if there is something important, and some days where it may be a week before another episode, as I might be on vacation (this will probably never happen). So, right now, the next episode will probably be released the evening of the 16, shouldn’t be early 17th, but you never know. Figure the 16th.
