Valentine's Day! Now with Sound Fix!

[kuroken]

Well, I was going to leave the hyperbolic promotion of this amazing film to Jase, but since he hasn't started, I figure...

Hey, what the hell...I'll do it.

It's the film many of us have been waiting a year to see. If you don't know what it is, check it out. If you've been waiting, check it out.

Just check it out.


Valentine's Day (http://www.tmunderground.com/watch/cf807b2ed53c3a8f8fc8/Valentine%27s-Day)

[Jase180]

Valentines day has been released after a long period of waiting. This is a film that was made with the majority of the TMO community. This is what we can do when we set our hearts and minds to it. And when we lure a great director like MichaelB6 into doing a big project like this. :)


Valentines Day is a crime thriller set in a city on the edge with no clear line between G o o d guys and Bad guys. Mr. Valentine is the cities most notorious underworld figure & he's making a statement that wont soon be forgotten.

Enjoy

[Nero]

Kudos to everyone involved in the making of this Production , This film proves that with all the limitations thrown at us, if put your mind to it and don't give up , then nothing is impossible and you can achieve what you what to achieve, i hope this inspires (as it has me) as well as entertains.

[michael_b6]

Sorry about the wait, just glad it's finally out there and lives up to your guys' standards.

[Jase180]

Sorry about the wait, just glad it's finally out there and lives up to your guys' standards.

It was brilliantly executed Mike. i think you really hit a home run and I was serious when I said I hope this inspires people to do things they didnt think they could have before.

You set a fine example Mike. Be proud my friend!

[sisch]

Our standards? You've just created a new set of standards.. :biggrin:

Outstanding work! Cinematographically (however that's spelled) this is so real life, I doubt more realism is possible... the visuals, sounds, music and vo's just bowled me over...

I wish I could creep into your mind and steal every tidbit of information about how to make those visuals. :)

[Dulci]

Wow.

[[AC]]

Hey guys, can you put it on TMO hi-res ?
This was super awesome movie ever made !!

[Neonoir]

Awesome movie, Michael :thumbup:

[Ellis07]

I saw it yesterday.
It was great movie through out. Really carefully done.
Erm... read my comment as I'm not repeating myself on here.

[Sparky]

:happybday: ok, i know its not my birthday but i sure as hell felt like it was when i read the announcement that V-DAY WAS HERE! And boy-o-boy did you deliver the goods. Hats of to everyone involved, but especially to Michael :35:. Pround to be a part of this.

[Norrie]

Oh boy.
I thought I'd say my piece here, rather than TMU.
I disliked this film, I really did not like it at all.

Style over substance always bothers me, and this had it in spades.

FX, software, toys: yadda yadda yadda. Cold: that's what it was.

Sorry, not my cup of tea at all. I've watched it a dozen times now, thinking I must be wrong. But, sorry, gunshots and blood don't equal a story to me.

I know nothing of technical stuff; don't care. I just know I did not like this.

[Jase180]

Oh boy.
I thought I'd say my piece here, rather than TMU.
I disliked this film, I really did not like it at all.

Style over substance always bothers me, and this had it in spades.

FX, software, toys: yadda yadda yadda. Cold: that's what it was.

Sorry, not my cup of tea at all. I've watched it a dozen times now, thinking I must be wrong. But, sorry, gunshots and blood don't equal a story to me.

I know nothing of technical stuff; don't care. I just know I did not like this.

Well there was a story ya know...but nothing will ever be all things to all people, so thats ok. Atleast your honest!

I really hope people, at worse, see this and think..hey wow, I wanna use outside editing and do new things and like new mods did when they hit, up the quality and chances people take with new stuff!

[Norrie]

I know there was a story Jase. I think that bugs me the most.

I read the script over a year ago: not that script in this ten minutes?

[Jase180]

I know there was a story Jase. I think that bugs me the most.

I read the script over a year ago: not that script in this ten minutes?

100% in there, it is. I should post it if I can find it.

[Norrie]

No need.

[thebiz]

Ive watched it twice and I agree with some of your assessment Norrie. Production-wise its an incredible feat showing me things I have never seen before and opening my eyes to new possibilities, particularly the end credits which are a very cool showcase of AE. And I really really liked the final tv moment at the end. Very cool stuff. Storywise I think it largely fails. I watched it twice last night and at the end I couldnt tell you what it was about (and I was sober). Its not necessarily that there is no story but it gets lost right from the beginning in the louder than life sounds and the action editing. It never slows down to focus on the human factor. As a result, I felt the story was fighting with the visuals in a battle it cant win in a B6 flick.

I really like a lot of B6's flicks which largely exist to me as ideas of action. I dont mind that many of his short 2-4 minute things I have seen have little plot or story as there is a open ended idea behind all the flash and awe. We can fill in the human factor that might have occured before or after the action. Here there seems to be a definitive idea or story that I am supposed to grasp but it never comes through because visually the focus has more to do with spatter and camera work than anything else. There is a bit of witty dialogue but it almost comes across as a parody of witty dialogue because I cant find the point.

In the end I enjoyed the experience but I appreciated that I didnt have another 1:50 to go.

[Elbow]

Inspired.
Thanks for the example of "it can be done"

[sisch]

I watched it twice last night and at the end I couldnt tell you what it was about (and I was sober). Its not necessarily that there is no story but it gets lost right from the beginning in the louder than life sounds and the action editing. It never slows down to focus on the human factor. As a result, I felt the story was fighting with the visuals in a battle it cant win in a B6 flick.


I agree with you here, Biz - I didn't get the story either. I just love this for the cinematography - and the vo's, sounds and music were superb. Knowing Michael's style, I didn't really expect a film with lots of character build up, and true, it seems more like the big showdown of a longer movie than a whole film - but I'm still able to admire the style, and the power of the visuals. I know that might sound strange for someone who's as story-hungry as I am normally.... but there it is. I like it. :001_smile:

[rogerSIMIAN]

Hmn, I think I had a similar reaction to Sisch's. Yeah, I didn't really care about any of the characters and the constant noise and violence made it hard to follow at points but the overall excellence in visuals and audio and VOs just blew me away. Plus - I liked the idea that sometimes a bad guy is the best guy you've got to clean up your city. I'm pretty new to MichaelB6's directing style and I was basically left feeling very impressed. If it had been a longer film I don't think my goodwill would've lasted. On the other hand, in a longer film more character development would hopefully have been brought in too. Maybe this was a movie made more at the service of the director than of the script.

But, anyway, I think I'll watch it again tomorrow and see what I think the second time round.

[michael_b6]

Sorry the story didn't get across as well as I thought it would, as much as I want to explain it here it still won't amend whatever mistakes I made. One of the main things I wanted to ensure was that during those scenes where they do explain major points that there was nothing else to really focus on except the character's talking- most of those scenes only use two different camera angles at most so you don't really have to think about what you're looking at but what is being said.

The main purpose for this was written to beat the Movie-Storm team's butt in a action competition (I know it was canceled) but I guess adding more stuff seemed like a daunting (er, at least to me) task given what I already did. Yes, it's a rather simple story but my execution of it was flawed, I guess I'm really desensitized to all the raz-ma-taz so maybe me watching it was a different experience than you guys (I hope that didn't come out sounding bad or arrogant).

Usually I'd be like "yea, camera angles look awesome!!11" but I guess this really seems like I failed at putting forth the story- which sucks. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that you guys like it for its looks but it is something I can always improve on.

[rogerSIMIAN]

Good to hear from you on this, Michael_B6.

My experience of the film was that I think I pretty much understood everything I was supposed to understand of the overall plot. There were bits here and there where I wasn't sure what was going on (mostly "who's shooting who and why?") but it didn't really affect my overall understanding of the story. From my point of view, what could've worked a lot better was the viewer's emotional involvement in the film. Valentine immediately came across as arrogant (in a "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" kind of way) but not really charming enough to get away with it and the key witness guy seemed generally scared and a bit too shifty to be likeable - so, not really characters you'd attach yourself to as a viewer. Maybe if the key witness had been a scared but determined young woman rather than a dood who looked a bit like a dodgy mob patsy I'd have been worrying about her fate a lot more.

But, anyway, like I say, I thought all the other elements - the look, the sound, the VOs and the score - were bang-on and I really liked this as a ten minute-ish film.

[sgporsche48]

Agree that it felt like it was the end of a much longer film. Knowing what it was written for (the TM vs MS Comp) it didn't bother me as much, but it was still very confusing as to who was who. However, the style and acting really saved it for me. I'd love to see what you (Michael) could do with a longer script (and hopefully not take a year!).

[Jase180]

Agree that it felt like it was the end of a much longer film. Knowing what it was written for (the TM vs MS Comp) it didn't bother me as much, but it was still very confusing as to who was who. However, the style and acting really saved it for me. I'd love to see what you (Michael) could do with a longer script (and hopefully not take a year!).

B6 and I are already talking about doing another film..heh:devil2:

more on that later..:shifty:

[Chris62]

What Amazing looking movie.

[Jase180]

Good to hear from you on this, Michael_B6.

My experience of the film was that I think I pretty much understood everything I was supposed to understand of the overall plot. There were bits here and there where I wasn't sure what was going on (mostly "who's shooting who and why?") but it didn't really affect my overall understanding of the story. From my point of view, what could've worked a lot better was the viewer's emotional involvement in the film. Valentine immediately came across as arrogant (in a "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" kind of way) but not really charming enough to get away with it and the key witness guy seemed generally scared and a bit too shifty to be likeable - so, not really characters you'd attach yourself to as a viewer. Maybe if the key witness had been a scared but determined young woman rather than a dood who looked a bit like a dodgy mob patsy I'd have been worrying about her fate a lot more.

But, anyway, like I say, I thought all the other elements - the look, the sound, the VOs and the score - were bang-on and I really liked this as a ten minute-ish film.

I'm really happy with how Sparky played Valentine. Cocky, you bet. Arrogant. Yes sir. A bad mofo, yuppers. Because he is a bad guy who pulled off a caper that will fuck over the bad cops and ruin their game. He's making the point that good guys should be good and bad guys should be bad, but when the good guys cross the line to his world, he's gunna show them he's their better.

Even Valentine thinks that little old ladies should be able to trust the police..when you cant its bad for him, bad for everybody.

I think it all comes off clear, but thats just me.

In the end, I think the film delivers, I'm thrilled with it. One big bang up crime film with alot of flash and a good story that turns in the middle to be bad guys against worse guys. and Valentines plan is clear, save the witness, end the reign of the bad cops. At some point picking it to death becomes only nitpicking it to death.

Some good comments and some bad (Somebody said Tech Demo on their comment..wtf), and some well said comments, but jesus its not Lawrence of Arabia.

Its meant to be a fast paced shoot em up and I feel strongly that MB6 delivered:taz: :cursing::cursing::taz::2guns::gunsmilie::sneaky2: :censored:

[rogerSIMIAN]

I'm really happy with how Sparky played Valentine. Cocky, you bet. Arrogant. Yes sir. A bad mofo, yuppers.

Yup, totally agree that it was a great performance and, like I say, all the VOs were great.


He's making the point that good guys should be good and bad guys should be bad, but when the good guys cross the line to his world, he's gunna show them he's their better... I think it all comes off clear, but thats just me.

Yeah, I totally got that message, but we don't know this about Valentine till later in the film so as the first-time-viewer all I had to go on at the beginning was my initial reaction - not of Sparky's acting, which was excellent, but of the character being played. But I'm not saying I think Valentine should've been portrayed any differently: in the film he is what he's supposed to be a bad guy with strong principles. That's cool. I'm happy with that.

As an audience member, though, I do need a character I can empathise with early on, so that I'll be fully drawn into the story. It doesn't need to be Valentine - I don't need to know his hidden depths till later - but it's always good if there is somebody in the thick of it very early on who makes me laugh, or makes me concerned, or turns me on or whatever.

But, you're right - this is just pickiness (hopefully helpful pickiness). :thumbup1:

And, like the man says...


...jesus its not Lawrence of Arabia. Its meant to be a fast paced shoot em up and I feel strongly that MB6 delivered:taz: :cursing::cursing::taz::2guns::gunsmilie::sneaky2: :censored:

[[AC]]

B6 and I are already talking about doing another film..heh:devil2:

more on that later..:shifty:


Yay !!!
hope we will hear more from you soon :gunsmilie:

[sisch]

I think it all comes off clear, but thats just me.



Don't forget you know the script, Jase.... it's the same principle why so many people have the music much too loud in their movies - it overpowers the vo's, but the director doesn't realise, because he knows the dialogue by heart!

Having said that - I grasped the overall story allright. I just, like Roger, got confused with those characters who died an ugly death here - everything went very fast (as it should in a good action scene), and because they hadn't really been introduced to me in more detail, it was hard to tell them apart.

I'm looking forward to your next collaboration!

[Jase180]

Don't forget you know the script, Jase.... it's the same principle why so many people have the music much too loud in their movies - it overpowers the vo's, but the director doesn't realise, because he knows the dialogue by heart!

Having said that - I grasped the overall story allright. I just, like Roger, got confused with those characters who died an ugly death here - everything went very fast (as it should in a good action scene), and because they hadn't really been introduced to me in more detail, it was hard to tell them apart.

I'm looking forward to your next collaboration!

Thats true! My headphones picked up every sound, but I noticed alot of it lost on speakers..like the cell phones vibrating etc. I spoke with B6 and he's going to fix the sound levels etc. Should be fantastic.

[Norrie]

Thats true! My headphones picked up every sound, but I noticed alot of it lost on speakers..like the cell phones vibrating etc. I spoke with B6 and he's going to fix the sound levels etc. Should be fantastic.

Ah, cans and shitty PC speakers!
Could Tre and I tell you a tale on that feck up.

My biggest mistake, and a HUGE regret. I hated that I ruined Tre's movie... big lesson learnt.

[Jase180]

Ah, cans and shitty PC speakers!
Could Tre and I tell you a tale on that feck up.

My biggest mistake, and a HUGE regret. I hated that I ruined Tre's movie... big lesson learnt.


I remember that, I fell into it with one of my films as well, bummer of a lesson when your stuck with the games PP.

I must listen to everything now with speakers and headphones, because the difference is huge

[kuroken]

Thats true! My headphones picked up every sound, but I noticed alot of it lost on speakers..like the cell phones vibrating etc. I spoke with B6 and he's going to fix the sound levels etc. Should be fantastic.
And now, the fixed version has replaced the original version - see AND hear Valentine's Day the way it was envisioned.

I have to admit, a little modification of the audio has really made the dialogue and little bits like the vibrating cell phone a lot more friendly to my loud music ravaged ears.

Ken

[sisch]

And now, the fixed version has replaced the original version - see AND hear Valentine's Day the way it was envisioned.

I have to admit, a little modification of the audio has really made the dialogue and little bits like the vibrating cell phone a lot more friendly to my loud music ravaged ears.

Ken

Just re-watched it - and yes, much better now! It's amazing how the new sound mix works - the conversation in the beginning, which I was hardly able to understand in the first version, cleared up lots to me story-wise!

I dunno how often I have watched this now - I just can't get over how real it all looks!

[rogerSIMIAN]

The new audiomix on this works brilliantly.

[Dr_House]

Technically the best movie I've ever seen made with TM and it will certainly be a benchmark for all upcoming movies. But there were a few things that didn't convince me: In some scenes I felt that the outside effects were overused. I know this is probably michael's personal style, but in my eyes the reflections in the window for example made it sometimes pretty difficult to see what's going on. The same applies for scenes in which the camera focuses on something in the foreground and the background turns fuzzy or vice versa. Perhaps it's again just me, but I think this was overused, too, and made it in a few scenes a bit hard to see what's going on.

The story was probably perfect for showing the possibilities with the game but I'm not really a fan of blood and violence. ;)