RESPONSES TO GUNPLAY REVIEWS

SKYGUY: Thanks for the review behindtheart. The performances actors
definitely more caricatures than "real" peoples - like stylized
comicbook characters. Your film is very unique amongst the other film
on The Lot - defintely worth checking out by others.

behindtheart | Mar 03, 2007

When the film started I was taken back by the acting Then I thought
maybe it's over the top on purpose. I liked that it had a styl and a
pace. And it ende up being a fun film. I think you have potential as a
director. Ive seen a hand full of film on here that I loved Im a vey
hard cell. No one looks at my film its hard to find but if you have a
chace to see somthing very very out of the box that will touch your
spirit please take a look. good luck

__________

SKYGUY: Thanks for checking GUNPLAY out!

schwartzman | Mar 04, 2007

Liked it.

__________

SKYGUY: I totaly agree that stylized dialog would have been great -
I'm big fan of the film "Brick" which was based on Dashiell Hammett's
style of writing but in a contemporary highschool setting. My film was
defintely an excersize in style and for the sake of getting all the
angles and shots I wanted I opted to omit dialog. Thanks cool review
Steven!

steven_scott | Mar 04, 2007
Cool strobe effect. Has that slightly rotoscopic Waking Life look at
times. It'd be cool to see that developed a bit more, to stylize it to
the point of creating a totally new effect. Really, really like the
tilting, ever-shifting camera angles. The acting was a bit cheesy,
especially the girl. Choice of casting is dubious. I can't really
believe these people as gun-wielding bad guys. The perfect choice of
music to keep the energy going, since there's no dialogue. Speaking
of...I would love to see this with just a string of sexy one-liners,
almost like Beat Era poets, passed from one character to another, like
b*tchslaps. Really smart dialogue, though, or else forget it. Overall,
quite enjoyed it.

__________

SKYGUY: I can agree that the action is drawn out but that is
essentially the point of GUNPLAY - the most powerful aspect of a gun
is it's threat of force and not the actual flash-bang. Using that
theme, I tried to think of an interesting paradox that played with
what a gun can do besides just shoot someone.

Timothywen | Mar 04, 2007

Nice, the editting a too drawn out for my taste . but different
strokes for different folks

Mine is hard boiled type. alot of shoot em up type
please see http://films.thelot.com/films/30945

REVIEWS

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Meat Pie
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
14449
RATING: 3.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Music and matching edits did well to create an energized thrill ride - that 1st shot got me to jump. Fast paced, some great action and effects - the campiness made it fun.
WHAT I SUGGEST: I thought the performances didn't need to be as campy as they were. The last few shots were too dark.

An unexpected fun film with some great effects action.

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/
20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Jackson Horn - A Mystery of Errors
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
29868
RATING: 2.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Good production value in some of the scenes. The final scene had some good moments of drama, a sense that something was unfolding.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The performances seemed very rehearsed and story a bit unclear. The music seemly fit the moods from scene to scene but lacked a common theme/thread to bind the whole film.

Great effort!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/
20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: TERMINAL
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
13447
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: A familiar premise is used with a nice variety of sequences to generate a genuine interest is what will ultimately happen. The performances were decent.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The overall production between lightning, camera, and editing needed a little polishing. The film does a great job building up to the end but the end itself flat-lined in originality.

A very hot button issue film!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/
20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: SPIRIT RIDE
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
30212
RATING: 4 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: This film is very lyrical in it's presentation. This is yet another enigma of a film that haunts my sensibilities - its a good thing.
WHAT I SUGGEST: I can't say I fully understood the narrative but the images and music work in concert to evoke a range of emotions that are not soon forgotten.

Very unique amongst the films on The Lot.

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/
20882

THE PARADOX OF A BAD REVIEW

Reviewing is tough and ultimately I am not a film critic but more the film maker. So when I rate a film below the film maker's expectations or desires, I do feel a sense of guilt that I'm hindering their hope and not encouraging their growth. That's why I extend my comments beyond simple compliments because we are all in the attempt to defy odds - a feat that can't be done solo. The "star" rating system is nothing but a shortcut but everyone, including myself, put too much value in just what is measured in that shallow gap of 1-5 stars. So I've decided that if I'm going to rate a film below 3 stars, I will not apply it to the star rating, but I will leave my usual review in hopes that my comments will foster learning and not discouragement.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of bad films out there and putting them in their place clears the way for films that deserve attention. But timing and purpose are important in knowing when to drop that hammer.

Thanks for listening! And thanks for all the entertainment.


Sam

FILM REVIEWS

FILM REVIEW
FILM: METH
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/17855
RATING: 4 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: The best trailer I've seen yet! Exciting visuals, truly
professional looking cinematography, decent dramatic performances - I
wouldn't doubt for a second if I was told this was a high budget
Hollywood production.
WHAT I SUGGEST: Great introduction to a dramatic premise, but I can't
help but want a hint of an extra twist of some kind - a lingering
question in the plot beyond the action story.

Awesome film - high octane stuff! Shot on the DVX? You make look like
35mm, not just in color and tonality, but in the way the film moves
and breaths. Sweet!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: la diagonal
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/19476
RATING: 2 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: There is a sense of haunting in the way the camera
seemingly floats about this group of students - I think it's an
inherent feeling one gets with that greenish infrared look.
WHAT I SUGGEST: I wasn't sure why the subtitles were only during parts
of the film. The suspenseful shots in the middle and end didn't quite
catch the sense of surprise it was going for - perhaps because the
camera and edits were too reserved.

Interesting premise, is it based on a true story of some kind?

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882
__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: The Deliverers
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/8878
RATING: 2.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Despite the crazy antics some of the photography and
locations looked great - well composed. The car shots were really well
done as well.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The premise is clear but there doesn't seem to be an
underline narrative or its not apparent in the trailer.

The full film could make for some funny scenarios!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: My Imagination - Music Video
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/10513
RATING: 2.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Well intentioned with a very altruistic message. I can
sense a very personal journey wants to be told.
WHAT I SUGGEST: As sincere as the performances seemed, they were
over-played and too literal.

You have great energy and that goes a long way!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

FILM CUE

Got through a good chunk of film reviews - saw some good ones. Here is my film cue as of tonight:

http://films.thelot.com/films/17855
http://films.thelot.com/films/19476
http://films.thelot.com/films/8878
http://films.thelot.com/films/10513
http://films.thelot.com/films/14449
http://films.thelot.com/films/29868
http://films.thelot.com/films/13447
http://films.thelot.com/films/30212
http://films.thelot.com/films/8941

Thanks for all the entertainment! Look forward to watching more.

FILM REVIEWS

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Trailer - The Abandon House
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/2217
RATING:  4 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Haunting yet enchanting - I have a soft spot for Latin films because they don't just evoke an emotional response (fear, love, anger) they do so with an acute awareness of the heart - I can tell from the subtle lighting and texture that this films aim for that effect.
WHAT I SUGGEST: Even though this is just the trailer, I would want to know a little more about what's going on.

I had to watch Victor's other films to truly appreciate this one - I'd love to see the full film!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882
__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: BUBBLES
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/1044
RATING: 4 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Very cute with interesting cinematography and engaging performances. The twist at the end was a pleasant surprise - great writing.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The mother's acting was a bit over-the-top but with the bubble effects and the general stylization of the look and feel, over-all I think it worked.

Great film - a good performance from the kid actress!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882
__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: mimesis
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/18055
RATING: 3.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: I liked the "life imitates art" theme and how it was executed here - nice variety of recreated scenes that were pretty funny at times.
WHAT I SUGGEST: Take out most of the movie footage from the beginning - perhaps just use the audio from the films. So much more fun could be had if the audience is left to guess what movie scenes are being recreated instead of doing a literal comparison.

Great work!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: I Have Dreams Dammit!
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/26788
RATING:  3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: The trailer really shows your positive personality and altruistic intent to make a revealing discovery - very genuine in its presentation and intriguing by its topic.
WHAT I SUGGEST: Trailers are tricky and dreams are so amorphous and broad in scope, so the trailer should give hints as to what you might have discovered (expected and unexpected) - it's not enough to just gather information, your interpretation is of key interest.

I'm anxious to know what you discover!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: El Banditos
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/16551
RATING: 3.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Nice use of depth of field - the Lego desert world you created was vivid and felt like it had breadth. I liked how the ending was stylized.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The film left me wanting more than just a robbery and a showdown and more of a justification as to why it was shot with Legos.

Excellent animation set design!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882
__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Addiction
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/3607
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Some humorous moments presented with all seriousness.
WHAT I SUGGEST: I hate myself for being such a tightwad but the trailer could offer a little more dimension to the main character's addiction beyond simple torment.

You look like you had fun putting this together - good effort!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

RESPONSES TO GUNPLAY REVIEWS

SKYGUY: Thanks Silvio. I really enjoyed your film, very funny. Best of luck to you too!

mrsilvio   | Mar 03, 2007

Good job on this, pal... Keep up the good work and all the best!

Silvio Pollio aka GUIDO SUPERSTAR

AND

Writer/Producer/Director of "SHUT UP AND SHOOT!"

Starring: Joe Cortese, Tom Sizemore, Gary Busey, John Savage, James Russo, Roddy Piper, Willie Gault, Daniel Baldwin, Debra Wilson and more!

www.justshootit.com

www.myspace.com/silviopollio

__________

SKYGUY: Thanks moviedirector - out all the films I shot, I like the shots in this one the most. You had me at Lego, I'll check your film out.

moviedirector   | Mar 03, 2007

The opening credits were really cool. There were some really cool shots too. Keepup the good work. Please check out my lego animation http://films.thelot.com/films/16551

__________

SKYGUY: Thanks DGroover2k6! The music was done by the very talented Isaac Agyeman who I met at Cal State Long Beach. Yeah, it's primarily an action piece with very little backstory - I used the Hitchcock convention of the McGuffin (the mystery prize that all the characters want).

DGroover2k6   | Mar 03, 2007

Good action, well staged and cool music! Not much in the story department though.

__________

SKYGUY: Anthony, Anthony, Anthony... What have I ever done to you for you to treat me with such disrespect... John Woo's Hong Kong flicks were a big influence on me stylistically - he really spun Noir in exciting new direction. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching - good luck to you.

anthonychirco   | Mar 03, 2007

why would you have john woo in your tags? lol, anyway overall, decent job... good computer graphics, that of course has nothing to do with this competition, but still, good job..
and the intro, with you saying what you told your friend once..what's that all about? just speak straight to the audience!
the beginning kinda confused me, if you're not going to put dialogue just try to make it a little more obvious. keep it up and just spend more time on your next project

__________

SKYGUY: Aren't you just super duper cute! Thanks for watching and thanks for the film recommendations!

SuperDuperKitty | Mar 03, 2007

OMG people check it out

__________

SKYGUY: Thanks BattleSpartan. I dig the style of your film - your method (or lack there of) fascinates me.

BattleSpartan | Mar 03, 2007

interesting I like it

__________

SKYGUY: Thanks for noticing ozan. I shot GUNPLAY on a Canon XL1, chopped it in Avid, processed the color corrections and effects in After Effects with 3D elements rendered from Lightwave 3D and smoke elements from Particle Illusion. Thanks for the compliments and I'll be sure to check your film out.

ozan | Mar 03, 2007

dude, i totally diggid this! Loooked great! love the camera work wat did u film it on?
Check out my low budget, MILLION DOLLAR looking, ONe man show, SPECTACULAR mini short film!

METH - http://films.thelot.com/films/17855

__________

SKYGUY: Thanks! I'll be sure to drop by your film.

yaffe4663 | Mar 03, 2007

Nice!

http://films.thelot.com/films/3607

Avihai

FILM REVIEWS

FILM REVIEW
FILM: E.A.P.
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/2101
RATING: 3.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Very moody cinematography - it did a nice job balancing light and dark even when internet streaming can be brutal on dark films. Very nice set and the absinthe shots were fantastic.
WHAT I SUGGEST: I'm not a big fan of films that rely heavily on voice-overs and in all honesty the voice-over could have been removed from this film and it would have been just as effective.

I liked the creepiness of the oldman's face - great production value.

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: The Sequence
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/30672
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Intriguing introduction to a very ambitious question/topic. I liked the graphical and nature elements and would hope they will be more intimately integrated into the feature.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The film seems to touch on such a broad/vast topic (a question that we all ponder) but I'd like to know why I should be interested in watching it through your protagonist.

I hope your film has a really, really good ending!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: CONTROL
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/11559
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: The main actor has some good moments where his torment came through and while the end wasn't necessarily a big surprise there was sense strength in the main character (I was rooting for him).
WHAT I SUGGEST: The lighting and camera work could use some refinement. It would have been nice to have hints of a back story or subtle hints of personality beyond their involvement of their current situation.

That broken tooth is drama!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Guido Superstar
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/25436
RATING: 3.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: I actually found this film to be funny - the performance of the caricature was great. Some snappy editing gave it a entertaining style.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The shooting and sound varied in quality which is unfortunate because I was grooving with the premise. Better disco music selection could really electrify this film.

Very fun film - I'd like to see the rest of it.

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

Review Cue

Thank you to all of those that have been supportive of my reviews. I wish I could give a high rating to all the films I watch but it is my firm belief that maintaining the integrity of one's opinion is the only way to encourage a meaningful dialog between people (more importantly to maintain a meaningful dialog between us as filmmakers). But I'm as human as anyone and biases are a part of that - just be assured that I will be as honest and constructive as I can.

Because of the number of review requests I have received, I've created a cue of films that I will be watching. It's not in my interest to "barter" reviews with my film but I do invite everyone to watch, rate, review, and enjoy my film ( http://films.thelot.com/films/20882).

I'll do my best to watch all the films but if I spend too much time on these, the wife will go ballistic! So I ask for your patience.

Here's the cue as of 03/03/2007:

http://films.thelot.com/films/30672
http://films.thelot.com/films/11559
http://films.thelot.com/films/2101
http://films.thelot.com/films/25436
http://films.thelot.com/films/2217
http://films.thelot.com/films/1044
http://films.thelot.com/films/18055
http://films.thelot.com/films/26788
http://films.thelot.com/films/16551
http://films.thelot.com/films/3607
http://films.thelot.com/films/17855
http://films.thelot.com/films/19476
http://films.thelot.com/films/8878
http://films.thelot.com/films/10513

TOP 5 FILMS ON THE LOT UPDATED! AS OF 03/03/07

The top 5 films I've seen thus far on The Lot in accordance to the reviews and ratings I gave them. The ranking will be updated as I watch more films and, of coarse, I left my own film out of the ranking to be fare.

1. The Intuitive Mind, 5/5 (19593)
2. STARS, 5/5 (31207)
3. For All the Marbles, 4/5 (48)
4. Lemons, 4/5 (22240)
5. Apparition, 4/5 (13701)

Honorable mentions:
- P.O.V (Point Of View), 3.5/5 (24798)
- Gone Buggy, 3.5/5 (287)

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!

REVIEWS

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Square One
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/16823
RATING: 2.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: This film offers a sincere look into a little girl's life with footage that looked and felt like genuine home video.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The effects were not integrated well enough to be an effective story telling tool and the narrative itself was a bit unclear.

I always admire filmmakers that are able to work with children.

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: P.O.V (Point Of View)
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/24798
RATING: 3.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Very ambitious undertaking with an impressive number of digital effects. The the ghostly figure towards the end was great!
WHAT I SUGGEST: On that note, digital effects draw attention to themselves and do not hold up to scrutiny (which can distract attention from the story).

Awesome job!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882
__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Night Farm
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/25859
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Experimental in it's execution this film does well to exude an unsettled feeling from its amorphous narrative style.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The film almost lost me in the beginning but I slowly got draw into it.

A very curious style you have - I can't even tell if I like it or not but there's something there.

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Gone Buggy
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/287
RATING:  3.5/ 5

WHAT I LIKED: Nice, charming story that is well produced and flows nicely from beginning to end.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The photography and animation are well done on their own but when they're integrated, the reality of the film is not as seemless as it should be.

This film has a very youthful spirit to it.

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Lemons
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/22240
RATING: 4.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Funny and endearing film. well shot and performed with the music giving it a truly cinematic feel.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The look and feel of this film is strikingly similar to a Cal State Long Beach student film I know called "El Paletero".

Both films are well executed version of an entertaining story.

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

TOP 5 FILMS ON THE LOT AS OF 03/03/07

The top 5 films I've seen thus far on The Lot in accordance to the reviews and ratings I gave them. The ranking will be updated as I watch more films and, of coarse, I left my own film out of the ranking to be fare.

1. The Intuitive Mind, 5/5 (19593)
2. STARS 5/5 (31207)
3. For All the Marbles, 4/5 (48)
4. Gummy Bears, 4 / 5 (493)
5. Apparition, 4/5 (13701)

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

FILM REVIEW

FILM REVIEW
FILM: The Intuitive Mind
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/19593
RATING: 5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Excellent cinematography - composition, colors, set design. There are so many nuances to appreciate in the choreography and performances, all bottled in a quirky hyper reality that is well imagined.
WHAT I SUGGEST: I didn't understand the film as intuitively (no pun intended) as I wanted to on my 1st viewing but that almost didn't matter because i enjoyed the ride.

This is a filmmaker's film that I can watch over and over again to learn and draw from!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

The Lot Review Responses for GUNPLAY

SKYGUY: Wow, I am indebted to your kind words and for taking the time review my film in-depth. It's nice to know I'm doing something right, and I can only hope to continue directing films an electric response of somekind! Thanks again!

ViewMaster   | Mar 02, 2007

This action thriller caught me by surprise.

I was quickly drawn in by the seductive suspense, and clever turns in the plot.

More than once I thought I had comprehended what was happening and able to predict what would happen next. Wrong!

Sam Yano gives a refreshing new life to the action thriller. The excellent music adds to the suspense and subtly leads the viewers.

If you like action thrillers, you'll be watching this film more than once guaranteed. Like the classic movie "Rear Window", it's so well done, you'll watch it again to take in the subtleties, depth and complexity.

__________

SKYGUY: Hammett is the man! What's you're favorite book? Mine is "Red Harvest." The Coen Bros film "Miller's Crossing" was inspired by this Hammett book as well as their 1st film "Blood Simple." In fact I was introduced to Hammett through researching Coen Bros films.

As a fellow Hammett fan I was drawn into the story. I thought there were some really nice-looking shots. At fist I wasn't sure about the whole "speedy" shots, but I think they definately helped pace this short appropriately. You definately have a talent for 3-d effects as well. Keep showing us good things.

If you get a chance take a look at my film. I would like to know your thoughts. It, hopefully, has a noir feel to it, so it may be up your alley.

http://films.thelot.com/films/21974

The Lot Reviews and Responses

SKYGUY: Thanks Kody! I'll be sure to check your film out.

Kody   | Feb 28, 2007
Well done!

please check out my film

http://films.thelot.com/films/30109

__________

SKYGUY: Thanks! The intent was to do the film completely without dialog but a few words got slipped in.

jasmith111   | Feb 28, 2007
some of your camera angles were cool. i liked the editing too. the msuic fit pretty well to the story. i liked that you told the story with limited dialogue. good luck to you.....
http://films.thelot.com/films/8878

__________

SKYGUY: All the elements of hard-boiled fiction were incorporated - the dangerous environment (the dark house), the dedicated investigator (the man in the wrong place at the wrong time), the corrupt authoritarian (the man with the most guns), and the dangerous woman (no need to explain this one).

ladiagonal   | Mar 01, 2007

It's cool, yeah, I like the guys, the face of the protagonist and the girl...yeah!
So good luck for your film!
Demonlater(ladiagonal)
http://films.thelot.com/films/19476

__________

SKYGUY: I'll admit this film is not for everyone but I see you might be a noir fan so I'll check out your film.

Spartan   | Mar 01, 2007

I'm sorry, but I really didn't feel involved when watching this. I didn't care about any of the characters or what their motives were. The camera work wasn't bad, but apart from that I can't think of anything that particularly impressed me.

__________

SKYGUY: A business proposition? You had me at "UNIVERSAL STUDIOS BACKLOT on 35mm film!"

anthonychirco   | Mar 01, 2007
nice!
please come rate mine and I'll come back and do the same for you!
THIS GOES FOR ANYONE, RATE MINE AND I'LL RATE YOURS!
let's support each other!
i shot it on the UNIVERSAL STUDIOS BACKLOT on 35mm film!
it's called "FIGHT!"

http://films.thelot.com/films/14416
grazie!

__________

SKYGUY: Short and sweet - thanks Jamiegirl!

jamiegirl   | Mar 01, 2007

ok, alright!
__________

SKYGUY: Sounds like my kind of entertainment - don't dissappoint!

Eric_Demeusy   | Mar 01, 2007
want to see beasts, horror, and action??
check out my film called "Meat Pie"
tell me what you think.

Eric
__________

SKYGUY: Thank you Actionqueen - to my actors' credit I didn't come on set with a script and simply told them on the spot what the shot was going to be. I ended up rewriting my original conception in my head and didn't even finalize the final showdown until the morning of the 2nd day of production.

Actionqueen   | Mar 02, 2007

Loved your intro. Not sure about the fast motion effects you used in your film. It distracted me. Also some of your actors were not believable enough. Liked some of your shots. They were very intense. Liked the music too but you had too much of that in there. Keep up the good work.

__________

SKYGUY: With a budget I'd be shooting on the moon baby! Thanks for the kind words and hope to bring you more in the future.

Ringo1967   | Mar 02, 2007

This short has all of the pace and timing of a real suspense action film. I can only imagine what Sam can do with a budget! Excellent stuff.

Reviews

FILM: Suspect
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/21974
RATING: 3.5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: There's something enchanting about the soft yet contrasty image, the vignetted edges, the music. The music did well to set the tone.
WHAT I SUGGEST: Some shots were a little too dark.

I can see the Hammett influence - this had a nice contemporary feel to a classic premise.

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM: Fairy-Tales & Lullabies
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/19544
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: I really liked the tie-in of the title and the premise of the film. And the dialog as written worked.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The photography and set design is too stilted - nuances in the shot selection/framing could have aesthetically and thematically connected the men beyond just talking heads.

The Hammett reference was a bit unsubtle but appreciate nonetheless!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM: Mood
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/28821
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: The beginning had an authentic feel that sold the outrageous premise. While I get the sense that this is more of a spoof, there's something poignant in the message.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The quality of the production seemed to be inconsistent as the film played.

Great effort!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

__________

FILM: Payback!
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/14416
RATING: 2 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: I dug the campiness of the film - it didn't take itself seriously and was more or less a spoof on action/violence in films.
WHAT I SUGGEST: It's very hard to appreciate the fact that this film was shot on a back lot and on 35MM film - this film just doesn't take advantage of those factors.

I can feel the Payback coming!

When the chase is cut short, the guns come out to play! Check out GUNPLAY!
http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

Reviews

FILM: The Ocean
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
31523
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Beautiful locations and underwater footage lend a vastness to this feel-good travelog.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The 1st few shots were too dark.

Excellent!
__________

FILM: Innocence lost
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
30109
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Very haunting piece with interesting choice of angles and editing.
WHAT I SUGGEST: Some of the camera movements were a little too shakey.

An excellent film from a very young talent!
__________

FILM: STARS
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
31207
RATING: 5 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Very impressive and captivating. Detailed in its excellence from wardrobe to photography to dialog to performances. In an arena where the WWII soldier premise is repackaged again and again, this one really stands out which is an accomplishment in itself. The first film on The Lot that I have given 5 stars!
WHAT I SUGGEST: Very unfortunate that it was submitted after the deadline - but making deadlines are part of the biz.

Wonderful!
__________

FILM: wu tsar pian
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
31098
RATING: 3 / 5

WHAT I LIKED: Great visual effects that enhance a film that is genuinely fun to watch.
WHAT I SUGGEST: The photography and lighting are a bit dark and muddy at times.

Entertaining spoof on kung-fu flicks.

Reviews

FILM: The Clues Brothers
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
10280

WHAT I LIKED: The trailer is flashy and exudes a feeling of high production value but with a sense of humor about itself.
WHAT I SUGGEST: I'm not entirely sure what the chase is about beyond just being cops and robbers.
___________

FILM: RED DOG
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
881

WHAT I LIKED: Great production value that contrasts with the films tongue-and-cheek humor.
WHAT I SUGGEST: In all it's blurring of conventions the film still doesn't feel very original.
COMMENT: CRC sounds so much like Nick Cage!
___________

FILM: Gummy Bears
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
493

WHAT I LIKED: Very entertaining. The film has a nonsensical fun about it reminiscent of the Luney Toons of old. Drummer gummy bear were funny as heck.
WHAT I SUGGEST: Though there was a gritty charm to it, the film would have benefited from better lighting composition.
___________

FILM: For All the Marbles
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
48

WHAT I LIKED: Epic spin on a very familiar tale. Great cinematography, direction, and casting.
WHAT I SUGGEST: Some of the shots (like the POV of breaking through the Red Rover line) felt a bit clunky.

GunPlay playing "On The Lot"!

My short film “GunPlay” has been slimmed and trimmed to premiere for the fine folk at Fox Television’s “On The Lot.” Drop on by, kick back and enjoy the show. Support the film by rating the film and writing a review.

 

http://films.thelot.com/films/20882

 

Thanks for all your support and I look forward to coming back with more films to share!

 

 

Sam K. Yano

http://www.skysyndicate.com/samdemo/blog.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everybody's Different

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Everybody's Different
DIRECTOR: Damien
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/29466

PROS: Sincere with very intimate photography.
CONS: Repetitive and ultimately unrevealing portrait of a person.

RATING: 3 / 5
COMMENTS:
This film exudes sincerity but does nothing to reveal a bigger story that must or should exist. There is no personal story that is unworthy of being told but featured films and featured documentaries are about subjects that are or are claimed to be bigger than life itself - otherwise a film is just a home movie that is only relevant to a very small crowd and does not need to be "featured." But that's not the main criticism here. This film does a great job grabbing one's attention by strumming an emotional chord with it's intimate look and feel and sound but that's a parlor trick by today's standards. It's what you do with that attention that defines a film - offer something that defies expectations. We live in an information age where defining "autism" is as easy as clicking a mouse. But the words of a definition, the pictures of an autistic kid, or even video demonstrating the effects of autism do nothing more other than offer a cold definition unless meaningful context is built around it all.

13 ½

FILM REVIEW
FILM: 13 ½
DIRECTOR: boodani
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
20789

PROS: Cute premise that works well as a short film.
CONS: Inconsistent lighting, some edits disrupted the flow of the film.

RATING: 3 / 5
COMMENTS:
Unfortunately the first half of the movie is a little too dark and some of the shot selections didn't edit well, making the film feel clunky at times. Try matching actions from shot to shot and cut on that action to mask the edit. I liked this film overall in it's subtle metaphor between vision and imagination - I understood where it was going without it being too obvious. But the ending was predictable and would have benefited from one extra twist. I can use this film as an example of a character driving the action as opposed to the action driving the character. In my last film review I called the characters weak because they were simply victims of circumstance. In this film the character is subjected to an unusual circumstance but he then makes a decision and decides to toss his glasses. He decides to take his fate into his own hands and then must answer to the consequences of his actions. That makes for a more interesting view than just some BLEEP having a bad day.

Off The Chain

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Off The Chain
DIRECTOR: JustinReade
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/
7711

PROS: Some comical moments and visuals.
CONS: Flat cinematography and editing, pointless story and weak characters.

RATING: 2.5 / 5

COMMENTS:
A director needs to recognize competent production value when it comes to their film. This a film that looses its edge because of flat lighting and composition - it's cinematographic flaws rob it's intended humor and makes it seem uninteresting and uninspired despite of it's donkeys and dikes. And once again, the characters are just falling leaves that simply drift with the winds of coincidence. All the character are simple victims of circumstances that befall them and do nothing to drive the story. This makes it boring because it doesn't offer the characters or even the viewer a challenge.

Apparition

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Apparition
DIRECTOR: polarisbanks
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/13701

PROS: Effective build of suspense through performances, lighting, and editing.
CONS: No true connection between the apparition and the end.

RATING: 4 / 5

COMMENTS:
A good film that effectively uses a barrage of techniques to build a suspenseful interest in what will happen around every corner. The ending satisfies only because it contradicts the expectation it builds but it doesn't satisfy any intellectual understanding of why the story takes place (why the apparition appears in the way it does). But when a film entertains it can get away with murder, so to speak, and that's what this film does: dazzle you so that you feel instead of think. Now am I saying that a good film shouldn't make you think? Absolutely not. A good film is one that moves you in someway, shape, or form. Ambivalence toward a film is the true sign of failure.

Oz Again?

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Oz Again?
DIRECTOR: patchman22
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/22474

PROS: Interesting take on Oz - a chance to restructure a well known story.
CONS: Dry humored interviews that seem to lead nowhere or make no point.

RATING: 2 / 5

COMMENTS:
With the novel and play "Wicked" as popular as it is today, a mockumentary like this would just be overshadowed and/or highly criticized for its lack of invention. The humor is just too dry and there is nothing compelling about the stories being told (although the two old ladies offer bits of impromptu fun). But all they do is gossip about the OZ characters and offer no real insight - mockumentaries and especially documentaries rely on establishing credibility to sell theirs point and there's nothing in this film to convince me of this alternate OZ reality. The clips that cut in just repeat to fill space and the over-all quality of the film looks as if it were shot on VHS - flat and without personality.

onthelot.com Film Review

FILM REVIEW
FILM: Isolation
DIRECTOR: kirkeby
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/22495

PROS: Production value can be seen in the sets and wardrobe.
CONS: The film doesn't quite live up to its ambition, acting is stilted.

RATING: 2.5 / 5

COMMENTS:
I appreciate the effort and the ambition that went into this film but it doesn't quite make the grade. It takes itself too seriously by preaching its story philosophically - taking on an almost cliche tone. The beginning and ending narrations are completely unnecessary and beg the question of why the narration is in Chinese and not the rest of the film. Let the dialog and imagery tell the story, not a post production after thought. The cinematography started out interesting but over the course of the film, the repetitiveness revealed a lack of refinement (shaky camera moves and harsh shadowing). The dialog and delivery was very stilted. The seemingly intricate detail of the film looks and feels great but small details like putting a chicken egg in a tree nest (a smaller quail egg might have been more appropriate) just topples the entire reality of the film. I feel like I'm sounding harsh but it's only because I think something better can come of this.

onthelot.com Film Review

FILM REVIEW
FILM: 4 Shadows Cast From Confusion: Re-Cut & Re-Scored
DIRECTOR: jasonad003
LINK: http://films.thelot.com/films/12917

PROS: Energetic pacing, variety of production locations, inventive
cinematography.
CONS: Disjointed story, meaningless/shock-value ending.

RATING: 3.5 / 5

COMMENTS:
This is another one of those films that I would consider less of a
drama and more of an experimental / art piece because it focuses less
on a coherent story and more on an idea and/or message through it's
sound and imagery. The pacing of the editing and the creative ways the
film transitions from one scene to the next keeps the viewing
experience alive and pumping all the way to its end. But the end
cheats the viewer from all that it strives to be because it occurs
completely out of the context of the rest of the film. Granted the
meat of the film is very loosely held together by some sense of story
but the film relies too heavily on the all too familiar "split
personality" theme and doesn't make an original statement about it.
All said and done the film is entertaining to watch but plateaus on
its ability to connect emotionally and intellectually.

A and B Trailer

A Film by Hiram Chan and editing and cinematography by Sam K. Yano. Click the play button to begin film.

Writing Exorcise pt3

A streak of terror overtook him. Why was this happening to him. All he needed to do was wake up and all that weighed him down would be lifted. His wife would be quietly asleep at his side, the morning traffic would hum just outside his window. It was all just a sick joke and he could leave it all if he could just wake up - the memory of his dream dissolving with every waking moment, crumble with every physical task that would replace the volatile memory cells of his mind. Or was it his waking life that he despised even more? Was it all the unpaid debts, the unscrupulous people, the unpleasantness of not being able to do what he wanted? Was it the disparity of living as a cog in the cold machinery of society that made slumber an attractive escape? But what was once nights of creaking on an old fishing boat on a warm summer night, was now became jaw-locking screeches of deep dark guilt, regret, and at times malice.

Writing Exorcise pt2

The echo of car doors slamming and engines starting reassured the man that life in this mall parking structure continued even when no being was in sight. A slight flicker glossed over the rows of cars as he looked over and to the side of the autos to catch a glimpse of his own. He pressed the button on his car alarm fob to echo-locate the elusive vehicle and after the third try a chirp sounded down an unfamiliar end of the structure. With trepidation he turned and shuffled towards the direction of the sound that answered his every button press. He caught an orange flash in a corner that was seemingly shadowed in black grease masking any recognizable forms. Within a stones through of the the lights the man knew something was wrong - he knew that his car was not as it was when he left it. The car had been relocated and, even more perplexing, the car did not resemble the size and shape that distinguished it as an automobile. He looked around for someone to validate what he was witnessing or perhaps he scanned the area to see if someone was laughing at him. This was some kind of sick joke - it was the only thing it could be. At arms length and in the light of the flashing brake lights, the man could see that his car had been reduced down to parts that filled a box of some kind - perhaps it was a plastic container. The bok was no bigger than a filing cabinet or a crate, depending on one's occupational familiarity. But the real mystery weighed heavier with every press of the alarm fob - why and how was it that the lights still worked? Was this some kind of trap? No, this could only be some kind of sick joke.

Writing Exorcize

As he stepped out of the shower the towel wrapped man felt refreshed and invigorated by luxuries his downtown condo failed to deliver despite it's high cost. Here in the suburban home of his mother-in-law, the water jet from the shower head in superheated streams that messaged a warmth deep into his core - a far cry from the luke-warm water that dribbled from the shared pipes his high rise living. His morning wash oft left him uninspired to face an existence in an unforgiving city. But this weekend was different; this weekend was good.

FW: Shaking up Hollywood

I thought I’d bug you all just one more time with two additional links.

 

Some of you might recognize the title “The Richter Effect” as a short story I wrote way back when. Here is link to the original writing:

http://skysyndicate.com/gnet-x.com/secure/disc2_stories.htm

 

Flash forward so many years later and the story has become a short film that I produced and directed.

 

Here is a link to the official invitation for the Director’s Guild Showcase:

http://skysyndicate.com/samdemo/dga01.htm

 

Ad Infinitum!

 

 

Sam K. Yano

488 E. Ocean Blvd. #315

Long Beach, CA 90802

sky@skysyndicate.com

949-246-5051

 

 

---

From: Sam K. Yano [mailto:sky@skysyndicate.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2006 2:39 PM
Subject: Shaking up Hollywood

 

“The Richter Effect” short film of mine is moving out and about to the Director’s Guild showcase in Hollywood on November 9th, 2006. Films will begin screening at 7:30pm so bring your friends and family – it’s all free and there’ll be a reception after. It’s an industry invite mixer so there’s always the hope that the right set of eyes will take notice. And of coarse I big “Thank You” to all the cast and crew that made me laugh, cry, and ultimately proud of being the director.

 

You can check out the trailer for the film at:

http://skysyndicate.com/samdemo/media.htm

 

What:

DGA Film Showcase

 

When:

Thursday, Nov. 9^th, 2006

At 7:30pm

 

Where:

The Directors Guild of America Theatre

7920 Sunset Blvd

Hollywood, CA

 

Why:

When’s the last time anything this good was free in Hollywood?

 

See you at the movies,

 

 

Sam K. Yano

 

Shaking up Hollywood

“The Richter Effect” short film of mine is moving out and about to the Director’s Guild showcase in Hollywood on November 9th, 2006. Films will begin screening at 7:30pm so bring your friends and family – it’s all free and there’ll be a reception after. It’s an industry invite mixer so there’s always the hope that the right set of eyes will take notice. And of coarse I big “Thank You” to all the cast and crew that made me laugh, cry, and ultimately proud of being the director.

 

You can check out the trailer for the film at:

http://skysyndicate.com/samdemo/media.htm

 

What:

DGA Film Showcase

 

When:

Thursday, Nov. 9^th, 2006

At 7:30pm

 

Where:

The Directors Guild of America Theatre

7920 Sunset Blvd

Hollywood, CA

 

Why:

When’s the last time anything this good was free in Hollywood?

 

See you at the movies,

 

 

Sam K. Yano

 

Another Pic Test - please stand by

Rian Johson directing:

 

 

Rian Johnson in action

Testing to see if an image will work.

Another Brick to Lay

Another Rian Johnson podcast interview:

http://media.libsyn.com/media/btbm/BTBM_2006_08_15.mp3

Sam

Hard to Boil

Trying to get back into the habit of posting regularly. It’s a shame to set a forum up and not use it. Anywho, I’ve been getting into Podcasts lately – it started with Jim Cramer’s Real Money on the radio but his podcast became a more convenient way to catch his show at my leisure. Now I have a list of programs lined up for listening while I work on my 3D animations. Very cool, very informative, very convenient. I came across this interview with “Brick” Director Rian Johnson. “Brick” is very much the film I’ve always wanted to write and direct; a film that pays homage to the greatest of hard boiled fiction writers, Dashiell Hammett. I wouldn’t say this film is for everyone but if you’ve ever read and appreciated Hammett, then “Brick” and the Cohen Bros. “Millers Crossing,” “Blood Simple,” or even “The Big Lebowski” are films to catch (although “The Big Lebowski” is more of a Raymond Chandler inspired film.

Click here to hear the Podcast interview with director Rian Johnson:

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://media.libsyn.com/media/cinecast/rjinterview.mp3

 

Sam

Tune into my Feed

The "Site Feed" link is now working proper. Just click it and copy the resulting URL into your Feed Reader and you should see my latest headlines!

Sam

Ste Feed Link

Now I’ve placed a link to the right of the page that says “Site Feed.” I’ve been testing it with spotty results but I’ll get it right eventually.

Sam

Site Feed

A cool thing that has been around that I’ve never caught on to until recently is the whole Site Feed phenom. For my site, all you have to do is copy the url of the blog and paste into your Feed Reader (you may have to add “atom.xml” to the url) and you should get the headlines of my latest blogs. It sounds complicated but it’s really simple – I use Google’s homepage Feed Reader. I can read a bunch of headline from all my favorite sites without having to actually go to those pages and web surf. Very convenient, very 21^st century. Of coarse I’m one turn behind the trends but I like to take on tech that has proven itself before I integrate it into my lifestyle. Although I’m still not a MySpace guy, yet. Blogging feels more like a Journal than MaySpace and the pages on MySpace are cluttered and clunky. But it’s so dang popular for whatever reason.

 

Sam

Technical Difficulties

My array of sites are experiencing some extreme technical difficulties as a result of some server problems. Some parts of the sites are back up but others are still lingering in obscurity. Stay tuned for updates as I tackle this challenge. I may just end up revamping the whole site. We’ll see.

Sam

Crash and Burn

Looks like my website went down for the count. It's going to take awhile for me to get things up and running again but I imagine this is a good opportunity to revamp the content. Check back again - you might be surprised by some new changes!

 

Cheers!

 

Sam

Sam Bam's Back

I’m officially back on the grid after getting hitched at the Wayfarer’s Chapel in Palos Verdes and spending a relaxing honeymoon on the tranquil beaches of Santa Barbara. We decided to travel locally instead of flying to Cancun or Costa Rica because as soon as we returned we made the big move to our new place in downtown Long Beach - a metropolitan high-rise condo with an ocean view (ba-da bing!). So this is my official notice of my address change:

 

Sam K. Yano

488 E. Ocean Blvd. #315

Long Beach, CA  90802

Cell: 949-246-5051

E-mail: sky@skysyndicate.com

 

Keep in touch. And if you’re partying downtown, give me a ring and I’ll walk on over to join you (that’s if I can dodge the wifey’s radar : )

 

 

Sam

 

Freakin Cockaroachas!

Ok this morning I freaked like a little school girl when a freakin inch and a half cockroach creeped along my counter and into my dish washer. After a moment collecting what dignity I had left, I grabbed the vacuum and hunted down the bugger. I sucked him up with a "thawump" and took every precaution to make sure I bagged the intruder. But when I removed the vacuum bag, that slick backed little shit was too big to fit through the bag opening and escaped! After another freak session I tracked him down again and sucked him up once more. Now I'm sitting here and typing this memo while the vacuum remains on to make sure that vile vermin doesn't get a way a 3rd time. I FREAKIN HATE COCKROACHES is that hasn't been established yet.

 

Sam

FW: In Effect

Sorry by “this coming Saturday,” I meant Saturday May 20^th (not this coming Saturday but the following Saturday).

 

Sam

 

---

From: Sam K. Yano [mailto:sky@skysyndicate.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 11:44 AM
Subject: In Effect

 

My short film “The Richter Effect” will be the opening act of the Spring Student Showcase at 7:30PM this coming Saturday (May 20^th) in the University Theater (near the 7^th street entrance of CSULB). It will be the 1^st film showing, so don’t be late! $6 for students, $8 adults (at the door) - $5 for advanced sale of tickets (CPAC Ticket Office 562-985-7000). Archie Arena’s film “The Life of Stanley Davis” (for which I did the cinematography) will also be playing on Saturday. Hiram Chan’s film “A and B” (for which I did the cinematography and edited) will be showing Friday night at 7:30PM.

 

Note: The showcase will premiere films with language and themes that might not be appropriate for younger audience members.

 

You can check out the trailer for the film at:

http://skysyndicate.com/samdemo/media.htm

 

A big-big “Thank You” to all that contributed to the film and I hope to C-U-@ the movies!

 

Sam K. Yano

 

 

Leader Line

So how'yall doin these days? I just finished color correcting Archie Arena's
film (which I DP'd) and put the finishing touches on Hiram Chan's film
(which I also DP'd and edited - I really like how it turned out). "The
Richter Effect" benefited from some additional effects and sound design, but
surprisingly I kept the edit similar to what I showed in class (the 1st cut
seemed to work for me without getting too fancy). I did add a small segment
after the earthquake where we hear the father calling for help. My film will
open the Saturday night showcase.

Other than that, I'll probably be heading to Cancun for my honeymoon - check
out the Chichen-Mayan ruins (I read that from January of this year you can't
climb the steps of the pyramid - big bummer). When I get back from fun in
the sun, I'm gonna try and put a horror short film together - helming a
horror film has been an obsession of mine for quite sometime.

Anywho, hope yall are doing well - drop a line on how things are going.

Ad Infintum,

Sam Bam

Unanswered Dreams

Dreams. The 1st being my fiancéEhaving a new artist friend that I didn't like (there's a deeper truth to this). Anyway, she introduces me and from the get-go I don't like the guy. There were also some strange occurrences that included a sleep over at a classmates place while playing X-Box 360 games but I don't remember details. The dream ended with me in a restaurant. My fiancé ends up leaving early and the artist friend is sitting at a table behind me. I order poached eggs and in the middle of sucking down the yolks the artist friend guy says something that annoys me so I get up and threaten to kick his ass. He asks if I know karate or something and I agree (I didn't want to take the time to explain that I actually know Judo instead). So I send a quick jab to his face and it turns out he can't fight worth a lick so we both sit back down, breathing heavily from all the adrenaline pumping. At any moments notice I was ready to get up and chase down that guy but he just sat there breathing and staring a hole into my back.

The 2nd dream was more of a post-apocalyptic themed dream. I vaguely remember it starting in a garage somewhere with a rumbling and strange noises - a general sense that something bad is going to happen. At another point the bad had already happened and I was searching, with another classmate from CSULB, for weapons or a phone or a car but we end up in this underground tunnel where a battalion of military forces are being deployed. Thinking that in all the chaos that I could sneak in and take some weapons, the alarm goes off and the two of us have to run to a terminal and enter our pin numbers to confirm that we were citizens. After that one of us is riding a bike and we follow some pipes and resurface to the street level at a abandoned restaurant. We grab a bite to eat and I don't remember what happened to the other guy after that. The next thing I remember is talking to my mom on the phone. She tells me everything is ok and that the rest of my family are hiking their way to Artesia (I assume it is the street in LA) and I tell her I'd meet all of them there - in the back of my mind I realize that such a meeting would not be so easy. So I pack a backpack up with bread and other dry foods - I think I grab a few empty bottles and fill them up with water. Somehow at night I end up in a classroom where everyone is filing paperwork for who knows what and I end up filing a form myself. I fill in the blanks and for some parts there were stickers I would peel from a sheet and adhere to the form. It takes me too long to fill the form out and so the invaders are just outside the window blasting people (I guess they were robot aliens of some sort, a bit bigger in size than the average person). They see us in the builder and charge for us. We run for the back exit and I contemplate going back to get my backpack of food but the front window explodes and these massively clunky aliens pour in. I think I was pushing a wheel chair and abandoned it to make a dash for safety. While running for my life I kept thinking make as many left and right turns as you can so that those invaders wouldn't get a clean shot at my back. After a few turns I jump up a ladder and decide to roof hop - That's when I woke up and couldn't help but imagine if my mom had to go through the same hell to get to Artesia.

Sam

A Better Link

http://www.skysyndicate.com/samdemo/media.htm

A better link to my webpage – it opens to a new window.

Sam

 

A few updates

Made some changes to my director’s website, including the addition of some stills from my latest film “The Richter Effect.” I showed a rough cut about a week ago and got a very enthusiastic response – a good sign that things are on the right track. Up next for the film will be sound design and visual effects! I also posted a trailer for a film that I did the cinematography for, “The Life of Stanley Davis.” I’ll be editing this film as well. Much to do!

http://www.skysyndicate.com/samdemo/media.htm

Sam

For the Effect

“The Richter Effect” short film teaser is now showing on my web as a Quicktime movie! Along with clips from other short films and various production stills. Have fun.

 

http://skysyndicate.com/samdemo/media.htm

 

Ad Infinitum,

 

Sam Bam Yano

Films in the works that I’ve put my heart and soul into:

“The Richter Effect”

Director

A huge undertaking to produce, direct and then camera op for a film, but thanks to a dedicated crew and cast we packed a 4 day shooting schedule into 2.5 days.

“A & B”

Director of Photography

I’m particularly proud of the imagery shot for this film. Using the Mini35 adaptor for the DVX100A to fit 35mm lenses, it’s hard to even imagine shooting with anything less.

“The Life of Stanley Davis”

Director of Photography

Thanks in part to an easy-going director and trusting producer; I had a chance to try many experimental techniques with lighting and camera that will hopefully come through in the final cut.

“Old Friend”

Art Director

An invisible art but there are certain nuances that most people might not consciously notice but I am most definitely excited about (look for red!).

“Mixed Signals”

Assistant Camera

This was actually a fun experience more than anything – I took pride in efficiently and effectively

“The Tutor”

Key Grip

An ambitious production of action and drama that benefited from an amalgamation of guerilla innovation and technical know-how.

“The Hitchhiker”

Gaffer

From the hard hitting heat of the desert to the smoky shadows of an urban bar, this production pushed the limits on time and space.

Just a Dream

Just had this strange dream that started farther back than I can remember but I do remember being in this slummy neighborhood where everything is dirty and grimy and surrounded by tall brick buildings in every which direction. I guess the place was similar to the Brazilian slums in the movie City of God only the building were much taller. Everyone wore tattered rags for clothes: shirt, shorts, no shoes. Anywho, I’m walking around and I’m sure there are a bunch of other things I did but I remember having this friend and we would sneak out to this corn field. Cutting through the corn we would end up in this room of someone’s house that they no longer used, so it would be our little getaway from the craziness of the slums. After some time, I almost forget about this secret getaway and the people in the slums are pulling down a tree to burn for warmth – I offer them a saw (I don’t know where I go t the saw). Once the tree has been successfully torn down, I feel charitable and go around letting people borrow my saw to cut their tree pieces into manageable logs. Then comes along this slum gangster like kid (I think I’m a small boy in this dream) and this gangster kid and his crew wants to kill my friend that I mentioned earlier and who I haven’t seen in awhile. Things get tight for me as the gangster kid slowly finds out that I’m his friend and so the only place I can think of escaping (and finding my friend) is back at the cornfield. Fearing for my life, thinking the gangster kid is around every corner, I hustle to the outskirts of town and into the cornfield.

 

When I reach the room I notice it is the room of a little girl and when I peek through the adjacent door I can see the lonely figure of an older girl in a rocking chair. Not really knowing the circumstances I didn’t want to stay very long and I also had the creeping sense that the gangster kid would break through the cornfield and find me. So I decide to exit through the window of the room where it was actually snowing on a back country road. I fall out the window but then hear noises so I quickly hide behind a large rock. Peeking from behind the rock I see a whole procession of policemen on foot, motorbikes, and cars, sirens blaring, lights flashing – they lined up as if they were in a parade. The officers were raiding a gas station but once in awhile one of them would turn around and throw a rock at the boulder I was hiding behind to say as if they knew I was there. Suddenly all the policemen froze in formation, not making a sound – I just sat there for the longest time not knowing what to do. Finally I decided to just run off, so I race up the abandoned snow covered road (remember I’m still dressed in rags with no shoes). Eventually I end up at this trailer park decorated in Christmas colors and textures. To my amazement, many of the trailers were partially set ablaze by a fire that was spreading through a line of trees. I wandered around the lot to find a home that seemed abandoned and then entered through a door. Up stairs (yes a 2 story mobile home) I dig into a kids room and steal a jacket and a pair of shoes. Coming back down, I locate the kitchen and grab for cereal and juice to take with me. That’s when I notice someone staring into the house from a window (the mobile home is a bit elevated so the guy standing next to the window just look liked a head floating at the bottom of the window). In a panic, not really knowing if I’ve been spotted, I stuff all my booty into a bag and sprint out the door.

 

I don’t even take the time to go through my catch and run as fast as I can to gate that took me to a grassy area. I realize that I’m now in a very affluent community of mansion size houses. In the distance I notice an open beach so I try to cut through the backyards of the enormous houses but soon find myself lost. That’s when I woke up.