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We want to start a dialogue about Darkroom, cuz we know after you left the theater, you had alot of questions.
Darkroom Behind the Scenes
Jack, Jeremy, Margaret and Al Vallo on the set of Darkroom
20 comments:
I was very impressed by the film.
I like the ending - up-beat and makes many of the pieces fit. Good fortunes
on the distribution.
Quite an impressive story and captured wonderfully. A couple of the strong scenes had us teary eyed, culminating with the bathroom scene near the end of the film. Congratulations on a great success, and best of luck with the future of its distribution.
PS That film was so much stronger than “North Starr”, that piece of trash Sundance accepted.
I enjoyed the non linear sequence of the movie. It requires the viewer to work a little for the payoff. The production quality was great for an indie film.
I loved the use of the violent femmes song and the creative karaoke soundtrack
The female lead did an outstanding job of showing the pain and loneliness at times it was hard to watch.
I think it will do very well on the festival circuit.
We had an extremely good time!! The movie was really good. I really liked the characters and I really liked the way you weren't sure for a long time what the main character's connection to the dead people was. The movie had some really great lines too and I wondered how he would tie the whole thing up and he did an excellent job with that!
Hey, I just wanted let you know I thoroughly enjoyed watching your film the other night. I went in with an open mind and no preconceptions as to what it was about or what to expect and I walked away thinking, "wow."
I really liked your use of asynchronous sound and the music was great. Using the movie camera lenses really made a difference- and the performances of both David and his wife in the film were top notch. There were enough little touches of creativity in the shooting angles and use of focus to keep me interested throughout. I have to admit I didn't know where you would go with the ending and I expected tragedy when he got home -there was a lot of great foreshadowing leading up to that moment- but then you throw the curve ball, and everything works out in the end. But, its not your Hollywood ending because you still have a lot of questions when you see that he isn't in any of the photos. There were a few things that I think could have been better with a larger budget- but you've got the talent and I have no doubt that the bigger budgets will come.
So anyway 'Good Job'
The show was Incredible! Your editing was amazing, and I know you guys are going to really go places! I am Honored to have been able to help in some small way.
I really liked the editing style with the use of time lapse and the other effects. It gave your film a raw sort of feeling that I enjoyed.
I really liked the editing style with the use of time lapse and the other effects. It gave your film a raw sort of feeling that I enjoyed.
I was interested for the first and last twenty minutes or so but was exhausted by the middle of the movie. I didn't feel like I needed to see so much of the wife cleaning and crying or the husband on the bus or brushing his teeth.
I really didn't care about any of the characters except the gay 80 year old lady and the happy dating girl. I was more interested in what happened to them than the main characters... I don't know why.
I would've liked to see a few far away shots to give a better idea of the setting, though I realize that can be difficult to make look good. It felt like you were hiding the background with close ups and lighting.
Obviously I didn't love it but I was happy to be invited and wish you the best with future projects.
I really enjoyed the film; most particularly the fact that it wasn't all laid out for you. It requires some thinking and continues to leave you thinking afterwards.
I am mostly impressed with the character Coy... every time she popped up on screen, I got an uncomfortable feeling, as in, she portrayed the misery her character was going through quite well.
Overall, a great film... I'm regretting only helping out on the set for just a day.
Way to go, great job to the writers, crew, actors, etc...This is one of the best movies I have seen. I love to figure movies out and this one I could not figure out til 3/4 through and even then I still didn't have it right until the very end when the photos were on the wall. I rate this movie well over 10 on a scale of 0-10!!!!The Saw sequels, Photo Shop and all the other mind twisting movies have nothing over this one!! Excellent Job!! Loved it!! Thanks for the invite...Looking forward to more movies from you guys!! Choohoohoo!!!
This was a great film. I kept trying to figure out where it was going, but you guys did a fantastic job in keeping the story plot together while, at the same time, playing cat & mouse with the audience in keeping them guessing at how it would end. In fact, I was so engrossed in how it would end that I forgot to eat any of the candy I brought to the show. THAT NEVER HAPPENS!!! You tied it all together perfectly and I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE OSCARS AWAITING YOUR AWARDS!!!! The Coen Brothers have nothing on you guys (except the award).
Kudos to a great team. Thank you for inviting us - it's a movie I won't soon forget. Your movies just keep getting better and better. Keep up the good work, New Spielberg!!!
A very interesting film, and I'm very glad I was able to see it. The story was meaty, and the construction of the narrative was very fitting. Congratulations on an impressive show.
I do have some suggestions. My biggest concern was that the main characters had some unused potential. Given the right psychological make-up, it would not be unusual for two people to experience what this couple experienced. But that psychological make-up wasn't explored, in my opinion. Was he driven to obsession because his wife was a basket case? Was his wife a basket case because he was obsessed with the photographs? Chicken-and-egg, I know, but the way it stands, I felt the blame was being forced onto the nature of police photography. As if the mere act of looking at death imagery, all by itself, was at fault. That distanced me, as a viewer, from the human side of the story.
An easy remedy for this kind of thing would have been to show a "before" scene of the couple. You did this, at the end, but the couple was very happy and well adjusted in that scene. They were normal, somewhat stock charicatures. It might have been worthwhile to give us more. Maybe show them having an extended conversation, there in the bar where they got to know each other for the first time, filled with subdermal clues as to what makes them tick. What tragic flaws are hiding in each of them? What will eventually allow them both to be pushed over the edge? Subtlety is the key in such developments, but the result is staggeringly huge. If done well, the reader will see exactly what it would take for these two to start pushing the wrong buttons, and spiral out of control.
My second suggestion is just that, overall, the dialogue could use polish. In many cases it felt unnatural to my ear. Maybe that's subjective, and I admit it wasn't a constant bother. But, for instance, "The owner of this bar is starting a wall of fame," seems forced into the air, whereas it would be much more common to hear a simpler version, such as, "We're doing a wall of fame." Small things like that go a long way.
And near the end, when the detective has to talk David back to reality, the speach sounded, to me, canned. That detective was poetic by nature, certainly, but it didn't seem natural for him to be giving a billowy, passionate speech in such a pinch. Moreover, David didn't seem the type to be swayed by dramatic displays. Something as simple as, "They're just pictures and your trying to make sense of the wrong things," might have gone a bit further toward keeping those characters cohesive in their designs. Climax scenes are tough, I know, but an effective way through it is a pattern of sparse dialogue, silence, sparce dialogue, silence.
On the other hand, the detective's speech at the beginning--about what a nice night it was, and here he was surrounded by death--I really thought that was well done.
Lastly, the karaoke emphasis was a bit jarring, to me. All of the characters seemed to view it as a major world event. It was a really strong element in their lives. I understand the thematics, and the fact that it was not present in reality as much as in delusion, but even in delusion it felt, I don't know, inflated. Since David was the one who housed those delusions, it might have been easier to swallow with a slightly (and I do mean slightly, because it's almost there) more sarcatic edge. As small an issue as this seems, it too distanced me a bit from the human potential of the narrative.
Other than that, I was very impressed. You certainly exceeded my expectations, and I think you'll do well in this business.
I wanted to take some time and comment on Darkroom. It’s funny I thought several times of what to say. But it sounded like anything a friend would “have to say” : That was awesome. Way cool man. That blew me away. You guys ROCK! I Laughed, I cried, it became a part of me. Ya, I really liked it a lot, for sure. Yada yada yada. But all that stuff didn’t seem to cut it. True as it may be, it seems dismissive. And the honest truth? After seeing this film it dawned on me. You two are truly starting to master your craft.
As I watched it at some parts I cringed, at parts I laughed, at parts I actually did cry. I enjoyed it. What I didn’t expect, and I don’t know why, was to see the two of you in it. It was fun to see your shooting style emerge and mature Jeremy. The grain you played with to designate day dreaming or alternate plane of thought was just perfect. Lighting concepts which had subtle familiarity to Twice Today were perfected and used more appropriately to help and drive the story and suspense. Josh it was equally as fun to see familiar character interaction in the writing and yet there was cleaner character and situational development. Again a definite maturing has taken place.
I’m sure the two of you had a hand in different areas, but in comparing Darkroom to Twice Today, (for they both have similar plot relating concepts. Multiple timelines to follow, as well as all loose ends emerging in an orgasmic climax at the end.) But again in comparison, Darkroom was much easier to follow and understand. Equally the suspense was higher, I believe, due to better orchestration of story. As well. -And I can’t believe I’m saying this for I happen to know one of the actors in Twice Today, but you were able to get much better performances from your talent. You could argue that you had better talent which I’m sure in some instances is true. However I am sure that more credit goes to your ability to get the performance “you” want out of your actors. You can tell it’s no longer the concept of start the camera and see what happens. You both clearly have more insight and intentions. I love it.
After this film I am honestly salivating in anticipation to what the two of you will do next. So as listed above. That was awesome. Way cool man. That blew me away. You guys ROCK! I Laughed, I cried, it became a part of me. Ya, I really liked it a lot, for sure.
Sincerely,
You friend, fan, and partner in crime,
Adam
Long overdue but still wanted to reply as a show of support.
The only change my husband and I would make is to LOSE the detective's final speech. Don't underestimate the intelligence of the audience. We don't need someone to "sum up" what happened. A "tidy" ending just isn't needed because the scenes prior to it and following get it done.
LOVE the artistry (writing, art direction, music, acting) and creativity of this film! Hoping it DEVELOPS into something successful!
Please update me on Darkroom's recent acceptance to film festivals.
Hi my name is Myles Shane and I'm a sales agent from Toronto, Canada. I work for the company Hiltz Squared Media and I'm very interested in screening a copy of the film if one is avaliable
All the best,
Myles Shane
Vice President
HSMG
www.hiltz2.com
So what's the True Story this film is inspired on?
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