Short Student Film from University of Herts!

Soldato
Joined
30 May 2008
Posts
7,788
Hai!

I study Film and Television at Hertfordshire and am currently in my 2nd year

I Just uploaded my latest film to Youtube :)

It's an adaptation of the Tortoise and The Hare in which two guys are perusing the same girl with the underdog coming out on top

It was all shot in High definition but it looks dire now I've uploaded it so apologize for that.

Let me know what you think, written and directed by moi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtQ0OsPQ_1w

WARNING- FILM CONTAINS SWEARING
 
Last edited:
wasnt bad
but it did deviate from the original moral of the story quite a bit at the end

isnt it supposed to be that the reason the hare loses because he is far too cocky and makes fun of the tortoise the whole way there. Then the hare runs off, decides he can sleep a bit because hes so far ahead, and wakes up see the tortoise cross the line?

so the hares own cockiness was his own downfall, rather than 2 random lucky/unlcuky events

(just an observation :P)
 
Here is my constructive criticism from someone who has little experience with film:

The foreign title hints at pretentiousness. Unless you are filming something with foriegn slant, I personally wouldn't use one.

I think it needs a bit more substance. In the tortoise and the hare story, the hare loses because he is cocky and sleeps. There isn't that element in your film, he loses because his car breaks down, which isn't really the same. In addition, we are unsure if the 'tortoise' actually 'wins'.

The best bit was the start with the dialogue, which didn't seem too contrived.

The chase sequence could be a lot quicker and shorter. There are a few shots which are drawn out for no real reason and they suffer because there is no soundtrack. I think it might have been humerous to have really fast paced music whilst watching the driver speeding all over the place, but then no music whilst watching the man standing at the bus stop. Again, that would only work if the shots were much, much shorter.

I hope that is of some help.
 
Well my aim was to make the cockiness come out through his behavior, asked him to act arrogantly in contrast to the other character who acted like a geek.

I thought the car breaking down was quite similar to the hare falling asleep after he had got a head start in the car assuming he was miles ahead of the guy waiting for the bus.

Appreciate the positive criticism.

The only reason for the foreign title is because it's the original title.

What shots would you say are drawn out? I can only think of one, in which he is walking to the phone booth, i felt as if i had to show him approaching it though.
 
Last edited:
I think it is just the lack of sountrack which makes them seem longer. I can't recall seeing any films or programmes which have no soundtrack for parts when the plot isn't being advanced or where there is no dialogue.

In addition, the continuity seems a bit odd regarding the man running to the car. We are shown him running to the car after the man has reached the bus stop. There are obviously a million reasons why that could be the case, but since we arn't given any, it didn't quite fit for me. It's nothing a bit of editing couldn't fix, but that's only my view.
 
Well the bus stop was much closer to the first scene than where the guys car was parked so he got there first.

Thought that would have been obvious, but obviously not :P

Thanks again
 
Can't quite word out if that's an insult or if you're actually considering going herts to study Film and TV, my guess is the former.
 
ah, presumed you were saying that if you joined my Uni in September with no film experience you'd be at the same standard as me, therefore saying my film was terrible :)

It has its flaws i know :) It's a student film :D
 
As proof, here's what a friend made recently (that I helped out with):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XghVUw_hW14

ah, presumed you were saying that if you joined my Uni in September with no film experience you'd be at the same standard as me, therefore saying my film was terrible :)

It has its flaws i know :) It's a student film :D

I wasn't saying it was terrible at all. I haven't even watched it yet, only read the OP about you being in your second year.
 
Last edited:
wow really enjoyed that, post production must have taken you a very long time, the audio is very well dubbed too by the sound of things, what editing software are you using?
 
wow really enjoyed that, post production must have taken you a very long time, the audio is very well dubbed too by the sound of things, what editing software are you using?

Cheers, did it play in HD okay?

My mate (on my same course obv.) did the visuals in Adobe After Effects & edited it together in Final Cut. Some of the dialogue is dubbed and some is recorded straight.

Seen your film now, I like all the tripod shooting/framing, acting is pretty decent too and the story makes sense aswell which is always good. :)

Do you know what the model of the camera that you used is?
 
Last edited:
Good effort!
Like the idea in relation to the original.
What was lost I feel was any pace or speed (for the hare).
Consider using edits as a device to gain momentum. i.e, a series of quick jump cuts for the hare, conversely do the opposite for the tortoise (which you kinda did). By the way I liked the long shots of the tortoise they gave his character that 'slow' feel.
And I particularly like the irony towards the end, and I disagree, I feel this does serve the same purpose of the original.... However would like to have seen a greater fall for the hare.
Good work.

(By the way I'm a mature student studying Film)
 
Good effort!
Like the idea in relation to the original.
What was lost I feel was any pace or speed (for the hare).
Consider using edits as a device to gain momentum. i.e, a series of quick jump cuts for the hare, conversely do the opposite for the tortoise (which you kinda did). By the way I liked the long shots of the tortoise they gave his character that 'slow' feel.
And I particularly like the irony towards the end, and I disagree, I feel this does serve the same purpose of the original.... However would like to have seen a greater fall for the hare.
Good work.

(By the way I'm a mature student studying Film)

Thank you very much, really wise advise and I agree i needed something else to emphasize the downfall of the hare.
 
Hey, we also use Final cut pro, got my own Macbookpro now so have my own copy of it too :)

Your film looked great in HD! Worked perfectly

The cameras we use are JVC GY-HD110E HDV/DV Camcorder

Just uploaded another one of my films, don't really like this one though :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMT4Rtf7sqc

Wow, just googled that JVC. I wish we had your cameras. The only HD we have is the one owned by the guy who made that film. You also have better Macs afaik, we just edit at home 'cos the college Macs suck.

You know, you should be able to take your .mov HD files and upload them into youtube HD. Would look much better and do your films more justice; what compression are you using? I like your filming in the Hare movie and the one you've just uploaded. v. nice.
 
We have 10+ of those HD cams and every Mac we have has 2x 22" inch moniters. Don't mean to boast but i get fed up of people slating Hertfordshire Uni.

I'll look into uploading the films in their .mov form :) i just inserted the DVD copied it and uploaded that file.

Thanks for the compliments!
 
Back
Top Bottom