tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post2710181316458179356..comments2024-03-13T06:28:44.715-04:00Comments on And So It Begins...: EARRINGS: The FilmAlex Withrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-76393012640139939132012-08-14T21:33:12.329-04:002012-08-14T21:33:12.329-04:00Hey man, thanks so much for the kind words. Really...Hey man, thanks so much for the kind words. Really glad you dug the overall flick. And thanks for the specific compliments about the technical aspects of the movie! It really means a lot!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-75890744212847220532012-08-14T21:25:20.047-04:002012-08-14T21:25:20.047-04:00Oh and good work on the technical stuff too (sound...Oh and good work on the technical stuff too (sound design and cinematography). Looking forward to your future projects.Shane Slaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04527212913193906828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-78097639398008090422012-08-14T21:23:58.614-04:002012-08-14T21:23:58.614-04:00I actually only just got around to watching this a...I actually only just got around to watching this all the way through (I had to be in the right mood for it). Excellent job! My favourite aspects were the music and the Catherine's acting. She really draws your attention, which is crucial in a character study like this. <br /><br />I'm going to be honest and say that the conversation scene didn't "pop" as much as I wanted it to. Overall though, it's a very well-made film. You should be proud of yourself.Shane Slaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04527212913193906828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-11565970616037022752012-08-13T09:14:28.510-04:002012-08-13T09:14:28.510-04:00Thanks so much for that, Ed. Very glad you enjoyed...Thanks so much for that, Ed. Very glad you enjoyed the film. Your comments here mean a great deal to me!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-60262507217519298182012-08-13T01:09:29.016-04:002012-08-13T01:09:29.016-04:00Good stuff Alex, like Chip above I’ll leave the te...Good stuff Alex, like Chip above I’ll leave the technical talk to others. But you could genuinely see the effort and love that you put into it and Catherine was very good. Really enjoyed the scene with her and the male character (or Peter Sarsgaard as he is now known) and thought the song selection was excellent.Ed Hanaphynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-55717776222634470932012-08-03T10:25:19.863-04:002012-08-03T10:25:19.863-04:00Wow Chip, what a thoughtful comment you've lef...Wow Chip, what a thoughtful comment you've left here. Thanks for this.<br /><br />First, let me say I completely understand where you're coming from. I think it would be very easy (and understandable) for someone to take my pre release making of journal as the work of a real wannabe. I wanted to articulate that I take movie making very very seriously, without coming across as a pro, which I certainly am not.<br /><br />Either way, I think it's really cool for you to admit all that here, and to end up watching the film anyway. I'm glad you enjoyed the audio in the movie. Audio is admittedly not my thing, so I tried to manipulate it in anyway I could, while still being based in reality.<br /><br />As for Full Circle... I don't think I could bring myself to ever publish that on a semi wide scale. It is so raw, technically. The acting is on point, and the passion in the storytelling is there, but the technical aspects of it are total dogshit. If I ever get a free month, I would love to comb back through it and do a Criterion-style make over. Maybe one day!<br /><br />Thanks again for watching and commenting. It means a lot.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-14054697132628266022012-08-02T21:39:43.399-04:002012-08-02T21:39:43.399-04:00I owe you an apology. Not because I've badmou...I owe you an apology. Not because I've badmouthed you anywhere, but because I had skimmed your earlier posts about making a movie and my reaction was along the lines of "Okay. Whatever." This is not because I knew anything about you, but because for every Kevin Smith or Quentin Tarantino there were tens of thousands of other video store clerks who stood there with movies running and thought to themselves, "I could do that", but they never did. So when I saw a blogger saying he was going to make a movie I was just figuring that you were one of many. As it turns out, you are one of the few. You actually carried through with your plan, and it wasn't just a slapdash job either. It was easy to tell that you really cared about what you were doing. Kudos.<br /><br />I've never taken any film courses, so I'll leave the technical comments to others. I will say that I appreciated the lack of score because of the crispness of the ambient sounds (doors latching, insects, television white noise, etc.) The use of the songs was well done and fitting. And what can I say about Catherine's performance that has not already been said?<br /><br />I went to your IMDB page (up 415% in popularity this week - I wonder why) and I saw that you and Catherine did an earlier short titled Full Circle. I watched the trailer for it there. Is the film available to be seen anywhere?Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-23786824341969549382012-08-02T10:28:56.117-04:002012-08-02T10:28:56.117-04:00Oh man, I can't wait to see your short. It'...Oh man, I can't wait to see your short. It's funny how the idea just expands and keeps growing. These things have a mind of their own.<br /><br />That Walter was a smart dude haha. But really, I couldn't agree more with you. I think The Canyons has some great people running it, and I really can't wait for it either. Nothing better than a good flick that scuffed the studio system. Very curious to see how that plays out.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-71469296608713965412012-08-02T10:19:19.952-04:002012-08-02T10:19:19.952-04:00Yeah dude, this is genuinely inspiring. A mate and...Yeah dude, this is genuinely inspiring. A mate and I have been knocking abound an idea for a comedic short, and I've written a draft (which I accidentally expanded into a currently 30 page screenplay...whoops), so hopefully we'll get filming that pretty soon. Admittedly it's less ambitious in scope than "Earrings", though.<br /><br />There's no reason, there's no FUCKIN' reason (to quote Walter Sobchak) why creative types should feel indebted to the big, fundamentally un-creative companies that are the movie studios. It's one of the reasons I can't wait to see "The Canyons".Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10963537284814153368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-86384501965877697002012-08-02T08:20:58.361-04:002012-08-02T08:20:58.361-04:00Hey Julian, thanks for watching the flick and comm...Hey Julian, thanks for watching the flick and commenting here. The look of the movie is definitely "in your face," so I completely get where you're coming from. With the exception of two brief scenes (and the opening shot of the trailer), natural and available light was used exclusively throughout the movie. The only mic we used was a pro-style boom mic. Sorry I can't be more specific than that, audio really isn't my thing, so I hired a far more capable person than I to grab audio.<br /><br />As for the ending, it certainly wasn't meant to confuse, and I'm certainly not trying to be purposefully ambiguous here, but I think it is better off unexplained in detail by me. <br /><br />Just the way I prefer to do it! But again, thanks so much for watching the movie. I really do appreciate it.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-3959591449693426732012-08-02T08:15:14.934-04:002012-08-02T08:15:14.934-04:00Thanks so much, Stephanie. I knew pretty early on ...Thanks so much, Stephanie. I knew pretty early on that Earrings was going to be... different, for lack of a better word, so yes, the fact that people "get" and dig it has been incredibly satisfying (and a little surprising!).<br /><br />Look forward to your review, thanks as always for stopping by!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-27023075189327501762012-08-01T23:54:06.270-04:002012-08-01T23:54:06.270-04:00I liked the directing a lot, with the exception of...I liked the directing a lot, with the exception of the handheld stuff. Felt a bit distracting to me, but overall i like it. I can't say i loved the movie overall,but i think that has more to do with my taste in movies. Also, did you use natural light for all the scenes,and what kind of mics did you sue for the conversation scene?<br /><br />Btw i presumed the scene where Chloe was giving the guy the rings was a flashback, so the ending confused me for a bit.Julianhttp://www.dirtywithclass.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-46340302432321629442012-08-01T21:53:02.877-04:002012-08-01T21:53:02.877-04:00You have gotten so many magnificent comments -- it...You have gotten so many magnificent comments -- it's a real tribute to your work. It's great when people "get it," isn't it? And you're inspiring viewers to create their own films.<br /><br />I don't have much to add, right now, to what others have said. I was thoroughly absorbed in the film and impressed with your mastery of your craft. I jotted down notes, as I'm hoping to post a brief review on my blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-18089156429657751712012-08-01T08:16:15.798-04:002012-08-01T08:16:15.798-04:00Wow, thanks Josh! Gonna post mine today!Wow, thanks Josh! Gonna post mine today!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-59362871140519420602012-08-01T01:28:33.724-04:002012-08-01T01:28:33.724-04:00Hey man. I've just given you an award. If you ...Hey man. I've just given you an award. If you want to accept it, stop by my blog.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-51839789430315648672012-07-31T10:32:21.419-04:002012-07-31T10:32:21.419-04:00Teddy, I don't even know where to begin in res...Teddy, I don't even know where to begin in responding to this comment. It brought literal tears to my eyes, it was just... damn man, thank you.<br /><br />I'll start with the crazy stuff haha. Bergman is my favorite filmmaker, and Persona is my favorite film of his, so to hear you comparing Earrings to Persona, well, in the words of Kanye: Dat shit cray. That man is my god, and you're comparing my tiny film to my bible, and that is just so immeasurably kind of you. Persona has had a huge impact over my life and my filmmaking career, and the fact that you saw even the most basic correlation is deeply humbling to me.<br /><br />Those are really interesting and unique favorite parts of yours, thanks so much for sharing them.<br /><br />Again, Teddy, wow. Thank you for this comment.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-27759567886989071702012-07-31T10:21:26.905-04:002012-07-31T10:21:26.905-04:00Stevee, this is was so kind of you to say. To thin...Stevee, this is was so kind of you to say. To think that this tiny little film has inspired people to create and make movies - there's simply no greater reward than that.<br /><br />I'm really glad you enjoyed the movie, and that it stuck around your brain for a while after watching it. And you are no spaz, my friend, I dig what you're putting out!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-49643742762515933962012-07-31T10:08:53.256-04:002012-07-31T10:08:53.256-04:00Not at all, thanks for linking and writing about i...Not at all, thanks for linking and writing about it!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-48491013237779954752012-07-31T10:04:19.151-04:002012-07-31T10:04:19.151-04:00Hope you don't mind. I linked the image of Ear...Hope you don't mind. I linked the image of Earrings in this post to my monthly round-up post, which have my thoughts of it too.Andinahttp://www.inspired-ground.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-77040128182172060022012-07-31T09:43:23.731-04:002012-07-31T09:43:23.731-04:00Aww thanks Pat, I'm glad you enjoy the movie. ...Aww thanks Pat, I'm glad you enjoy the movie. "Captivated" is a word I haven't heard in a while, so cool! <br /><br />Thanks again, hope you are well!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-73376157167743948762012-07-31T09:42:32.615-04:002012-07-31T09:42:32.615-04:00Now now, you mustn't be afraid to dream a litt...Now now, you mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling. Haha.<br /><br />Andy, by now you know I hold your film opinion in very high stock, and this comment of yours was just... wow man, thank you for it. I am really, truly glad you enjoyed the film. That Radiohead song is an example of music influencing the movie, not the other way around. I shot the movie according to that song, knowing all well what scene I wanted to go with what bars from the track. I'm really glad people dig that sequence.<br /><br />And thanks for the compliments toward Catherine. That's definitely what I'm most proud of, that people are being so kind and thoughtful about her performance.<br /><br />Thanks again for this comment buddy!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-86791548752348899222012-07-31T09:37:47.893-04:002012-07-31T09:37:47.893-04:00Aww thanks Andina! I honestly hadn't thought a...Aww thanks Andina! I honestly hadn't thought about English subtitles, but if you'd think they would help, I just might do it!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-54169190997304973972012-07-31T05:37:42.074-04:002012-07-31T05:37:42.074-04:00I just realised I haven't commented on here ab...I just realised I haven't commented on here about your work, but as I said on Twitter - you are now one of the reasons why I want to become a filmmaker.<br /><br />Radiohead! I seriously love you for that song choice.<br /><br />This was on my mind for the rest of the day. Just the way you set up Chlo's life (which definitely reminded me of Shame) was so beautiful. Man, you did good!<br /><br />And I'm going to stop now, because I fear I'm going to spaz out on the exclamation marks. Well done, Alex, you are a real inspiration.Stevee Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284769251750574447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-6359052548494482442012-07-31T00:17:16.550-04:002012-07-31T00:17:16.550-04:00Haha, just realized I'm being unclear. I meant...Haha, just realized I'm being unclear. I meant English subtitles. I just finished it :) Wonderful, you definitely have a potential on film making! Before I know that you've been influenced by 'Shame', I thought the atmosphere was 'Shame'-like. So, well done!Andinahttp://www.inspired-ground.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-64934277376179067142012-07-30T22:57:34.622-04:002012-07-30T22:57:34.622-04:00Alex,
I was very "impressed" with your ...Alex,<br /><br />I was very "impressed" with your recent movie, Earring!!! I really enjoyed it, captivated me!! Keep following your dream!!<br />Best of Luck.<br /><br />Pat T.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com