JohnDoe
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John Doe’s Best Short Film of 2009 - Manifest Destiny by Darrell and Doug Waters
Manifest Destiny: The SciFi Classic to Come.
Found on Cinematical.com, the original source material is located on Vimeo.com
The intention today was to post a film review, until John Doe witnessed this!
Shocking, unflinching and tragic, the 3 ½ minute short film Manifest Destiny is a science-fiction/horror created by two Orange County filmmakers named Darrell and Doug Waters. Channelling the works of autuer like David Cronenberg and John Carpenter According to the Vimeo.com page where the video has been posted:
“Our inspiration for this short were movies like The Thing(1982), The Body Snatchers(1977), The Fly(1986), you know, 70's and 80's sci-fi/horror.”
Stunning in its simplicity, this is ingenious low budget filmmaking. It's use of available material should inspire D.I.Y. wannabes everywhere.
“The budget was quite small. We built the set in my garage and bought medical stuff from ebay.”
Shot using a Canon HV30 Darrell and Doug talk about frame speed:
“We actually shot it in 24p in TV mode 1/48, used JES deinterlacer, edited it in final cut express at 23.97 and exported it at 30 frames/sec. 24 frames/sec looked to jerky on export. Canon FD 1.8 50mm was the only lens we used. Thanks again to Jehu and his amazing JAG35pro!!!!”
Discussing the controlled Dolly shots, again from the Vimeo page the Waters boys say:
“ The dolly was a DIY made out of 2x4s, it ran on an track made out of sheet metal from Home Depot and wheels from Harbor Freight. Doug then built a Bluetooth wirelessly operated motor controller and wrote a program to operate the dolly. We then attached the motor to the dolly with a pipe strap and used a Dr. Scholls gel insert to dampen the vibration.”
The final result is professional looking cinematography ,a surgically chilling atmosphere and invocative sound design proving excellence is possible on the cheap. The prosthetic FX and medical props complete the illusion, providing a disturbing quotient to enhance suspense.
JD was staggered at his powerful response the final frames. Big Budget filmmakers aspire to resonate and affect an impact with their 90 plus minute feature running time. Here it is achieved in less than 5 minutes.
Mr Waters and Mr Waters plan on playing the festival game with their minor masterpiece and it’s sure to poke at some tender nerves. Destined to lead to movie execs cutting a development deal, this is an unforgettable calling card.
The footage has left JD shuddering in a corner, fragile and tender. Fearful of looking at humanity or the universe in the quite the same way. You have been warned, tempted and prodded, now decide….will you dare press play?
To my latest inspirations, Doug and Darrell, John Doe wishes you the best of luck.
MANIFEST DESTINY from Darrell and Doug Waters on Vimeo.
Horrorphile
Film & TV on DVD
I wrote this straight after watching it, so I was in a state of voyuerist euphoria. Sorry for overhyping it, but it really blew me away....pulled me in and spat me out. Plus you know me I'm excitable when I dig what i see
I was envious of what I saw and wished I had a hand in creating it.
SPOILERS
The idea of an Alien cesarean surgery, ripping the young from a living humanoid was so wrenching.
Horrorphile
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
So, I just spent the last several hours watching the mini series Taken that aired on TV a few years ago. (I have this thing about aliens)
I was about to go to bed but decided to pop online for a quick minute...saw this post, watched the video...it is now certain that I won't be going to sleep for a while. Thanks JD!
My heart is actually racing from watching that. The eye...jeez. Took my breath away. Thank you for sharing this.
Horrorphile
Film & TV on DVD
Glad to leave you with a mark that won't rub out anytime soon.
I'm an fan of alien conspiracy's too. Have you heard there (the Studios) is a remake of V screeing over here on cable TV? I haven't seen it because I love teh original too much.
Film & TV on DVD
I've got AM1200 bookmarked for a watch shortly, thanks for the tip. It's looks like something I'm going to groove on.
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
Did you watch Taken? I thought it was surprisingly good. I'm just getting ready to start watching The 4400.
I've been meaning to post a link to this post on my E.I. blog. You just keep posting things that fit in so well with the subject matter over there!
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
http://www.thefourthkind.net/
This one has me beside myself with excitement!
Film & TV on DVD
TAKEN was ok, not great...I preferred 4400 which still loses its way rather wuickly but is fun, light entertainment.
As for "The Fourth Kind" the premise sounds fun but with Milla Jovovich in it i can't get my hopes up. I like the documentary video style footage on the trailer but the rest looks rather trite. On positive note I do love Elias Koteas.
I will wait to hear your opinion on it before I go spend my cash in the cinema.
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
What's the problem with Milla?
Film & TV on DVD
Milla was good in Dazed and Confused, Kuffs, Chaplin and Dummy. She suits comedy roles ...as a serious actress though she over plays everything and the trailer for The Fourth Kind looks like the same. Not that her name alone scares me away, but after Joan of Arc (which I didn't hate) she seems to have been miscast beyond her limitations.
I totally agree that 4400 lost its way by season 3, that why it was fun in a "Heroes" before "Heroes" way..you know the whole "how would a real person behave when given super powers" thing.
TAKEN was a great idea that i thought never reached anywhere near it's potential but was still entertainintg in that same "light" way.
"Fire In The Sky" always had that made-for-TV vibe to me but still had some cool moments. I didn't hate it but again felt like a wasted opportunity to truly resonate.
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
Fire in the Sky scared the ever livin' out of me, but then I have this intense and irrational (or is it?) fear of abduction stories. I'm drawn to them like a bat to a moth to a flame but they terrify me. The actual abduction scenes in that movie were mad frightening!
But this short film, Manifest Destiny (bringin' it full circle) is so incredible I've shared it with so many people. I'm so glad you posted it!
Film & TV on DVD
I am addicted to conspiracy an abduction stories rather fervently too.
The abduction scene it self in Fire in the Sky was well executed...just what came before was all rather clumsy so there wasn't much i didn't already know by the time it happened, no surprises.....maybe that scene would have made a good short film too
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
I'll try and watch this when my pooter is working properly..
cheers
fog