Devoid - ID# 124
Maine South
Movie Trailer
Entry Description
Past mistakes continue to haunt David, as they reveal a startling secret, in the upcoming film, DEVOID.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/24 11:15 am - POSITIVES: Very strong opening with great shot variety and low directional lighting that sets the tone. The transitions between the regular knife & the chef's knife are a great addition that also adds tension. Great ease-in from :55-1:05 that takes us even further inside the protagonist's mind. Excellent camera work, composition & camera angles. The audio filter on the final voiceover phrase locks it in! The trailer sets the stage for the story very well, with enough teaser elements that make the viewer want to see the whole story.
Judge 1
Positives: The trailer for "Devoid" clearly displays Editorial skill and creativity. The way that the filmmaker utilizes digital noise to cut to different variations of a shot or scene is impressive (as well as timing, like the cut after the lead character throws his blanket to cover up the camera). Use of sound effects to enhance the edit is excellent – and overall, this is a great tease for a thriller concept.
Improvements: At first watch, I'm not sure that the tone of the voiceover talent matches the lead character – but in the end it works, because the voice is meant to be an "alternate personality." Though the DEVOID typeface at the end of the teaser looks cool, perhaps it could better match the aesthetic and "grit" of the trailer?
Judge 2
Positives: I legitimately did not see that coming. That was fantastic. Great use of effects in your editing. Excellent job with casting. Having an adult was key. And the star was convincing. Great soundtrack.
Improvements: I think it could have been better with less. Less dialogue, less explanation. I feel like a lot of the mystery was revealed and I don't think you needed to do that for mass effectiveness.
Judge 3
Positives: Very impressive trailer! This grabbed my attention for the first shot. The cinematography (including color) is extremely well crafted. The lighting in most of your shots supports the mood of your piece. The ratio of highlights to shadows creates a foreboding feeling. Refer to the opening shot for that. The editing/pacing contributes to the emotional struggle David is experiencing. The cut away to the shoe at about 10 seconds is brilliant. The shot is well-composed. It also shows the tension David is experiencing.
Improvements: I don't have a lot of input on things that could be better. There is a shot at about 28 seconds when David sits up in bed that could have used a different lighting scheme. It's dark and muddy and very different than the rest of the shots. If you just added a little bit of lighting to David's face it would make a huge difference. Think about contrast levels when setting up shots like these. Even though the frame is dark there should be some highlighted areas.
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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