Reviews of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes) 47

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  Plusses and Minuses
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by Daniel Silk on 10/16/2009
  Just watched your short film. Not bad. I liked the punchy ending, the voice-overs and the recurring scene with the woman in peril as a car races for her (lol why do they always have this scene in movies). I also thought the performaces were OK, if unexceptional. I don't think you pushed the comedy far enough. I'm not saying to go the route of broad humor, slapstick etc. I'm... Just watched your short film. Not bad. I liked the punchy ending, the voice-overs and the recurring scene with the woman in peril as a car races for her (lol why do they always have this scene in movies). I also thought the performaces were OK, if unexceptional.
  
  I don't think you pushed the comedy far enough. I'm not saying to go the route of broad humor, slapstick etc. I'm saying that you need to milk the laughs for all they're worth. For example, the scene where you have the car racing towards the woman. Cut it so that you over-exaggerate the shots ie. shot on car careening towards lady, shot on lady scared shitless, shot on protag racing to saving her -- repeat these shots a number of times before the girl eventually gets saved. It could be a funny way to satirize how actions sequences are so absurdly of over cut (eg. The explosion in Speed is shot from about ten different angles and you see ALL of them).
  
  One other thing, I'd try to cut most of your shots two or three seconds earlier. It's the difference between something that looks like a student film and something that's professional. The action ends, but the camera continues rolling for a surplus few seconds which often creates the unwanted effect of a home movie.
  
  The sound (sans voice-over) is often muffled and difficult to hear. When it is clear, the difference in sound levels between the voice-over and the dialogue is often jarring.
  
  The cinematography shows what it needs to, but, to be perfectly honest is a little dull and uninspired. Same for the lighting (alternates between murky and over-exposed).
  
  All in all, a lot of improvement needed here but definately not without its merits.
  
  Good luck with future projects. read
• 
  Pretty Funny
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by micmacmoviemaker on 04/09/2006
  This was a smart and funny short film, though at times seemed to drag just a little. There were several parts where I laughed out loud and that's always a good sign. I especially liked the "bad" acting of the Fisher's Bay show characters, where they played up the melodrama perfect. The ending wrapped this up quite nicely. Well done. Thanks for uploading. Peter
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  Fishy
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by elmerlang on 03/02/2006
  I thought this was a pretty neat movie. The tv show actors were pretty hilarious and the little cut-ins were well scripted. The script in toto was pretty well written and the lead was appealing though occasionally off-putting which I thought was cool too. It was very nicely shot and edited. Good job, good luck.
• 
  Fisher's Bay
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by ravnoss on 09/26/2005
  Well I must say I liked the idea, it was clever to say the least. Unfortunately I began to lose interest right away. I don't think it was your fault, but for the introduction of the main character, I couldn't see anything, it was so dark. It really made me lose interest, but I held on. The story was funny at times, hilarity is a strong word to use, but I did giggle a few times... Well I must say I liked the idea, it was clever to say the least. Unfortunately I began to lose interest right away. I don't think it was your fault, but for the introduction of the main character, I couldn't see anything, it was so dark. It really made me lose interest, but I held on.
  The story was funny at times, hilarity is a strong word to use, but I did giggle a few times out loud. The camera work was okay, I liked the way the TV show and reality had two different looks, but reality was so dark at times. I just wish you could have shot the Show on a camera with more of a film look, not sure if you used the same camera for both, but the TV part was too washed out, it looked like home video. The cheezy over the top dialog from the Show was funny though, the freezeframe gag worked. The newscast looked too much like you shot it in your bedroom, the over the shoulder was nice, but not enough.
  Overall it was a nice little short, the ending was a bit predictable, but I wasn't expecting that last line, that was funny.
  Good job, keep it up. read
• 
  satirical melodrama with worthwhile moments
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by pmsmith on 09/20/2005
  I was amused at this short and thought Jeff Sutter had an amiable presence and brought the necessary degree of naivete to his character. The production quality seemed bare, as if the minimal amount of time was put into to art direction to setup a joke, but that's the nature of low budget filmmaking, and is forgivable. My suggestion with comedic material such as this would be... I was amused at this short and thought Jeff Sutter had an amiable presence and brought the necessary degree of naivete to his character. The production quality seemed bare, as if the minimal amount of time was put into to art direction to setup a joke, but that's the nature of low budget filmmaking, and is forgivable. My suggestion with comedic material such as this would be to more strongly delineate the difference between reality and the television soap opera with different cinematic looks, and writing styles so that the real life scenes don't seem so melodramatic. If VO or a score have to be employed to tie everything together, perhaps take a cue shows that successfully use them sparingly - like Arrested Development. Best of luck with your future endeavors. read
• 
  funny
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by mgodinez on 09/06/2005
  wow thats pretty funny . I bet there are thousands of young teens out there mimmicking shows like one tree hill or the"O.C" or at least trying to. That was a pretty good concept and it was well wrtten and shot to. I give Rob Baniewicz kudos . And i give the overall performance of the cast and crew a A- as well as the movie itself it's one of the best I have seen on Triggerstreet... wow thats pretty funny . I bet there are thousands of young teens out there mimmicking shows like one tree hill or the"O.C" or at least trying to. That was a pretty good concept and it was well wrtten and shot to. I give Rob Baniewicz kudos . And i give the overall performance of the cast and crew a A- as well as the movie itself it's one of the best I have seen on Triggerstreet. read
• 
  Funny Stuff!
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by Retrogirl8 on 06/05/2005
  First of all, I am very sorry for your audio problems because I really enjoyed your film. I am a closet Dawson's Creek fan, and this short really made me laugh. I liked the main character's arch from believing the show was reality to realizing it wasn't at the most inopportune time. Its hilarious. I didn't notice any continuity errors either. You did a great job putting... First of all, I am very sorry for your audio problems because I really enjoyed your film. I am a closet Dawson's Creek fan, and this short really made me laugh. I liked the main character's arch from believing the show was reality to realizing it wasn't at the most inopportune time. Its hilarious.
  
  I didn't notice any continuity errors either. You did a great job putting this piece together - I especially loved how his attempts to mimic the show's plot in his life were shot exactly the same as the show itself. It brought out the rediculousness of what he was doing. Forcing that girl to have an on-again off-again relationship! I thought it was great.
  
  It was shot simply, which I really liked. It made the film seem more real, like a slice of life piece. I quickly became immersed in the life of Dave Fisher, and at no time was I jerked out of his fantasy world.
  
  Towards the end of the short, the plot seemed rushed a bit. You spent so much time establishing the character and his obsession, but his 180 turn to not being obsessed came a little to easy. I think a bit more on this might make your film the best it could be.
  
  Keep up the good work. This was a funny movie that told a story from start to finish with no holes - the audience was not left in the dark about anything. I really enjoyed it and look forward to seeing more work in the future from you. Thank you. read
• 
  Fishing
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by matteo prezioso on 04/17/2005
  Ok, what we got here. Not sure. Let's explain. No, let's try, at least. Fact is, I was left confused by a story which at times I found difficult to follow. It is possible one of the reasons I couldn't play my hear around was because of an overwhelming, overbearing music whose constant presence resembled more of a harassment than anything else. Well, that was the way I saw... Ok, what we got here. Not sure. Let's explain. No, let's try, at least.
  
  Fact is, I was left confused by a story which at times I found difficult to follow. It is possible one of the reasons I couldn't play my hear around was because of an overwhelming, overbearing music whose constant presence resembled more of a harassment than anything else. Well, that was the way I saw it. Heard it, actually.
  
  Technically, the camera job was good and so was the editing. Sound (music aside) was always good and I quite liked that. Sound-fxs were well balanced, too. Un fortunately, the interior lighting was, well, none. It was just too dark ans It was difficult to follow the action because of that. Ok, the sound was good and that helped. Nevertheless interior lighting should have been addressed differently.
  
  Finally, I am not absolutely sure ALL the music you used in your short was copyright-free. I appreciate you mentioned something in the end credits re: music but yet again there is a possibility some of the music used has not been cleared of its rights.
  
  Interesting short, yours. Left me a bit puzzled but hey, isn't life confusing, too? All the best and best of luck. read
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  Soap Opera fanatic
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by SeaMowse on 04/04/2005
  I enjoyed your short. I think it was well writing. True, very true - there were issues with the sound, but let me first do the review before I address your audio. Camerawork - pretty good. shots looked nicely composited. There was a small issue with color balancing regarding the scene when our main character was watching TV. The TV show itself was well done. Edits looked... I enjoyed your short. I think it was well writing. True, very true - there were issues with the sound, but let me first do the review before I address your audio.
  
  Camerawork - pretty good. shots looked nicely composited. There was a small issue with color balancing regarding the scene when our main character was watching TV. The TV show itself was well done. Edits looked nice. One small recommendation - please vacuum your carpet before you shoot a movie inside your house. The floor looked quite in need of it. There is another short here on TS where I chewed the filmmaker out for the exact same thing - I even caught a glimpse his vacuum in the film! He e-mailed me back to tell me his vacuum was broken.
  
  Audio/Music - yes, audio was an issue. But some of it seemed to work. It seemed to me that the voiceover (which was nice) was telling us a story and going over scenes of his life, so, at least for me, if I hadn't read too much into your production notes, it worked for me BUT your dubbing was way off - it reminded me of the Japanese movies I've seen from time to time. Music was nice.
  
  Acting - fairly decent. The soap opera scenes seemed staged, as I believe they were supposed to be.
  
  All in all, a funny story. Better audio could make this short even better than I already think it is. Thanks for the view! read
• 
  Nice Concept, But Didn't Execute Well
  A review of Fisher's Bay (Read Production Notes)
  by aplusj on 03/17/2005
  I really like the idea behind the story and I believe if the script was given to an editor it could become a stronger script that is funnier. For the scenes of Fisher's Bay you should have used an effect, like mist or soften, like they use on the soaps to differentiate the two stories. They looked too much alike. The cinematography was a little on the weak side and you're... I really like the idea behind the story and I believe if the script was given to an editor it could become a stronger script that is funnier.
  
  For the scenes of Fisher's Bay you should have used an effect, like mist or soften, like they use on the soaps to differentiate the two stories. They looked too much alike.
  
  The cinematography was a little on the weak side and you're right about the sound. The ending should have been rethought. Why does he just walk back inside? It made no sense. read