Reviews of Hunter's Gold 47

• 
  Blair GOLD Project
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by dragontart on 12/29/2008
  I have to say I enjoyed this film, although as the headline implies, it did remind me of the Blair Witch Project. I thought the direction and camera work were good. The sound was of good quality and the music quite haunting. I enjoyed the recluse, you could tell the actor really put his all into the performance and did a good job of it too. The only downside was that he... I have to say I enjoyed this film, although as the headline implies, it did remind me of the Blair Witch Project.
  
  I thought the direction and camera work were good. The sound was of good quality and the music quite haunting. I enjoyed the recluse, you could tell the actor really put his all into the performance and did a good job of it too. The only downside was that he did look a little young to be a recluse. Maybe if he had better make up (liquid latex over stretched skin can make some really realistic wrinkles), but besides that still a good portrayal.
  
  Well done. read
• 
  The Searchers
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by **DELETED ACCOUNT** on 04/07/2007
  Pretty cool concept & short film. The story/premise may not seem that original, but all aspects of the production are executed very well, & help to make it seem so. This has real potential to be taken to a feature-length level if you decide to take that route (limited characters, solid premise, & good location). A very good accomplishment for a short. Would like to have more... Pretty cool concept & short film. The story/premise may not seem that original, but all aspects of the production are executed very well, & help to make it seem so. This has real potential to be taken to a feature-length level if you decide to take that route (limited characters, solid premise, & good location). A very good accomplishment for a short. Would like to have more backstory, and I think the lighting on the close-ups need to be better. Overall the acting is good, but at times the delivery of the dialogue seems a bit 'rehearsed'. The 'Recluse' should seem a bit older--I know this may seem cliche, but I felt he is too young for the story. Nice editing, & choice of music. Good job all around, & good luck. read
• 
  I appreciate the effort
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by wilburM on 02/28/2007
  I really do... and I am at the forefront of "work with whatever you have and get the film done". however, that requires making great choices at whatever budget level you're at. refining a script and choosing actors come to mind. the actor who's about to be murdered at the end does a decent job. the others mostly served in my viewing to break my suspension of disbelief... I really do... and I am at the forefront of "work with whatever you have and get the film done".
  
  however,
  
  that requires making great choices at whatever budget level you're at. refining a script and choosing actors come to mind. the actor who's about to be murdered at the end does a decent job. the others mostly served in my viewing to break my suspension of disbelief. you're in NY? for a student film you definitely could have gotten actors for free that would have blown your mind.
  
  the story has some moments, although the dialogue tends to sound like a pardoy of pre-1975 horror flicks with bad english accents (maybe that's your intention).
  
  in any case, I don't wish to be overly down on your work. I think you got it together and shot a narrative short that is better than at least a third of the entries for on the lot, for example. it's just that it could have been more and, I'm sure, with your apparent determination, it will be in the future.
  
  p.s.: the compression to something that looks and sounds great (even in widescreen) should be easy, even for 10 min. the key is using H.264 as the compression instead of mpeg4.
  
  for my 5 min film (which was HD), my compression settings in quicktime pro are: H.264, quality:HIgh, frame rate 15, 350x196, letterbox with audio: AAC, 44.1, stereo, 160kbps
  
  if you selected a smaller scale and reduced the audio to, say 96 or even 128kbps, you should be able to see a huge upgrade in quality of compression (and likely a huge upgrade in the reviews, since it was very hard to watch/listen in it present condition) for a file <15MB.
  
  good luck and good effort. read
• 
  Potential
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by SithRage on 01/24/2007
  Not really sure where this film was going. I realize it had to be cut down some, but the audience is given no background information about this "treasure" at all, and the entire film is spent in conversation. Action drives plot. Also, I don't really know what to make with the ease in which the hermit gives the location of the treasure after having put off disclosing this info... Not really sure where this film was going. I realize it had to be cut down some, but the audience is given no background information about this "treasure" at all, and the entire film is spent in conversation. Action drives plot. Also, I don't really know what to make with the ease in which the hermit gives the location of the treasure after having put off disclosing this info for so long. The actor who played the hermit was convincing, but the other main character was weak by comparison. Finally, in terms of framing, I would reccomend sticking to the close shots that you excel at, and avoid medium and long shots when possible, especially during such an intimate scene in the cabin. Good luck in your future shoots. read
• 
  review.
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by patrick thompson on 01/01/2007
  the only thing worse than 30 year olds playing teenagers (think 90210) is teenagers playing thirty year olds. sorry, but i lost interest in this film right away. great location and i can understand why you would want to film in such a building (and no graffitti - you got lucky). the production itself was not horrible (except for a couple of very dark shots of your actors that... the only thing worse than 30 year olds playing teenagers (think 90210) is teenagers playing thirty year olds. sorry, but i lost interest in this film right away. great location and i can understand why you would want to film in such a building (and no graffitti - you got lucky). the production itself was not horrible (except for a couple of very dark shots of your actors that seemed out of place). i think you have some very good shots and a keen sense of story. i would suggest that your next movie make better use of your age. a film by an 18 year old about 18 year old people would be much more intreasting than an idiana jones / old coot type of film. just a thought. read
• 
  Hunter
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by **DELETED ACCOUNT** on 11/15/2006
  You should be congratulated for your ambition here... for such a short film, you are trying to do a lot. But... I think that is your downfall. The dialogue is sloppy, the acting becomes sloppy, the camera work is sloppy, and the plot totally gets lost. I would focus on coming up with a short that says a lot more in fewer words. Pare it down. Really think about an economy... You should be congratulated for your ambition here... for such a short film, you are trying to do a lot. But... I think that is your downfall. The dialogue is sloppy, the acting becomes sloppy, the camera work is sloppy, and the plot totally gets lost. I would focus on coming up with a short that says a lot more in fewer words. Pare it down. Really think about an economy of words and an economy of shots. Find appropriate actors. There are a lot of shorts out there that say a lot more than this piece does, and they don't even have any dialogue!
  
  Hey, it's an alright start. Keep it up. read
• 
  Hunter's Gold
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by jdzone2001 on 10/20/2006
  I applaud you for all your hard work in creating your short film. I see a lot of talent here. I had a little problem with the casting of your recluse. I did not believe his acting or the choice he or you made with his voice. He seemed to young to be a recluse with rumors of gold. For one he seemed to being playing a an old man. And some of the interactions between the recluse... I applaud you for all your hard work in creating your short film. I see a lot of talent here. I had a little problem with the casting of your recluse. I did not believe his acting or the choice he or you made with his voice. He seemed to young to be a recluse with rumors of gold. For one he seemed to being playing a an old man. And some of the interactions between the recluse and the main character did not seem real. For instance, when the recluse would charge towards him and get in his face. The natural reaction would to defend or at the very least move back. Things like that took me out of the reality you were trying to create. Looking forward to your future works. Good luck. read
• 
  Surprised
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by Kip Whitaker on 10/03/2006
  I was surprised how well done this film was. I don't have much if anything bad to say about it. Mostly good camera work, good acting especially the Recluse. Good directing and many good images and lighting. I think it was very well done. Keep on making movies, have fun. Kip
• 
  Well Executed
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by richyreay on 09/07/2006
  I would be interested to see what was excised from this piece to fit the 10 minute limit, as it left me wondering exactly what was going on. On the whole this is a very well executed piece, visually and auraly, but at ten minutes I wasn't left with enough info as to what exactly was going down. As a young film maker you show an exceptional level of craft. The framing of the... I would be interested to see what was excised from this piece to fit the 10 minute limit, as it left me wondering exactly what was going on. On the whole this is a very well executed piece, visually and auraly, but at ten minutes I wasn't left with enough info as to what exactly was going down. As a young film maker you show an exceptional level of craft. The framing of the camera, the use of hand held shots was spot on, the music was a little over bearing towards the climax drowning out the dialogue, but I'll put that down to the compression you had to apply. From a script point of view the Recluse seemed a little too verbose and the performance, while perfect in a stage setting, is a little too over the top. Yes he talks in circles, yes he is insane, but try pulling the grandstanding back in future. Apart from that, this is an excellent example of short film making. Keep up the good work, and I wish you all the best luck for the future. A career begins here. read
• 
  Good
  A review of Hunter's Gold
  by mikeaskew4 on 04/12/2006
  Managed to get back to the point at the end. Couldn't believe "The Recluse" wasn't older though, and/or animated. His voice really stood out, but didn't match his look. In the production notes, Santiago says "I hope I didn't butcher it too badly." I didn't think so. From 14 minutes to 10, a pretty decent job. But it's still a little long...