Holding Back

Comments

• Simon Birks (Filmmaker!) 3 years ago
  
  Hi all, thanks for your great comments. Just wanted to give my own feedback on the piece. I understand what you're saying when you mention it could be shorter, but in a way the idea was seeing 10mins of this man's life. And I'm not sure about anyone else, but the average 10mins of my life isn't so action packed... It's a slow burner, an unravelling of why he's there. I do suffer from back pain a lot, so I can honestly say I know how he feels not to be able to move - and if you stay in one position, it doesn't hurt... Also, the idea was that he was hooked up to these cameras which were all different. He's just an average Joe, doing what he can with the technology he has to hand (yeah, a lot like I was doing with the film!) - but that was the point. A polished HD film with fantastic lighting, sound and camera wouldn't have been what I wanted - authentic. Thanks again for all the feedback. Next time I film, it'll be with all your comments in mind! Simon
  
• Jason Hendriksen 3 years ago
  
  A very original piece - I personally quite liked the multiple angles which jumped between 16:9 and 4:3 frame sizes - adds to the authenicity of the 'webcast'. Pretty accomplished acting skills too, though I do think it could be shortened as per previous comments. Well done!
  
• Allan McKenna 3 years ago
  
  Good god am I agreeing with Ben Blaine? Gutsy idea doing it all himself but difficult not to be boring for nine minutes. Afraid I had to go and make a cup of coffee.
  Allan McKenna
  
• Norman Revill 3 years ago
  
  Agree with Ben, that the cutaways distract. Not sure that I get the 'plot'. But yeah, it's a great idea, very original, and Simon, you're a very empathetic actor. Maybe a few more spasms would help? And make more of the end. Good luck
  
• Timandra Harkness 3 years ago
  
  Agree it could be shorter, but I liked the fact that his plan only emerges later, with hints from early on. Because of the story the low-tech doesn't intrude too much. You say a lot with very little.
  
• Andy Conway 3 years ago
  
  I really liked it, but I'd agree with some of Ben's comments. The plan to kill himself could be up front a bit more as I was confused as to what was happening for quite a while. I thought it become more intense the longer it went on. Reminded me of Beckett, and that's one of the highest compliments I can give.
  
• Ben Blaine 3 years ago
  
  I think this is a really nice idea but you can do it faster. Did I miss his plan to kill himself? I only got that from reading the synopsis... also I think it'd be better if it was all from the one webcam angle, the cutaways distract from the verite idea... but it's a great idea... and hey, you could recut it... I mean, hey, with these production values you could rewrite it and reshoot and you'd have a little diamond... best of luck.
  

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