Looking for feedback, the preview for our DVD is up !!!

MUTTLEY wrote on 1/17/2003, 2:13 PM
Wow, this was a lotta work. =)

Some of you have read my posts in the past and helped me on my marry way with this project and for you guys, I can't thank you enough. For those who don't know me, in April of last year with no previous experience I decided to make a movie and bought a Canon XL1, eight months later I was making the final edits ... I have no idea how I did it. I have been a Dj at " Gentleman's Clubs " on and off for the last thirteen years or so and have been nothing less than annoyed at the movies , videos, and shows that do nothing to represent the industry that I have spent so much of my life in. They lacked personality, honesty, and sensuality, and realism. That was the purpose of this endeavor.

While the preview is actually the opening of the movie and features more of the " nude/naughty " the majority of the video is dialog from interviews and situations. I say this more as a disclaimer because what you may think it is after seeing the preview may be misguided. Its a whole lot more than what the preview may imply. We did have the opportunity to show it here at a theater and had a phenomenal turnout and response. Actually the day before we showed it the " TABC " ( Texas Alcohol And Beverage Commission ) called the theater and threatened their liquor license if they showed it. After a prescreening with the general manager it was shown. They are now talking about putting it in rotation and did not loose their license over its content.

Anyhow, here's the preview. Be warned it does contain nudity. From my participation in these boards it does seem that all who are members are adults and can look at it from a production/artistic standpoint. It was all edited with VV 3 and the opening song was actually made with Acid. The DVD, which were still working on getting pressed, was made with Ulead DVD Workshop. It has a 75 min running time plus additional outtakes and three galleries.

If ANYONE is offend or bothered by the content ( I don't imagine this would be so ) please post and I will remove the links. I assume that most here can handle it and see what all went into the making of.

Thanks again guys, I couldn't have done it without ya !!! =)

- Raymond J. Schlogel

ray@austin.rr.com

There are two versions, large and small, depending on your connect, hd speed etc.
The text below that is from the back of the dvd box.

http://www.dancersexposed.com/video/delarge.wmv
http://www.dancersexposed.com/video/desmall.wmv
__________________________________________________________________________________
"Dancers Exposed is a sexy, humorous, and provocative look into the
guarded private lives of topless dancers. From the glamour to the
decadence, from the stage to the dressing room, inside the club and out,
this film captures the essence, mood, and attitude of what has quickly
become one of America’s great male pastimes … the strip club.

Set in and around Austin Texas's premier "Gentleman's Club" (Sugar's
Uptown Cabaret), you are taken on an uncensored and fascinating journey
into the lives of ten feature performers. Through interviews, home
videos, and plenty of behind-the-scene footage, you get the rare
opportunity to witness almost every aspect of a dancer’s life. With no
stone left unturned, this sexy, sensual, and brutally honest
documentary, is truly a one of a kind."

Comments

rextilleon wrote on 1/17/2003, 2:25 PM
Man, that was hard on my eyes----It must have been a real burden to shoot---

Ron Lucas wrote on 1/17/2003, 5:10 PM
Raymond,

Very nice work. The video subjects and the quality of the video. :-)

I shoot with an XL1s, and was wondering if you could share a couple of things regarding your XL1 during the filming.

1 - Did you use Frame or Normal mode? Or both?
2 - In the darker settings, although there was lots of surrounding lights, what gain setting did you use most often?
3 - Do you use an onboard light? If so, which one?

The quality of the video was wonderful! Great job!

Ron
swarrine wrote on 1/17/2003, 8:50 PM
Hi Muttley-

In your message here you are promoting a "behind the scenes" story. Your trailer has nothing about a story at all. Good eye candy tho ;-0
MUTTLEY wrote on 1/18/2003, 12:03 AM
Ron, ALWAYS used " Frame " mode ... can't beat it. The gain was always a variable but most of the time in the darker it was maxed. I hear the XL1s does better in the dark than the XL1, mayhaps someday I'll be able to afford one. In the club for the stage stuff I did not use any lights other than the stage lights which were running in their various chase modes. In most of the shows/movies that I've seen with clubs/dancers they always seem to put most of the lights on solid and use other lighting on top of it. For me it always looks completely unnatural for anyone who's ever been to a club. Outside the club I used a Frezzi w/dimmer mounted on top and it was amazing. Never used it at max cuz it was to bright and drained the batteries WAY to fast.

Swarrine, sorry if ya missed it in my post but I said " While the preview is actually the opening of the movie and features more of the " nude/naughty " the majority of the video is dialog from interviews and situations. I say this more as a disclaimer because what you may think it is after seeing the preview may be misguided. Its a whole lot more than what the preview may imply. "

It was easier just to export the opening than go make a full blown commercial grabbing dialog etc. It's our thinking that while it is a documentary, guys like pretty gurls so may as well just give em a taste of that element.

Rex ... you have no idea. =P

- Raymond J. Schlogel

ray@austin.rr.com
Luxo wrote on 1/18/2003, 1:42 AM
For what it's worth, as a Boogie Nights fan, I'd too like to see a proper trailer of the real documentary, if you get around to it.
rique wrote on 1/18/2003, 4:52 AM
For someone with no previous experience you've made something on a par with HBO's latenight documentary programing. Very nice camerawork, editing, and scoring all around. Three questions: Did you use any kind of film-look process? Where does the "Darn, that's the end" sound clip come from? How did you manage to keep Snoop Dog out of the video? ;->

MUTTLEY wrote on 1/18/2003, 1:04 PM
lol

I'll work on a more descript trailer soon as I got some time ta do so and post it here, may take a few though.

The " film look " was straight off the Canon XL1. There are a few segments off of other DV cams that don't have the same look. Two of the girls took those cams home for the night and were allowed to do whatever they wanted. Those parts look like home video with a " Cribs " flair. While they look more " home video " I kinda wanted to keep it looking that way. The " Darn that's the end " is a sample from " School House Rock ". And as for Snoop, I think he was chillin at his shnizzle with his bizzle.

- Ray

ray@austin.rr.com
rique wrote on 1/18/2003, 1:20 PM
That explains it. The one cam the girl was holding up to the mirror looked like a single chip model and I'm guesing it doesn't have progressive mode. Beware Snoop Dog. I'm sure he'll try to sneak his way into volume 2 after he gets done with Girls Gone Wild.
starixiom wrote on 1/18/2003, 5:22 PM
Wow, that is pretty impressive!! I would say that it rivals the quality of many cable tv shows. As a trailer, i might want to imply that there is more to the movie than just girls dancing. You said there are interviews. I would try to include a short clip of one of the girls giving an interview. However I do understand that marketability plays an important role as well.

Overall the flow of scenes is right on. Music is decent. And the girls......well you are a lucky man.

Question: I know you did the opening track but what about the other music? Was it hard to clear the tracks to use in this documentary?
MUTTLEY wrote on 1/18/2003, 5:45 PM
Lucky for me I live in Austin, the self proclaimed " Music capitol of the world " and there is a huge source of local talent here. Pair that with the fact that I'm a Dj at a strip club and, well, musicians seem to like those places. Quite a few dancers date musicians, and both tend to bring me music wanting me to play it at the club. Gotta say that I'm extremely happy with the soundtrack. It was my opinion from early on that many independent films are cursed with bad music, didn't want to fall victim to that.

Thanks buddy;

Raymond J. Schlogel

ray@austin.rr.com