Lucky enough to score free tickets to the local premier and Q&A session with Paul and the editor.
Best quote from Paul "movies are made in the making".
Best quote from the editor "Paul doesn't cover the scene much"
Paul makes movies for peanuts. He can do this because his talent and crew WANT to make the movie. He gets great performances from the talent because he doesn't shoot the scene from a zillion angles, one good take and that's all folks. The editor had also acted in many of Paul's movies, so he knew what Paul was about. I think this movie was about the first thing he's edited but it sure doesn't show, is there a clue there about editing being about skill not tools.
Salvation was shot in HD, not a single rack focus, that shallow DOF was missing but I was probably the only person in the audience who noted this and even then I kept getting distracted by the need to laugh at the hilarious script. The entire edit was cuts only, this could have been easily shot on XDCAM and edited in Vegas. The one and only FX used Vegas has. Maybe grading was done in a high end suite, maybe not, as nothing special was required.
The story?
Well it started with something Paul overheard on late night television. Over the years it stuck in his head and from that he developed a story and thence a script, he read the bible cover to cover many times to get just the right quotes, simply brilliant how they're used.
How much did it cost?
Assuming the cast and crew donated their time probably dog food was the biggest expense but you'll have to watch the movie to fathom that out.
Many might not agree with Paul's politics, this movie has a strong political bias underneath a carefully crafted layer of entertainment and some may be offended by some of the content. It is still a worthwhile watch if you want to see how a good movie can be be made for little money and a bucket load of talent. At no point does any of the technical stuff distract from the story. Sound is perfect, what should be in focus is in focus, exposure is correct. Nothing is attempted that cannot be done to perfection or just because they could, no heavy iron, no cranes or planes involved.
At the same time what the story needed to show to make it credible was done, some footage was shot in Vladivostok with 'found' talent.
Of course if this was a Hollywood production there would have been real violence, gun play, probably a car chase, lots of crane shots, big name talent and more explicit nudity. All of which would have only distracted from the story.
Bob.
Best quote from Paul "movies are made in the making".
Best quote from the editor "Paul doesn't cover the scene much"
Paul makes movies for peanuts. He can do this because his talent and crew WANT to make the movie. He gets great performances from the talent because he doesn't shoot the scene from a zillion angles, one good take and that's all folks. The editor had also acted in many of Paul's movies, so he knew what Paul was about. I think this movie was about the first thing he's edited but it sure doesn't show, is there a clue there about editing being about skill not tools.
Salvation was shot in HD, not a single rack focus, that shallow DOF was missing but I was probably the only person in the audience who noted this and even then I kept getting distracted by the need to laugh at the hilarious script. The entire edit was cuts only, this could have been easily shot on XDCAM and edited in Vegas. The one and only FX used Vegas has. Maybe grading was done in a high end suite, maybe not, as nothing special was required.
The story?
Well it started with something Paul overheard on late night television. Over the years it stuck in his head and from that he developed a story and thence a script, he read the bible cover to cover many times to get just the right quotes, simply brilliant how they're used.
How much did it cost?
Assuming the cast and crew donated their time probably dog food was the biggest expense but you'll have to watch the movie to fathom that out.
Many might not agree with Paul's politics, this movie has a strong political bias underneath a carefully crafted layer of entertainment and some may be offended by some of the content. It is still a worthwhile watch if you want to see how a good movie can be be made for little money and a bucket load of talent. At no point does any of the technical stuff distract from the story. Sound is perfect, what should be in focus is in focus, exposure is correct. Nothing is attempted that cannot be done to perfection or just because they could, no heavy iron, no cranes or planes involved.
At the same time what the story needed to show to make it credible was done, some footage was shot in Vladivostok with 'found' talent.
Of course if this was a Hollywood production there would have been real violence, gun play, probably a car chase, lots of crane shots, big name talent and more explicit nudity. All of which would have only distracted from the story.
Bob.