The Showdown: Part Two

Completed: December 5, 2004

Synopsis

Payback is a bitch. With a fast car. And a gun.

After seeing her boyfriend slain, Julie gets out the big guns to deal with Axe Man Boyd. But Boyd has Steve up his sleave, the heavy that knows Kung Fu.

Boyd's got the matrix moves, Julie's got wings and Steve's got RedBull. How will it end, nobody knows!

Kill Bill homage/rip off!

Background

The shooting plan all laid out, the fight sequence planned (okay, made up during the day). The weather looks good (well, not raining) and all the crew are up for a good time.

Showdown: Part Two is supposed to be a follow up film to the Axe Showdown - which was made over about half an hour off the cuff just for fun. This time around, we're trying special effects, adding some locations and we even have a sports car. We're trying rip off any decent spoofable ideas out there, but the fact that I've never done green screen work before might just land us in a plate of badly organised pooh. It could be that bad.

The actual filming took us all day (from 9am to 4pm) on Saturday and most of the day on Sunday (9-4 again) - and I've only got to get one more shot (the overhead map ones). I've started editing and there's some small problems, like not all the green vanishes. If it looks crap - the viewer's going to have to use their imagination.

The 'guys' are preying for talking roles next time - something along the lines of 'Long Walks in the Bahamas'!

All the music, sound and editing complete (in around 8 hours spread over the last week), I've got myself the 7th finished film lasting 3 1/2 minutes - about 2 1/2 minutes too long for the BBC web site that I had initially wanted to make this for...hmmm...me thinks either it's never going to get there or a lot of footage is going to hit the cutting room floor!

Some of the things I learnt from this film:

- Cue the action a good 30 seconds before shooting.
- Make sure your green screen is flat and has constant light across it.
- Storyboard *do* make it easier to edit.
- Fight scenes need planning.
- If you're not happy with a shot - keep doing it until you are.
- Double double check the edge of the frame to make sure you're not in your own film.
- Try to keep your crew happy!

Cast & Crew

Axe Man: Andy Boyd
Gun Girl: Julie Sharp
Henchman: Stephen Arundel

Directed by: Remy Sharp

A Sharp Focus Film Selection