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A short film, shot on Sony PD-150. About a depressed man trying to sort out the pieces of his failed relationship. Starring Jess Ader. With music by Jeff Surak, as well as Aaron Lennox. Visit Jeff Surak's website at www.zeromoon.com
A few years ago this film would have been called "Routine." It started as collaboration between a good friend of mine named Dann Miller. He is one fourth of the badass Houston based band, Jon Benet (www.jonbenetband.com.) That was in Texas, I live in Wisconsin now, and I developed new ideas for the film on my own. But I still thank Dann very much for giving me the idea for this movie. Although this does not represent the work I hoped to create with Dann, I think it is a fitting rendition. I plan to remake this film a few more times until I get it completely right. Hopefully I will have the chance to work with Dann and Jess on the future versions of this film. Jess Ader did a wonderful job acting in my film, although he has never acted before this. He captured the character perfectly. This was meant only as an experimental effort. That is why there are many weak areas. Plus, I was working on no budget at all; we spent absolutely no money on this film. And the people who helped me were nonprofessionals, like me. But I think it was a good experiment, and the results made me happy. Also, very special thanks goes to Jeff Surak for letting me use unlimited amounts of his gorgeous music. Also thank you to Aaron Lennox for the use of his music which can be heard during the lighthouse scene. Thanks for watching.
A few years ago this film would have been called "Routine." It started as collaboration between a good friend of mine named Dann Miller. He is one fourth of the badass Houston based band, Jon Benet (www.jonbenetband.com.) That was in Texas, I live in Wisconsin now, and I developed new ideas for the film on my own. But I still thank Dann very much for giving me the idea for this movie. Although this does not represent the work I hoped to create with Dann, I think it is a fitting rendition. I plan to remake this film a few more times until I get it completely right. Hopefully I will have the chance to work with Dann and Jess on the future versions of this film. Jess Ader did a wonderful job acting in my film, although he has never acted before this. He captured the character perfectly. This was meant only as an experimental effort. That is why there are many weak areas. Plus, I was working on no budget at all; we spent absolutely no money on this film. And the people who helped me were nonprofessionals, like me. But I think it was a good experiment, and the results made me happy. Also, very special thanks goes to Jeff Surak for letting me use unlimited amounts of his gorgeous music. Also thank you to Aaron Lennox for the use of his music which can be heard during the lighthouse scene. Thanks for watching.
Credits
Starring:
Jess Ader and Lindsay Hergert
Co-director: Jess Ader
Written and Directed By: Anthony Lopez
Music by: Jeff Surak. Aaron Lennox.
Original Concept By: Dann Miller
Written and Directed By: Anthony Lopez
Reviews
Reviewer:
mrkalhagen
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 10, 2005
Subject: UW-FOX VALLEY STUDENTS SHOWS TALENT
Subject: UW-FOX VALLEY STUDENTS SHOWS TALENT
The Gray Man, with all its complexities and abstruseness, is actually a simple love story, albeit unconventional. We are treated to a "Labyrinth Romance" from the visionary minds of Anthony Lopez and Jess Ader, both former students of the burgeoning UW-Fox Valley film department. Given the simple means by which this film was shot, the cinematography is something to behold. The beautiful black and white photography is juxtaposed with a stark and foreboding subject matter, only to have questions left unanswered. A commendable first film on all counts. - Jeff
Reviewer:
tambora
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 28, 2004
Subject: Experimental?
Subject: Experimental?
Yes, experimental is the word of the day for this film... or is it? It occurs to me that the hallmarks of low-budget, or rather, no-budget, so-called "experimental" film are all present here. Extreme close-ups, minimal wordless acting, vague or nonexistent plot, great but sometimes excessive editing, pretentious religious references, slow credits, depression, violence, blood, sex, and suicide.
I've seen it all before. However, the fact that this film broke no new ground doesn't make it a bad one.
A sad, solitary character suffers through black and white days, dreaming of the sex he used to have and remembering archetypal images of fluids that might be from sex or death. Either way, these specters recur in his mind's eye, all while his ear is hearing whispers and groans from his lost lover. As the three hours pass, he visits a lighthouse, which may or may not be a phallic symbol (the artistic part is that you'll never know for sure). The end is not a surprise; unhappy endings are always inevitable in this genre, so he hangs himself.
The best part was the opening credits sequence, which featured wonderful editing, and the cross-fading shadows near the lighthouse were also well-done. A perplexing feature was how time was denoted in the film. While a clock seemed to suggest it was linear, dreamlike sequences and reversals and repeatings of time seem to betray what the clock is saying.
If you aren't into arty movies, you won't get it, and you won't like it. Plain and simple. If you like arty movies, this is a fine addition to the genre, and I applaud the filmmakers for it.
And one more P.S. for the administrators, please combine this page with the WMV version page, since it's the same film.
I've seen it all before. However, the fact that this film broke no new ground doesn't make it a bad one.
A sad, solitary character suffers through black and white days, dreaming of the sex he used to have and remembering archetypal images of fluids that might be from sex or death. Either way, these specters recur in his mind's eye, all while his ear is hearing whispers and groans from his lost lover. As the three hours pass, he visits a lighthouse, which may or may not be a phallic symbol (the artistic part is that you'll never know for sure). The end is not a surprise; unhappy endings are always inevitable in this genre, so he hangs himself.
The best part was the opening credits sequence, which featured wonderful editing, and the cross-fading shadows near the lighthouse were also well-done. A perplexing feature was how time was denoted in the film. While a clock seemed to suggest it was linear, dreamlike sequences and reversals and repeatings of time seem to betray what the clock is saying.
If you aren't into arty movies, you won't get it, and you won't like it. Plain and simple. If you like arty movies, this is a fine addition to the genre, and I applaud the filmmakers for it.
And one more P.S. for the administrators, please combine this page with the WMV version page, since it's the same film.
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