OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

Highlander: The Watcher

POSTED BY: STORYMARK
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 20:39
SHORT URL: http://bit.ly/rdlMf2
VIEWED: 3952
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011 7:05 AM

STORYMARK


I've mentioned it in other threads in the past, but I am writing and directing a little micro-series of four short films, spun-off from the Highlander TV series. These are being made to be included as special features on the Blu Ray release of the series.

So, for any who might be interested, I present the first trailer for Highlander: The Watcher:






You can also check us out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/highlanderthewatcher

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011 12:53 PM

LWAVES


I am going to be as honest as I can be.

I'm usually not bothered by most fan made films because of their inevitable drawbacks that (unfortunately) can't really be avoided. Usually budget, acting ability, FX and poor dialogue/lines.
I can make allowances for these factors when watching fan made films as long as the 'whole' works. If it doesn't then I find them hard to watch and it puts me off them for awhile.

As this is only a trailer there isn't enough to go on to properly comment on acting ability or the script. The FX seemed reasonably decent although again there isn't enough to go on.
What I do like are the sword fight scenes. They look good from the clips and seem well choreographed without settling into the usual routine of two people just clashing the sides of their swords together. Hopefully they will look even better in full and as the other episodes appear.
What I really like though is the concept. The idea that these immortals have been chopping off heads for centuries and a group of people (descendants??) have figured this out and are putting it on record is a great idea. In a good way, it reminds me of a Doctor Who episode where a group of people who had crossed paths with the Doctor got together to share their experiences and eventually try and find him. It's a neat idea for a Highlander spin off that adds an outsiders POV to the events.

If I have one real complaint it's about the look of the characters. This is something that I've noticed afflicts a lot of fan made films (lower budget films and TV as well) and I'm sure it's just a case of being down to the people you know (and budget again).
In your trailer you have a man a long leather coat, followed by another with a black leather jacket. Then a long(??) black coat with shades (Neo wannabe??). The man who is beheaded (with little kid watching) is wearing a black coat and is killed by a man in black. Etc etc.
I'm not saying this to be harsh to the actual actors but they all look like stereotype rock/heavy metal fans, especially with their haircuts/beards. Is it possible for you to shake up the wardrobe a little and add some other colours and clothing styles in there for the future episodes. One of the things I liked about the original Highlander movie was that each immortal had their own style as they were from all over the world. Yours all look like they would have met at the same concert.
As I said I don't mean this in a harsh way but I've seen that style of clothing so many times in fan made and bigger budget movies that it does get a bit repetitive and tiresome.

Overall I like what you have there but it leaves me with a question regarding the episode releases.
I never got into the series so I won't be buying the blu-rays. Do you plan on releasing the episodes anywhere else. Maybe after all four parts are finished and sales have died down because I would like to see them all in full.

Hope the other parts go okay and show us more trailers as you progress. Please.



"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011 4:01 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


That's so cool that you get to do this Storymark. I really like just about any show or movie about immortals, especially Highlander, it was the best, except for no. 2 and no. 5 movies, I pretend those don't exist, as do all other fans I know of. :)

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011 5:31 PM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by lwaves:
I am going to be as honest as I can be.

I'm usually not bothered by most fan made films because of their inevitable drawbacks that (unfortunately) can't really be avoided. Usually budget, acting ability, FX and poor dialogue/lines.
I can make allowances for these factors when watching fan made films as long as the 'whole' works. If it doesn't then I find them hard to watch and it puts me off them for awhile.

As this is only a trailer there isn't enough to go on to properly comment on acting ability or the script. The FX seemed reasonably decent although again there isn't enough to go on.
What I do like are the sword fight scenes. They look good from the clips and seem well choreographed without settling into the usual routine of two people just clashing the sides of their swords together. Hopefully they will look even better in full and as the other episodes appear.
What I really like though is the concept. The idea that these immortals have been chopping off heads for centuries and a group of people (descendants??) have figured this out and are putting it on record is a great idea. In a good way, it reminds me of a Doctor Who episode where a group of people who had crossed paths with the Doctor got together to share their experiences and eventually try and find him. It's a neat idea for a Highlander spin off that adds an outsiders POV to the events.

If I have one real complaint it's about the look of the characters. This is something that I've noticed afflicts a lot of fan made films (lower budget films and TV as well) and I'm sure it's just a case of being down to the people you know (and budget again).
In your trailer you have a man a long leather coat, followed by another with a black leather jacket. Then a long(??) black coat with shades (Neo wannabe??). The man who is beheaded (with little kid watching) is wearing a black coat and is killed by a man in black. Etc etc.
I'm not saying this to be harsh to the actual actors but they all look like stereotype rock/heavy metal fans, especially with their haircuts/beards. Is it possible for you to shake up the wardrobe a little and add some other colours and clothing styles in there for the future episodes. One of the things I liked about the original Highlander movie was that each immortal had their own style as they were from all over the world. Yours all look like they would have met at the same concert.
As I said I don't mean this in a harsh way but I've seen that style of clothing so many times in fan made and bigger budget movies that it does get a bit repetitive and tiresome.

Overall I like what you have there but it leaves me with a question regarding the episode releases.
I never got into the series so I won't be buying the blu-rays. Do you plan on releasing the episodes anywhere else. Maybe after all four parts are finished and sales have died down because I would like to see them all in full.

Hope the other parts go okay and show us more trailers as you progress. Please.



"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall



Thanks.

I agree 100% with your criticism regarding the costumes and look of the characters. Some of it is, as you say, a matter of time, money, and people available. Some of it was my not putting enough thought into these areas. So, that's something I am going to work on for the remaining 2 episodes.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011 8:39 PM

THESOMNAMBULIST


Firstly I have to say well done for getting this made. Aside from everything else these things are incredibly difficult to put together from just a logistical point of view - so congratulations for that and well done for the endeavour.

Secondly I have to echo Lwaves' remark about the concept. It's a great idea for a series and I like it a lot. It's very strong and has great potential. Best of luck with it.

Now in terms of the hard criticism, well I think again Lwaves nailed it. The characters do feel like they all shop from the same clothes store. Which is a pity. But y'know you're on a tight budget I'm sure, so it's understandable.

The only other thing is that it looks like it's all been shot in the same location and that everything is occuring in one block. This again may be because it's just the trailer and there's not enough in that to understand the full scope of what's going on. So things can suffer as a consequence. Similarly the dialogue comes off a little wooden and generic for these kinds of things, but when taken out of context as they inevitably are in a trailer, they can tend to feel a bit basic, so maybe take this remark with a pinch of salt.

Regardless I'd love to see more and indeed the whole thing when you're done. The concept is really rather good and for that you should be applauded.

Nice camera angles and I like the ascending shots while the sword fights are taking place.



Cartoons - http://cirqusartsandmusic.blogspot.com

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