Comments Made During the Contest

Andrew Zhou (Level 3)

Yeah, I didnt even get the feeling that the needle pierced her skin.
That could've easily been shown. Have the needle pushing at her skin, then a closeup of her eyes getting bigger. Done.

Well...I'm guessing the drug is suppose to help you forget memories or something? So it was a success? Okay...

I think your sound, video, and acting qualities were all very good. It was just some camera work that could be done, but mostly the story. I felt itwas rather incomplete. So she forgets everything, then realizes that he's her husband. No conflict has been resolved yet.

And the flashback. If it's a flashback, what triggered it? In the original script, she sees her nametag. In the film, it's like it occured out of nowhere. Remember the protaganist does things to create response. THings do no just happen to them.

Audrey Webb (Level 5)

This has a very professional look to it and is well filmed from a technical perspective. The ending left me with a very "so what" feeling; I feel the departure from the original script was detrimental to the over all outcome of the project, primarily because the film version lacks the twist, which is that the experiment had been felt to be a success. Without that, the story is much flatter.

Ayal Pinkus (Level 5)

Great job!

Acting was really superb, the actors did an amazing job.

Lighting did an amazing job of suggesting mood, with the cool white light coming from above. It gave it an almost religious, holy feel.

The setup was great, the distance between the characters was so great, the man even had gloves on and a mask. He was cool, rational, calculating, the woman emotional.

Staging; having the character with power tower over the one with less power, was used effectively.

Good camera compositions, good use of foreground and background, depth of view, all done very effectively.

The flashback wasn't clear to me, it wasn't clear that we had moved to the past.

The movie did leave some loose ends; why did they need a test subject so badly that she was willing to offer herself? Did they know beforehand that this could happen?

The ending certainly grabbed me by the throat! The idea that that woman would never again be able to recognize her husband...

Again, really great job!!!

Bill Clar (Level 5)

Lighting: Fantastic. I can't see the walls or background and that intrigues. I want to know what's happening from the opening shot and I'm denied such an easy answer.

Wardrobe: The actresses black sweater blends into the darkness. It makes kind of hard for her to stand out from the background. She almost appears as a floating head with two hands.

Cinematography: I like the camera angle for setting up the syringe at 0:36.

The flashback sequence has zero background. Just a white wall. It could use some kind of setting; a table, desk, or lamp. Something to fill the space.

Score: A pleasant tune that doesn't fit the dark tone. Very creepy in this context.

Acting: The actress does an okay job. She shows real anguish during the syringe scene, but confusion and anger don't come across so well.

The doctor is kind of just there. Very monotone. But, most doctors are monotone so it works.

Script: The original script is night and day compared to what I just saw.

I like the original a lot better. The glass cubicle would have been great. A human aquarium if you will. The actress pounds on the glass, an emotionless camera continues to record her anguish. It would've been great!

The doctors had more depth. They didn't want to be involved with the experiment. The extended ending in the parking lot has more punch.

I'm giving you "good" for the lighting, editing, and story. As for the script, I really feel you did yourself a disservice. Your script is very good, maybe even excellent, and it deserves to be seen in its entirety.

Brian Howell (Level 5)

Technically sound, production wise. The editing could be tightened up a little bit. For example the syringe to her neck shot could have been cut about half a second sooner... as it is we see the hesitation and the needle not puncture her skin. It was almost there, but like I said, a half second or less and that sequence would be awesome.

Her acting was a little flat. She showed emotion, that wasn't the problem, it was almost the same emotion throughout, though. There wasn't much of an emotional arc to her performance.

The credits and title are slanted. I don't know if that was something done on purpose or not. If it was, I'm not sure the reason for doing it, it just looked off.

This is GOOD.

Brian Wind (Level 5)

Script - I gave the original script a Very Good. My only real comment was that it may have been a bit too complicated, but that I enjoyed it anyway. 4/5

Performances - I think they both did some good work. I didn't buy her crying at the start. A few of her lines were delivered in a manner that just seemed like someone delivering lines. The guy was believable throughout. 3.5/5

Cinematography - Lighting looked great. Seems like a pretty nice camera. The set looked perfectly appropriate. 4/5

Sound - I don't believe there were many (if any) sound FX added here, but the audio was pretty level througout the film. 3.5/5

Editing - I felt like the title frame came a little late. It was nearly a third of the way through the film. I also thought the red text on the lower half of the end credits screen made it more difficult to read. Transitions were smooth. Pacing was good. 3.5/5

Score - It was well done, but didn't seem to fit the tone of the film. I didn't even eally notice because it's often very quiet in the background, but the second and third time I watched the film, I noticed that it almost seems like a cheerful, uplifting piece. 3/5

Direction - The camera shots used weren't anything too groundbreaking. The injection really didn't look like the syringe was in her neck. 2.5/5

Script - 4/5
Performances - 3.5/5
Cinematography - 4/5
Sound - 3.5/5
Editing - 3.5/5
Score - 3/5
Direction - 2.5/5
Overall = 24/35 = 3.43/5 = GOOD

Caroline Coxon (Mod Emeritus)

Loved the title effects.

Great atmosphere with the blacked out room - and great actors. Particularly the women.

I found it strange that the husband should be so cruel and formal as the doctor, even if he was conducting aexperiment, then suddenly announce who he was. Perhaps it was because the whole thing was so concertina-ed that the shift came - BAM - without enough build-up?

Filming-wise, in every respect, it was great. I'm giving it a Very Good not an Excellent for the simple reason tha the script edit - in my opinion - made it lose somthing.

Chris Keaton (Level 5)

This was a nice one room piece and wonderfully performed. However, part of film is the visual appeal and this didn't have any. We saw close ups and a table. I know what you are doing, but the punch has to be tremendous to overcome the drawbacks of such minimalism. Other than that a real nice film.

Claire Fishman (Level 3)

A lot of the visuals, like the cubicle and the rest of the setting, were lost in this, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. There's something equally creepy about being kept in a dark, mysterious room. In fact, I think the lack of a setting adds to the suspense and mystery conveyed in the beginning.

I also see that a lot of things were cut from the script. I like the direction that you've taken with it, since you still get that same feeling at the end with the same twist, but some of the major details are forgotten. I hadn't read the script before, so I was really lost about what the drug did (though afterwards I assumed it just erased memories or the side-effect halted memories), and only after a re-watch did I notice how you brought that information in subtly. That's not all that bad, but I guess all that can be missed at first, especially without knowing the script.

Lighting, sound, and music are all fantastic. Kudos to the actors for a work well done!

Good job!

David Birch (Level 5)

the acting was okay, but the story seemed a little stagnant...really just a scene in what could be something a little more expansive...choice of music didn't really move the needle much, seemed way too melodramatic...

David Laffey (Level 3)

Interesting story, tense and compact. Great sound, acting, camera work too. (I may have selected a darker soundtrack). I also wish that the doctor was a little more emotional and distressed after finding out that his wife doesn't remember him or herself. Also I think the test subject should be wearing "test subject clothes" and not what looks like business attire.

If there is one thing I'd do differently - I would save the flashback about "needing to rush to human testing and the woman volunteering herself". The tension could have been further built until that moment. Once we knew she had volunteered herself (and clearly lost her memory) the tension deflated so to speak.

For a 3 minute film the story was great - very good : P

Elias Farnum (Level 5)

Script/Story: I didn't get to the original vote on this. Excellent job on placing, however, my score would not be quite so high. I don't think I really need to read the script, since I've seen the film, and can comment of the story. The execution, and pacing are fine enough, but to be honest, I'm not wowed by the twist. I saw it coming once we saw the video release. That one caught me, but felt borderline cliche. And even if the bigger twist wasn't seen coming, none of it stands alone to me as a short story, perhaps I missed something. Maybe more doesn't matter, there's really no more to be resolved, and the minimal set up may a stroke of genius. Your work is always outstanding, it feels odd giving you a fair. But I was like, what? That's it? I'm sorry, because I usually enjoy your work highly.

Performances: Good. The female lead was convincing.

Cinematography: Good. I understand that by not showing too much of the"tester" helps the payoff, and did do so. But there could have been, maybe, a few more angles without betraying too much, gimme a dutch angle. Disorienting you know. The lighting and color were great, like the contrast too. The sparse(?) sets work well also. Keeps the mysterious feel full tilt.

Sound: Excellent. Great balance and control.

Score: Minimalist string composition was excellent, and brought out the feel I think you were looking for, airy, dreamlike. Again, Excellent.

Editing: Good job. The pacing was not disturbed, and I like the title effects.

Direction: Good job, I have a hard time distinguishing some aspects between a director and a cinematographer. But I bet that this was one where you say, "I love it when a plan comes together." Easy money.

Overall it feels like everything came together well, and the use of conservation, or, "economy in writing," has worked wonders in this film. Good job, and good Luck. I was entertained.

Faith Friese Nelson (Level 5)

I only have one word to describe what I felt about this movie and script. EXCELLENT!

Fred Koszewnik (Level 5)

An effective clever use of the backlighting to indicate time shifts. The storyline seemed a bit derivative since there are quite a number of films where the test subject is found out to have given their consent to being used in an earlier taped video. Great choice of using an actual husband and wife for the two roles. Good success.

Heather O'Connell (Level 4)

I liked the script, and reading it filled in some questions I had after watching the film. I can understand cutting some of the sequences out, but I really think it was important to tell what the drug was supposed to do. And the ending had less impact without Alice thinking it worked, but then forgetting her husband. The way the film ends, it seems like the memory loss was permanent. The doctor was a bit too creepy in the first scene – even though he turned out to be her husband. Alice was good, at times the acting was a bit too forced. The picture and lighting was good. I liked the shadow in the opening when the doctor walks in. Sound was pretty good – I’m not sure I like the choice of music – it needed to be more urgent. Simple, effective set. The scenes flowed well, seamless.

Heidtmann Oppong (Level 4)

I enjoyed reading it especially when Alice recognised his husband Max. It shows the experiment was successful. It was necessary for Alice to say that "It worked." Well to me that was like telling us what happened but all the same it was ok. My only addition is the Dialogue Split by Action. 'CONT"D' should be placed after the characters if interrupted by an action whiles they continue speaking. Good job!

Herman Chow (Level 5)

Script: I read this script before. It wasn't my favorite Matias' script but still pretty solid. Not sure if the twist that he's her husband works though. It kinda feels out of the blue.

Performances: Both actors are great, especially Alice. She shows a spectrum of emotions throughout the film.

Cinematography: The pictures are very clear. The close-up of the syringe, pushing the plunge down, is brilliant. However, I think it's better to actually show us the clip on the small TV, instead of just shooting the TV itself.

Sound: Again, the worst part is the clip on TV. I could barely make out what Alice was saying. But everything else is pretty good.

Editing: The scene change between the present and the flashback was handled well.

Score: Loved the score near the end when Alice finally realizing the doctor is her husband and she's going to die (assumed because of her nosebleed). Very sad.

Direction: Liked the title card appearing after we're shown the injection. The only bad thing I can think of is, again, showing us the clip itself rather than shooting just the TV.

VERY GOOD.

James Hughes (Level 5)

This looks and sounds great. The shots are well lit and look sharp. This is one of the better looking films in the contest. I think the lack of camera movement drags the energy down a bit. I contrast this with another film - "The Curfew" which also took place in a limited space but was a much more energetic film I think due to the camera movement and movement of the actors. I understand you were limited by your location. But I think it is a valuable lesson to compare the two and realize how much energy movement brings to a film.

The editing had a nice pace to it, there were some good cuts thrown in.

James Resendes (Level 2)

It was alright. I think the original script explained the story much better than the short did. There were just too many questions that were not addressed in the film. The acting was good. And the flashback was really good, explaining a lot. But again, I was left with too many questions that only the original script answered. But overall, it was alright.

Jamie Collins (Level 3)

Excellent film. I like this story. It was well directed and the performances we great.

Jeannie Sconzo (Level 5)

Story was good. I think pacing was off in a few places. There were some areas that seemed a bit rushed and some that needed speeding up. Overall it had a linear type of feel and I would have liked more. I liked the direction to have him remove his mask on his line. It gave it more punch and he delivered it nicely.

JeanPierre Chapoteau (Moderator)

First impression: It seemed so touching...but I don't get what happened.

Directing: the story was not that clear the first time around. I re-watched it and finally understood that this woman is a scientist as well. This did not come across well on film. You had her in the same outfit that she wore in the flashback. Bad move. Something so small completely threw me off. In the flashback, she should have been in scrubs too. That would have cleared everything up.
- There wasn't that much of a variety in the shots either. Move the camera a bit.

Sound: I heard them perfectly. It was fine.

Acting: I'm not sure if it was her acting or the guidance, but something wasn't right. Why was she just sitting there the whole time? Wouldn't she have gotten up Threw a chair or something? Paced around the room? Tried to escape? Especially when she said she's going to sue. I didn't believe it because she was still sitting in the chair. You should have handcuffed her or something. The guys' "You don't know" sounded a bit stiff too. He should have sounded hurt, not as if he was looking down on her for not knowing.

Music: It was a well fit. I felt for the characters, even though I had no idea why I should. But it was the music that hit me. I think you nailed that perfectly.

Story: After I figured it out, the story was really good. Two struggling scientist trying to find a cure of some sort are losing funding, so as a desperate act, one volunteers to their test subject. And at the end, we find out they are married. Great story, just poor execution on the direction.

I'll give this a good.

Jeff Ferry (Level 4)

Nice use of one set and great use of lighting. The actors were both very good. It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely above average. I look forward to more work from both the crew and the writer.

Kenneth Hurd (Level 4)

Your film has a great look and your actors do a really good job, but I had trouble understanding just what was going on. I went back and read the script and noticed that there were lines of dialogue that explained what the experiment was, but you decided to cut that. I think that if you would have stuck more to the script, the film would have been a bit easier to follow.

Your film looks really good. Your lighting is perfect and I liked how you blacked out most of the room, only lighting the area around the table. I was a bit confused as to why you didn't show the doctor's face, but it was a nice touch to give him his first close up when he reveals that he's her husband.

Your pacing is good and your actors really help to keep me interested to see where it's all going, but I felt that you cut too much out of the film for me to understand just what exactly was going on. I didn't get what the drug was for, although I do now that I've read the script. Unfortunately, your audience won't always be able to read the script right after watching the film, so try to make sure that the film can stand on its own.

Still, I thought technically your film is really good and it kept my interest the entire time. Good job.

Khamanna Iskandarova (Level 5)

The Stregers are awesome! Great, great actors!

Overall, I think it's a good movie.

The shot of the needle or maybe the sequence of the shots around it and that one itself did not work for me. --it's in the very beginning of the movie. And then the rule of screenwriting "to rush into the script" doesn't work for me in the movie. The script is just fine, it's an Excellent script but you changed much of it...

The words "I'm your husband" sound strange, I think he would say his name first like "I'm Rob. Rob, your husband. I'm your husband Eleanor." Overall the husband sounds too official. He's little warmer toward the end but if he thinks she must remember him he must be "husbandly" throughout I think.

I watched it three times and then understood that I'm not supposed to understand all of it - the reason behind their testing is not given. That doesn't agree with me somehow. In the script it works but not in the movie. The script also says that TJ-14 doesn't erase memories just blocks the access to them - that gives something, at least, I'd include it in the movie too.

The sound, the music, the actors - all of this is very impressive. But I could not understand the story or feel for the characters.

Kirk White (Level 5)

understanding the production limits of this, I was missing some of the dread and tension that's in the script. This plays a little flat.

KP Mackie (Level 5)

Simple, dramatic, and intriguing exchange between these two characters. The actress, Lisa Streger, is terrific. With only two characters, a table and chairs, and a tv in a room, all the attention focuses on the actors. Lots of emotion from Ms. Streger. Talented woman. The actor portraying her husband, Jeff Streger, provides just enough support; his character does not have as many lines that hers does, but he has the punchline, "You don't know," the dramatic removal of his face mask, and "I'm your husband."
Lots of shot variety. It's educational to watch good camera work. Even though the choice of what to point the camera at is limited, the way it's filmed is really interesting. No boring sections anywhere. It's dark, done well. Begs the question: What does the drug do that she's so willing to offer herself as the guinea pig?
Real cool "NJ Film School" logo. Excellent film.

Margaret Avnet (Level 4)

I think this film needs to be a bit longer. You need to set up what they are testing for and have some sort of resolution in the end. It feels as if we've been dropped into the middle of a story.

I also feel the test subject should have resisted more, it would have added to the tension in the movie.

I really wasn't too surprised when the doctor ended up being her husband. I'm a bit confused as to why she remembers getting stuck with the needle but she doesn't remember her husband. I mean even if she loses long term memory and has her short term memory wouldn't she remember it's her husband doing the experiment.

I thought the director did a good job as well as the cinematographer.

Margaret Ricke (Level 5)

I watched this the first two times and felt like I was missing something, so I went back to the script. I never reviewed it before, so I wasn't familiar... I have to say that, as good as this film is, it doesn't do justice to the original story...

Very good work.

Marko Trcic (Level 2)

good story, excellent photography, congratulations, the director of photography did a great job, perfect lighting, great directing,great editing, but acting, really should work on that a bit, that acting better this film would deserve excellent review,

Marnie Mitchell Lister (Level 5)

This was interesting. I thought the camera shots and angles added to the tension. Nice work.

The acting was very good. The only thing I didn't understand was why was he wearing a mask? We didn't see his face as her her husband, only the back of his head. So when his face was revealed it was for the first time. Just seemed unnecessary.

Nice job to the entire team and of course, a great script by the master himself. :)

Martin Jensen (Level 5)

Nice. This was really creepy, even more so when her identity was revealed.

There were quite a few nice touches, including the transition between the two scenes, the lighting differences, the flickering monitor. The music worked well.

Very good.

Martin Lancaster (Level 4)

Excellent!

Beautiful lighting and cinematography. Great acting. And you can't go wrong with a Caruso script. I love the look you were able to achieve with such a minimal set. Great stuff.

Michael Cornetto (Level 5)

I thought the production quality for this was quite good, as was the acting. I thought there was too much background music and something like this would have been better served by more silence. Also, I did think the original script had a more of a powerful story because she recovers but not completely.

Michael Hughes (Level 4)

I liked the story. I don't mind that the purpose of the test drug is not revealed. I did have a bit of a problem with the pacing and character emotion. This seemed to move slowly. The editing, music and emotion seemed too low key for the subject. I think It might have been more effective for me if there was some panic in the characters. The woman has lost her memory, the man has lost his wife. She would struggle against the next injection. Should she be handcuffed to the table and be in tears? This would put the impression in the viewers mind that maybe she had been kidnapped. The reveal would be more surprising.

MJ Hermanny (Level 5)

I think you've done a great job of cutting the script to fit your budget and making it a decent two-hander while still keeping the essence of the main story in there.

I'm not a film-maker so my comments are purely from a movie lover's point of view.

The weakest point for me is the acting from Lisa Streger. Her emotions don't ring true, even though her facial expressions are good her voice doesn't carry truth in it. I think, even though the character is weakened frm what has happened to her, she submits too easily to the syringe and would surely have put up more of a fight. The performance gets better as the film progresses and ends well with her tears.

The editing seemed good - I liked the shots with mirror but feel she should have looked at the monitor again after first looking in the mirror.

The timing of the monitor coming on is perfect - coinciding beautifully with the character mentioning consent and the sound levels worked well here.

In regards to the lighting - the contrast between her 'cell' and the office was good, indicating a change of scene, and overall set the mood well.

A good job, I'd be extremely pleased if I made this.

Paul Williams (Level 5)

I haven't read this script before watching the movie, so this one is new to me.

Rhetorical question of the day: Can you ever go wrong producing a Matias script?

After watching the movie and reading the script, you manage to stay faithful to the script, which I feel is a big accomplishment given you shot this in one location with film students, so kudos for that.

I love the use of black/white lighting when we flashback. An unknowing viewer wouldn't know this is the same location.

Good performances, and from what I deduce from the credits, they are really a married couple. Or brother and sister.

I think due to the production parameters, the husband reveal packs more of a punch in the script than the movie, but I understand the limitations you purposely dealt with.

My only big criticism is the music used. It's sad and melancholic, which I love, but I didn't think it fit this type of movie overall.

Very Good!

Pete Barry (Level 5)

Top-notch production. A lot of attention was paid to the smallest details, like the subtle shift in focus and lighting between the "present" and the "past". The acting is solid, the lighting is extremely well done, and the framing - especially the cutting off of the mysterious doctor's head, and thus identity - is perfect. I wasn't quite sure of the titling choice, but it's a very good and interesting graphic.

If I have any problems, they revolve around the husband, from a script and (I think) directorial standpoint. I liked his emotional detachment (it made him creepier), until he was revealed to be the husband, and then I couldn't imagine him being so blase about the whole thing - even cruel, when he turns on the TV to reveal her video "permission slip".

Moreover, the script takes us into really demanding philosophical territory - is this woman still the person she was? what is the nature of identity? - and then we get what seems like a weak twist ending. The darkness of the middle is overpowered by the sensationalism of the final reveal.

Other than these problems, though, simply a fantastic production.

Philip Whitcroft (Level 5)

This works pretty well, especially since I know how restricted the conditions for filming it are. The lighting is great and the images have a very clear quality. The background music works well and the credits are clever.

The story is effective. I wonder if this could have had more punch. Perhaps they move around a little slowly, maybe it is asking a lot of the actress to be this emotionally troubled right at the beginning of a movie, maybe a little more surprise in the story line.

On a minor point at around the 30 second mark you didn't break the 180 degree rule, but I did feel disoriented by the shot sequence going from wide in one direction to almost back the other way, with one shot in between. That's probably just me.

Pia Cook (Level 5)

Another good looking film. Great quality.

IMHO it went on just a tad longer than needed. As soon as I figured it would be her husband or something like that behind the mask (the mask gave that away) my mind started drifting. That should have been a surprise at the end, but since I already had it figured, it sort of lost it's punch.

I'm giving this one a Very Good. :)

Rich Keel (Level 4)

Wow this just looks so amazing!!!! Professional as it gets! The music seemed a little over dramatic. Seems like something from a 50s movie or something. But that is all preference and style.

"I'm gonna sue you!!!" Ha seemed out of place to me when she says it. I would think it would be a different response. But that is just me.

I don't really have any complaints...except I don;t think you should be allowed to enter these. Your talents are leaps and bounds above the most here :) - just kidding. Nice work and I think you have a fair shot to place.

Good luck to you this month.

Richard Bell (Level 3)

Excellent direction, lighting and cinematography. As I've mentioned previously, two people in one location is very difficult to pull off and the filmmakers here did a very good job of using over the shoulder shots, cutaways, closeups, lighting and flashbacks to tell a story. The actors, too, were very good and believable. Bravo for taking on a difficult project and pulling it off.

Rob Gross (Level 4)

Well done. The actress was very good in this short. I noticed the wedding ring and I could figure out that the dude was her husband. That may have took away the punch at the end for me.

I would have really liked to see that needle get plunged into her neck! - Sorry, I saw Chris Keaton's film before this one!

If Matias and Chris are behind a project, it's going to be done well! Good luck you guys.

Sally Meyer (Moderator)

I read the script first, and I think I like the story in the script better. It has that added punch at the end. We think all has turned out well, and she's home free. But then she meets her husband outside and doesn't remember who he is.

While this was well done, it didn't have the same punch as the script did.

The lead actress was very good and believable.

I loved the music, but somehow to me, it didn't fit the scenes. It was too cinematic and large.

Why is he wearing a mask? I would recognize my husband, with a mask such as this. He obviously knows she doesn't recognize him, so why would he say "Don't you know?".

It would have been better if I hadn't read the script, because I wouldn't have any expectations of what the film is going to be about, and I'd judge it on face value.

Good lighting and use of inserts (the needle) etc. Both actors are good.

Shaheryar Ahmed (Level 3)

Cinematography: I liked the lighting and the atmosphere that was created. Apart from that a few shots were good. I liked the syringe tapping shot. I also like the mirror looking shot. But I feel there was something missing. I didn't think the cinematgoraphy contributed to the story as it could have. It did at some level which was great but still something was not there.

Screenplay: I actually liked the screenplay much better than the film. And I think I know why. Matias! I liked the brutality in the script. I liked the emotions screenplay which did not disply on screen. I could see the lady crying but I had no feelings for her. I could not relate to her. Though her performance was good.

Performance: I loved the woman's acting. A few dialogues went over and under but the rest was really good. Though she was crying but I could not feel her pain. I could felt it in the script.

Direction: This is where I guess the whole film fell. Why is she not resisting in the beginning? In the script she is. If you want to show that she is handcuffed then show her hands cuffed to the chair or something. Small details make the picture big. Remember.

Editing: This was good. Simple and effective. Every cut is well thought off. I really liked color tone. Good job on that!

Tim Westland (Moderator)

I think this film suffers from a few major problems:

- Less than spectacular acting
This is almost entirely on the female lead. She doesn't come across as believable pretty much at any point. It felt more like melodrama and actual drama.

- Nothing but questions
I understand the desire to not answer every question that is asked, but this goes over the top with it. Sure, we're given information from the video, a short bit where she's discussing the problems with her company... but this is something we've seen so many times.

- The twist
The guy being her husband simply isn't satisfying enough. Not without knowing the true and exact stakes that comes with her decision to test whatever it is she's testing.

- The music
It's nice music, but seemed completely at odds with the tone of the piece.

Overall, I am forced to rate this as Fair.

Travis DeStein (Level 5)

Both actors need to work on their acting, especially the woman. The music is so drab and monotonous that it drags everything else down. The damn girl doesn't recognize herself... why is the doc surprised that she doesn't recognize him? Come on, now. This one needs a lot of work.

Wayne Morrical (Level 4)

I was as confused at the end of watching this as the lady was at the beginning. Seemed obvious where this was going, that she was the researcher, a little more backstory in the flashback as to what this was would have been way more more interesting than the big mystery around the drug. Could have been a dandruff cure gone bad, or something to relieve post traumatic stress, without a hook, or reason, it leaves the viewer disappointed. Technical stuff: synch the video camera to the monitor to eliminate the stripe (change the shutter speed on the camera until it goes away). The music was annoying: it was music that did not propel the story; simple flourishes at key points in the dialog would really help. Overall lit fairly well and shot cleanly: it would have been nice if the woman had different clothes in the flashback scene and the environment in the FB scene told something about the story: she is outside a day care and it turns out they are trying to find a cure for their kid...

William Bienes (Mod Emeritus)

I thought this was very good -- might even be excellent. Will watch again.

Watched it again, giving it an excellent. I thought the production value was superb, picture, sound, acting and framing of shots.

Congratulations to NJ Film School.

Comments Made After the Contest

Margaret Ricke (Level 5) ~ 1/1/2011 12:35 AM

Congratulations on the HM! This production really didn't have the impact of the original script, but it was still very well done.

Matias Caruso (Level 5) ~ 1/1/2011 10:54 AM

Thanks everyone for watching and for the feedback. And many thanks to NJ Film School for bringing this to life. And many many thanks to Chris M. for bringing NJ Film School to life. :D

Chris Messineo (Founder) ~ 1/1/2011 12:43 PM

Thanks for being so generous and letting the students use your script!

As many pointed out, we did have to make several changes to fit both our location and shooting schedule (four hours total). Not enough time to do full justice to Matias' original script, but hopefully enough to prove what was possible to capture some of the flavor of his original work.

Sally Meyer (Moderator) ~ 1/1/2011 1:40 PM

Congrats Mattias! Your stories as always are compelling and entertaining!

Paul Williams (Level 5) ~ 1/1/2011 6:16 PM

I think if everyone knew ALL the conditions in which this was produced, the reviews would have been a lot different, not that they were bad or Matias is desperate for great reviews!

Anyway, this shows how a lot can be done with a little, and I just wanted to recognize that.