North Woods

[mary lou 102]

I wrote and directed a film called North Woods. My friend JayWolf on the boards is helping me edit it and we plan to submit it to several film festivals and eventually settle it down to a distribution deal.

Here is a plot synopsis:

Several teenage friends have gone missing near the local woods,
known as North Woods, while on vacation. Not long after, one of the missing teenagers, John Prescott, is found bloody on the side of a country road and immediately rushed off to the hospital.
Enter Dr. Pamela Alley, a psychiatrist affiliated with the local police precinct, who is to have several sessions with John to find out what happened. John's story is littered with many fantastic, bizarre, and hallucinatory elements but it is clear that his story points to foul play. It also points to only one suspect, Claudia Hoffman, a librarian/substitue teacher at John's school.

Claudia is called in and as expected, her story is entirely
different and she tries to implicate John. Reaching a dead end,
Pamela becomes determined to get to the bottom of it all.

However, she soon becomes entangled in a world of macabre terror. Pamela is about to learn that some secrets are best left in North Woods.

Here are some pictures:
http://photos-441.facebook.com/n25/195/28/1291950125/n1291950125_30016441_398.jpg

http://photos-476.facebook.com/n25/195/28/1291950125/n1291950125_30016476_2157.jpg


http://photos-429.facebook.com/n25/195/28/1291950125/n1291950125_30016429_5017.jpg

there are more to come!

[someguy]

http://photos-476.facebook.com/n25/195/28/1291950125/n1291950125_30016476_2157.jpg

ahahahahahaa is that just an awkward screen cap or are they actually like that?

[mary lou 102]

hahah I know. It'a screencap from a rough cut of the film.

[JayWolf]

Yeah, that's a screencap from a very rough cut I did. However, the scene has since been cut because it didn't flow properly within the context of the film. Not to mention the quality of the picture in that scene is too grainy.

Below are some screencaps from the latest rough cut which are a lot more clean and stylistic than the previous ones posted. Enjoy!

------------------------

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/AShadowsmall.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/TheKiller3small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/Chapel2small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/JohninClaudiasHouse2small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/Snip2small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/Katie2small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/DescecratedDollsmall.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/JohnScared4small.jpg

[JayWolf]

Some more screencaps.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/BloodySaw2small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/Bridge2small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/Mouthful1small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/EnterMollyAnnsmall.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/SamanthaAttacked3small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/JohnCrawlingsmall.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/ClaudiaScreaming1small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/TheKiller2small.jpg

------------------------

As for the staticy line at the bottom of the screencaps, don't worry about that. That has been cropped from the actual film and these screencaps had been taken earlier in the editing process just to clarify.

Hopefully these give you a better feel for the project. The site is also currently in the works as well as the trailer. Keep an eye out! :D

[X-Nightcrawler]

OMG SPOILER WARNINGS, JAYWOLF!

*slaps knee*

[mary lou 102]

Don't worry, I can honestly say that is not too much of a spoiler.

[Fettdog]

Looks interesting - always good to see the spirit of indie movie making alive and well! :)


Particularly like the cap of the machete through the mouth :)

[mary lou 102]

Keep in mind that most of these are from a verrrrrry early rough cut, which explains the grainy look. The actual film looks much better. The pictures also suffer from compression and such.

[adamjohnson]

Ahem. Poster?

[JayWolf]

Sorry Adam!
We forgot to put up the poster.
Thanks again by the way for the poster art too. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/NorthWoodsAlternatePosterwithCredit.jpg

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by JayWolf
Sorry Adam!
We forgot to put up the poster.
Thanks again by the way for the poster art too. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/NorthWoodsAlternatePosterwithCredit.jpg Hold on, that's not the poster Adam did, is it?

[JayWolf]

It is.
We just changed it up with the official signature fonts from the film's titling and added the billing of the cast and crew at the bottom. Those are the only changes.

It does give it a slightly different look though. But the previous fonts were hard to read because they were much too dark and in the long run, didn't fit that well. But the poster art itself was kept the same and not altered in any way, shape, or form.

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by JayWolf
It is.
We just changed it up with the official signature fonts from the film's titling and added the billing of the cast and crew at the bottom. Those are the only changes.

It does give it a slightly different look though. But the previous fonts were hard to read because they were much too dark and in the long run, didn't fit that well. But the poster art itself was kept the same and not altered in any way, shape, or form. Well . . . as completely constructive criticism, I really thnk removing the forest background (or making too dark) and adding those fonts (with the huge tagline and the "!" after "out") really screws up the "atmosphere" of the poster.

[adamjohnson]

ORIGINAL

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/AdamtheJohnson/NorthsWoodsPoster.jpg

Meh, I dont really care. It kinda gives it a more cheesy movie look.

[JayWolf]

Originally posted by X-Nightcrawler
Well . . . as completely constructive criticism, I really thnk removing the forest background (or making too dark) and adding those fonts (with the huge tagline and the "!" after "out") really screws up the "atmosphere" of the poster.

Actually, we didn't remove the forest background or darken it at all. The size of the tagline can be fixed up. But so far, most people found the gritty font more eye catching. Most people I showed off the poster to (mainly some horror fans and musicians who contributed music to the film) commented that the original version seemed a little bland with the original fonts and was too dark to really see much.

So, I tried saturating it to lighten it up and changed up the fonts. I showed it to people and they really felt it was much more eye catching on a visual level. But yes, the tagline can get downsized.

Anyway, sorry for the revisions Adam. Glad you did understand on some level.

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by JayWolf
Actually, we didn't remove the forest background or darken it at all. The size of the tagline can be fixed up. But so far, most people found the gritty font more eye catching. Most people I showed off the poster to (mainly some horror fans and musicians who contributed music to the film) commented that the original version seemed a little bland with the original fonts and was too dark to really see much.

So, I tried saturating it to lighten it up and changed up the fonts. I showed it to people and they really felt it was much more eye catching on a visual level. But yes, the tagline can get downsized.

Anyway, sorry for the revisions Adam. Glad you did understand on some level. Oh right, it was my computer screen that was dark, that's why I couldn't see the forest.

Anyways, did they really think that font was grittier looking? I think it looks . . . cheesier. I mean, that's probably what you were going for (as adam suggested?) but still. Whatever. Anyways, how's the editing going, how long will the film roughly be once finished?

[Cronos]

looks very interesting....also id have to agree with X about the poster

so how long till we get a teaser trailer :p :)

[JayWolf]

Well, opinions are like assholes. Everyone's got one, right? :p
But on the plus side, at least it doesn't look like a fucking GAP ad like a lot of posters these days.

But anyway, as for the trailer, it'll be coming about within this month along with the site. So, keep a look out everybody. The movie is also mostly finished editing and will be making a local theatrical release in my area. More info to come later there.

[SpongeBod]

Congratulations on your movie! That's a great accomplishment.
I'm anxious to see it, but something's got be done with that poster. ;) ;)

[JayWolf]

Kicking and screaming all the way (because I'm that fucking stubborn :p), I made revisions to the poster art that should please both parties (the ones who liked the previous version and others who found it too cheesy and obnoxious with the fonts).

Well, here it is...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/JayWolf1985/NorthWoodsPoster2.jpg

It's a lot more understated now but should still catch attention.
So, is that better for all of you? :p

[X-Nightcrawler]

Better, sure. But still something's iffy.

I'd add an effect to the font of "North Woods" since if it really is the only fitting font. I'd change the color of that font (breaks all the atmosphere). I'd remove the "!" in the tagline and make thefont a little smaller.

[Pestilence]

Without seeing the movie or reading the screenplay, we obviously won't know if the cheesiness factor in the poster is intentional, but if it isn't...I'd agree with X and say lose the exclamation mark at the end of the tagline.

A lot of horror taglines may have gotten away with being exclaimed in the 80s, but audiences nowadays will read that tagline and think "ooh, horror comedy! naaaah."

Leaving out the exclamation mark makes the tagline seem darker, and read as more of a threat-laced statement than some looney shouting from a rooftop.

On the flip-side, I actually like the font for the Title, and think it fits well and is indeed eye-catching.

And hey, kudos on getting the film done and the best of luck to you with getting the distribution ball rolling.

P.S. Love the blade coming through the mouth shot. Niiiice.



P.P.S. Can I have a screener? :p

[mary lou 102]

the poster is being changed as we speak. We have about 4 alternate posters depending on which one clicks the best.

As for screeners, the film is still in post production, so even if we wanted to, we couldn't. I'm not sure, as of yet if screeners will be given out in the upcoming months, except to distributors.

[adamjohnson]

An arrow headline and no poster? SHAME ON YOU.

[mary lou 102]

I know. I'm sorry, it's just that we need to make sure the whole poster is an original work. For instance, where did you get the screaming face and the trees?

We also didn't want to advertise an offical poster until everything was ready. The official poster will probabaly come along with the website and trailer.

[adamjohnson]

Originally posted by mary lou 102
I know. I'm sorry, it's just that we need to make sure the whole poster is an original work. For instance, where did you get the screaming face and the trees?

We also didn't want to advertise an offical poster until everything was ready. The official poster will probabaly come along with the website and trailer.

:rolleyes: Google.

But theyre so edited, it dosnt make any difference.

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by adamjohnson
:rolleyes: Google.

But theyre so edited, it dosnt make any difference. Actually it does. Mary Lou's move was the right one.

You can just duplicate the image with Illustrator and now it's yours but I'm pretty sure you can't just take any image -likely copyrighted- and use it for your poster.

[mary lou 102]

Oh God, I'm so sorry, but we can't use the poster then. There is just no way. It's our ass on the line. Unless you are willing to make a new one, it's just a no go.

But I'm glad we're working on other posters.

BTW, keep a look out for the trailer really soon!

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by mary lou 102
Oh God, I'm so sorry, but we can't use the poster then. There is just no way. It's our ass on the line. Unless you are willing to make a new one, it's just a no go.

But I'm glad we're working on other posters.

BTW, keep a look out for the trailer really soon! Whoa hold on!

I'm not completely sure of anything. I'm just basing myself on those "Poster Contest" movies like "Resident Evil", "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" and "Silent Hill" had. One of the guidelines was clear enough to say that if you were going to use a picture that wasn't provided by them, it had to be your own.

[adamjohnson]

Originally posted by X-Nightcrawler
Whoa hold on!

I'm not completely sure of anything. I'm just basing myself on those "Poster Contest" movies like "Resident Evil", "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" and "Silent Hill" had. One of the guidelines was clear enough to say that if you were going to use a picture that wasn't provided by them, it had to be your own.

They werent my own. But I think they were so drastically different that what I used its become free of copyright. (which IS The law)

[X-Nightcrawler]

Originally posted by adamjohnson
They werent my own. But I think they were so drastically different that what I used its become free of copyright. (which IS The law) Then there's no problem.

[mary lou 102]

we finally have an official poster, much different from the ones anyone has seen. We are very happy with it and it will be unveiled soon

[JayWolf]

Well, if anyone is interested, here's the trailer:

http://media.putfile.com/North-Woods-Trailer-1

[zombievictim]

WOW!!!

Please tell me I'll be able to get my hands on a copy of this. It looks freaking incredible!

[mary lou 102]

well, it starts showing in film festivals this fall and will hopefully get picked up by a distributor.

I'm glad you like it!

[Cronos]

the trailer wont work for me :(

[zombievictim]

Originally posted by mary lou 102
well, it starts showing in film festivals this fall and will hopefully get picked up by a distributor.

I'm glad you like it!

I love it. The directing looks top notch (and thats saying a lot since its only from the trailer.)