"Butt Reactions" --Atttention Paul

[CapgunChuck]

Below is Paul's reply to my review of his latest movie ("The Navel Serial Killer") in the Candid Review Forum. I'm replying to it here to ensure compliance with the rules of that forum.

Paul said:
I appreciate the review and the honest constructive criticism. I will work to get those other shots in. Frankly I have never thought of showing a butt reaction but I like that idea. This was a custom and follows the script and the shots are generally done in a way I know him to like it which is always a good clean shot of the blade going in the belly and seeing as much of the frontal nudity as possible. But I can shoot some of my own with your ideas in mind. I will be doing more as a custom with the new blonde possibly and will try to pepper the video with a little of that yet still giving him want he is paying for. Any example of other clips with those shots you mention, please let me know about them. I'll check them out.

My reply to Paul:
Thanks for your reply, Paul. I'm glad you are interested in the idea, especially as it applies to what I called "butt reaction," lol. It may not be a good idea to utilize the technique I propose in a custom for a customer who knows exactly what he wants unless he is familiar with such techniques. However, I do wish you (and other producers in this genre) would experiment with it more often in more of your features.

As alluded to in my review, I feel movies that don't utilize at least a few of the tried and proven standard techniques of filmmaking are lacking something that could make them outstanding. Utilizing even a few extra cuts (transitions from one shot to another) and cutaways (quicks shots focusing on something other than main action) could make a world of difference in the final product. It may not always be easy to do (especially without the added resources of multiple cameras and filming some of the main action from several different angles and editing it together before digital effects are added), and should be utilized sparingly until comfortable with the technique. Timing is critical; these shots should be relatively fast and "at the right time" so as not to interfere with continuity. Further explanation of what I mean by "at the right time" eludes me, lol.

For instance: an extreme closeup of the knife followed by a closeup of the actress's face when she looks down at it, then another closeup of her face, then a medium shot from front or side as the knife is thrust in. Not exactly in that sequence, but you get the idea. Another example is the "butt reaction." We'd see a rear view medium shot of the back of the actress and hear the knife plunged in and her reaction, while seeing her whole body react; a close up with her butt and legs filling the screen in that sequence would show her "butt reacting" to a knife plunge, at least for one stab, maybe two, depending upon the speed between stabs. Then again focus on the main action from the front view or from a side view. One can cut to different parts of the action periodically, like side views, views from above, closeups of just about anything--such as a quick closeup of a breast jiggle, a quick closeup or two of the killer's face during the sequence, etc. (Obviously a focus on the butt could only be applied when the action takes place in a standing position.) Another example is to show at least one closeup of her facial reaction during a knife stab. The technique shouldn't be overused. It is so overused in mainstream movie killing scenes that we don't get to see much of what we want to see. But it is also a good technique for enhancing the overall effect of any sequence.

I don't know offhand of any independent movie clips that employ the closeup of the butt to provide an example. In fact, if you try it, you may be the first in this genre. (If anyone else knows of one, I'd like to hear about it.) I reviewed another clip in the review forum that made extensive use of this technique entitled "No Choice." Please see that review. If you could view that clip, it would give you a better sense of what I'm talking about. Sir Bruce doesn't use a closeup of the butt per se in that movie, but the movie does contain some nicely performed rear view action pretty soon after the action begins; if he had included at least one or two quick closeups of the butt area, it would have greatly enhanced an already exceptional effort at employing this technique. An example of a clip with good closeups of facial reactions is Bluestone's "Shooting Gallery" with Suzi.

Thank you very much for keeping this idea in mind for some of your future projects.

CC