MovieChat Forums > Broken (2005) Discussion > BROKEN as a feature film...what's the de...

BROKEN as a feature film...what's the deal? What should be changed?


What's going on? I've been going to the site every day waiting to see updates. Hopefully they've finished the script and have some really good explanations behind those "baby blues" and "management." Guess we'll just have to wait and see. What should be changed? Well, while the visuals are amazing and I really do like the film, there are a few aspects that could be dealt with better. First, there are some clichés, well more than some. Now I'm not saying Jorge Rodriguez or Ferrari did a bad job, because they didn't. Clichés were probably necessary for the simple reason that they were trying to present what should have been a scene in a feature film in 19 minutes, and to do that they utilized the clichés to get the audience on a more comfortable ground. Which is fine, but in the feature film those lines have to be corrected. Next is acting. I realize that the actors you got had to work for almost (or) nothing at all and they really did not do a terrible job. But if your going to turn this into a feature, your going to need some better ones. Paul Gordon did a pretty good job but he had some bad lines and would probably work better on stage then on screen. And lastly, and this is a small thing, use more practicals for your firearms. You probably could get more real looking explosions with actual explosions, same with gunfire instead of airsoft. Now I know you guys couldn't afford the insurance but maybe this time you can. Other than that, good film you guys and good luck. I can't wait to see the final project and hope you'll post some news on its development soon.

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Congratulations with Ebert guys. Good review. So whats the deal with the feature? Any news? ENIGMA FACOTRY......I know your out there.

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We are feverishly working on the feature script and are working with producers to bring BROKEN to the big screen. We hope to be in full pre-production soon. Thanks for the interest and support! Wish us luck!

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[deleted]

thanks for the advice. I think we will be alright ; )

"BROKEN is essentially a demonstration of the mastery of horror imagery and techniques...effective and professional. Looking forward to “BROKEN: The Feature." - Roger Ebert (Film Critic Chicago SunTimes/Ebert & Roeper)

"B R O K E N has all the visual potency of the likes of The Matrix and Fight Club."
- FilmFocus UK

"4 STARS! "Broken” looks great, sounds great and threatens to put a bullet between your eyes right from the get go."
- Film Threat

"Excellent directing, camerawork, music, production design, and very well edited.
The production value is truly amazing for $8000. The story is intriging and as a viewer you want to know more.
Very nice job, you guys have talent."
- Jonathan Krane (Producer: Swordfish, Face Off, The General's Daughter, Phenomenon, Look Who's Talking)

"Allow me to introduce you to the next big thing. ...the sweetest indie trailer this side of the Matrix.
They have single handedly taken indie to the next level . This $8,000 dollar film looks as good as Sin City.
- MoviesOnline CANADA

"Broken rivals the Lord Of The Rings Extended Editions...a how to guide, a budget handbook for budding filmmakers."
- DVD Reviewer UK

"I really dug the style and the visuals, and hope to see something a little LENGTHIER from you in the future.
The next David Fincher perhaps?"
- JoBlo.com

A must for anyone intending to make their own low budget action/thriller.
This should be a essential part of any independent filmmaker's library.
- Einsider.com

"The film was made for $8,000 but looks like it a million!"
- Cinema Insomnia.com

"B R O K E N packing enough cinematic DY-NO-MITE to completely blow your ass off!
It delivers a skull-shattering array of special effects shots that equals the quality of big budgeted studio flicks!"
- Living Corpse.com

"...reminded me of a mix between The Sixth Sense, Fight Club, and Sin City."
- Cin3ma TV

"It looks like something Quentin Tarantino might have done on his day off when
he was jamming with the Wachowski Brothers."
- Film Guru.net

"...literally overflows with bullets, brains and blood…Sam Raimi would be proud."
- DVD Verdict

"It's sheer entertainment. Best indie & the most effective indie calling card we've ever seen.
Hell, you could hand these two guys MI: 3 and it might draw me into watch it."
- Need Coffee.com

"...seeing people creating works like this is like a breath of fresh air...
T he people behind BROKEN could probably step up to the major leagues."
- Cleverdonkey.com

"An amazing little head trip!"
- Christopher Null, filmcritic.com

"Broken, an action/sci-fi piece complete with explosions, automatic weapons, & a stylish,
neo-noir look that isn't all that far removed from its main stylistic inspiration, the Matrix trilogy."
-PLAY Magazine

"The film is tightly plotted and the action fast paced. Overall 2 tumbs up!"
- ILMfan.com

"...shot for a mind-bogglingly small $8,000, which includes over 100 visual effects shots.
Stuff like this must make the Hollywood studios tremble."
- Pixel Surgeon.com

"These guys are responsible for, perhaps, one of the highest quality independent films ever created."
- Entertainmentopia

"Broken is violent, gritty, and entertaining as hell.
- Filmmaking.com

"...a diabolical short."
Image Icon Entertainment

"A slick-looking little short....we might be looking at the next David Fincher in Ferrari."
- Entertain Your Brain

"...sensibilities of a video game and the visual feel of films like SAW and SEVEN.
- Foywonder

"B R O K E N is a quality film! It's the best suspense thriller you never saw."
- World's Greatest Critic.com

"A great achievement in Independent Cinema. It is probably the best short film I've ever seen."
- The Horror Review

"If you're planning on filming your own short movie anytime in the future you'd be well advised to
check out Broken to see how to make a short movie right!"
- Dangerous Universe.com

"...undeniably impressive...a slick and glossy twenty minutes of suspense and special effects."
- Spinning Image UK

"Let’s just say that if The Matrix was a darker movie, it would be BROKEN’s bigger brother.
BROKEN definitely represents a victory for low budget cinema."
- Shade.ca

"Amazing little no budget short film. We loved it!
- Hackermovies.com - GERMANY

"Stylish, noirish and edgy, Broken engages from the start"
- Andrew L. Urban - Urbancinefile.com.au

"B R O K E N may have started as a independent project but Hollywood is definitely going to take notice."
- The MovieReporter GERMANY

"B R O K E N is not only stunning visually, but the story is incredibly intense and unbelievably well acted."
- Rogue Cinema

""B R O K E N secludes your mind, ties you down, gives yah a bit of a tickle and then slaps you in the face."
- CG UNDERGROUND

"It's slick with fast paced editing and plenty of style to boot...the trailer flies by and leaves you thirsty for more."
- The Movie Blog

"Check out BROKEN - a short sharp shock to the system."
- Monstersatplay.com

Twenty minutes well spent...this is one of the coolest action films I've seen in a while!"
- Cinema Crazed

"Director Alex Ferrari is confident with the camera – the end product is slick, well edited and very professional.
For a brief no-budget film with amateur actors, I dug B R O K E N quite a bit."
- CHUD.com

"...it brings cool action to the screen, also throws in cool little head twists and mind f@*ks for the ride. BROKEN just blew my mind."
- CAN Magazine

"It looks good and is a new benchmark for other short film makers to aspire to visually."
- Rumour Machine

It´s a brilliant visual film.
- Filmfanzine

" Part David Fincher, part The Matrix...B R O K E N certainly impresses."
- Beyond Hollywood.com

"I wanted more. I could not recommend it enough."
- Film Bomb

"Kinda struck me as a cross between the Twilight Zone, Saw, & a Hong Kong action film...really damn impressive for only $8000."
- Horrorchannel.com

"Broken leaves you with a taste of what this company can do, and a desire for more."
- Cinema Blend

"I must say I was honestly blown away, very impressive work....by far one of the slickest short films I've seen in a long while."
- SUPERHERO HYPE!.com

"This is a very impressive piece of work. If you like action, check this out. Broken is worth tracking down."
- Blog Critics

"B R O K E N is a slick production: 15 minutes of mayhem with the impossibly low budget of $8,000...bang-up job."
- Film Fodder

"Really everything that a short film film should be."
- Lights Out Films

"...this is a great looking movie."
- Films in Review

"It's an action/thriller shot for only $8000 - this thing looks fantastic."
- TwitchFilm

"It really shows what you can accomplish with a little bit of cash and a lot of talent...definitely worth a watch."
- DV Guru.com

"B R O K E N looks like a helluva lot of movie for $8000 bucks."
- GreenCine Daily

"Take my advice about this film. Be IMPRESSED!"
- Review Guy Online.com

"I recommend viewing BROKEN to anyone interested in high production values / low budget film work. The short is inspiring."
- Film Roar

"This has to be one of the better made action trailers I’ve seen..."
- Movie Poop Shoot

"B R O K E N is a short-but-sweet action fan's fix...you won't have to wait long for the bullets to fly."
- HollywoodBitchSlap

"Very impressive...and looked like the effects were done by seasoned pros with a major bankroll behind them."
- Supercalafragalistic.com

"B R O K E N has a slick look that rivals a studio film."
- 7M Pictures

"The production values rival any big-budget film out there."
- Invisibleman Online

"B R O K E N is violent, gritty, and entertaining as hell"
- VFXSoup

"This movie is f-ing awesome and deserves to be played on a big BIG screen."
- REwindvideo.com

"Kick ass trailer! Seriously, for $8K, I want to see more. Very cool!"
- Metacritic.com

"With over 100 visual effects, BROKEN is tour de force."
- Inkietos.com

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[deleted]

Once again thanks for your honest opinion and hope all your future ventures come out great. We are doing the best we can.

All the best,
The BROKEN Team

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[deleted]

Impulse Caper is a good name for a movie. You guys should make that the name of your next project!

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You know what that is not a bad idea. I'll contact Bruce and see if he is interested in working with us. ; )

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By the way, any word yet on what your budget is going to be for the feature?

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We are looking at a little over $1 million. We'll see what happens. Wish us luck ; )

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Good Luck!
Even though you don't need it. The feature will get media recognition just from the short. That's half the battle right there!

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You guys are going to kick ass with the feature. Now that the scripts done I hope the updates will be more forthcoming. I really hope this goes well for you guys. You deserve it.

Good Luck

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Thanks man!!! Check out the exclusive feature film visual effects test at MoviesOnline.ca: http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_8376.html

Let us know what you think & thanks for the support!
Alex

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I have to agree with most of the criticisms of BROKEN already presented here, though not as extreme as some have stated. It does have problems that really need to be addressed in taking it to feature level (writing & actor direction mostly); however - it is an impressive short & whoever can't be happy for two indie guys catching a break just cannot be happy - congratulations & best of luck!

Every story is worth telling, it's just how you tell it - Me.
Have Fun!

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I must say that I was very disappointed when I got saw your short. The visuals were absolutly fantastic, however the script and story lacked significantly. I hope your feature doesn't loose money, but I think in the end it will. Just remember that story is better than "looking cool." I would say that if you were going to make a full length feature film, you should work on your screenplay more than anything.

A+ on the visuals
F on the story

3/10



“Oh I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?”

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[deleted]

thanks man!!! we're working hard. Making our rounds in Hollyweird at the moment. Wish us luck!

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Hahahaha!
Nice comeback.

Have a blast making the feature,
Brian

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thts one really impressive trailer.
id really love to watch the short....
im frm india and the dvd wil never reach
this part of the planet...
is there any way i could watch it online?

im fkn inspired..
best of luck with the feature..

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thanks! we send DVD's to India and farther all the time. Check it out: http://www.whatisbroken.com/dvd.html

Thanks for the support!
The BROKEN Guys

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$14.99 HOLIDAY SPECIAL - CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED INDIE FILM - "B R O K E N" Special Edition DVD

GOTO: http://www.whatisbroken.com/dvd.html

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

BROKEN DVD SPECIAL FEATURES DETAILS BELOW:

6 Commentary Tracks covering...

Directing
Producing
Visual Effects
Music Score/Sound Design
Cast and Crew
Film Geeks Unite

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Pre-Production

Concept Art / Location Comparison
Costume Design Gallery w/ Commentary

Storyboards: The ENTIRE Collection for BROKEN ( 9 Edited Sequences )
Storyboards: Comparison with Final Shots

Rehearsals:
Rehearsal Comparison with Final Scene
Blocking Action in a Scene w/ Commentary
Evolution of an Action Sequence w/ Commentary
A Director's Best Friend - Finding Your Shot

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

Production

Head go BOOM: "The Guacamole Gun" w/ Commentary
Recipe: "How to Make a Guacamole Gun"
Mister Tony's Neighborhood: "A Technical Advisor's Job" with Tony Gomez

Special Effects Make-up Breakdown with Megan Graham
Anatomy of Scar
Anatomy of a Tatoo
Anatony of Burnt Eyes
Bonus: Brain Matter Recipe

Anatomy of a Stunt: w/ Commentary
Shotgun Blast
The Dive for Life

Guns, Guns, Guns: "How to Get Pro Looking Guns with Little or No $$$"
The Weapons
Getting Guns to Look Real
Where to Get Them

Tips on Producing an Indie Film: with Jorge F. Rodriguez
Reverse Budgeting
Insurance: Weapons and Stunt Work
Locations
Feeding Your Crew
Stunt Work
Production Design
Tips and Tricks
Props
Go Make Your Movie

Being There: The On-Set Experience
12 Behind the Scene Vignettes on the set of BROKEN as we shot it !

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Post Production

How to Make DV look like Film! with Alex Ferrari
Why Shoot MiniDV?
Filter Packages for Post
Production Design
Costumes & Color Palette
Lighting
Color Correction
Shooting 24p: The Camera
Getting the Cameras

Color Correction Lab: The Overview w/ Commentary
Color Correction Comparison with FINAL FOOTAGE

Visual Effects Breakdowns
w/ Commentary from Sean Falcon & Dan Cregan

"Marquez Explosion" w/ Commentary
"Shaking Things Up" w/ Commentary
"Muzzle Fire" w/ Commentary
"Bonnie's Eyes" w/ Commentary
"Matte Painting/Sky Replacement" w/ Commentary
"Knife Throw" w/ Commentary
"Scoping Things Out" w/ Commentary
"Digital Blood Hits" w/ Commentary
"Digital Spark Hits" w/ Commentary

VFX Breakdown: The Title Sequence w/ Alex Ferrari & Dan Cregan

Visual Effects in Indie Film: with Sean Falcon
Pre Production
MiniDV and Compositing
Why Shoot 24p?
1 Chip vs 3 Chip MiniDV Cameras
Practical and Digital Effects
Compositing Before or After Color Correction
MiniDV Blowup to Film
3D Animation in Indie Film
Gun Muzzle Blasts
Compositing: The Details
Digital Matte Painting
Shaking Things Up
Bullet POV
Blowing Up Someone's Head
Where Do I Find Visual Effects Talent for my Film?
I Want to Composite Too...
Where Can I Get Training?
Apple's SHAKE
Doing It Yourself

Cinematography in Indie Film: with Angel Barroeta
Planning BROKEN
Challenges on BROKEN
Tools: The Camera
Tools: The Lights
Tools: Moving the Camera
Shooting: Digital or Film?
Panasonic's DVX100a
Some Advice

Sound Design/Composing in Indie Film: with Mark Roumelis
Original Music in Indie Film
Composing BROKEN
Doing It Yourself
Recording Sound for 24p on DAT: The Sync Issue
Doing Audio Tests

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After the Short

The Making of BROKEN
The Origin of BROKEN
First Impressions
Actors: The Rehearsal Process
On-Set Experience
War Stories
The Future: A Feature Film

Marketing: Promoting a Short Film
Promotion: 50% of the Creative Process
Film Festivals and Sundance
The Internet: Even Playing Field
The Trailer

Marketing: Poster Gallery
Alternate Ending w/ Commentary
Art of BROKEN: The Nick Monaco Experience
The BROKEN Shoot: Gag Reel!

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

MASTERED in Dolby Stereo & Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound

Happy Holidays!!!!
The BROKEN Guys
http://www.whatisbroken.com

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B R O K E N has all the visual potency of the likes of The Matrix and Fight Club."
- FilmFocus UK

"Allow me to introduce you to the next big thing. ...the sweetest indie film this side of the Matrix.
They have single handedly taken indie to the next level . This $8,000 dollar film looks as good as Sin City.
- MoviesOnline CANADA

"4 STARS! "Broken” looks great, sounds great and threatens to put a bullet between your eyes right from the get go."
- Film Threat


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