Neo Geo (2011) short film status - Release on Feb. 16th!

[JoshTurboTrollX]

woo, can't wait till this Weds!!  Been a long time coming.

[Joe Redifer]

Already seen it. 

[PCEngineFX]

https://web.archive.org/../joystiq.com/../neo-geo-tribute-film... (Original, has comments)
https://www.engadget.com/2011-02-15-neo-geo-tribute-film-is-bigger-badder-better.html (Working 2021 link)

Joystiq (now engadget) broke the video early but here is my official blurb:

Neo Geo: Bigger Badder Better (2011 Short Film, HD 720p)

Prepare yourself to experience the biggest, baddest arcade game console ever to be released for the consumer market! Showcasing the sleek design of the hardware, legendary character artwork, and the games that crushed the competition, "Neo Geo: Bigger Badder Better" is a cinematic tribute to SNK's 24-bit arcade powerhouse.

Direction, creation and cinematography by Aaron Nanto
Cameras:
- Canon 5D Mark II & Sony FX-1
Camera Rig:
- Kessler Pocket Dolly camera rig w/ORACLE motion control system
Lenses:
- Canon EF 24-70mm f/1.2L USM
- Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
- Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
Lighting:
- Lowel 750w Tota Softbox
Production Duration:
- Start: 5.2010
- End: 2.2011

[Joe Redifer]

I'm surprised you need that much light with apertures that big.

EDIT:  Also, by keeping the video on private, peeps like Joystick would not have been able to leak it. 

[PCEngineFX]

I didn't always shoot wide open to help focus during the dolly shots (and to keep camera ISO to a minimum) and my Tota light was contained in a large softbox so I always shoot at least 700w or higher as I can easily loose a few stops with a softbox/diffusion.

And I sent it to Joystiq on purpose but didn't know they would post it today.  Now if YouTube finishes its maintenance I can make the video public :\

[esteban]

[SignOfZeta]

I guess I'll be the Negative Nelly...

Obviously its nice. It shows a great deal of absolutely pro skill, and yes your gear is really good.

However...

...has anyone noticed that all movies look the same now? It doesn't matter if its Iron Man or some heist flick. They all use the same shots, the same timing, the same post tricks, the music is the same (fake digital scores and licensed pop songs) the way the music ties into the timing and the shots...its all the same stuff. You can tell what is going to happen, and when, before it actually happens. Then there is the shakey-cam, lens flair, and the bogus depth of field. It doesn't even matter where in the world it was shot, or at what budget. The tools are cheap enough for any studio to afford now and Hollywood's reach is so far that everyone sees the same stuff. It used to be that Italian movies looked Italian, but now they look just like Korean/French/British/American movies.

This video is all (most, anyway) of those learned, creativity-free cliches wrapped into one thing that just happens to have some Neo fapping material in there. The subject matter could be anything. Over a 1/4 of this video is credits. Of the remaining footage less than half of that is actually in focus. It couldn't be more pompous if it were a Man O War music video. There is nothing accidental about it. This is how the pros do it, and you are very pro, but Jesus isn't it time to do something besides this?

I'm sincerely hope it goes over well on your demo real/resume, but in the meanwhile I'll be watching Keith Apicary.

[Joe Redifer]

I haven't really seen ANY movies that look like Aaron's work.  Car commercials, yes.  Movies?  No.  Aaron needs to get Parkinson's Disease™,  and be a complete incoherent spaz on the zoom before he is ready for movies.  He holds the camera way too steady.  Paul Greengrass would hate Aaron with a passion.  But if I had a product or a car that I needed some slick shots of for a commercial, I'd definitely hire Aaron to do it.  He could also work for Top Gear.  But I do agree with your assessment that movies look the same these days.

Aaron, on the 5D you can turn the ISO up to 1000 before you start to notice any increase in grain. Canon says it is actually 1600, so that's why I stick to about 1000 unless I need to go higher in an emergency.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

I thought it looked excellent Aaron!!  It's a really great tribute piece, SNK should be paying you to show it at E3's or Tokyo game shows ;)

[PCEngineFX]

For those who don't like my work, I'm sorry to hear that.  For those who do like my work, thank you. 

For my next console film, I'm thinking I might do the Dreamcast...but whatever console it may be, it won't be out till summer at least.

And to Joe - to keep the visuals as high-quality as possible I was aiming for a 100 ISO at all times.  The only time I had to even get close to 1000 ISO was during the 4 quick shots of the AES/CD/MVS/Games at the end of the film (before the credits/BTS segment starts).

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Looks good to me.  Sure it's kinda artsy fartsy, but that's what makes it fun; youtube is littered with nice long videos of game play, and straight on photos are easy enough to find if I want to see exactly what the hardware looks like.

[Mathius]

I just watched the vid, Aaron. Freakin' Awesome! I wanted to let the storm die down for a few days before I viewed it. I loved your tribute to the Neo, and I thought the music fit the overall theme well. The close-up shots of gameplay were a little close for my liking though. Them scanlines sure were pretty.  

I should've sent you my copy of Viewpoint to put it in the film. It may have lackluster power-ups, and it is balls hard, but it's still a Neo classic. Anyway, thanks Aaron!

[Joe Redifer]

Let me borrow your copy of Viewpoint and I'll make my second Neo Geo video.  

Of course my videos and Aaron's each have their own style, with mine being geared more towards comedy and Aaron's more towards admiration of the product on camera.  That's what I think a lot of people don't get.  He's admiring the system, not necessarily trying to capture the entire spirit of the system that each and every individual experienced.  At least that's what I get out of it.

[Mathius]

Let me borrow your copy of Viewpoint and I'll make my second Neo Geo video.  

Of course my videos and Aaron's each have their own style, with mine being geared more towards comedy and Aaron's more towards admiration of the product on camera.  That's what I think a lot of people don't get.  He's admiring the system, not necessarily trying to capture the entire spirit of the system that each and every individual experienced.  At least that's what I get out of it.

I am always willing to help. PM me if you're serious.

What's your You-Tube channel???

[Joe Redifer]

Upon watching the video again, I have to ask this question:  What camera settings did you use to film, oops I mean videotape, oops I mean shoot the games as they were being played on the monitor?  This is always a headache for me as a rolling sync bar usually crops up.  Was being so close to the monitor helpful in this manner?  Also, did you shoot at 29.97fps or 23.98fps?  24fps hates looking at 60hz monitors!

[esteban]

Upon watching the video again, I have to ask this question:  What camera settings did you use to film, oops I mean videotape, oops I mean shoot the games as they were being played on the monitor?  This is always a headache for me as a rolling sync bar usually crops up.  Was being so close to the monitor helpful in this manner?  Also, did you shoot at 29.97fps or 23.98fps?  24fps hates looking at 60hz monitors!

I was curious about this as well. Please describe any/every variable you played around with, such as:

* the ambient lighting in the room (if any),
* the screen brightness/contrast settings on the television/monitor
* the distance from the camera lens to CRT (and, did you zoom in at all?)
* etc.

Thanks!

[PCEngineFX]

So camera settings were as follows:

Canon 5D Mark II w/24-70mm f/2.8L lens
ISO: 100
F-Stop: 2.8
Shutter speed: 50
Resolution & FPS: 1080p/23.976

Monitor is running at 60hz (LG 27" M2762D)

I'm not sure why there wasn't any rolling sync bar when I was filming the monitor.  I was about 2 feet away from the screen, with very little ambient lighting in the room....

[Joe Redifer]

Ah.  No sync bar because it was an LCD, not a CRT.

[Mathius]

Joe, are you still doing your Neo short??? My copy of Viewpoint has been wanting to meet the great Redifer.

[Joe Redifer]

Well, I want to do something.  I want to do an "inspired by Aaron Nanto" type of short, but not sure what subject to dedicate it to.

[esteban]

Well, I want to do something.  I want to do an "inspired by Aaron Nanto" type of short, but not sure what subject to dedicate it to.

Personally, I would love it if you made a film that focused on the lesser known, oddball games for the Neo.  Or, simply, ignore the entire "vs fighting" genre altogether and show what Neo offered to folks like me (I don't get excited about the fighting genre at all).

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Well, I want to do something.  I want to do an "inspired by Aaron Nanto" type of short, but not sure what subject to dedicate it to.

I'd dedicate it to the few Hudson titles and to fun being a strong word, but that's just me.