MIDDLE GROUND

Middle Ground is a Star Wars fan film, based in the Star Wars universe, but with different characters and set one thousand years before the first official Star Wars movie. Over three Years ago when Dan Allan and Dane Sammis (That's us) started this project, there already existed several such films on the internet but, with the exception of a few excellent humorous short films, all of them were predictable rehashing of the same old plot. No one seemed to be able to write an original plot set in the Star Wars universe. We set out to create a mid-legth film with an interesting and original plot, and (of course) some cool visual effects.
For a couple guys with almost no money and very little movie-making experience to put together a major effects-intenstive film in the midst of busy high school schedules was nearly impossible. We had to settle for make-shift costumes, and often were so hurried in filming that we only had enough time to film everything once whether we got it right or not. Despite contraints on time and money, we made it through all the scenes. Then spent ten months glued to the computers drawing in lightsabers, giving members of the cast super-human powers and in some cases vaporizing them. Finally it is finished, and we are proud to release Middle Ground.

Teaser Trailer
Trailer
Middle Ground
The Web Page

 

I would like to watch this but .wmv's don't seem to like my computer . Do you have it in any other format?

 

Sorry, we don't. Although we have been thinking about it. So since you, and my guess many others, have trouble viewing that form, we might try and put it in something else? What would you prefer?

 

The most popular format is Quicktime's '.mov' using the Soreonson 3 Codec.

 

Good opening. That was good. The ship in the was turned the wrong way in all the shots. It was flying sideways. Good effects when talking to the guy on the handhled computer. The music when they were talking around the table was a alittle to loud.

I couldnt really tell if they were good or bad. They didnt really talk like sith lords. The Sith Master had a really good costume in the beginning (the opening) I couldnt here what they were saying a lot of the time.

Bad choice of music during the fight. It was to distracting,

Some of the effects were really good.

Overally I would say pretty good job.


Pretty confusing at times though.

 

I see on your Web site that you are selling VHS copies for $2. Sorry, man, not allowed.
What you ARE allowed to do is have people send you envelopes, postage and a VHS tape for you to dub the movie to and send out. So you can still break even.
But no charging money, even if it's just for tapes. That makes Rick McCallum cry.

ANYWAY

Here's my review. For all my reviews, visit THE FAN FILM MENACE


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Middle Ground caught me at a time in my reviewing career when I wasn?t sure if I was enjoying this task or doing a good job of it. I was actually excited to see a new film, though, one I hadn?t heard of before.

I really liked the opening narration over the greenery, though I wish the narrator had sounded a little deeper, more adult. But it was an engaging way to begin.

The viewscreen and inside-spaceship effects looked very good, at least as much as I got to see on the copy I reviewed, a Windows Media file, not my format of choice.

?After all, I?m only a junior member? sounded a bit expository to me, and unfortunately I get the sense that this scene takes place in a high school conference room or at the Holiday Inn. But at least they found a real meeting room and not someone?s house to shoot in. The music helps the scene, though often it overpowers the dialogue.

Okay, you can?t have someone discuss his training in the dark side in a young, friendly voice. It just isn?t working for me. And herein lies one of the basic problems of fan filmmaking. The age group most likely to go for it is too young to play the movers and shakers of the Old Republic.

And really, something should have been done about the character wearing eyeglasses. Oh, this has gotten out of hand. Now there are two of them. Freakin? wonderful, LensCrafters in a galaxy far away. Or maybe the glasses-wearing folk have a rule of one similar to the Sith rule of two. There can be only one. And the bespectacled Jedi does fall victim to a very cool effect. Simple and effective, just the way to go.

Other things happen. The next truly notable thing is a nifty hologram effect.

The bad guys decide to wreak havoc, and that?s where this film gets very strange. First of all, it randomly becomes autumn. Then we get a very cool effect as the evildoers sort of skate along the ground.

And then music kicks in, and things go downhill immediately. I can?t quite describe how for fear of spoiling the film.

Oddly enough, this is going to sound very hypocritical, but I like the music choice for the end credits.

This is a very ambitious project?over twenty minutes even without credits?by a bunch of high school kids. The production values are low and the visuals are nothing spectacular, but the story is decent and they got the darn thing made. To complete a film this size as an adult is an accomplishment. To do it as a high school student is an achievement. And, really, that?s what my aforementioned reviewing career is about?to judge works against their own potential. So I'm willing to forgive white t-shirts. But not eyeglasses.

B-
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Rick McCallum loves you!

 

Forests. I hate forests why does everyone think that its a good idea to film in forests. but the film looks cool. try curving the top of the sabers a little so there not so square.

EDIT: it makes me scared to go camping.. screw the bears... a sith might get me

 

I don't want this to sound like I am trying to defend my movie or anything. The reviews you guys have giive are well thought out and I truley apreciate them. I had one person comment a while back that "It sucked casue you guys were too young to be jedi". I compleatly understand about the glasses and white t-shirts. If you go back and look at the Jedi, they are all wearing the same sort of costume, actually, it is the same costume. We made this movie on a budget of $15. Thats right $15, so I know the costumes were not great. Yeah the part about the backgrounds changing, we shot them on different days and I was running XC at the time while Dan and Andy were heavy into the drama production at school, so we scambeled for time.

One thing I wanted to note was the scene with the teo Dark Jedi, did anyone notice who the actors were?

 

Heh - I forgive glasses... All the way. Not only are contacts not suited to many youngsters, and a royal pain, but going out and buying them would have added substantially to your budget. I've personally had laser eye surgery... and you can see how well that worked out

-Spiff

 

Figures you'd find a way to plug your own movie Spiff

 

Well, let's see. I liked the plot. In fact I think the story was great. Yep, I think I'll leave it at that.

Congrats on finishing your film.

 

Heh heh... Yeah. Sorry about the shameless plug. But I had nothing better to write while waiting to download the movie.

I quite liked the middle path approach - it seems to be a growing trend. Issues of grey are always more fun than black and white - so good job!

After watching the movie the glasses legitimately didn't bother me. I feel people can do anything they like in the SW universe - since it consistently violates continuity and physics whenever it sees fit. I thought the levels on some of the dialogue scenes should be adjusted - the music tended to overshadow what was being said.

Also salute your acheivement of a 20 minute fanfilm. Quite the ideal length if I do say so myself

-Spiff

 

After many of these reviews, we have decided to go ahead an re-release Middle Ground. Better compression and most likely on Quicktime.

 

That sounds great! But you can't sell those vhs copies.

 

Spiff: that image hurts my eyes.

I'm not trying to put it down, either, it's pretty cool. But it makes my eyes hurt to look at.

Movie to be watched tonight.

EDIT: Started it. I'm five minutes in and already two characters have said "as you know". Not a good sign.

M. Scott

 

Dan, the others are right, you can't have money changing hands when distributing your fanfilm... i'd ask that you take that offer down from your website.

-Chris

 

Just an update for everyone who is interested. Dane Sammis, Dan Allan and Andy Moss have begun work on MIDDLE GROUND: Special Eddition.

This is will contian the digitally upgraded version of the film, with some new scenes added in, and some crappy ones taken out. Plus the cast and crew interviews and making of, known as MIDDLER GROUND. In addtion, the newest film from the team, CAMIO, will be on the DVD. The two trailers, bloopers, Sam Wars, Sam Wars II and some of the early test footage will be included as well.