General Discussion

Hey Guys,
We have recently completed a 30 minute Steampunk Action Adventure film called 'Aurora'
It can be seen completely free at www.aurorathefilm.com or on youtube It was shot in and around the Adelaide area in South Australia on a budget of $1800.
Using 8 locations, with over 80 costumed extras and 375 VFX shots it has been a mammoth undertaking in indie film making.
We have drawn inspiration from a number of sources like Firefly, Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean to create something we hope is fun and original.

Synopsis
"After his wife Alina (Nikki Gaertner-Eaton) is kidnapped by a group of slave traders and put up for sale to the highest bidder, Emerson Marks (Peter Rossi), captain of the airship ?Aurora? flies out in search of her. With his crew?s opinions divided and the ruthless slave trader LeMaher (Mark Aitchison) in his way, Emerson must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice in order to bring back the one he loves."

If you have any questions, thoughts or feelings then feel free to post them in this thread or send them to me via my email at jeremybakker87@gmail.com

I dont know what I was expecting on this one but look. I have only so far watched 7 minutes of this film expecting a clever backyard production....you did say $1800....and....

I am absolutely astonished at the production values, effects, acting performances, music, editing etc. Whoever is behind this production....please start making major films or TV shows because after 7 minutes you;ve won me over.

Brilliant.

I'll watch the rest tomorrow.

OK, I'll give it a look after I've finished my morning cup of water. But if I don't like it, you'd better be ready for a crack about Colonel Gaddafi's Terrorist Chicken, because that's how I usually respond to people who register with the forum solely for the purposes of advertising.

Ha ha! That's fair.
Though as its free we don't really gain anything so I'd consider it more sharing than advertising.
We've actually been huge fan of the Sci Fi channel while making this. Firefly was one of our larger influences when we were writing the world and characters, and we watched the entirety of Stargate Atlantis and Battlestar during the post production process. All these shows have been a huge help to us in realizing this film as though their effects are impressive, they are also wonderful examples of what you can achieve on your home PC with enough time and effort.
With such limited resources we had to learn as much as we could from the masters of quick and cheap effects, and although at times the quality doesn't size up to the likes of what you see on the Sci Fi channel, we wouldn't have made it this far without them.
Hope you enjoy it!

You say that you made this for $1800? If you're not missing a zero or two from the end, then I'm guessing that a lot of people volunteered their time and talent for this.

I'm not one of those jingoistic zombies, who thinks that everything made in Australia is good just because it's made in Australia. I'm not afraid to give crap its proper name, and Australians have produced a lot of crap, over the years.

On the other hand, when Aussies get it right, they get it very right. I reckon that Aurora falls onto this side of the line. You've more than enough imagination, creativity, talent, resourcefulness and determination to make a go of this.

Don't get me wrong, though. I also think that it needs a little work, yet ...

The dialogue doesn't always ring true. "Don't screw with me!" seemed right out of place.

People who are accustomed to use antique wespons use them well. For example, a person trained in the use of a muzzle-loader probably wouldn't discharge its single shot and then stand about, as if waiting for a taxi -- and no, I'm not talking about the guy who was obviously traumatised by killing for the first time. Also, a cutlass is not an epee, and a swordfight is not a duel (although hanging about, instead of killing the b*stard within the first 60 seconds, can increase dramatic tension).

The thing which I really missed, however, was some sense of the world in which the story is set ... But to be fair, it's only a 30-minute trial-piece -- maybe made in hope of gaining some kind of financial backing?

In the end, all that matters is that I actually liked it, and want to know what will happen next. Obviously you've done something right, and you've definitely done it well. Everybody who was involved with the production should feel bloody proud of their accomplishments.

If Sci Fi Channel was looking to produce "An Australian Sci Fi Channel Original", I'd like to see them produce Aurora. What would you say, meine Kapitäne?

Same looks interesting just watch a little, now copying the 1080 version down to watch on the big TV.

Story Quality looks good. Was wondering how the ship came about in the few minutes i've seen so far, and more about what went before. But I shouldn't say too much before watching it all.

Quite good it seems, Too bad some twurpy studio has the rights to Firefly you could make more of those for the many fans at a low price...Jee one even Sci fi could afford to pay you to make.

Since that cannot happen (get the rights to Firefly), maybe talk to sci fi here and see if they would pay you to make a series like this. Its within their budget scope.
ZV you just beat me to that idea just posted mine and you have just done the same thing at the same time with that idea. (now get back to making that Dalak, maybe he can appear in the next one)

I need to do my tax that I came in here to do, now i just want to watch this...

Aw, boo-hoo. You can't copyright an idea.

Actually, that's right -- you can't copyright an idea. I don't see that somebody else owning the rights to Firefly prevents Jeremy from producing Aurora. Sure, there are similarities, but it isn't a copy of Firefly. So Aurora can probably be considered "an original work", for the purposes of copyright, as defined in The Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).

Damn! I spend too much time talking with my IP lawyers ...

Ah, I misunderstood you. But now I have a different bone to pick; while it's true that I think Firefly is the only decent series Joss Whedon has created, I don't see that there's a need to diminish the achievement represented by Aurora, by saying, "Gee, that's good, you should make Firefly."

Yeah you right could not get the original cast cheap anyway, new cast may not work.

So could do a lot with a series like Aurora with backing...

Did that Name Aurora come from Stargate Atlantis ship they found?