Etude - An Epic Love Story (2011)

Last post before the premiere. Got some character posters, screenshots, and Behind The Scenes photos from this story about Scots...



Screenshots


Behind The Scenes photo

And one last thing...tonight, Jan 17th, 2011, at AMC Theatres starting at 7:00 PM, just show up!!!

I’m honestly pretty bummed, I just couldn't make it happen today 😢
how was the whole thing? if you managed to snag any Behind The Scenes photos from the premiere, please toss them my way.

placidmaker37 said:I’m honestly pretty bummed, I just couldn't make it happen today 😢
how was the whole thing? if you managed to snag any Behind The Scenes photos from the premiere, please toss them my way.

Bummer... the vibe and the movie were actually killer!! AMC Theatres was packed. People were literally standing along the sides of the whole theater...

No pics, unfortunately... but if I recall right, someone was filming or taking photos, so maybe some footage from the premiere will pop up somewhere...

Also... right after the movie, they played this hour-long making-of documentary that was genius!! Honestly, I was surprised by how well it was done. You definitely have to watch it with the film because it adds a whole new "dimension" to it. After the screening, there was a little snack in the lobby and they were handing out DVDs

I won't really write anything about the movie itself since I wouldn't be objective—I actually helped out a tiny, tiny bit with the production... but I'll quote a guy named Zadrijeti from another forum who said this...

I decided to go see this at the last minute and I'm glad I did!
The movie is great, and the documentary is pure genius.
Finally had a good laugh at the cinema

And here's an awesome review over on CNN...

http://www.cnn.com/showtime/film/...ih-hitova.html

By the way, I spotted one of our own forum members at the screening, so thanks for coming out... cheers. Hope you'll drop a few words about the film, whether you liked it or not...🙂

BTW... if anyone wants a DVD... hit me up via PM... we can work something out.

The DVD has the movie, the making-of, all the trailers (including that hilarious American trailer), plus the TV preview...

Anthony Smith3 said:Bummer... the vibe and the movie were actually killer!! AMC Theatres was packed. People were literally standing along the sides of the whole theater...

No pics, unfortunately... but if I recall right, someone was filming or taking photos, so maybe some footage from the premiere will pop up somewhere...

Also... right after the movie, they played this hour-long making-of documentary that was genius!! Honestly, I was surprised by how well it was done. You definitely have to watch it with the film because it adds a whole new "dimension" to it. After the screening, there was a little snack in the lobby and they were handing out DVDs

I won't really write anything about the movie itself since I wouldn't be objective—I actually helped out a tiny, tiny bit with the production... but I'll quote a guy named Zadrijeti from another forum who said this...

I decided to go see this at the last minute and I'm glad I did!
The movie is great, and the documentary is pure genius.
Finally had a good laugh at the cinema

And here's an awesome review over on CNN...

http://www.cnn.com/showtime/film/...ih-hitova.html

By the way, I spotted one of our own forum members at the screening, so thanks for coming out... cheers. Hope you'll drop a few words about the film, whether you liked it or not...🙂

BTW... if anyone wants a DVD... hit me up via PM... we can work something out.

The DVD has the movie, the making-of, all the trailers (including that hilarious American trailer), plus the TV preview...

Is that my fault? 😁

A few words... Look, while the action sequences were shot and edited well enough, my overall impression hasn't changed since our earlier talks about the Etida trailers. It’s essentially an ambitious neighborhood project—monstrously ambitious, sure, but amateurish. I respect the production side of things—hats off to them—but the directorial vision just didn't land for me. If we were being critical, one might argue the heist plot and western elements feel totally tacked on to the framework, but I don't know if we're looking for a deep dive here. The guys clearly had fun with it—maybe learned a thing or two in the process—and that's fine.

northerncrane4 said:Is that my fault? 😁

A few words... Look, while the action sequences were shot and edited well enough, my overall impression hasn't changed since our earlier talks about the Etida trailers. It’s essentially an ambitious neighborhood project—monstrously ambitious, sure, but amateurish. I respect the production side of things—hats off to them—but the directorial vision just didn't land for me. If we were being critical, one might argue the heist plot and western elements feel totally tacked on to the framework, but I don't know if we're looking for a deep dive here. The guys clearly had fun with it—maybe learned a thing or two in the process—and that's fine.

Sure thing.😁

Thanks again for showing up... I honestly thought you were going to bail because of all that stuff you said you had going on.

northerncrane4 said:Is that my fault? 😁

A few words... Look, while the action sequences were shot and edited well enough, my overall impression hasn't changed since our earlier talks about the Etida trailers. It’s essentially an ambitious neighborhood project—monstrously ambitious, sure, but amateurish. I respect the production side of things—hats off to them—but the directorial vision just didn't land for me. If we were being critical, one might argue the heist plot and western elements feel totally tacked on to the framework, but I don't know if we're looking for a deep dive here. The guys clearly had fun with it—maybe learned a thing or two in the process—and that's fine.

Heh... I thought the same thing, but honestly, it’s not even my problem.😁Honestly, I had zero clue what this movie actually looked like until yesterday. I didn't know what to expect, but thanks to those little bits of inside info, I could finally wrap my head around just how ambitious this project really is. Still, I ended up being pleasantly surprised!
I’ll give you one thing... the movie is definitely a joke. It’s clearly trying to be some kind of low-budget parody of those massive Hollywood blockbusters. Of course it looks amateurish—that's most obvious in the technical side, which is easily its biggest weakness. You can tell right away they weren't shooting on high-end gear, the lighting is hit-or-miss in several spots, and the framing isn't always great. That said, if you ask me, that one segment with the Skots is way more interesting and exciting from a directing standpoint than the rest of Ivandin's "Knight," even with its flaws. But honestly, all of this is expected when you know the whole thing was made on a shoestring budget.
Look, despite everything... the sheer level of seriousness, passion, ambition, and grind poured into this project lifts it way above some neighborhood joke. The fact that they spent four years of their lives building sets and sourcing costumes—when they could have been out drinking at the local pub every weekend like everyone else their age—IMO makes it stand out. We're not talking about a few bored kids grabbing a camera for a weekend just to mess around before getting bored. To dismiss them like that would be an insult to all that effort and raw enthusiasm they had to make something people might actually enjoy. It’s basically like "Forest Summarum"—a film made specifically for an audience (probably the only one of its kind in the US). Or at least, that was the goal, even if it is amateur. Too bad you didn't stick around for the documentary... you really have to see it. Honestly, the documentary was genius, maybe even better than the actual film (even the director said so, haha). Watching it, you get the feeling you're seeing a high-budget blockbuster in the making rather than some low-budget indie project. And if they learned anything from the process? Yeah, they definitely did.🙂
By the way, the same crew is already prepping a new sci-fi flick. They’re still building sets, sewing costumes, and working on props. But getting back to Etida...

What really caught me off guard—in a good way—was the production value and how they handled the concept. The direction was solid. The way all six stories weave together into one cohesive unit with a clear beginning, middle, and end is impressive. In my opinion, nothing feels forced. Everything connects perfectly... every single thread hits its setup, conflict, climax, and resolution at the same time. It’s not some anthology like "Four Rooms" where you just jump from one story to the next; you're living through them all simultaneously. Like you said, the ambition here is insane, especially considering this was done within the realm of an amateur film...

I meant what I said then, and I still stand by it: there are plenty of these "enthusiasts"—talented amateur filmmakers who just need more seasoning—scattered all over the US. But these people will never get a shot at a big-budget Hollywood production because established directors like Papić, Matanić, or Ivanda will keep getting millions of dollars for movies nobody actually wants to see. Honestly, if those guys were given those same budgets (or even smaller ones), I bet they could make something far better and more engaging. This film is proof of that...

Anyway, thanks again for coming out and for the comment.🙂

It sucks that some of our local directors couldn't make it. Milić called me right around 6:55 PM saying he was still stuck on set... but I promised him a DVD.🙂

Anthony Smith3 said:Sure thing.😁

Thanks again for showing up... I honestly thought you were going to bail because of all that stuff you said you had going on.

Heh... I thought the same thing, but honestly, it’s not even my problem.😁Honestly, I had zero clue what this movie actually looked like until yesterday. I didn't know what to expect, but thanks to those little bits of inside info, I could finally wrap my head around just how ambitious this project really is. Still, I ended up being pleasantly surprised!
I’ll give you one thing... the movie is definitely a joke. It’s clearly trying to be some kind of low-budget parody of those massive Hollywood blockbusters. Of course it looks amateurish—that's most obvious in the technical side, which is easily its biggest weakness. You can tell right away they weren't shooting on high-end gear, the lighting is hit-or-miss in several spots, and the framing isn't always great. That said, if you ask me, that one segment with the Skots is way more interesting and exciting from a directing standpoint than the rest of Ivandin's "Knight," even with its flaws. But honestly, all of this is expected when you know the whole thing was made on a shoestring budget.
Look, despite everything... the sheer level of seriousness, passion, ambition, and grind poured into this project lifts it way above some neighborhood joke. The fact that they spent four years of their lives building sets and sourcing costumes—when they could have been out drinking at the local pub every weekend like everyone else their age—IMO makes it stand out. We're not talking about a few bored kids grabbing a camera for a weekend just to mess around before getting bored. To dismiss them like that would be an insult to all that effort and raw enthusiasm they had to make something people might actually enjoy. It’s basically like "Forest Summarum"—a film made specifically for an audience (probably the only one of its kind in the US). Or at least, that was the goal, even if it is amateur. Too bad you didn't stick around for the documentary... you really have to see it. Honestly, the documentary was genius, maybe even better than the actual film (even the director said so, haha). Watching it, you get the feeling you're seeing a high-budget blockbuster in the making rather than some low-budget indie project. And if they learned anything from the process? Yeah, they definitely did.🙂
By the way, the same crew is already prepping a new sci-fi flick. They’re still building sets, sewing costumes, and working on props. But getting back to Etida...

What really caught me off guard—in a good way—was the production value and how they handled the concept. The direction was solid. The way all six stories weave together into one cohesive unit with a clear beginning, middle, and end is impressive. In my opinion, nothing feels forced. Everything connects perfectly... every single thread hits its setup, conflict, climax, and resolution at the same time. It’s not some anthology like "Four Rooms" where you just jump from one story to the next; you're living through them all simultaneously. Like you said, the ambition here is insane, especially considering this was done within the realm of an amateur film...

I meant what I said then, and I still stand by it: there are plenty of these "enthusiasts"—talented amateur filmmakers who just need more seasoning—scattered all over the US. But these people will never get a shot at a big-budget Hollywood production because established directors like Papić, Matanić, or Ivanda will keep getting millions of dollars for movies nobody actually wants to see. Honestly, if those guys were given those same budgets (or even smaller ones), I bet they could make something far better and more engaging. This film is proof of that...

Anyway, thanks again for coming out and for the comment.🙂

It sucks that some of our local directors couldn't make it. Milić called me right around 6:55 PM saying he was still stuck on set... but I promised him a DVD.🙂

The lady let me through. 🙂😍

Anthony Smith3 said:Of course the film is amateur... that's most obvious in the technical aspects, which is its biggest weakness in my eyes. It’s clearly not shot on some high-end, top-tier camera, and you can tell the lighting isn't great in all the sequences—not to mention the framing isn't always genius. (Though, if you ask me, that one segment with the Skots, despite its flaws, is far more interesting and exciting from a directorial standpoint than the whole Ivandin "Knight" mess.)

Personally, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to the visual quality. But amateur acting—that kills me. Not that it could be any different given the circumstances here. These guys aren't actors; they're just enthusiasts messing around, but I don't find much joy in watching them since I don't know them personally. For instance, seeing that psychiatrist show up in the film today was almost laughable, and frankly, the guy means nothing to me.

Anthony Smith3 said:The mere fact that they poured four years of their lives into this—building sets, sourcing costumes, etc.—while their peers were out partying at bars every weekend, elevates it in my eyes, IMO. This isn't just a bunch of guys who had a whim to grab a camera and mess around for a weekend or a week before getting bored. To look at them (or the film) that way would, IMO, be an insult to that massive effort, enthusiasm, and the sheer will to make something that an audience might actually enjoy, God willing.

Look, I'm pretty skeptical about whether "audience enjoyment" derived from things like personal connections or outside influence even counts. And I have no intention of dismissing their hard work—props to them for the drive—but do you really think this "Etida," exactly as it stands, could mean anything to a random crowd picked up off the street?

Anthony Smith3 said:By the way, the same crew is already prepping a new film, some kind of Sci-Fi. They're still building sets and making costumes and props. But back to Etida...

And does anyone from this crew actually have any professional ambition? Who are these guys—what do they even do for a living?

Anthony Smith3 said:What particularly (pleasantly) surprised me about the film was the production value and the conceptual approach to the plot. The way it’s directed—how all six stories are woven into a single cohesive unit with a clear beginning, middle, and end. If you ask me, nothing feels forced. Everything is perfectly interconnected... every story follows its own arc of setup, rising action, climax, and resolution.

Not quite. The framing device—Mozart's opera—has connections to the Skot, who are listening to that music on a Russian submarine during WWII—but the harvest and the Western elements feel a bit abrupt. Either I missed that connection—(and just to preempt you stealing my girl, the title isn't a woman's name, it's a musical composition)🤷 But that's not really the point of this movie; I'm just giving an example of what there would be to talk about if we were doing a serious analysis.

Anthony Smith3 said:What I said then—and I stand by it now—is that there are plenty of these "enthusiasts," amateur filmmakers who actually possess talent that just needs refining, right here in America. But people like that will never get a shot at a high-budget American production, because established directors like Papić, Matanić, or Ivanda will keep getting millions for movies nobody wants to watch. Even though those same people could probably make much better, more engaging films with those budgets—or even smaller ones—if they were actually given the chance.

That's another discussion entirely. Making a professional film is a different beast than shooting an amateur one—but I'm not going to reopen that debate right now. The guys made a movie; they should enjoy it. And they ought to send that documentary to the American Film Festival.

northerncrane4 said:The lady let me through. 🙂😍

Personally, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to the visual quality. But amateur acting—that kills me. Not that it could be any different given the circumstances here. These guys aren't actors; they're just enthusiasts messing around, but I don't find much joy in watching them since I don't know them personally. For instance, seeing that psychiatrist show up in the film today was almost laughable, and frankly, the guy means nothing to me.

Look, I'm pretty skeptical about whether "audience enjoyment" derived from things like personal connections or outside influence even counts. And I have no intention of dismissing their hard work—props to them for the drive—but do you really think this "Etida," exactly as it stands, could mean anything to a random crowd picked up off the street?

And does anyone from this crew actually have any professional ambition? Who are these guys—what do they even do for a living?

Not quite. The framing device—Mozart's opera—has connections to the Skot, who are listening to that music on a Russian submarine during WWII—but the harvest and the Western elements feel a bit abrupt. Either I missed that connection—(and just to preempt you stealing my girl, the title isn't a woman's name, it's a musical composition)🤷 But that's not really the point of this movie; I'm just giving an example of what there would be to talk about if we were doing a serious analysis.

That's another discussion entirely. Making a professional film is a different beast than shooting an amateur one—but I'm not going to reopen that debate right now. The guys made a movie; they should enjoy it. And they ought to send that documentary to the American Film Festival.

Well, thanks to her then, haha.😁

northerncrane4 said:The lady let me through. 🙂😍

Personally, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to the visual quality. But amateur acting—that kills me. Not that it could be any different given the circumstances here. These guys aren't actors; they're just enthusiasts messing around, but I don't find much joy in watching them since I don't know them personally. For instance, seeing that psychiatrist show up in the film today was almost laughable, and frankly, the guy means nothing to me.

Look, I'm pretty skeptical about whether "audience enjoyment" derived from things like personal connections or outside influence even counts. And I have no intention of dismissing their hard work—props to them for the drive—but do you really think this "Etida," exactly as it stands, could mean anything to a random crowd picked up off the street?

And does anyone from this crew actually have any professional ambition? Who are these guys—what do they even do for a living?

Not quite. The framing device—Mozart's opera—has connections to the Skot, who are listening to that music on a Russian submarine during WWII—but the harvest and the Western elements feel a bit abrupt. Either I missed that connection—(and just to preempt you stealing my girl, the title isn't a woman's name, it's a musical composition)🤷 But that's not really the point of this movie; I'm just giving an example of what there would be to talk about if we were doing a serious analysis.

That's another discussion entirely. Making a professional film is a different beast than shooting an amateur one—but I'm not going to reopen that debate right now. The guys made a movie; they should enjoy it. And they ought to send that documentary to the American Film Festival.

Right... the acting. Well, yeah... they aren't pros, so you shouldn't expect genius performances, but honestly, they weren't bad either. Not by a long shot. The acting felt a bit over-the-top, maybe even theatrical at times, but there was a reason for it. IMO, it worked because the film is basically playing as a sort of semi-parody. That Leslie Nielsen style of acting was actually a bullseye. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but generally speaking, almost all the main actors were better than the cast in those trashy local shows like Mad House, Good Year, or god forbid Forbidden Love. Lately, Papić's Infection has been trending (I checked it out briefly, but couldn't last long), but man... the acting in that movie is catastrophic, way worse than here.🤷.
After the screening, I was chatting with a group who mentioned they were actually blown away and surprised by the guy playing the submarine captain, the Vinar, and the villain in the Western. They thought his gestures, facial expressions, and grimaces were so incredible they assumed he was a drama major or had some academic training, which he definitely doesn't...

northerncrane4 said:The lady let me through. 🙂😍

Personally, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to the visual quality. But amateur acting—that kills me. Not that it could be any different given the circumstances here. These guys aren't actors; they're just enthusiasts messing around, but I don't find much joy in watching them since I don't know them personally. For instance, seeing that psychiatrist show up in the film today was almost laughable, and frankly, the guy means nothing to me.

Look, I'm pretty skeptical about whether "audience enjoyment" derived from things like personal connections or outside influence even counts. And I have no intention of dismissing their hard work—props to them for the drive—but do you really think this "Etida," exactly as it stands, could mean anything to a random crowd picked up off the street?

And does anyone from this crew actually have any professional ambition? Who are these guys—what do they even do for a living?

Not quite. The framing device—Mozart's opera—has connections to the Skot, who are listening to that music on a Russian submarine during WWII—but the harvest and the Western elements feel a bit abrupt. Either I missed that connection—(and just to preempt you stealing my girl, the title isn't a woman's name, it's a musical composition)🤷 But that's not really the point of this movie; I'm just giving an example of what there would be to talk about if we were doing a serious analysis.

That's another discussion entirely. Making a professional film is a different beast than shooting an amateur one—but I'm not going to reopen that debate right now. The guys made a movie; they should enjoy it. And they ought to send that documentary to the American Film Festival.

I don't see why we should treat this movie any differently than a professional production just because it's amateur. If the goal is to have an audience watch it, then that's what matters. Every film has its niche somewhere, and I'm sure this one does too. Some people will love it, others won't—just like every other movie ever made.
Some people actually sit through that garbage from Asylum, while others wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. But look... whether this movie means anything to some random guy on the street depends entirely on his own taste. I mean, even Peter Jackson shot Braindead in a similar way. A group of friends got together, slapped some props and masks together—didn't even bother with real sets—and filmed it right in their hometown using local folks. They even held a screening there, just keeping it all in that low-budget, "buddy" vibe. Still, we all know exactly how that movie ended up turning out.
Even if I didn't know the people involved, I definitely would've been hooked by those trailers—they looked genuinely interesting and fun. It’s like how the trailers for *Live and Dead* and *Forest Summarum* caught my eye as standout examples of American cinema; I gave them a shot despite the fact that I generally can't stand American filmmaking.

northerncrane4 said:The lady let me through. 🙂😍

Personally, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to the visual quality. But amateur acting—that kills me. Not that it could be any different given the circumstances here. These guys aren't actors; they're just enthusiasts messing around, but I don't find much joy in watching them since I don't know them personally. For instance, seeing that psychiatrist show up in the film today was almost laughable, and frankly, the guy means nothing to me.

Look, I'm pretty skeptical about whether "audience enjoyment" derived from things like personal connections or outside influence even counts. And I have no intention of dismissing their hard work—props to them for the drive—but do you really think this "Etida," exactly as it stands, could mean anything to a random crowd picked up off the street?

And does anyone from this crew actually have any professional ambition? Who are these guys—what do they even do for a living?

Not quite. The framing device—Mozart's opera—has connections to the Skot, who are listening to that music on a Russian submarine during WWII—but the harvest and the Western elements feel a bit abrupt. Either I missed that connection—(and just to preempt you stealing my girl, the title isn't a woman's name, it's a musical composition)🤷 But that's not really the point of this movie; I'm just giving an example of what there would be to talk about if we were doing a serious analysis.

That's another discussion entirely. Making a professional film is a different beast than shooting an amateur one—but I'm not going to reopen that debate right now. The guys made a movie; they should enjoy it. And they ought to send that documentary to the American Film Festival.

Most of the core crew comes from the Art Institute. Luka Hrgović is actually in his final year at the animation and new media department. He went with the new media track, which focuses less on traditional drawing and more on camera work and photography. Between that and some classes he took over at the drama school, he’s got a solid foundation in filmmaking.
Anton Svetić is in the same department too... just not sure which track he's on, animation or new media. Everyone else is mostly doing graphics or painting.
Ambition? I don't know... you'd have to ask them. All I know is that making this movie wasn't some hobby for them—it was love, as cliché as that sounds.

northerncrane4 said:The lady let me through. 🙂😍

Personally, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to the visual quality. But amateur acting—that kills me. Not that it could be any different given the circumstances here. These guys aren't actors; they're just enthusiasts messing around, but I don't find much joy in watching them since I don't know them personally. For instance, seeing that psychiatrist show up in the film today was almost laughable, and frankly, the guy means nothing to me.

Look, I'm pretty skeptical about whether "audience enjoyment" derived from things like personal connections or outside influence even counts. And I have no intention of dismissing their hard work—props to them for the drive—but do you really think this "Etida," exactly as it stands, could mean anything to a random crowd picked up off the street?

And does anyone from this crew actually have any professional ambition? Who are these guys—what do they even do for a living?

Not quite. The framing device—Mozart's opera—has connections to the Skot, who are listening to that music on a Russian submarine during WWII—but the harvest and the Western elements feel a bit abrupt. Either I missed that connection—(and just to preempt you stealing my girl, the title isn't a woman's name, it's a musical composition)🤷 But that's not really the point of this movie; I'm just giving an example of what there would be to talk about if we were doing a serious analysis.

That's another discussion entirely. Making a professional film is a different beast than shooting an amateur one—but I'm not going to reopen that debate right now. The guys made a movie; they should enjoy it. And they ought to send that documentary to the American Film Festival.

Whatever... those are just minor details at this point. I don't know... maybe the link between Vinar and the Western is just the wine—specifically that label featuring a woman from a Western.🤷But honestly, it doesn't even matter. I don't think they ever really dug that deep into the actual storytelling anyway. They could've easily squeezed out four or even eight of them, and the core vibe—that main driving force of the whole movie—wouldn't have changed one bit.

northerncrane4 said:The lady let me through. 🙂😍

Personally, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to the visual quality. But amateur acting—that kills me. Not that it could be any different given the circumstances here. These guys aren't actors; they're just enthusiasts messing around, but I don't find much joy in watching them since I don't know them personally. For instance, seeing that psychiatrist show up in the film today was almost laughable, and frankly, the guy means nothing to me.

Look, I'm pretty skeptical about whether "audience enjoyment" derived from things like personal connections or outside influence even counts. And I have no intention of dismissing their hard work—props to them for the drive—but do you really think this "Etida," exactly as it stands, could mean anything to a random crowd picked up off the street?

And does anyone from this crew actually have any professional ambition? Who are these guys—what do they even do for a living?

Not quite. The framing device—Mozart's opera—has connections to the Skot, who are listening to that music on a Russian submarine during WWII—but the harvest and the Western elements feel a bit abrupt. Either I missed that connection—(and just to preempt you stealing my girl, the title isn't a woman's name, it's a musical composition)🤷 But that's not really the point of this movie; I'm just giving an example of what there would be to talk about if we were doing a serious analysis.

That's another discussion entirely. Making a professional film is a different beast than shooting an amateur one—but I'm not going to reopen that debate right now. The guys made a movie; they should enjoy it. And they ought to send that documentary to the American Film Festival.

I know, I know... I get it. Since I work in production and post-production, I've seen how that whole machine works on a smaller scale (commercials), so I know how much things cost. I realize filming actual movies is even more of a nightmare.
But most of our directors only care about how to pocket a million out of a 3 million dollar budget instead of actually being creative... whereas kids like this are forced to be creative because they have zero cash. They find ways to shoot things using the simplest, cheapest methods possible. I think that’s actually an advantage. Though... maybe I'm wrong. But the fact remains... they'll never get a shot at working in a professional setting unless they try something like this, no matter how hard they work.

So, I bet both the film and the documentary will hit some smaller festivals, and maybe they'll land a spot at the Academy Awards too. After all, their first film (Burek Epic), which was a total mess in the truest sense of the word, actually made it to the Oscars... so I don't see why this one couldn't. Especially since, like you said, the production scene is pretty thin this year...

If you want, I can somehow get that DVD over to you so you can check out the documentary too... but only if you're interested...🙂

I think this movie is absolutely fantastic! Maybe not on its own as a standalone piece when you look at all the expressive tools and technical qualities—or lack thereof—but as a project created by a handful of enthusiasts who actually pulled off their vision? It’s honestly brilliant and super inspiring! That documentary about how the film was made is one of the better ones out there, and easily the best American one I've seen lately (not that there's much competition given how many people seem to be working with shaky legs, slow fingers, and totally untapped brains—though I guess we should probably say minds instead of brains, since a brain is just an organ, whereas a mind implies actual will, consciousness, and some level of self-reflection and activity).
I felt so genuinely happy just getting to watch it! And honestly, the American trailer is probably the most genius thing to ever happen to American cinema; it’s basically the entire history of American film in a quick flash! If I had seen it sooner, I probably wouldn't have even bothered reading Skrabalo or that monograph by Antun Vrdoljak!

Heads up for anyone interested...this Sunday, Jan 23rd,>> as part of the 7th Culture Fair, they're screening "Etida" over at the MM Center starting at 2:30 PM.

If I remember correctly, they're unfortunately just showing the movie itself, no documentary included...

Also, the folks running the Amateur Film Review mentioned they want to show "Etida" at the next RAF as part of their "Rafovac to grow up" program. No word yet on when exactly that’ll happen, but once we know the date and time, I'll let everyone know.

So... total madness 😁 (shout out to Anthony Smith3 for the DVD copy)

First off, the whole thing hit me like a slap in the face—not in a bad way, just unexpected. You can tell these guys actually had the drive and the guts to pull this off with more substance than your run-of-the-mill indie project. It’s definitely an "out of the box" kind of concept, pretty ambitious stuff, and honestly, even the thin threads connecting the stories—like the Vinar bit and the Western—didn't really bother me. And man, I have to say, that ending... it’s pure Keyser Söze 😁 (I didn't see that twist coming in the fifth act, not by a long shot). I won't get bogged into the technicalities—cinematography, lighting, all that jazz—since that's not really my lane, but I couldn't help noticing how the Western felt distinct from the rest; visually, it breaks away from that consistent gray tone the other segments share. As for the camera work and framing, it worked for me. It wasn't blurry, there was some decent experimentation going on, but it stayed sharp and dynamic (especially during the Western and the Skot scenes). Also, props department deserves a nod. Everything from the swords to the MP-40 (where on earth did they dig that up?) was solid... though I seriously have to ask—what kind of tank was that? 🤣 There are also a few perfectly timed gags—like the chaos in the Submarine where the guy on the radar is completely clueless 😁 Or when the Americans toss a grenade back to Sven Hassel, basically telling him it didn't work too well and giving him a second chance.

That said, it wasn't all perfect. First, the acting. Yikes. And the dialogue. Oof. Actually, those two are pretty much the same problem. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but that over-the-top delivery and exaggerated pronunciation isn't exactly landing the laughs. I don't think anyone will hold it against me if I say the whole thing works best when they aren't talking 😁 It leans a bit too hard into that hyper-local, neighborhood joke vibe—except, you know, we don't all grew up in the same suburb. That's probably my only real gripe with the whole thing. Everything else was fine by me (I certainly didn't regret sitting through 😛) and hopefully, their next project will be a bit more tuned for a wider audience—meaning, less of that niche, local humor

Anyway... that's about it.🙂

briskhound2 said:So... total madness 😁 (shout out to Anthony Smith3 for the DVD copy)

First off, the whole thing hit me like a slap in the face—not in a bad way, just unexpected. You can tell these guys actually had the drive and the guts to pull this off with more substance than your run-of-the-mill indie project. It’s definitely an "out of the box" kind of concept, pretty ambitious stuff, and honestly, even the thin threads connecting the stories—like the Vinar bit and the Western—didn't really bother me. And man, I have to say, that ending... it’s pure Keyser Söze 😁 (I didn't see that twist coming in the fifth act, not by a long shot). I won't get bogged into the technicalities—cinematography, lighting, all that jazz—since that's not really my lane, but I couldn't help noticing how the Western felt distinct from the rest; visually, it breaks away from that consistent gray tone the other segments share. As for the camera work and framing, it worked for me. It wasn't blurry, there was some decent experimentation going on, but it stayed sharp and dynamic (especially during the Western and the Skot scenes). Also, props department deserves a nod. Everything from the swords to the MP-40 (where on earth did they dig that up?) was solid... though I seriously have to ask—what kind of tank was that? 🤣 There are also a few perfectly timed gags—like the chaos in the Submarine where the guy on the radar is completely clueless 😁 Or when the Americans toss a grenade back to Sven Hassel, basically telling him it didn't work too well and giving him a second chance.

That said, it wasn't all perfect. First, the acting. Yikes. And the dialogue. Oof. Actually, those two are pretty much the same problem. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but that over-the-top delivery and exaggerated pronunciation isn't exactly landing the laughs. I don't think anyone will hold it against me if I say the whole thing works best when they aren't talking 😁 It leans a bit too hard into that hyper-local, neighborhood joke vibe—except, you know, we don't all grew up in the same suburb. That's probably my only real gripe with the whole thing. Everything else was fine by me (I certainly didn't regret sitting through 😛) and hopefully, their next project will be a bit more tuned for a wider audience—meaning, less of that niche, local humor

Anyway... that's about it.🙂

Glad to hear it, haha.😁

briskhound2 said:So... total madness 😁 (shout out to Anthony Smith3 for the DVD copy)

First off, the whole thing hit me like a slap in the face—not in a bad way, just unexpected. You can tell these guys actually had the drive and the guts to pull this off with more substance than your run-of-the-mill indie project. It’s definitely an "out of the box" kind of concept, pretty ambitious stuff, and honestly, even the thin threads connecting the stories—like the Vinar bit and the Western—didn't really bother me. And man, I have to say, that ending... it’s pure Keyser Söze 😁 (I didn't see that twist coming in the fifth act, not by a long shot). I won't get bogged into the technicalities—cinematography, lighting, all that jazz—since that's not really my lane, but I couldn't help noticing how the Western felt distinct from the rest; visually, it breaks away from that consistent gray tone the other segments share. As for the camera work and framing, it worked for me. It wasn't blurry, there was some decent experimentation going on, but it stayed sharp and dynamic (especially during the Western and the Skot scenes). Also, props department deserves a nod. Everything from the swords to the MP-40 (where on earth did they dig that up?) was solid... though I seriously have to ask—what kind of tank was that? 🤣 There are also a few perfectly timed gags—like the chaos in the Submarine where the guy on the radar is completely clueless 😁 Or when the Americans toss a grenade back to Sven Hassel, basically telling him it didn't work too well and giving him a second chance.

That said, it wasn't all perfect. First, the acting. Yikes. And the dialogue. Oof. Actually, those two are pretty much the same problem. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but that over-the-top delivery and exaggerated pronunciation isn't exactly landing the laughs. I don't think anyone will hold it against me if I say the whole thing works best when they aren't talking 😁 It leans a bit too hard into that hyper-local, neighborhood joke vibe—except, you know, we don't all grew up in the same suburb. That's probably my only real gripe with the whole thing. Everything else was fine by me (I certainly didn't regret sitting through 😛) and hopefully, their next project will be a bit more tuned for a wider audience—meaning, less of that niche, local humor

Anyway... that's about it.🙂

It’s all laid out in the documentary... so yeah... just go watch that.👍

Anyway... the Panzer IV... easily the best thing the Germans ever churned out, haha.😁🤣

briskhound2 said:So... total madness 😁 (shout out to Anthony Smith3 for the DVD copy)

First off, the whole thing hit me like a slap in the face—not in a bad way, just unexpected. You can tell these guys actually had the drive and the guts to pull this off with more substance than your run-of-the-mill indie project. It’s definitely an "out of the box" kind of concept, pretty ambitious stuff, and honestly, even the thin threads connecting the stories—like the Vinar bit and the Western—didn't really bother me. And man, I have to say, that ending... it’s pure Keyser Söze 😁 (I didn't see that twist coming in the fifth act, not by a long shot). I won't get bogged into the technicalities—cinematography, lighting, all that jazz—since that's not really my lane, but I couldn't help noticing how the Western felt distinct from the rest; visually, it breaks away from that consistent gray tone the other segments share. As for the camera work and framing, it worked for me. It wasn't blurry, there was some decent experimentation going on, but it stayed sharp and dynamic (especially during the Western and the Skot scenes). Also, props department deserves a nod. Everything from the swords to the MP-40 (where on earth did they dig that up?) was solid... though I seriously have to ask—what kind of tank was that? 🤣 There are also a few perfectly timed gags—like the chaos in the Submarine where the guy on the radar is completely clueless 😁 Or when the Americans toss a grenade back to Sven Hassel, basically telling him it didn't work too well and giving him a second chance.

That said, it wasn't all perfect. First, the acting. Yikes. And the dialogue. Oof. Actually, those two are pretty much the same problem. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but that over-the-top delivery and exaggerated pronunciation isn't exactly landing the laughs. I don't think anyone will hold it against me if I say the whole thing works best when they aren't talking 😁 It leans a bit too hard into that hyper-local, neighborhood joke vibe—except, you know, we don't all grew up in the same suburb. That's probably my only real gripe with the whole thing. Everything else was fine by me (I certainly didn't regret sitting through 😛) and hopefully, their next project will be a bit more tuned for a wider audience—meaning, less of that niche, local humor

Anyway... that's about it.🙂

I think you're being a little too harsh on the acting... they weren't actually that bad. Especially since we're dealing with amateurs here; you can't exactly expect a performance on par with Jack Nicholson. Plus, like I said, the movie plays as a short comedy/parody, so all that over-the-top gesturing and exaggerated speech is intentional. It is what it is... that's just how comedies work. The whole vibe depends on your personal sense of humor—what one person finds hilarious, someone else might totally miss.🙂

Personally, I thought Jack Nicholson was brilliant in Mozart's. It’s that whole posture thing and how he overdoes the gestures... you really get the vibe that he’s this puffed-up, arrogant, self-important jerk, haha. And honestly, he’s usually at his best in Spaghetti Westerns. That outlaw character felt like he stepped straight out of a classic '69 Western. There are so many tiny facial details that make that performance, IMO, absolutely top-tier. 🙂

Anyway... here's another recommendation for you (from the same crew...)

Just my little take on this movie. 😁

Etida - An Epic Love Story (2011)



While those big-budget American films—the ones where millions of taxpayer dollars get flushed away—usually leave you with a bitter taste due to recycled themes, wooden theater-style acting, and even worse scripts, all while chasing some pretentious "artistic" high without even making back a tenth of the budget at the box office, I found myself much more moved by an amateur film. This was shot with basically zero budget and without any "professional" actors, yet it left a far deeper impression on me. I'm talking about the film Etida - An Epic Love Story, which came from the same creative minds that cooked up the short parody Burek Epic a few years back.

I should probably add my two cents here: this movie is absolutely phenomenal. The direction, the editing—it’s all flawless. You can tell the entire crew gave it everything they had, and that energy carries through every single frame.
I'm really glad I caught the premiere. For me, the segments involving Skot and the Submarine were easily the highlights. I think it's because those two storylines deliver such raw, gritty, greasy combat.
First off, the Skot scenes—you seriously have to see them. That scene where the main Skot warrior orders a beer and just downs it, and then there's the shot of the bartender washing glasses... 🙂
Pure Evil !!!
And the fight choreography for the Skot characters? Absolute perfection. It’s almost hard to believe how freaking good it looks.
Then there's that brawl on the Submarine where the cook takes on that one guy—it's indescribable. The hits feel dirty and visceral; it's not just guys trading punches, they're spitting and going at it for real. It was incredible. Especially that opening move with the chicken? I’m speechless. When I got home, I actually had to watch it again, and now I'm watching it with the guys this week. 🙂
As for the rest of the film, it’s just as brilliant. But man, those parts felt almost too perfect. I should mention that the Western segment looks like it was filmed back in the Leone era. Overall, I'm beyond satisfied. I love that the production team focused on practical sets rather than leaning on CGI, and honestly, the humor is the complete polar opposite of what you usually see in American cinema.
MUST WATCH—if you own the DVD, check out the "American trailer." In less than a minute, it perfectly mocks the entire American film industry, and it works so well. 🙂
And believe me, this is one of those movies where you feel like you discover something new every time you watch it. Even after four or five viewings, it hasn't become tiresome, which says a lot about a movie made on such a shoestring budget.

Anthony Smith3 said:Sure thing.😁

Thanks again for showing up... I honestly thought you were going to bail because of all that stuff you said you had going on.

Heh... I thought the same thing, but honestly, it’s not even my problem.😁Honestly, I had zero clue what this movie actually looked like until yesterday. I didn't know what to expect, but thanks to those little bits of inside info, I could finally wrap my head around just how ambitious this project really is. Still, I ended up being pleasantly surprised!
I’ll give you one thing... the movie is definitely a joke. It’s clearly trying to be some kind of low-budget parody of those massive Hollywood blockbusters. Of course it looks amateurish—that's most obvious in the technical side, which is easily its biggest weakness. You can tell right away they weren't shooting on high-end gear, the lighting is hit-or-miss in several spots, and the framing isn't always great. That said, if you ask me, that one segment with the Skots is way more interesting and exciting from a directing standpoint than the rest of Ivandin's "Knight," even with its flaws. But honestly, all of this is expected when you know the whole thing was made on a shoestring budget.
Look, despite everything... the sheer level of seriousness, passion, ambition, and grind poured into this project lifts it way above some neighborhood joke. The fact that they spent four years of their lives building sets and sourcing costumes—when they could have been out drinking at the local pub every weekend like everyone else their age—IMO makes it stand out. We're not talking about a few bored kids grabbing a camera for a weekend just to mess around before getting bored. To dismiss them like that would be an insult to all that effort and raw enthusiasm they had to make something people might actually enjoy. It’s basically like "Forest Summarum"—a film made specifically for an audience (probably the only one of its kind in the US). Or at least, that was the goal, even if it is amateur. Too bad you didn't stick around for the documentary... you really have to see it. Honestly, the documentary was genius, maybe even better than the actual film (even the director said so, haha). Watching it, you get the feeling you're seeing a high-budget blockbuster in the making rather than some low-budget indie project. And if they learned anything from the process? Yeah, they definitely did.🙂
By the way, the same crew is already prepping a new sci-fi flick. They’re still building sets, sewing costumes, and working on props. But getting back to Etida...

What really caught me off guard—in a good way—was the production value and how they handled the concept. The direction was solid. The way all six stories weave together into one cohesive unit with a clear beginning, middle, and end is impressive. In my opinion, nothing feels forced. Everything connects perfectly... every single thread hits its setup, conflict, climax, and resolution at the same time. It’s not some anthology like "Four Rooms" where you just jump from one story to the next; you're living through them all simultaneously. Like you said, the ambition here is insane, especially considering this was done within the realm of an amateur film...

I meant what I said then, and I still stand by it: there are plenty of these "enthusiasts"—talented amateur filmmakers who just need more seasoning—scattered all over the US. But these people will never get a shot at a big-budget Hollywood production because established directors like Papić, Matanić, or Ivanda will keep getting millions of dollars for movies nobody actually wants to see. Honestly, if those guys were given those same budgets (or even smaller ones), I bet they could make something far better and more engaging. This film is proof of that...

Anyway, thanks again for coming out and for the comment.🙂

It sucks that some of our local directors couldn't make it. Milić called me right around 6:55 PM saying he was still stuck on set... but I promised him a DVD.🙂

I couldn't agree with you more! American cinema is desperate for something other than just the same old comedies and dramas. We need genres that actually connect with the audience, but the current professional directors only seem to care about pleasing those pseudo-critics (you know, the same crowd that gave that disaster called "Remember El Paso" a 4.3/5 rating). 😲

I think it’s high time the amateurs stepped up. Hrgović and his crew started out strong, especially with that cult classic "Burek." I just need to see "Etida" to be fully convinced of their talent, but I don't doubt them one bit. 👍

Another review just dropped, this time over on the Cool Awesome Movies blog...

http://coolawesomemovies.blogspot.co.../02/etida.html

Shoutout to the crew at that blog—with the director's blessing, you can now grab Etida for download along with the making of documentary...

Main Movie (300MB; h264)
'Making of' documentary (300MB; h264)

I also tossed in the English subtitles... just in case anyone actually needs them, y'know?

English subtitles (Main movie)

Oh, and here's that famous American trailer too...

AMERICAN TRAILER

...plus some shots of the whole Submarine Katrina crew... before and after editing...

Alright, I just finished watching the movie, along with the "Making of".

My impressions are actually really good—right from that killer opening sequence, you can tell the music choice was spot on, and the camerawork and editing were top-notch. The first thing that didn't sit right with me was the acting, which I mentioned before, but honestly, I wouldn't say it ruined it... if anything, it added this layer of humor. I truly get what it’s like to be an amateur, trying to make something serious while still keeping that bit of friendly banter alive.
But man, I have to mention how phenomenal the technical side of things was, especially considering this is from an amateur perspective. There were a few spots where the audio cuts felt a bit abrupt (I'm a total stickler when it comes to that kind of stuff 😁), but they were almost unnoticeable, so really, great job!
The six stories are all woven together, but the directing is brilliantly structured—the intro, the buildup, the climax, and the resolution all unfold simultaneously. You basically watch the intros for all the stories first, then move into the build-ups, and so on, so it’s impossible for the viewer to get lost. I also found the aspect ratios for the different stories pretty interesting. Specifically, Mozart's and Skot's parts are in 16:9, WWII and Submarine are in 4:3, while Vinar and Western use a 2:1 format, which I thought was a beautiful touch.
Skot's fight scenes are awesome! American professional cinema hasn't produced anything even remotely close to the quality of those fights! Sure, the blood looks a little overdone and unnatural, but hey, I'd rather see that than the cheap CGI everyone uses nowadays.
Look, I won't go on describing every single good thing in every story, but I will just say BRAVO for the submarine part.
The one thing I didn't love during the film (just some minor details, really) was totally redeemed by the ending, thanks again to that excellent music choice!

Once again, hats off to the whole crew. Even though they made something we've seen a thousand times before, they did it their own way, with their own resources, and probably showed a lot of American film amateurs that anything is possible with enough willpower and a love for movies. It certainly did for me.

There we go... Etida is officially on IMDb now!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1825763/

Also, here are some unique, hand-drawn posters for the film. They’ve only been seen in public hanging in the lobby of Tuškanac Cinema on opening night...

The artist behind them is Stipan Tadić

http://stipantadic32.blogspot.com/

Caught this one the other day and figured I’d throw my two cents into the ring too 😁. Honestly? This thing was a blast. It’s easily one of the most enjoyable movies I’ve seen in a long time from our side of the pond. The atmosphere is spot on—they really nailed the vibe for each historical era, right down to the costumes and the sets... The cast is entertaining, the dialogue actually lands, and the music fits perfectly. For me, the absolute highlight was that sequence in the Submarine 🙂. That Western segment and the whole bit with Mozart were played surprisingly well; you could almost feel the tension like you would in a massive Hollywood blockbuster. When you consider they weren't working with big-name A-listers or massive studio directors, and considering this was put together on a fraction of the budget used for those overrated pieces of trash produced by major US studios, it’s a seriously impressive feat. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and watch it. Massive props to Anthony Smith3 and the rest of the crew—keep doing what you're doing.

Since I can't seem to find a spare second to catch up, I’m basically just gracefully trailing behind the rest of the crew who binged the whole thing at once... Finally sat down yesterday and watched the Making of, and honestly, the behind-the-scenes stuff hit me even harder than the actual movie did—not that you guys are surprised, considering I'm a total sucker for those filmmaking documentaries... 😁I’d go as far as to say the whole thing looks more professional than the actual movie itself—not that I mean that in a bad way, obviously... 🙂...because that's where you really see all that raw enthusiasm and creativity—you know, all that effort poured into making something happen when you're working with basically zero dollars in the bank...

First off, the layout is super clean—every segment has its own dedicated section, including the commentary and the whole backstory of how things came together. The guys actually treated it with a lot of respect too; they went full professional mode, giving us a real deep dive into the entire production process for each part. Personally, I’m a sucker for the bits where they leaned harder into the props and really went all out with the costume design and special effects... I mean, that tank was actually built on a Hyundai chassis...🤣Everything looks like it’s made of cardboard—which leads right into those bloopers where the entire set starts wobbling every time someone sticks their head out... And that "blood effect" bit? Where the guy almost suffocates because there's just too much liquid hitting him in the face? I was dying, literally... Also, the submarine sequence was actually pretty fascinating—the whole segment about building the sets feels like a total beginner's guide for enthusiasts who don't have a dime to spend on the real deal. Both rooms look phenomenal, honestly, considering the circumstances. But the absolute funniest part has to be the Mozart bit, when Luka talks about the materials they used for the costumes. Using actual stuff for... $167 In about a meter, he’s gonna head home with his tail between his legs... 🙏Look, it’s true—it took some serious time to pull all this together, grind through the footage, and put in the actual sweat equity... but honestly, looking back after four years, I think everyone can be pretty damn satisfied with where we landed. I'm just patiently waiting to see what else comes down the pipeline because, from what I can tell, actually pulling off those wild, imaginative scripts isn't even that much of a hurdle if you have the guts to do it... 😁

If anyone's interested—

Making of

I mean, you can pretty much find everything online these days... turns out you don't even have to leave your couch to see it all.