Penance - Pool Short Film

Pretty well made. Sorry to say I figured out the punchline almost right away. Here is the problem though in this and almost every depiction of pool in commercials and movies.

Players who obviously can't play a lick. The ones in this short film could not even make a bridge. Many sports films such as baseball films seem to take great care to have actors who look like they can play, not so with pool.

When they don't it spoiles the picture. I remember Jimmy Stewart playing Monty Stratton, he looked like he had never seen a baseball before.

For me it spoiled the whole picture. I hate to be so picky but can't help it. Poor unrealistic depictions of pool is a real pet peeve. I did the tech stuff in a movie and I designed some great real situation shots that looked good.

They wanted masse shots and balls hit 100 miles an hour into the pockets and so on. I did what they wanted and fortunately the whole scene was cut in the finished film.
 
Pretty well made. Sorry to say I figured out the punchline almost right away. Here is the problem though in this and almost every depiction of pool in commercials and movies.

Players who obviously can't play a lick. The ones in this short film could not even make a bridge. Many sports films such as baseball films seem to take great care to have actors who look like they can play, not so with pool.

When they don't it spoiles the picture. I remember Jimmy Stewart playing Monty Stratton, he looked like he had never seen a baseball before.

For me it spoiled the whole picture. I hate to be so picky but can't help it. Poor unrealistic depictions of pool is a real pet peeve. I did the tech stuff in a movie and I designed some great real situation shots that looked good.

They wanted masse shots and balls hit 100 miles an hour into the pockets and so on. I did what they wanted and fortunately the whole scene was cut in the finished film.

I totally agree. Bad sports acting just kills a movie. The grace, speed, fluidity and power of professional athletes is just impossible to fake. As most of us know, we can spot a lousy pool player after 1 or 2 strokes. Bad acting and the cheesie "bad boy" vibe didn't help this little flick either. But again, it is a student film not a blockbuster movie.
 
Cool little story. I'd say more about a relationship for a future between father and daughter. Do like the score board vs the beads though in the hall.

Yes we have those over every table, including special ones for the snooker tables. They're remote controlled and work great. Expensive though.
 
Being as how I’m a Canuck, I’m kinda proud of this movie...
...always nice to see anything billiards featured.

A sequel would be nice, Bruce....
..maybe where poppa is in her corner when she wins a world title?
 
Pretty well made. Sorry to say I figured out the punchline almost right away. Here is the problem though in this and almost every depiction of pool in commercials and movies.

Players who obviously can't play a lick. The ones in this short film could not even make a bridge. Many sports films such as baseball films seem to take great care to have actors who look like they can play, not so with pool.

When they don't it spoiles the picture. I remember Jimmy Stewart playing Monty Stratton, he looked like he had never seen a baseball before.

For me it spoiled the whole picture. I hate to be so picky but can't help it. Poor unrealistic depictions of pool is a real pet peeve. I did the tech stuff in a movie and I designed some great real situation shots that looked good.

They wanted masse shots and balls hit 100 miles an hour into the pockets and so on. I did what they wanted and fortunately the whole scene was cut in the finished film.

You raise a good point. Getting them to make good bridges would have been easy to do and even if the rest of them looked awkward the bridge alone would've helped a lot, seeing as how close it would be to the camera.

Next time, if there is one, I'll make sure that the actors at least have that.
 
If you want a movie that is about pool, with perfect attention to every detail of the game, watch an instructional DVD..


I believe that this short film was beautifully produced. Nice story, nice lighting, nice camera work, decent acting, and a gorgeous pool hall.. Those kids did a great job.

Thank you for sharing.
 
Who bets their pool hall on a nine ball game race to 15?

Against a stranger? Hmm
Wait...what? This wasn't a documentary?

At least it was about pool but who knows what it would be like with a cast who had smoked, played pool...or acted previously.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Obvious plot. No twists what so ever :mad:.

The pool as stated previously was TERRIBLE. Neither one could have ever been players. They both jump up on almost every shot, they aren't still as they shoot, and their strokes were shakey at best.

Turn the River had far better pool in it imo, and it wasn't good...
 
Yes we have those over every table, including special ones for the snooker tables. They're remote controlled and work great. Expensive though.

Do you sell these? I really want one if they’re not crazy expensive.
 
Yes predictable outcome but, beautifully filmed and one of the nicest looking pool rooms I have seen.
 
Yes predictable outcome but, beautifully filmed and one of the nicest looking pool rooms I have seen.

Thank you for that. It's my design pretty much from top to bottom. However a lot of people worked hard at executing it.
 
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