A Casualty of the Promiseland

GL. Good job. Please check out my AD for L'Oreal it's called Don't Stop the Party. Tell me what you think.
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Congratulations on getting accepted for TV. Excellent piece. Reminds us that we are not so different than those we often ignore on the street. Loved the pacing and the muted colors.
If you have 5 minutes, please check out Drawn For Life for a Green Light consideration.
Looking forward to seeing more from you Weskandel.
Peace, Morgan

Quite a bit on the cliche side, this topic has been covered many times, but kudo's for going out there and shooting this.

For those yearning to do something about homeless veterans; since this video has captured your attention, why not whip out your check books and help out your local Homeless Veteran's organization?

The way it was filmed is great! but...it really didn't say anything to me. I don't see it as inspiring or tragic because Clifton CHOSE to be where he is (he even said so.) Let me explain. I grew up in Washington DC and my father served 23 years in the military and volunteered to go to Vietnam. There he was surrounded by the drug element, but CHOSE not to them (what my father taught me was that on or off the battlefield, the warrior with a clear mind is always victorious.) for his own sake & for ours. I'm not quite sure how his story is tragic. Did the government screw him over? Did he get denied veteran benefits? Is he handicapped? He seems mentally sound...but it seemed to me like he has accepted where he is. As a child my father took me to the Vietnam memorial. My father explained to me why it was there and why all the names are on the wall. There i spoke to vets of all walks of life & learned about respect...but i also learned about responsibility and duty. I ALWAYS (my family) give money to disabled vets & do what i can to a person who needs help.

This is a beautiful piece. Great job!

wonderful piece. Thank you -

GL-
Always interesting to give a voice to those that are seldom heard.
Glad to se this pod up on the top.

Love it

Great visually runs a tad long and the wind is slightly disturbing... A well produced piece.

how can a veteran end up on the streets doing drugs?
the gov. really needs to put more effort into helping veterans.
look at walter reed!

Powerful piece! I know that showing clips of the great monuments and seats of power in the Nation's Capital only helps bring about a question in most people's minds-- How can DC allow homelessness from one of it's veterans. Yeah, I gave it a GL. Good work!

Well-crafted and inspiring. Good work, please keep it up.

this pod is rad

beautiful.

a little long, but great...

Absolutely loved every part of this pod. Great work. I got choked up when he gave us his name. I grew up around DC and did some volunteering for the homeless back when I was a teenager. It was tough to see men and women like Clifton out on the streets. Thank you for letting him tell his story.
GL!

His story revealed is one of many, yet
represented at a very personal level through Clifton. Touching rawness in his words.
Good work capturing his story.

Nice! could be shorter~ greenlight~

Excellent pod!

This piece is beautiful and touching.. There are so many like Clifton out there..

Production and editing are great! Too bad it's not longer :)

this is so very well done. thanks for making this.

fabulous film... so real. captured the essence of the individual and the problem.

I like the natural take. I think if you edited it too much or any at all, it would not tell the whole story.

he is one man that represents so many that been forgotten and left behind. it took courage to tell his story and it brings great attention to the issue at hand. may god bless and protect him.

he is one man that represents so many that been forgotten and left behind. it took courage to tell his story and it brings great attention to the issue at hand. may god bless and protect him.

Great editing and a heart filled story.

presented as a human being should be... good work.

We tend to forget! Good work!

Thanks for your recent comment and congratulations on making it to #2!

like the music. would like to see more of course. i think it's pretty near perfect though. great shots and he is quite beautiful and sad

i Liked It ,Great For telling His Own Story.

I thought it was a good idea. I've walked streets in Flint, MI at 2am and talked to the homeless and crackheads. They all sound the same. I didnt like the part where you were following him, it was to dark. I did like the end of the interview, it seem to say that no matter who you see on the street, they have a name and a story.

I like this subject matter. It's kinda ramblin, but why not? it's cool to hear the guy's story in his words and style.

Wow, mesmerizing. Beautiful visuals, story, and sound. Really humanizes the homeless story. Most people do not take the time to listen.

I'd have to say I agree with the previous comments made by "JSBurman" about the technical aspects of the piece, but I can appreciate the intent of the video: the humanity of the homeless. Many people just see a homeless person as just that. We forget that they are real people - someones son or daughter, and have a history. Good luck with getting it on air.

Clifton Wayne Lee reminds me that so many of us who are lucky enough to live in the world of plenty need to appreciate that there will always be casualties and unlucky souls among us. A film like this puts and face and voice on real people that we ought to spend time and money understanding. Mr. Lee must get pretty cold in Washington`s winters and maybe a great little film like this asks questions that we need to consider. Maybe Clifton W. Lee can inspire a "new deal" for people on the streets? Thanks to Current for another moment in powerful video.

nice cut, camera work and best of all, subject!

good production value...nice camera work

He says Vietnam was "very cruel and unfair for the American people" under the "dictatorship" of "Chiang Kai Shek" - poor deluded fool. I think he needs to take a trip back to Vietnam and learn the reality of the American impact on Vietnam. Great vid! GL from moi.

Wes,

There are certainly lots of strong elements in this short film. The core concept is intriguing. Pick a homeless guy on the street and see what his story is. How did he get there. How does he present himself.

Is your title, "A Casualty of the Promiseland," a typo? Should it be "Promised Land"? or is there a hidden meaning there?

The music is pleasant to listen to, but I found the emotional tone confusing. It seemed to establish a pleasant, graceful tone, when a more wistful or conflicted tone might have been more appropriate.

The camera work was a tad on the self-conscious side, zooming in and out a bit too much. At least to me, it was distracting me from the efforts your subject was making to make sense of his predicament. And speaking of camera work, what was the long silent shot of the Washington Monument about? Was it a bridge? Was it meant to allow for a shift in tone? Or was it just an editorial mistake? Also, what was the final shot about? An image of a person that we as viewers, hadn't been introduced to before, riding a subway car. The weight of the previous scenes imply that there is a connection between the two men, perhaps implying that the guy riding the subway might, with some bad luck, end up like your subject.

I hope you take the criticism in the spirit I'm offering it. Best of luck!

J

Simple, powerful. Very nicely photographed and edited. Wonderful film.

Dude, this is an amazing story! All around great stuff! Thanks for the look at "stream team"!

many very good aspects, but I might be a little overcritical since I have personally worked with the homeless for many years. i felt it could have used a bit more depth or insight. i'm not a director and have no training in film, so i can't put it into clear, concise terms. but, i found it difficult to understand the point of the interview. on the good side, i loved the way it was put together visually. hope this helps.

that was really beautiful very very touching and telling. thank you!

excellent job! GL!

If you get a chance check out my current promo link Thanks

lovely in simplicity, cinematography, score, editing, subject matter, theme...and heart. Well done. Keep making films. I've seen many great documentaries and this is right up there.

Nicely edited and theme is important! I liked also the colors of video, night time gave right feeking to this.

I enjoyed your powerful piece.

I noticed other comments about wanting to know even more about your subject. I really appreciate your efforts. For future perspective regarding his "choice" to land on the streets, it would be interesting to ask him about "self-medication" for his mental health illness. You may notice Clifton's lip-smacking which is likely due to tardive dyskinesia from the prolonged usage of prescribed anti-psychotics. It would be interesting to know more about his history and struggle as well as provide the sympathy that many of our homeless deserve...not because of their choice for drugs, but because of our lack of adequate response.

the war on drugs is going so well, just look at this UNITED STATES ARMY VERTERAN. maybe it's time for us to make a change from incarceration to education and rehab. a govt. official walks by this man every day and they still send money abroad. i guess we don't really need it here in emerica.

Beutifully done W. The music really underlines the poignant nature of this mans life. I can only hope he gets a little love out there on his own. GL

peace :-)

Wonderful....

well done. this is shot really beautifully. the music and the unique shot angles really makes the viewer feel even more symthatic towards the subject. his statement towards faith was very touching. there is something to be said for leaving this in this early cut form after--but I would suggest going back and tweaking it--just for Current's sake since they have a different objection that just to see what you have made in 5 days. I do really love this piece and I think you've done a brilliant job. keep it up. :) GL.

Would love to hear your input on either of my pods!

society has its levels and this man is on a level that none of us want to be on. But i wonder if he is aware of the level he is on I think he has no idea and just accepts where he is at

As a layperson I can only say that the visuals are arresting. The photography is absolutely beautiful. This man is a grain of sand against the backdrop of Washington D.C. . . but raises the question of whether any of us is a larger grain of sand than any other. To some of us such a man is window dressing, to others a stark interruption in everyday life. I think you captured both his absolute normalcy and the absolute absurdity of his condition in a "free" and civilized nation. He claims not to be religious . . . but inspires faith in the viewer. I loved this piece. Thanks for sharing it.

As a layperson I can only say that the visuals are arresting. The photography is absolutely beautiful. This man is a grain of sand against the backdrop of Washington D.C. . . but raises the question of whether any of us is a larger grain of sand than any other. To some of us such a man is window dressing, to others a stark interruption in everyday life. I think you captured both his absolute normalcy and the absolute absurdity of his condition in a "free" and civilized nation. He claims not to be religious . . . but inspires faith in the viewer. I loved this piece. Thanks for sharing it.

The music was great. The intro and exit worked very well. Good B-roll. Interview would have been better with tripod.

An excellent blending of journalistic objectivity and a creative point of view.

5 Days? Great work - This hits so many levels.

Good work. should be on TV. Loved the storyline, soundtrack and close ups. Camera work a bit jittery at times, but not too distracting.

Very solid documentary. I particularly like the (difficult to pull off) mix of edgy cinematography with a clean storyline. Definite GL.

very moving piece
-am

You've done well here, that piece was great the music was great nice flow, defenatly had a a more doc film feel to it.

great spot!

I liked how you kept it unpolished and you had great angles. GL!!

loved it....thnx

This is a great piece of work. GL.

BEAUTIFUL!

This one's a beautiful piece I'm wondering why it doesn't get picked for tv yet. GL

Katotoy
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Touching, definetly ready for tv, teaches kids a lesson, hey man do you live near DC? Cause I live in Fairfax and me and my friends made a movie in DC involving the metro ourselves. What a coincidence!

Great use of music and b-roll. The intro and outro gave an excellent sense of place. Also I can tell the interviews were conducted well. I feel like the edits could have been a little tighter, since it seems to take about a minute to get into the narrative. Good use of a variety of shots, good composition, and good color. Overall, a great effort, especially considering how little time you had to do it.

Thanks for the GL on the Guarian Angels piece, also.

Sincerely, MikE

GL I found this very interesting. Often the homeless are faceless and nameless and this pod gives a context to a human being.

Thanks for the GL on Sister Beatrice Explores.

Wes:
thank you for the comments and GL on "B-Green"
I just uploaded my Vietnam piece "Art of War" and would like your comments...please.

thanks

Zan

Wes:

tops...that is awesome, video quality,edits,topic...A+
please...lol....stay off the zoom.

that is funny that you do a piece on the vietnam war. I am working on a doc... (full doc...) it will be up soon. the condensed version is "Art of war"

anywho...great work again....GL

Zan

Great job, very nice looking, great titles, great subject, and I love your use of imagery. No real criticisms, it gets a GL!

Take a look at mine if you don't mind.

Victor

Wow. Can I make films with you guys?

This small glimpse into this person's life really explained a lot about who he is and his place in this world. He admitted it was his choice. So sad! Amazing how he opened up to your camera.

Wow...
Great stuff man. I love the way you shot this, and the editing is super sweet! GL!
Thank you for checking my stuff, and the GL!!

Thanks for the GL and comment on Tantric Tourists.

This piece is so visually interesting and it captures that surreal dream scape of the city at night.

Good work.

You and Ben P have a future in this stuff. Well done. Good work on the ads as well. GL

well done! nicely executed! GL from me!

You are one rad dude. You have a piece that needs to shine. Congratulations. Would you mind having a look at my recent upload to see if this is something you would want to assist in seeing push ahead. The event is happening this fall down in Peru. The name is Journey of the Run. Cheers brother,
Danielmklopp~

GL

I can see your style in this piece. Some trimming and voila! a piece of art. GL!

wow! amazing! very professional look! Good story!
GL!

Beautiful. GL. You have some incredible shots, depth, and attention to detail. Well shot.
Danielmklopp~

some really terrific shots! and, the original music is superbly fantastic. keep the faith man, keep believing. gl from kendallfresh.

Wesley, thanks for the feedback on my pod. This piece was very nice. The original music was perfect for the emotional tone and grittiness of the canvas.

With the topic being Faith, I wish I learned even more about our character. Instead of talking about the war, what about his hopes? What does he think about the people that walk by him every day, the american people? Does he have faith that he'll live much longer within his current lifestyle? These are just off the top of my head, but I like the way you captured his past and teach us how anyone can end up somewhere hard like the streets, even after going to church, school, and military.

Keep it up.

Hey, thanks for the comment. You've got a really good piece here and it certainly doesnt need a voiceover, although maybe you could trim it a bit for Current, but of course cutting down is the hardest part. The simple text works just as well as a voiceover would, its best just to let their words stand on their own.

I cannot stand doing voiceover work but sometimes you just have to suck it up and do it. The more you do, the more you'll get better and get used to it. I shoot and edit everything myself so I dont have the option of anyone else. Just remember to talk slow and out of the countless takes, you'll piece together one that works...

and again...GL

I'll stop hogging your comments board after this. You might want to submit a shorter edit 4-5 mins to Channel Four - four docs here in UK. Accepted submissions are considered for broadcast. I think you'd have a good chance...

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When i logged out and came back to have another look i can now see everything... your vote for me mine for you etc.. hope you can now see also.. let this be an end to it.. all the best. If i ever come to New York I'd love to meet up with you... stay in touch ®

I can see about four people on your page who have given a green light, but it's not showing up on your stats...

And yours hasn't showed on mine.. Here's what i see... when i go to this page it shows me your film has been greenlight by Neavers and ronjon2020 (me). When i look at your profile page it says you have not handed out any greenlights to anyone. On my profile page it shows the greenlights i have awarded (4). on my film page it shows only one greenlight from myself. (it was a mistake) After 1 day i have totally lost confidence in the voting system, I'll write to the administrator for clarification. Thanks for your help.

how many Gulf War vets are on the streets? like this vietnam vet is he is a very good ex sample of curupted politics of the last war we are taught and bread that fighting a war is apart of freedom after you see all the ppl dying and handicapp was it worth fighting a war that is just so unjust

honest!

Thanks for clearing up the GL situation... (not that I'm paranoid, well not very...) when i look at your page now it's showing i voted for you twice.. well it was worth two votes! Good luck in all your endeavours and stay in touch.

Hi, Thanks for your comments, yeh i agree editing is like trying to dance, thankfully i'm a better editor than dancer. I loved this piece. Very warm insight, nicely shot and edited, kept me hooked in till the end. All the more impressive with the constraints of being within a competition environment. Great work which i say Green Light to! oh and on that subject being new... I've noticed that on my work and yours, several people put the words GL in the review but then don't hit the GL button. Is this some cynical practice for trying to get votes without giving them, or am i missing something... ps i actually belive what i say and hit the button.... ronnie

Im am supremely impressed, fantastically articulate and stunning. Please do more!! Green light.

Please check out my first vid launch, We Create! Thank you.

Just because this looks so good it should get picked up right away. Since it's also got a good story, I don't even know why we're even voting! U do good work. I'm jealous. Look forward to more of your stuff. GL.