Alan Uran
Director / DoP / Producer / Editor

"The Return" - Short Film

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It's a story based on some events that took place in 1945, in the forests of Ardennes. However war is not the main plot here but rather man, and his life. I wanted to show few days from a soldier's life.

You won't find here blood, battle scenes or explosions. You may find instead something, that hopefully will allow you to see your life a bit different. We only had few days to shoot it.

The weather was really terrible, some of the crew got sick, we had to change the script every day to fit in the tight time schedule. But we made it ! I would like to thank everyone involved in production. Special thanks to my small, but really great crew: Dawid Marciniak (camera man), Kamil Frey (German soldier), Mateusz Potaczek (German messenger) and Artur Walisko (set assistant). You did a great job on the set guys. More than I was expecting. Impressive work. Without you, it wouldn't be possible to make this movie. I'd like to thank also my post production team, Piotr Hummel (music composer), Piotr Forkasiewicz and Wojtek Nieweglowski (3d artists). Huge thanks goes to a man, that equipped us with the WW2 uniforms and accessories, Andrzej Frankowski. Contact him if you ever shoot a war movie, here in Poland. Be aware that all the clothing, props, and symbols are not meant to propagate Nazi ideology, neither we approve any military actions taken against people. War is never good.
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Shiv Kumar    January 06, 2010 07:10 AM

Great Story and cinematography Alan! Kept me riveted all the way.
Robert Pacheco    January 11, 2010 07:30 PM

I found this by accident after watching someone elses short video. I was riveted to the whole story. I liked it very much. It shows how many of us are all alike no matter where we come from. You and your cast have done a marvelous peice of work. Yet, there was not large volumes of equipment and people. Still, it shows how a nice short story with impact can be produced with a minimum of material. Bravo!
Bob Pacheco. Exposure Room member.
Alan Uran    January 11, 2010 08:53 PM

Thanks guys. I appreciate your kind words. Take care. Alan
Michael D'Emilio    January 12, 2010 03:38 PM

Nice little film. Beautifully shot.
Dennis Hart    January 19, 2010 09:21 AM

Great mood on the photography. Compared to many "Hollywood" productions including "Band of Brothers"(shot mainly on a "green stage") your location stuff is the best I've seen at capturing the winter conditions in the Ardennes.

Understand you problems focusing the the Canon HX A-1. I have one so I can feel your pain:-)

A couple of points (and I know you're not the producer). What language are the soldiers speaking? Sounds like Polish. Might want to explain Polish boys were drafted (unwilling of course) into the German army. See http://www.stormfront.org/forum/showthread.php?t=88380 Another minor point. The Ardennes was the last major German "offensive" action of WWII. Of course WWII continued until May 8, 1945 with the Germans fighting many defensive battles.

Nice job and good luck in your future projects.
Alan Uran    January 19, 2010 03:28 PM

Hi Dennis,

Thanks a lot for this comment! I was not so satisfied with the locations because they felt rather 'flat' but we found few hills that created the mood I wanted. Actually I liked a lot the Ardennes episode of Band of Brothers. Only the lighting was a bit weird but it all looked very good.

A1 is a great cam, we had to sell it but for that price I wouldn't buy anything esle.

Yes they are speaking Polish. Mainly because actors could not speak German. To be honest I wasn't aware of that fact that Polish guys fought side by side with Germans, quite interesting. Thanks for pointing that!

I'm really happy you liked the movie. Greetings. Alan
Maurice Salazar    January 23, 2010 07:36 PM

Inspiring

I love the cold colors you used with a touch of warmth. What do you use to color correct.
Keep up the good work!
Steve Weiss    February 27, 2010 10:21 PM

Wonderful, Fantastic, Ambitious

I love WW2 stories. Very ambitious project with great attention to detail. Everyone in my house including my daughter speaks polish (living in Chicago) and I think most American's watching will think it's German. It's interesting to hear polish sub-titled in English (although my daughter has all of the Disney films in Polish).

One correction though, the German's were no fans of the Polish, most were sent to concentration camps, my father-in-law was a polish prisoner for the German calvary and he tended to their horses. Actually, he says he was not a prisoner (but when I asked him if he tried to leave, he then says they would have shot him), he as a 16 year old boy and enjoyed working for the Germans. As a matter of fact, when he was 65 (after living in the US for 40 years) he applied for retirement from the German government because he technically worked for the Germans and he got it. Isn't that incredible.

Anyways, here is my critique. Screen direction, excellent, wonderfully framed shots. Nice use of the Brevis (my buddy Dennis makes a great product), that gave you a wonderful look, at first I thought it was 7D. Loved the color, not sure if graded or not, well done. The fact that you did this in a few days is amazing. Plus, getting that snow storm was great bit of luck, since that is what actually happened. Editing excellent. Wonderful sound (my pet peeve), thank you for that. I can tolerate a bad picture (not that I like it), but bad sound is intolerable. Great sound design as well (effects or folly) it was great quality. The music, perfectly scored (I think)? Loved the opening shots of the plane and tank, not sure how you got that. Titles elegant. The long shot of the soldier in the distance coming to camera must be an homage to David Lean the the shot from Laurence of Arabia, so great.

All in all, wonderful, fantastic, ambitious, well done! (I'm not known for loving much according to Philip Bloom but I loved this).

Steve Weiss
Zacuto
Director: Critics/FilmFellas
Alan Uran    February 28, 2010 03:03 PM

Thanks Steve for your reply. I'm really happy that you liked it. Of course Germans did not like Polish, and vice versa, that's why I decided to explore this 'field'.

Thanks for the background info of your family, it's nice to read things like that.

I actually wasn't pleased with audio recorded on set because we didn't have an audio guy, and it overall did not turned out as I planned but it's great that you liked it so much.

The whole crew would appreciate those kind words! I'm working on my next short now (writing this from the set already), and this time I'll use the 7D for some scenes.

Best wishes to You and your family. Take care.
Don Frazier    March 06, 2010 03:30 PM

Inspiring Short

This is an inspiring short and a thoughtful way to display art as social value. The soundtrack is very complimentary to the intended mood. The ending I feel could be just a little stronger in defining the war correspondent with more divinity; maybe as a looming shadow during the soldier’s opening of the gift or showing a single set of footprints in the snow. Nevertheless, this film is simplistically understood and intriguing. Well done!
Alan Uran    March 10, 2010 02:00 PM

Thanks Don,

Actually I had plans for footsteps scene at the ending, and frankly speaking imagined the whole 'goodbye' scene much different but we had to rush it and I couldn't shoot what I had in mind. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Takre care,
Alan
lisa adess    August 07, 2011 05:47 PM

lisa adess

hey alan, beautiful shots, not yet outdated!! trying to contact you but your email seem to be invalid and i cant send you a msg!


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Updated: 26 months ago
Short
Genre: Military
Duration: 00:20:13
Definition: This Video is a High Definition (HD) Video
Dimensions: 1280 x 720
Size: 321.34MB

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Alan Uran
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Poland
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Visual Effects Artist
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