The Lady X Project

December 27, 2003 4:52 AM

The Lady X Project is complete.26 spy-themed short films from around the world, all involving a mysterious character called "Lady X", who travels to each location to send local agents on various missions. All were done by amateur digital filmmakers with little or no budget. Which one is your favorite?
posted by Poagao (14 comments total)

I like episodes 12, 13, 4 and 5 personally. Granted, there are huge variations in the quality, but some of these are quite good for people who aren't professionals.
posted by Poagao at 6:27 AM on December 27, 2003

Great link. The quality may be shaky, but this is still a really cool form of interactive filmmaking.
posted by ed at 6:29 AM on December 27, 2003

Wait a minute. Self-link!
posted by ed at 6:42 AM on December 27, 2003

I watched the first one; Sydney Bristow could change clothes in an alley waaaaay faster than Lady X. Still, pretty nifty!
posted by bcwinters at 7:58 AM on December 27, 2003

I like episodes 12, 13, 4 and 5

Uh, did you like 4 and 5 because you directed them?
posted by dhoyt at 8:25 AM on December 27, 2003

Actually, you'd think I'd hate 4 and 5 after having watched them so many times. 12 is my favorite, though.
posted by Poagao at 8:57 AM on December 27, 2003

Granted, it would have been better had Poagao said that a few of the entries were his... but we don't refrain from posting webby awards when Metafilter is in the line-up.
posted by silusGROK at 10:02 AM on December 27, 2003

I'm sorry, I should have said I was involved in a couple of these things. That said, I do usually hate watching stuff I've directed (probably says quite a bit about my directing, actually), but I still enjoy watching these things. In any case, don't let my ignorance ruin your appreciation of the project itself. It really is an interesting idea.
posted by Poagao at 10:15 AM on December 27, 2003

So far I like five the best, but I haven't seen them all yet.

The stickler in me can't forgive that faux action scene at the end of four. I understand it's independent and low budget, but if one can do a convincing car chase in five, why was the fight choreography in four so rehearsed, flawed, stilted, superfluous and lacking in force or gravity? It looked more like they were dancing. Perhaps that was an artistic choice, given the romantic overtones, but it threw me completely out of the illusion. There were other, better ways to play the confrontation.

The stuff in five is much better. Loved the car/bike chase. Choosing to keep the shot where the blood from the squib hit the camera lens was campy, but effective. Loved the sense of humor in it. The character of Fagen was fleshed out and the performance was strong and consistent in both episodes. Nice creative way of letting Lady X get the upper hand in the end.
posted by ZachsMind at 9:06 PM on December 27, 2003

Yeah, the fight scene was stilted. I re-edited it and put up a short version on Triggerstreet.com under the name "Lady X: Clay Soldiers" if you want to see the new edit of the fight and other stuff.

My favorite is still the second episode from Turkey, and the one from Vancouver wasn't bad either. Many other episodes had too much Wannabe Tarantinoisms, but that's to be expected I guess. It's interesting to see how different people in different cultures approach the same scenario.
posted by Poagao at 9:14 PM on December 27, 2003

My new favorite is Thirteen. The samurai motif was a nice touch. Although I gotta admit the Hamburg Germany stuff is growing on me. Probably cuz I got a weakness for blondes that change their clothes between cuts, and change character between episodes.

That one that consisted of nothing but a sadistic torture scenario has gotta rank at the worst. Not for lack of effort, or poor quality in effects or performance, but just a lack of appeal. Sometimes more is less. ..more or less.
posted by ZachsMind at 10:50 PM on December 27, 2003

...woah. Cool. My home town of Dallas is represented. So when's the big finale?
posted by ZachsMind at 11:18 AM on December 28, 2003

Sometime in January, the executive producers will pick a "best" episode, the producers of which will then make the finale episode.
posted by Poagao at 8:32 PM on December 28, 2003

Hey, Episode 10... Hawaii represent!

That said, limiting everything to the backyard of a beach house doesn't really do the islands justice. Having a shot of Diamond Head or a tiki doll, contrary to the beliefs of Hollywood, does not a Hawaiian setting make.

Hope NBC got the memo.
posted by pzarquon at 11:34 PM on December 28, 2003