Month: August 2016

Movie Review: WALK, 1min, Netherlands, Dance/Experimental (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERWALK, 1min, Netherlands, Dance/Experimental
Directed by Nicola Balhuizen Hepp

“The day of my birth, my death began its walk. It is walking toward me, without hurrying.” Jean Cocteau

Seen at the July 2016 Under 5min. FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Clear your mind of any conventional cinema and open it to the world of experiential and interactive dance and you have a foundation for WALK by Nicola Balhuizon Hepp. The sound design is reminiscent of the low-hum of industrial white noise, and the lighting is highly stylistic, the ultimately affect being something almost other-worldly. This is appropriate for a film like WALK because it offers no clear questions, and no easy answers.

It showcases two unnamed men, dancers Aimar Perez Gali and Rolf Hepp, who may actually be portraying the same character at different stages in life. Both performers, clearly skilled in modern dance, artistically move themselves through a dark void space using what appears to be every creative movement except walking. A metaphor it seems for fluid, but often aimless, movement through life.

If you enjoy the interpretive and the avant-garde, then WALK will be an enjoyable experience. It has interesting imagery, powerful spectacle and indeed, beautiful movement of the human body. Perhaps one way WALK is more powerful as a piece of cinema than it would be a live dance performance, is that the audience is privileged by the means of the camera to look more intimately on the performer. One frame in particular is a close up on the dancer’s bare foot, a detail given emphasis that may have been missed in a live performance.

WALK is an intimate experience, and yet it leaves you with no real answers as to how it wants you to feel. Some may argue in this way it is a perfect metaphor for life itself- captivating, intriguing and coming to an end in what seems like far to short a time.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:

Movie Review: CRE-AZIONI, 5min, USA, Drama/Experimental (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERCRE-AZIONI, 5min, USA, Drama/Experimental
Directed by Elena Vannoni

A film about women and time.

Seen at the July 2016 Under 5min. FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

In many ways, theatre gave birth to Cinema. The two share many elements of spectacle and form, although their medium is substantially different. What happens then, when the two mediums converge? Cre-Azioni written and directed by Elena Vannoni is one such product. Avant Garde, theatrical and wholly unconventional for a short film (if there is such a thing) is an artistic interpretation of women in the confines of society.

The film is simply shot, with one shot and set up panning into a woman looking out of a window. The background is stark- black and white. All that seems to exist in this world is the woman, the window and the world beyond it we can hear, but not see. As she stares out, presumably at children laughing and playing, the woman closes the window and begins to touch her face. The music of the piece becomes frantic and panicky, and our heroine is swept up into a corset, a wig put on her and large fake lips placed in her mouth. Hands appear out of nowhere with syringes and appear to inject her body. The woman grapples with her corset, frees herself from her confines, her wig and her accessories. She begins to dance in the apparent void of space behind her window, until she goes to the now open window- this time with ample light hitting her face.

The piece is unapologetically clear about its intent- the constraints of women in society to look a certain way, and they suppression and oppression that occurs within those confines. The way the message is framed, however, is what makes this film really interesting. It is a very theatrical piece, in the sense that the exact same actions could be played out on a stage to a live audience with as equally strong effect. Perhaps the medium of film allows a wider reach to audience, perhaps it translates a different type of solitude for our heroine, as she is not behind simply one pane of glass (the window) we see but also the camera lenses, which we don’t.
The audience can interpret the works’ medium from many angles, but the message, no matter how avant garde, is a good one- happiness is dancing unencumbered. Whether is it on stage or screen, the spectacle of Cre-Azioni is emotional, strong and mindful with clear intent.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:

Movie Review: SILENCE, 5min, UK, Romance (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERSILENCE, 5min, UK, Romance
Directed by Elena Brodach

The story of love that everyone dreams.

Seen at the July 2016 Under 5min. FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Music may well be the language of love. Perhaps that is the thesis of the charming, poignant piece short Silence by director Elena Brodach. Shot in one frame, with no cuts, no dialogue and only two characters, Brodach proves that less really is more. The emotional mastery of the piece is that it is able to produce such strong feelings with seemingly such little effort.

For a film with little in the way of story set-up, the story is very clear. An elderly couple sit in a completely empty theater, watching some sort of performance the viewer cannot see. They can however hear the beautiful orchestra music playing, interrupted only by the occasional squeal of one of the couple’s’ hearing aids going out. After a few moments of uncomfortable adjusting, the two simply lean their heads together and hear the music equally well out of a shared aid. Together, the music swells.

A film that encapsulates one beautiful moment shared between two people who love each other. The wonderment in this short film is that it strips away the youth from beauty. So often our society shows love in the hands of the young, the innocent, the beautiful. Yet Silence reminds us that love is not often falling to our knees in front of the object of our affection, grand romantic gestures or bouquets of flowers. Love is a series of simple gestures that translate to “you matter, I care, these moments are shared.” And Silence pays tribute to love after 30, after 40, after 80.

Silence is colorfully shot, the sound is gorgeously designed and the moment is simple and sweet. It may not win and Oscar, but it can win your heart.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:

Movie Review: PEOPLE OF NOWHERE (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERPEOPLE OF NOWHERE, 2min, Israel, Documentary/Music Video
Directed by Lior Sperando

Music Video about the wave of Syrian refugees who try to make their way into Europe.

Seen at the July 2016 Under 5min. FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Gripping, vivid and gut-punchingly real People Of Nowhere, directed by Lior Sperandeo (with huge credits to the Drone Operator Joel Davis and Music Design by Ravid Kahalani) is a sharp, powerful look at the Syrian refugee crisis. Coming in at just under two minutes, it is a testament to the skill of the filmmaker that such incredible emotion can be rendered by such a short piece. Shot with no dialogue but with exceptional sound design, the piece People Of Nowhere  showcases the seemingly endless masses of human life that arrives on coastlines when fleeing Syria.

Many times with clearly nothing but the clothing they are wearing, families clammer of their boats to safety. The viewers do not know their names, their stories, or from what specific hell they are fleeing from. We do not know what languages they speak, what their education level is, or if they know where they are going. We we can see is a rapid series of terrifying moments. Men pulling women (their wives?) off of beached rafts to safety, women reaching for and clutching children, babies screaming and being wrapped in thermal blankets, people of all ages being treated for shock, covered in scrapes and bruises, collapsing from exhausting, clinging to each other.

With the rapid-fire editing style and the quick succession of cuts, followed by the powerfully moving sound design, what stands out about Vito’s piece is the raw humanity of it. The viewer knows nothing about the people they are seeing, yet they are seeing everything about these people- their desperation, their motivation and their pain. The need for sheer, basic survival and the willingness to live and the lengths we are all able to go to in order to ensure the safety of ourselves and those we love.

Vividly colorful, powerfully edited and heartbreakingly beautiful, People Of Nowhere is a profound statement. One which ultimately begs us to remember that despite the chaos of our politics, we are all part of the same humanity.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:

Movie Review: I LIKE YOU, 2min, Italy, Drama/Romance (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERI LIKE YOU, 2min, Italy, Drama/Romance
Directed by Vito D’Agostino

A child falls in love with a girl, he is at an age where he does not know what love is, but he tries to explain what he feels with his heart.

Seen at the July 2016 Under 5min. FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Directed by  Vito D’Agostino with music by Chad Lewis I Like You is a childhood love story, a vivid imaginative account of the classic boy-meets-girl trope. Set against the poetic backdrop of winter, filled with mittens, ice skates, and winter nights set aglow with thousands of lights, a montage of loving moments are played out between boy and girl. The whole film, (save for the last scene) is enacted over the boy reading aloud his love letter to his love- words that are charming in the youthful innocence, yet poetically deep despite their simplicity.

I Like You is cinematic transportation to a world of romantic dreams. It exists in a place out of time- its space is inhabited by a world where we have not yet been touched by technology, not yet distorted by the bumps and scraps of life. It is the confidence of love when children are loving and in this way, deeply moving.

The film is beautifully executed with keen attention to detail. The casting was excellent. While the final image poses questions and leaves the viewer to answer them, the film is a study in beauty and the elusive love we all dream of knowing.

Critics of this piece may point to its resemblance to a Hallmark commercial, may comment on its singular male voice (for the female love interest has no lines) or even comment on its lack of diversity in casting. All of these things have accuracy in their own right. However, I will credit the production with this: from the initial image onward, I lived in the world of love the hero made. I was encapsulated and transported to a place where I believed love could conquer the impossible, and follow two people through their entire lives and beyond. In this way, despite its criticism, I Like You, holds the elements our dreams are made of.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:

Movie Review: HOWELL, 4min, UK, Horror/Comedy (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERHOWELL, 4min, UK, Horror/Comedy
Directed by Leon Williams

Howell is attending a supporters group meeting, along with others that share his condition. He has many issues…but he is trying his best to find himself.

Seen at the July 2016 Under 5min. FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Howl directed by Leon David Williams and starring Leo Bane, is a curious film that straddles the lines of satire and dry comedy. It seems to focus on what appears to be a support group for an unknown affliction. With emphasis on assimilating into normal life leads the viewer to believe that the protagonist is returning from a seedy previous life. The comedy arises in the escalation of strange things our hero fixates on to identify with his new normalcy- such as playing frisbee with his best friend, and culminating in a hilarious scene where he has dinner with his girlfriend and Ex at the same time- and the Ex appears to be a small domesticated dog.

The answer, of course, is that our Hero is a reformed Warewolf. A viewer may be able to grab that reveal from a curious flashback that occurs early in the film. However our hero’s visits to group and his montage of activities showcase his success with integrating his dog-human dichotomy.  If the viewer grabs onto this knowledge early on the end could be lack luster. Yet the humor is palpable, although possibly less apparent to a North American audience acclimatized to a less dry style of humor.  While this reviewer picked up early the secret of our half-Canine hero, it is certainly not a mark against the filmmaker. It could very well be the intent of Williams to have this secret become clear to the audience, so that they can better enjoy the schict of the piece.

Howl, because of its stylistic choices, may not be a film that will have everyone in the audience laughing. But if you appreciate this type of humor, it’s an enjoyable film. It offers laughs, comic spectacle and the ever-important howl at the full moon.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:

Movie Review: LOREN THE ROBOT BUTLER: TEACH ME HOW TO DOUGIE! (2016)

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festival posterLOREN THE ROBOT BUTLER: TEACH ME HOW TO DOUGIE!

Seen at the July 2016 Under 5min. FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Directed by Paul McGinnis

Loren, a proper British robot and formally the head butler for a very wealthy family, has been replaced with a Roomba and stored in the basement. Now the kids program him to teach them stuff.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Light, bright and whimsical, Loren The Robot Butler, written, directed and creatively lead by  Paul McGinnis, entices the inner child of us all. The film’s premise is established in just a few quick moments, and with the help of a charming opening tune, explaining that an outdated robotic butler sits unused in a family’s basement, and spends his retired life teaching children. Perpetually upbeat and sporting the quintessential British Accent, our friendly butler protagonist speaks directly to the audience as though they are the very children of the household where he is kept. At the children’s request, he takes on the mission to teach them how to “Dougie”, from the well known 80’s rapper Doug E. Fresh.

The humor comes easily on several level- most liminally, from the contrast of a British robot butler, attempting to recreate hip-hop music. The upper-crust British sound and robotic movement parodying the relaxed sway of the music beat and hip-hop/rap dialect. Further, there is humor in the form of breaking of the fourth wall with the audience, and from the shock that our robot friend not only executes the dance- but does so exceptionally well!

This piece is a delightful romp through the whimsical world of song and dance as seen through the eyes of a child, but there is a level deeper. It does speak to the element of old technology trying to keep up with the new, modern and current.

The most astonishing, staggering and interesting part of Loren The Robot Butler, however, is not it’s comedy or its use of social commentary. It is it’s artistry. At first glance, this piece could be mistaken as a completely CGI 3D animation. In reality, the entire piece is performed by three puppeteers, manning the upper bottle and each leg independently. The amazing truth is, this exceptionally complicated dance move is performed in perfect execution by highly trained professionals  (Lead by McGinnis) manning one doll behind a green screen, resulting in seamless and flawless dance that passes as computer generated. This is a feat of puppeteer mastery and specialized skill rarely seen in Cinema since Dark Crystal, (Let’s not talk about Team America) and at the very least should be applauded.

Whether Lorne The Robot Butler  is a proof of concept for a delightful children’s TV show, or a demo reel for some exceptional puppeteers, it is regardless a lovely, light comedy sure to entertain.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:

Deadline Aug. 25th – FIRST SCENE SCREENPLAY CONTEST

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Deadline August 25th. Submit and get your first 10 pages performed!

Watch over 60 1st Scene Screenplay Festival Winners:

FULL FEEDBACK on your screenplay from our committee of Professional Screenwriters, Production Heads and Script Consultants.

Are you just starting off your screenplay and want immediate feedback on your first scenes/first moments of your script?

Send your first scene (or first moments – 10pg. limit) and get feedback. Winners (at least 40 a year) get their first scene read at the MONTHLY WILDsound Screenplay Festival (see video on right for example of what you’ll get when you win).

Great way to promote your script!

Submissions take 3-5 weeks for evaluation. Looking for screenplays

Why this is the #1 Screenplay Festival and Contest in the World today!

– 0ffers screenwriters at all levels the fantastic opportunity to hear their scripts read aloud using TOP PROFESSIONAL ACTORS and showcased online for 1000s to…

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Deadline Aug. 25th – ACTION/ADVENTURE Screenplay Festival (Save $15)

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A FilmFreeway preferred festival:

ACTION/ADVENTURE Screenplay Festival (Feature, Short, TV Pilot)

(Scroll down and watch winning performance videos)

Get your screenplay performed by professional actors at the Action/Adventure Festival.

The Fastest Growing ACTION/ADVENTURE Festival and Contest in the World today!

– 0ffers screenwriters at all levels the fantastic opportunity to hear their stories read aloud using TOP PROFESSIONAL ACTORS (see below for recent performance readings).

– No matter what happens, you will receive full feedback on your work by our established committee. No other place in the world will you get coverage for the price you pay.

– Even if you’re just looking for feedback of your work, this is the festival for you.

– It’s there for all to see. The proof is in the viewership. These videos garner 1000s of views online. Some of the screenplay readings are more popular than actual studio films made!

– We specialize in…

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Deadline Aug. 25th – Action/Adventure Novel Festival

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Garner FULL FEEDBACK on your action/adventure novel by our committee of industry professionals. Get a transcript of your novel performed by professional actors at the Action/Adventure Festival.

Next Deadline August 25th

Action/Adventure Novel Readings in 2015:
10 – Novels/Stories Performed (winner every month)

WATCH Winning Action/Adventure Story Readings:

The #1 Action/Adventure Festival and Contest in the World today!

– Offers novelists and storytellers at all levels the fantastic opportunity to hear their stories read aloud using TOP PROFESSIONAL ACTORS (see below for recent performance readings).

– One of the best places in the world for the writers to add sales to their self-published novel and/or obtain and agent.

– No matter what happens, you will receive full feedback on your work by our established committee. No other place in the world will you get coverage for the price you pay.

– Even if you’re just looking for feedback of your work, this is…

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