Feature Film Review: My Movie Starring Paul Dano. Directed by Joe Bartone

The famous actor comes to Herman in a dream, convincing him to make his feature “Bear Naked Amazonians from Mars.” If he makes the deadline, the film will take Best Feature at South by Southwest, making Herman an international celebrity.

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Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

Irreverent and hilarious, the feature My Movie Starring Paul Dano follows the steps of a man working to create a masterpiece Indy film. And what a film it turns out to be! Structured around a zany comic strip, the cast and crew also await the arrival of A-list movie star, Paul Dano, to show up on set. 

In the meantime, we get to witness the necessary steps in making a film, such as finding funding, writing, auditions, casting and eventual shoot days. At the same time, it is highly entertaining to witness the building of relationships, for good or for ill. In fact, competitive actors, on set romances and dubious funding methods all threaten to foil the film’s progress. 

Fortunately, there are so many amusing, melodramatic scenes that we overlook some of the less positive interchanges of the people involved. In addition to lots of quirky banter between characters, the farcical wardrobe pieces and props add to the humour. Bright and colourful animated artwork during transitions adds a fanciful essence to the project.

It is a clever concept to pivot the piece to become a full-fledged documentary of the creator’s process, who is eventually offered a chance to make it big. Aspiring directors would really enjoy watching this one, to give insights about the wild west of filmmaking and to show how true friendships can result, long after the credits roll.

Short Film Review: The Making of Star Among the Cosmic Clouds

Journey behind the curtain to witness the creation of “Star Among the Cosmic Clouds,” a powerful new song from the album ALAN: Cosmic Rhapsody. This documentary delves into the creative process, tracing the song’s origins from its soulful roots with composer Joi Barua to its grand transformation into an orchestral pop masterpiece.

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Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

A recent musical masterpiece was created, Star Among the Cosmic Clouds, with the efforts of a huge team of talented artists. The steps in the creation of this epic piece are beautifully revealed in this short, yet rich “Making of” documentary.  

Intimate commentary by the central creator of the project, Susan Lim, gives context to the origins, struggles and eventual triumph bringing these gifted people together to help elucidate her vision. Striking themes resound about the meaning of life in an age of AI, the power of storytelling and the balance between fact, fiction and folklore, and the importance of protecting the environment on Earth and in the cosmos. 

The vibrant animation, often focusing on a small band of brave animal travellers, is interspersed with vivid close ups of the musicians showing their skill and artistry in the development of this remarkable, uplifting work. The documentary viewer is also given a thrilling “front seat” chance to experience the soaring orchestral and vocal refrains of a polished performance in front of an enthralled audience.

Short Film Review: In the absence of your smiling face. Directed by Tamara Vallarta

Ana travels to Paris to confess her love, only to learn that her beloved Suzanne is about to marry the man she once swore to forget. Confronted with this news, Ana opts for a final goodbye. But can she truly break free from a toxic idyll, or will she remain trapped in a relationship that slowly erodes her?

Review by Victoria Angelique:

The short film, IN THE ABSENCE OF YOUR SMILING FACE, is a beautiful allegory to friendship, love, and heartache. The story follows Ana and Suzanne’s relationship, with Ana not being able to support Suzanne’s engagement to Jean. The audience can understand the past with these women as words convey an entire history. Suzanne has been hurt by Jean before and Ana doesn’t want to see it happen again, to the point she’s willing to break off their friendship. 

This feels like an ultimatum at first, though it is a light one. At first, it seems like Ana is projecting her own feelings towards Suzanne, not wanting her friend to marry for her own personal feelings. Once the story shows Jean, the audience can see that Ana’s concern for Suzanne is genuine. This is not a nice man. Suzanne doesn’t want to be alone for the rest of her life and should consider herself lucky enough to have a friend like Ana that was willing to travel to Paris in the hopes she could save her friend from a miserable and abusive marriage.

Jean isn’t abusive in the physical sense, but the way he speaks to Suzanne is a giant red flag. He is condescending towards this woman that he supposedly loves. It is natural to get annoyed when someone is texting while they eat with another person, it becomes an entirely different matter when Jean’s voice oozes control as he suggests to Suzanne that it is time to grow up. Ana watches from the cafe window, the look on her face showing that she knows Suzanne is doomed if she marries Jean.

The glimpse of hope is given in the final few seconds of the film. Ana is walking away from the cafe when she receives a text to meet her for breakfast the next morning. The film is left open, so the audience gets to decide if Suzanne actually marries Jean or if she is able to be persuaded at breakfast the next morning to not marry a man that will make her miserable.

The Power of Voice-Overs: Building Intimacy with Your Audience

Conversation with German actress Marina Welsch, with Hannah Ehman on the process of acting and aging. Marina dives into performing voice-over work in films and how this is an underrated art form. How she really worked hard to build her talent to doing voice-over acting.


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Seconds in Eternity, 42min., Estonia/Germany

Directed by Christian Schu

An elegant woman in her later years feels the relentless march of time as she mourns her lost youth and missed chances. Alone in a dimly lit room, her life seems to fade with each cigarette she smokes. She observes a vibrant young woman, envying her youth and vitality. Through her introspections, we explore her deep desires and regrets. The narrative, rich with poetry and flashbacks, takes a dramatic turn with a potential murder, leading to a surprising twist. Despite its dark beginnings as a Film Noir, the film transforms into a celebration of life, ending on a hopeful, life-affirming note.

Hannah Ehman chats with the lead actress of the award winning film “Seconds in Eternity”.

Marina Welsch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammarinawelsch/

https://secondsineternity.com

https://instagram.com/christian_schu_film

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Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/

Watch Hannah’s commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman

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