Hello ladies and gentlemen, Muldoon here with this week's selection of films from across the globe, shorts that are sure to please. This week is a slightly odd ball mix of shorts as we've got over the top visual feasts, performance based shorts where you choose what you want to look as (as opposed to your standard Wide > Medium > Close Up), monologues done incredibly well, all here and covered within the run time of roughly an hour. If you've got an hour to spare, then this week you will be witness to comedy, terror, other worlds, and a bit of shady dealings, all in the comfort of your own home with the price of admission being nothing but your eagerness to see something new. The range of films this week is a lovely reminder of how cool this thing we call "cinema" actually is. We're in a time where anyone can make a film should their creativity beat out their desire to make excuses instead. If you've got a cool idea for a film, a story you're dying to tell - don't tuck that passion away into a drawer you'll never again open - act on it and bring your story to life (damn it!). The filmmaker's who created this week's films aren't alone in their ability to create something cool, every film that I've been able to screen here has started with that same seed of "It'd be cool to make a film about ______" and then "one brick at a time" those folks end up with their films made. At any rate, tangent aside - as I've mentioned roughly five times now... I'm excited to share this week's picks with you all and just hope you're able to give them your eyes and ears long enough to enjoy them. So let's skip more of my own rah-rah talk and get down to watching some cool films from some talented men and women, eh?
Go grab yourself some popcorn, lock your kids in a closet, kill the lights, relax and check out this little weekly film fest we've got ourselves here!
SWAP
TRT: 6:57
Let's kick this week off with a chuckle of a short film from Director Lincoln Hoppe with a script by Andrew Parker Scott. The short feels like the natural evolution of a UCB Comedy sketch, with a mixutre of absurdity and the real world... It has something special going on, a charm that even though at times feels a bit over done, managed to put a smile on my face and leave it there for the full seven minutes. I'd like to see more from Hoppe, as well as his "Richard" actor Jeremy Woodland. Check out more from the film's writer on his Vimeo Page!
swap_final_master.compressed from Andrew Crownover on Vimeo.
GHOSTBUSTERS: ALL MANNED UP EDITION (Parody)
TRT: 2:39
I'm wildly in love with our next bit, a parody from SATURDAY SHORTS favorite XVP Comedy. It pokes fun at all the negativity the new Ghostbuster's film is receiving (despite the most vocal of which coming from folks who've not seen the movie, and have only based their opinions on TV spots). I've not seen Paul Feig's film, and have my own opinions on the trailers that led up to its release, but found XVPs parody to be impressive in more ways than one. The parody has only been out since July first and already has 65k views, for a reason. "To anyone who thinks the upcoming Ghostbusters film is too girly... don't worry. We took care of it. Childhood memories saved!" Be sure to check out the XVP Comedy channel on Youtube to see more of their work!
THE INVISIBLE MAN
TRT: 10:17
Next up is a first for SATURDAY SHORTS (unless I'm mistaken) as we've featured 3D shorts here, though never a 360 degree film. Producers Maurice Schutte and Ellen Utrecht, along with Director Hugo Keijzer bring us a crime drama unlike anything I've seen before, dropping us smack dab in the middle of some sketchy business, while giving us the keys to look around as we please. "Nick and Kid have half a million euros in heroine stashed in an upstate barn. But they also have a debt to pay – to Frank. When Frank suddenly shows up at their' hideout, they have no choice but to oblige in a sadistic game of Russian Roulette. Each click of the chamber reveals a little bit more about each character in the room." Check out the film's website for more information, or to see what Maurice Schutte is up to, check out his site as well!
SLEEP TIGHT
TRT:2:00
Next up is a pretty creepy dip into the mind of a woman who just can't shake some creepy thoughts as she's all alone at home, just trying to go to sleep. Graham Neale is no stranger to these parts, as I've had the pleasure of screening THE COLOUR OF HER EYES, THE BAKER, and THE HOMING BIRD. SLEEP TIGHT is the first film of his inner-monologues trilogy, all of which hop into the minds of different people and touch upon different topics, like voices in your head or the idea of pushing your self to succeed. Check out more of Graham's work on his website!
Sleep Tight from Graham Neale on Vimeo.
DEFINING FAY
TRT: 9:51
To close us out, we've got an incredible science fiction film that was not submitted by the filmmaker (as the above were), but discovered by one of our own Talkbackers. (Thanks, Chris!). Writer/Director Sasha C. Damjanovski has created a film that screams TWILIGHT ZONE, and clearly has a little love for THE MATRIX, INCEPTION, and more... Regardless of what film's may or may not have inspired this piece, it's damn good and definitely deserves to be seen by a lot of people. I look forward to what Damnjanovski does next and suggest you check out his Vimeo Page and this film's Facebook Page!
Bam! That's it for this wek's selection ladies and gents, a lineup that doesn't coem around too often. Hopefully you enjoyed each short as much as I did (if not more!). I more than welcome your thoughts in the Talkbacks below, and who knows.... perhaps the filmmakers are lurking in the audience and might be able to shed some light on a question or two you might have about their film. Either way, have a great rest of your weekend and I'll see you all next week with another handful of shorts I think you'll enjoy! In the mean time, check out any of the links below to be transported to a different set of films that have blown me away as well:
SATURDAY SHORTS 2012
SATURDAY SHORTS 2013
SATURDAY SHORTS 2014
SATURDAY SHORTS 2015
Hank & Honey: A Holiday Horror; Black Christmas; Grammy; Pick Ups (1/2/16)
Lilitu; Auld Lang Syne; Chronoshred; Ash Vs. Lobo Vs. The DC Undead (1/9/16)
Believe; The Dragon's Blade; Native Immigration; The Problem With Friends (1/23/16)
Harbinger; Hyperthermia; The Chickening; Head (1/30/16)
Erebus; Boldly Gone; Cupcakes; City In Crisis; Vandalaze "Great Big Things" (2/6/16)
Blurry; American Virgin; Azarkant; The Homing Bird; Sex, Lies, And Terminators (2/13/16)
Connected; Terry And Brenda; Fuck Buddies; Audrey; BigHead Walking Dead Parody (2/20/16)
Absence; The Adept; MAT ZO - "Sinful;" Dreamco; Hoot (3/12/16)
Pop Music; Tumble Dry Low; Rooms; Promise; Darth Maul: Apprentice (3/19/16)
Status Update; Kafka's Little Fable; Ghoster; I Got Your Nose; Creature Feature (4/2/16)
Steve; The Good Survivor; Field of Screams; Mirrored; Jack Edwards - "Falling In Love" (4/16/16)
Rest Stop; The Technician; Romp; Who's There?; If Joke & Harley Quinn Were A Normal Couple (4/23/16)
Trial; Star Struck; Color TV, No Vacancy; Notifications On; One Sunny Day (5/14/16)
You Are Not Alone; Giraffe Soup; Brother; Bury Tomorrow - "Last Light"; Rain (5/21/16)
The Group; The Trap; The Echo of Small Things; Alison Blaire - "The Sight of Sound"; James (5/28/16)
Blinking Lights; Dédalo; Invisible; Identity Crisis (6/25/16)
Schackled; Miss Nobody; I Hate Mondays; Jefferson; Mary's Passion (7/2/16)
If you have a short and think it belongs here or are on the fence about whether to send it in, please do send it in - I'd love to see what you've put together. I've already seen hundreds of fresh new filmmakers' shorts and like any good addict, I need more!
Shoot me an email at "Mike@aintitcool.com"
In the subject line include:
“SHORTS” + “Your film’s name” + “The film’s genre”
Then, in the body of the email, please include a synopsis of the film and any contact information you might think I need or would want published. The more info you send my way, the more info there is to put with your short.
Please don’t feel the need to submit multiple times.
Remember, the filmmakers might still be in the audience, so feel free to share your thoughts in Talkbacks below. (JUST DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE). I picked them, so you know I think highly of all of these, but how about you fine folks? How'd you like 'em?
BY THE WAY: If you've had a short featured here, that means that I personally am a fan of your work, so feel free to shoot me any kind of news on new projects/films/whatever. I can't say I'll be able to help or in what capacity, but I'm interested in your work and am always down to see more! (Keep making cool stuff, everyone!)
- Mike McCutchen
"Muldoon"
Mike@aintitcool.com
