I Dare You to a Duel...Or Not...

I should begin this post by clarifying one important fact about myself:  I love all things historical and British.  I couldn't resist watching this short film.  It was the first one I saw.  I noticed the screenshot and realized that it was historical and instantly clicked on it.  And I am glad that I did!

Click to Watch: The Duel at Blood Creek by Leo Burton

The Duel at Blood Creek was a hilarious parody about a duel.  The variety of characters from different backgrounds made this film highly entertaining.  The characters arrive one by one to a sacred spot of a legendary duel to encounter their own foes.  The plan is for each of them to challenge their opponent, but more and more men arrive bringing their own problems along.  The dialogue is witty and full of British humor which I found very entertaining.

The style of the film is simple.  The short film is full of a variety of landscape shots.  The entire film takes place outdoors, and there are spectacular shots of the countryside.  Wide shots, pans, and medium close ups were used frequently throughout it.  Only subtle camera movements were used.  The composition and the coloring depicted rich undertones.

I will admit I was surprised by the ending.  It was hilarious.  I thought the film was very funny and the idea was great.  The dialogue may seem confusing between the characters, but it isn't essential to comprehending the premise of this film.  The British humor may leave some confused, but it makes this film shine.

As a history major, I am a huge critic when it comes to watching historical films.  From what I saw this film was pretty accurate.  The costumes and dialogue were quite authentic to the time period.  Even the pistols for the duel looked to be of the time.

If you love conflict, hilarious dialogue and sword fighting mixed with a twist at the end, then this film is for you.

Caine's Arcade

This is every kid's dream...

Maybe not to own his own business, but to have his own arcade. Everyone has memories of a carnival or a visit to an amusement park. This kid, Caine took his dream and made it a reality.

No, he didn't build an actual elaborate arcade. He built a cardboard arcade. The first of its kind in his area. He was determined to make his dream come true and after a lot of hard word it happened. Sadly, after all of his hard work he received no customers. This little boy, however, refused to quit.

One day a customer arrived. The sight shocked his dad. The man played the boy's arcade games. To the dad's surprise, the man returned.

This man was a director, and he had a vision. His vision was to promote Caine's Arcade. He acquired an idea for a short film about the cardboard arcade. The plan was to surprise the little boy. The purpose of the short film was to attract customers to Caine's arcade, and the boy was completely unaware of the fact

This film is shot like a short documentary. Everything about this film is simple, which works perfectly with the director's vision. My favorite part was seeing the little boy's reaction at the end. It completely made his day.

Overall, this film just brought a smile to my face. It was nice seeing other people do good for a complete stranger.

Lost at Sea

Nothing would be more terrifying than being lost in the middle of the ocean.

This film opens after what is presumed to be either a shipwreck or plane crash. A man is floating on luggage in the middle of the ocean. A long montage of slow motion shots capture the long wait that he must suffer through before being rescued. The black and white composition helps establish the setting by making it feel like a dream. The man is seen floating alone surrounded by nothing but waves of water. Only his luggage travels with him in the waves.

The few minutes of black and white footage set the scene. He appears isolated from humanity with no sign of rescue. The faded transitions elongate his desperation. While he appears lost at sea, it seems to be rather peaceful...

End of Part one. Flotsam becomes Fetsam.

Peace turns into chaos. Everything is in color. The man is in need of rescue. A boat is near and captures a shark attack on camera. Panic ensues. The dreamlike state has vanished. Danger has become a reality.

The composition of these two short films is what intrigued me. The story wasn't that appealing to me, but I liked how the films were edited. The first film made me feel like I was watching an old film. It also reminded me of Titanic with the luggage in the water. I only say that because I just saw the film this weekend. The color temperature in the second film was unique. It reminded me of the 1960s. The second film had a documentary like quality to it at the beginning.

The setup of these two short films is the only thing that truly kept my interest. The divided up story felt a bit strange to me. The cinematography and editing saved this film from sinking.

Vivid Imagination...In Class

Everyone doodles in class, but typically those drawings don't come to life.

The imagination is a mysterious thing. One moment you can be thinking of one thing and the next you can see that image coming to life. That is the case for the student in this short film. His notebook is full of random doodles and pictures. As he prepares to take notes, his imagination slowly kicks in. Gradually, his pictures come to life. His mind becomes completely isolated from class (or so it appears) and he becomes lost into the world of his doodles.

The visual effects were great in this short film. (Notes on) Biology is stunning visually. It reminded me of the 90's for some reason. The framework on the opening shots was unique. I really liked the high angle shots in the film and the fact that none of the character's faces were revealed. I also liked the montage of notebooks shot.

The animation was my favorite part of this film. The images go from hand drawn in some scenes to stop motion. It appeared very realistic, especially as the pages were turning. It was as if the student was turning the pages. The daydream element made me feel like I was sitting next to a friend in class staring at their notebook. It made me think of middle school and high school.

The ending was amusing to me. The audience thinks one thing will happen, but it doesn't. I've definitely had a few of those moments. Luckily, mine were not as embarrassing as this student's. When I got lost in daydreams, I managed to somehow stay alert in class.

Words are not the only important things on paper. Pictures can come to life too.

All It Takes Is A Little Imagination...

Nostalgia...

Within watching the first minute of this film that was the only word that came to mind. Being a kid was awesome because it didn't take much to entertain you. This film brought back so many memories of me as a child growing up. Like the little boy in this film, I was very creative.

Adventures of a Cardboard Box is such a refreshing film. The two kids in the film act exactly like my brother and me when we were little. Seriously, I wanna act like Superman, Dracula, Indiana Jones, an Astronaut, a boxer, a goalie, a tennis announcer, and an Indian chief! This film brought a huge smile to my face. It made me miss the good old days when I didn't have a care in the world, when playtime was used as a time to escape from this world and become anything that you wanted to be. It made me want to be a kid again.

The cardboard box experienced so many adventures with the kids. The simplicity of this film made it incredibly real. It wasn't just the journey of the kids. It was the journey of the kids with the cardboard box. I found the ending of this film to be beautifully shot, but sad. However, the last shot made up for the sadness. It reminded me that childhood doesn't have to end. It stays in the mind, replaying over and over, reminding us of the good times.

The music and sound effects really made this film. They brought the little boy's imagination to life. I really liked the lighting. The entire film was well lit. I also liked the fact that it was mostly a silent film. The music and expressions spoke louder than any words could have. The static camera shots worked well with the scenes with the children. I also liked the variety of shots used in the film.

If anything this film reminded me of the importance of creativity and imagination. Imagination doesn't stop with growing up. If anything it increases, only as a kid we aren't restricted by busy schedules.

Inspiration can be found anywhere...even in a cardboard box.

Coco Mademoiselle and the Art of Sophistication

Let's face it: some things just don't go out of style. I've been on a classic Hollywood trend lately. I saw The Artist recently and instantly connected with it. Something about a classic style has always intrigued me. Coco Mademoiselle is a perfect example of classic style. Sophistication and strength are just two words that come to mind in reference to Coco Mademoiselle.

I saw this short film a few years ago on Youtube. Seeing Keira Knightley's face attached to this project interested me. I have always been a fan of her films and in this role she played yet another strong, independent character. I'm not a huge fan of the perfume, but the artsy feel to this commercial was a different approach to perfume ads. It wasn't just another female running around with flowers in her hand...

Unlike a typical perfume ad, this short film was on a larger scale. The motorcycle scenes depicted great cinematography. Essentially, the film revolved around the concept of a photo shoot. I liked the behind the scenes aspect. I feel like a lot of directors are incorporating more of that element into their films. The coloring was a warm texture and I really liked it. It made Keira's skin glow like perfection. Lights play a crucial role in this film as do a wide variety of angles. The story fit well with Joss Stone's song.

Perhaps, the greatest feature of this short film is the spectacular detail in each shot. The locations and sets are stunning. It definitely depicts a strong sense of France.

This was a short, but well produced film. Keira looked stunning and represented everything that Coco Mademoiselle stands for: sophistication.

Futuristic Flying Doggies

This could quite possibly be one of the most random/amusing things that I have ever discovered. Don't get me wrong. There is clear art in this. However, I find it amusing for several reasons. One, I was just talking about my dog earlier to some friends. We all agreed that we miss our pets. Second, I still can't get over how cute Uggie from The Artist is:

And lastly, I just love dogs. My dog has quite a personality, and like Uggie, he likes to be on camera.

Birds was a pleasant surprise. I laughed, cried from laughter, and gazed in awe at the camera work all at the same time. It was not easy to locate this little gem of a film. I spent about half an hour trying to find something to watch and nothing seemed interesting. Then I read the description for this film. Flying dogs? Heck, yes...

I had to watch this you see. It was too tempting. The concept was so unique and adding dogs to anything automatically makes me want to watch.

Visually, this film was stunning. The slow motion capture made every shot incredibly detailed. Each dog in this had a different personality and it showed on camera. One of my favorite shots occurred halfway through the film when a dog yawned. The slow motion aspect made the dog look scary, though it was only a simple yawn. The closeup of that shot only added to the creepiness that occurred. The dog was adorable, just not for those couple of seconds when my brain thought I was watching a horror film. The lasers made the film appear futuristic as did the electronic music. I don't really think the film had a point, but it was visually stunning.

I mean how can you not want to watch dogs flying and jumping around lasers? It's too fun and incredibly artsy all at the same time!

All My Dreams on VHS: A Man Who Loves to Dream

Dreams are fascinating, but to have an entire VHS collection dedicated to them, well that is

another story...

James is a man with a very creative mind. His dreams are vivid. so he records them to VHS tapes. Maintaining dreams...sounds a bit like Christopher Nolan's Inception right? To be fair, this isn't even close to Inception, but the notion of dreams does leave one of the characters curious. Erica, a colleague of James, drops by his apartment only to find herself in complete shock at the towering VHS collection. The titles of the tapes baffle her, as they should. Some of them are strange. Yet, it is the one tape with her name on it that sends her curiosity over the edge.

James leaves to go to the store down the street, leaving Erica to watch the tape about her. The audience does not see what is on the tape, but only what expression is left on Erica's face. The mystery widens when James returns, catching her watching the tape. He is clearly embarrassed while she is stunned by what she saw. Without revealing too much, the two discuss the tape and James is rather mystified by Erica's reaction to the tape. In other words, it is not what it seems...

The ending of the film regards James' past. I don't want to give away the ending so that is all I will say. Overall, I thought Thomas X. Atack's idea for All My Dream on VHS was unique. The script was witty and contained several funny moments of dialogue, especially during the dramatic scenes. I noticed that a lot of closeups were used which worked well as the mystery of Erica's tape was revealed. In the scene with Erica watching the tape, I found the lighting spectacular. One of my favorite parts of this film was the music. However, the quirky moments courtesy of both British actors are what made this film enjoyable.

Rest: Zombies Have Hearts Too

No one would ever expect to be compassionate about a zombie falling in love. Sounds odd to say the least. It is almost unheard of for a zombie flick to include anything but violence. This short film mixed up everything, but for the better. I have always liked zombie flicks and The Walking Dead is, in my opinion, one of the best shows on TV. I must say that watching The Walking Dead changed my opinion on zombies or rather my opinion on anything containing zombies as characters. Not everything that involves zombies has to revolve around zombies seeking humans as food. These films and shows can include human emotions. The Walking Dead manages to create a post-apocalyptic world with well-written characters with real emotions and struggles. Rest by Cole Schreiber mixes human emotions within a zombie as a main character. I have never seen this done until now.

The film opens at an isolated grave in what appears to be an abandoned world. Colors of gray and blue envelope the landscape. In a wide shot, a hand appears from the ground. Within a few frames, a dead corpse arises from the ground and returns to life. However, in this case, no extremely loud, frightening music is blaring in the background, for there is no reason to be afraid. He doesn't want humans. That fact becomes apparent as he travels into New York City looking for something. He merely passes by the crowds of people with no desire to feast on their flesh. It is difficult to determine what exactly he wants, but the intrigue leaves you wanting answers. Frame by frame, the zombies travels down roads, across rivers and through fields, searching effortlessly for something. His movements are strong, and it is clear that he is intellectual. He knows exactly where he is going...

Now, I don't want to ruin the short film, but I will mention this: zombies have emotions too. At least, they do in Cole Schreiber's film. At the end of the day, no one wants to be forgotten or lost. The heart leads the way.

As for the visual aspects of the film, I loved the cinematography. The focus on certain filters in specific scenes brought objects to life, like what appears to be a charm or necklace in one of the beginning shots. The camerawork was also extremely powerful in terms of the tone for the film. At times, images are blurred or distorted because they are supposed to represent the viewpoint of the zombie. Handheld camerawork was present. Perhaps one of the best film techniques used in Rest was the repetition of certain shots. Wide shots were prevalent in the film as were certain close ups to exaggerate or express the zombie's emotions. I won't reveal what the ending of the film was, but I absolutely loved the way it was shot. The minimal lighting was perfect, not too lit nor too dark. The candles provided the perfect amount of light. All was revealed in the end in a beautifully depicted scene.

This short film brought a whole new side to zombies. They don't just have to kill. Maybe at the end of the day they just want to be loved too...

George Lucas in Love: A Parody of the Creation of Star Wars

Imagine this: a young film student struggling to finish a project deadline, annoyed by writer's block until he meets his muse. Doesn't sound too uncommon. Mix in the concept of outer space and you have the creation of one of the greatest blockbuster franchises of all time.

I cannot deny the fact that I am a nerd. I loved Star Wars as a kid. The concept of a new world fascinated me. When I saw that this short film mixed the ideas of Star Wars with concepts from the Academy Award winning film Shakespeare in Love, I had to watch the short film George Lucas in Love.

The film revolves around a young George Lucas in college. He is desperate to finish a script, but has no inspiration until he meets his muse. Basically, the entire short film is full of references to the Star Wars films. Most of them were hilarious. The little details made them funny, like the Princess Leia hairstyle on the girl. The music was also essential to this piece. It opens with romantic music similar to that of Shakespeare in Love. The references to the Star Wars films are great. My favorites were the Darth Vader neighbor, the Yoda man and of course the Princess Leia look-a-like. The scene in the theater was ironic, considering that it is George Lucas, but I found it funny nonetheless.

I found the script to be very well-written and witty. One line that stuck out to me was "write what you know." Clearly, a close attention to detail was made. I loved the music throughout the film. It adapted perfectly to the scenes. The cast was great. The camera work was simple, but it worked perfectly with the script. No crazy special effects were needed. The overall idea was so unique that I fell in love with it. In my opinion, however, the best part was the hilarious plot twist at the end. I died laughing.

If you have watched the Star Wars films, then you will catch the references and find the short film to be enjoyable.

The Hunt for Gollum: A Return to Middle Earth

The Hunt For Gollum (HD version) by HuntForGollum

Ok, I'll admit it. Just the idea of Lord of the Rings intrigued me into watching this film. Why Lord of the Rings you may ask? Let me inform you of a rather important fact about me: Lord of the Rings was a major part of my childhood. I can remember from the age of about 10 thinking that the film trilogy was one of the most beautifully shot movie franchises. I must clarify. At the age of 10, I had absolutely no interest in pursuing film as a career, yet I found the films to be stunning pieces of art. The films inspired me to read the books (which I managed to read in a week!) I quickly found myself addicted to the world of Middle Earth, but not in a creepy way. I grew to appreciate the concept of LOTR as one of the most ingenious literary works of all time. So, in essence, finding this short film brought me back to my childhood. Then I started watching it, and I found myself laughing. Perhaps not the greatest sign, considering that the film is not a comedy.

DON'T GET ME WRONG! Chris Bouchard's film brought Middle Earth back to life in a rather realistic way, considering that it is a short film. However, I found the actor playing Aragorn to be...well, put it this way: he is no Viggo Mortensen, at least in appearance. Maybe, I still have the image of Viggo Mortensen's rugged Aragorn stuck in my head...

I'm just not completely convinced by this new portrayal of Aragorn. Something is just off

(his voice maybe?) On a brighter note, his acting is superb. He does manage to capture

the warrior aspect well.

THAT is my major problem associated with Chris Bouchard's The Hunt for Gollum. I found

every other aspect of this film so strikingly similar to the Peter Jackson films. The precision to details

is evident from Aragorn's fight style to the music and closing credits. The cinematography was beyond

perfect. It was as if this short film was shot in the same locations as the original films. Even the CGI

(yes, it was a bit cheesy at certain points) matched the tone of the LOTR film trilogy. The fight scenes

were well choreographed. One would find it hard to believe that a director could manage to bring

a fantasy world to life in such an accurate way on such a small budget. That fact alone is brilliant.

Ok, some of you may be wondering: Did this guy try to remake the LOTR trilogy into a short film? To put is simply, no. However, he managed to make somewhat of a prequel to the first film. I hesitate to say prequel because there actually is a prequel to LOTR - The Hobbit - however, Chris Bouchard put his own take on the story. Basically, this film centers around Aragorn, before the Fellowship of the Ring is formed, on a quest to find Gollum to prevent him from revealing the location of the ring.

To end this rant, I must conclude by stating that this is not your ordinary fan film. Bouchard clearly masters Peter Jackson's film techniques, like the wide shot, in this film. Any LOTR lover should give this film a chance. The visual and technical aspects of this film alone are enough to intrigue any film buff. If you are dying for the release of the Hobbit this December, then this film may be for you. Although it is no 3 and a half hour epic, it is enough of Middle Earth to tie you over until the next part of Peter Jackson's LOTR franchise.

Bro: A Struggle For Normalcy

The story of an adolescent, struggling to care for his disabled brother is the focus of Chris Dundon's Bro. Trying to adapt to life in a new town while managing to care for his brother Mark, leaves Simon in a horrible position: either abandon his duty toward his brother or suffer miserably inside every summer day, locked away from society. Simon's daily routine is altered upon meeting a store cashier named Gemma. In public, Simon conceals the fact that he even knows his brother in an attempt to gain attraction with the younger crowd. Simon's internal struggle becomes a reality in a loud confrontation with his mother, who encourages him to face his situation and accept it for what it is. That, of course, is easier said than done...

Chris Dundon's story is not only relevant, but incredibly natural and real. The young cast was brilliant without managing to be melodramatic. It is clear through specific scenes, emphasized with little to no dialogue, that both brothers share a specific bond. I was particularly fond of the scenes that occurred on the bus. Perhaps one of the greatest qualities of Dundon's film is the cinematography. The handheld film style allows the audience to feel as if they are a part of the picture. The characters of Mark and Simon are well-developed with extremely real and raw emotions. Gemma's character is also a refreshing aspect of the film.

Overall, Bro was a moving film. The ending didn't feel rushed or incomplete. I was particularly impressed with the young cast. The dialogue felt authentic, and the setting of the film served as a wonderful backdrop to a powerful story. I could not find any negative things to say about this film, except for that fact that I didn't want it to end. In my opinion, this film could easily be expanded to a feature film length.