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The Killing Joke - action-packed, suspense filled short film

Mona — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Blow your socks off with the suspense fiction The Killing Joke. Directed by Sebastian Lopez, this 15-minute film centers around a mysterious woman who discovers a red balloon in an almost-deserted street, and by a twist of fate finds herself facing her biggest fear. It stars Gustavo Marzo and Clarissa Staracci.

The movie pays homage to the seventies horror era by using classic elements of suspense. I liked how the transitions of sequences are flawless; you could really see that the team behind this worked extra hard. Every detail was not missed, from the empty bullets, the pulling trigger to the grand ending.

One standout feature of this short is its Hollywood quality despite of the micro budget production and the use of only two cameras. The color grading and cinematography is really well-done; most of the scenes would qualify for a mainstream movie.

The Killing Joke delves on the subject of fear and how it’s surrounding us. It tells us that fear is what we imagine and it’s up to us how to cope up with it.

Along with Lopez, this superb film was made possible by Sabrina Motto (editor) and Colin Devlin (original soundtrack) under Little People Productions.

Turn the lights off, press play and get ready for a heart-pumping ride.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore - a poignant short that's worth every second

Mona — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:08 +0000

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Perfectly blending heart and humor, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore offers a one-of-a-kind heartwarming experience.

This animated short was crafted by the talented hands of illustrator William Joyce and co-director Brandon Oldenburg under Moonboot Studios. It has already scored prestigious awards such as the Best Animated Short (Cinequest Film Fest), Audience Favorite Award (Palm Springs International Shortfest), Best Show (SIGGRAPH) and a nomination for Outstanding Film Achievements of 2011 in the 84th Academy Awards.

As described by the makers, the short is a story of people who devote their lives to books and books who return the favor. It takes inspiration from the Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz and a love for books.

Morris Lessmore takes the style of a vintage silent film while incorporating top-notch animation. The creators used miniatures, computer and 2D animation along with M-G-M technicolor musical breathing pops of life to the short.

Technicality aside, the story in itself is strong. I personally liked how it has some current events and cultural references making it more accessible to the audience. It tells us that there is always hope after all the bad things that may happen. That it's up to us to start writing a new chapter of our lives.

All in All, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a triumphant masterstroke for the creators. It's emotionally satisfying that's ideal for the whole family to enjoy.

This masterpiece is also available on iTunes.

E-lectricity by Miklas Manneke

Natalie — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:00:18 +0000

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E-lectricity directed by Miklas Manneke is a quirky short film taking place in a Monahanong, a small township on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa.

It is there where a shortage of paraffin is threatening the town with a complete darkness; if no one will come up with a great new invention that will brighten up any night, that is.
The film is filled with bright colors that take over the village, more than just lovely narration, and great camera work.

Seeing his town slowly falling into darkness a young inventor, Walter Hlase, sets on a mission to create a new renewable energy source that would not only make everyone 'see' again, but also to finally gain the respect and friendship of the townsfolk. Soon our introverted, shy friend shuts the door to his lab beginning his long journey to the invention that will surely change his life. He works tirelessly day and night, but every time there is a sign of a victory there is also a sign of a failure just seconds after the presentation. Will Hlase come up with a solution on his own?

E-lectricity is filled with more than just colorful set of characters, all of whom will certainly make you smile. At times it even seems as if the entire village helped with a shooting the movie.

Being a graduation film, E-lectricity will surely win you over with its overall presentation; from camerawork, to acting, set, and music flawlessly setting up the mood of this lovely creation. This well thought out, 'feel good' storyline does not come without some valuable life lessons, so go ahead and check it out. Download available through Vimeo.

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E-lectricity on Vimeo

Swing of Change - 3D animated masterpiece with a message

Mona — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:00:43 +0000

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In need of a good animated treat? Swing of Change is exactly what you need then, something that won’t disappear on you even after the credits end.

This 3D animated short was originally a graduation project for ESMA (école supérieure des metiers artistique, in Montpellier, France) by Harmony Bouchard, Andy Le Cocq, Joakim Riedinger and Raphael Cenzi, but has since then turned into a masterpiece already seen by thousands.

Set in New York during the 1930s, Swing of Change revolves around a racist barber who discovers quite an unusual trumpet. And it is this magical instrument that eventually leads the man to an unexpected change of heart and opening his business door to all, no matter of race. The film tells us that sometimes we have to open our mind and accept change for the better.

I admire how the creators attended to the story line. You would definitely see that it’s well-thought of. The characters are heartwarming and they progress along with the story.

The visuals are simply stunning and more than just a treat to the eye. It could be said that the execution is surgically precise and will, at some point, make you wonder if this is a mainstream animation. From the shaved hair to the ticking clock to the characters, the creators have surpassed quality and beauty with flying colors.

Swing of Change brims with imagination. It’s an exquisite work of animated art that perfectly mixes a compelling story with satisfying visuals.

The Employment (El Empleo) - brilliant short animation by Santiago Grasso

Mona — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:00:16 +0000

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The Employment (El Empleo) goes to a deeper level when it comes to the meaning of the human workforce.

Directed by Santiago Grasso and written by Patricio Plaza, this brilliant five-minute animation produced by Opusbou Animations had already garnered 100 international awards and participated in 190 film festivals.

It tells the story of a nameless working man performing his usual journey to work set in a bizarre world where human beings are used as inanimate objects. This simple yet strong representation convey the tedious nature of each job and how we utilize man power in the modern era.

The film thoroughly explores the subject of human workforce connecting it to day-to-day reality. The filmmakers successfully executed structured images to present a unifying idea relatable to the audience.

Overall, it's a candy treat for the film buffs--great idea and brilliant execution rolled into one. It will delight the eye and engage the mind showcasing clever images blended with social consciousness.

The short film is a refreshing take on animation compared to its main-stream counterparts. It's simple, tight and profound. It clearly showed the involvement of a bigger workforce behind the machines that makes our life easier.

The Employment is indeed a distinctive fresh addition to the genre, proving that it only takes a clever mind to convey a complex message. So sit back, press play and indulge in this highly-recommended animation.

Momentos by Nuno Rocha

Natalie — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:00:34 +0000

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Directed by Nuno Rocha, Momentos, is a stunning short film with an aim; to remind you that life is good, that family and friends will "find" you even in the toughest of times.

The short has already won a handful of awards; starting from Cinematic Achievement Award at the International Short Film Festival in Greece, to Audience Award at a Film Festival in France. With wonderfully acted scenes, characterization, perfect camera work, and a powerful message, Momentos will surely take you on one unforgettable ride.

The short starts off with a white van stopping in front of the store. The men exit and carefully place three large TVs right in its display taking down the curtains that would otherwise hide the screens from the public view. The van than swiftly drives off waking up the homeless man resting in front of the store's display.
And this is where the real story begins.

The flatscreen TVs are soon turned on and the homeless man sits up, still a little bewildered, watching the movie that took over the pixels. But than after a while something changes. Someone on the outside gives a signal and a new film is soon displayed on the screens. This time, however, its not a latest comedy or drama, it is a video shot by a family of the homeless man from years past. The main character in the story can not stop watching as his little daughter and wife smile to the camera. It was a long time ago, but all the memories are slowly coming back.
And then all of the sudden the white van is back... and so is the man's family.

Momentos is one of those warm movies that will make you think, reminisce, and appreciate what you've got. It's done with a spot on direction that leave you, the viewer, wandering what happened to the family, what broke them off? What will happen now, that they seen each other after the years?

Sad Little Men - A short film about jealousy and chance circumstance

Valerie — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:00:25 +0000

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Created as a thesis film; Sad Little Men is a dramatic story about jealousy and how chance circumstances can create a complicated web of events.

The film is a short one, with less than 20 minutes running time and stars Jason Ralph & Will Whatley. Behind the scenes is Samuel Aaron Bennett doing majority of the work from directing, writing, scoring, shooting and editing.

With only $1500 from Kickstarter donations, production was started and a 3-4 day shoot was planned in NYC to create this raw yet compelling short film.

The movie starts with a car scene. Two men are seen arguing while the other one brandishes his gun in the air. The argument escalates and one of them ends up getting shot. Thus, begins the film and the complex fate of the characters in Sad Little Men.

There's no real protagonist in the film. Both men seem to be following their own fate, one is haunted by jealousy and resorts to murder, while the other tries to get on with his life and happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If there's one thing to praise the film after watching it, it's probably the tight editing. The clever sequences helped quicken the pace without sacrificing content. It might seem rushed for some but for the amount of time and budget afforded the crew, the film looks quite polished. The storyline and plot are intriguing too and I love how the viewer is left to decipher what's in between.

Technically, the film is superb. It comes with great cinematography and scoring, which is expected from someone who has majored in the subject. The only thing I wasn't really keen on was the script, certain lines seemed a little too trite and obvious. Although this isn't a major issue, it does rob the viewers a little bit of enjoyment from watching the film. In spite of this, you get a really well-put together story that should be worth checking out.

Samuel Aaron Bennett is an English born film maker and composer that's currently based in New York. Bennett is a graduate of Classical Composition from Purchase College. As a composer, he has written quite a few chamber pieces including two orchestral pieces and film scores. This short film is his first foray into proper film making. Currently, he is preparing to work on a new short film which he plans to start shooting in Spring.

Say Goodbye Isabell - a visionary dazzling short film by Natalia Figueroa

Mona — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:00:52 +0000

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Say Goodbye Isabell reminds me of a poem brought to life with the help of moving images. This six-minute short film by Natalie Figueroa under Ofokus Frilans Film-Produktion is a Swedish indie drama with some gorgeous experimental elements.
It tells the story of a paralyzed girl trapped in her own makeshift world, dying without even knowing how to live.

The film is artistic and strangely hypnotic with scenes transporting you to a lucid dream where nature and glares of sunlight blur the eyes. The sequences are brilliantly transitioned, at one point you find yourself floating over rolling greens and then you are brought back to the cruel sadistic reality.

The irony is dispersed everywhere, whether it's a husky man dressed in lace, an overflowing glass of milk or an empty picture framed with blood. These strong symbolisms evoke an emotional turmoil of the girl's resentment, pain and longing. One of the most powerful images, however, is the scene where the girl (in one of her dreams) buries a book that had given her the power of imagination. Here, the main character shifts from a dreamer to a realist.

The camera work for this film is divine considering that it was not produced for the main-stream audience and was shot using a regular 18-55mm lens. The director's natural talent and clear vision produced a mesmerizing and impressive achievement.

In the end, Say Goodbye Isabell is a majestic film that explores the questions of life and existence. It's an exquisite piece of impressionistic art that bewilders viewers to immerse themselves in its sheer beauty.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

En Agosto (In August) - brilliant and moving short film animation

Mona — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:00:16 +0000

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En Agosto (In August) is a 15 minute short film by Día-Fragma, Fabríca de Películas in asssociaton with Oruga Animations Studios. Released in 2008, this skillfully done in 2D and 3D animation drama had already garnered recognition from renowned film festivals including the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films.

Written and directed by Andrés Barrientos and Carlos Andrés Reyes, the film tells the story of a city transformed by a great flood. A young shaman woman from the future senses a powerful premonition while an old man in the present time awaits the end of the world on a day prophesized by his deceased wife. Though vastly apart by time, the two characters are united by a single vision and reality.

Dark and melancholic are the words that bests describe En Agosto. It's an elaborate film that delves on the realm of memories and the inevitable events. The addition of a magical shaman transforms the film into a complex world where the present is intertwined with the past and the future.

Overall it is a gorgeous film indeed, one that took almost two years in the making. The delicately colored visual palette of the city sets a dark and eerie vibe. Intricate details such as the fluttering curtains in the open window scene are well present throughout. The transitions are also flawless, whether it's the old man's recollection of his wife or the flooded city of the future.

I personally enjoyed the subtle, silent scenes where the anticipation builds up. The short dialogues are just right to shed light to the viewer, but not to force the whole story.

En Agosto is a dramatic and breathtaking film that reminds us of the captivating art of animation. So put your feet up, press play and enjoy this little gem (available for a download on the Vimeo page).

Van Beuren's Tom & Jerry - Redskin Blues (1932)

Frostech — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:00:03 +0000

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Many of you reading this post would mistake the piece of work for MGM's classic "Tom & Jerry", but its not so. This is Van Beuren's Tom & Jerry episode of 1932 Redskin Blues.

This particular episode is high on action, with "Boom-Bang" from guns and cannons (a 1932 Mission Impossible one might say) with the two iconic characters fighting off the 'Red-Indians'. Watching a movie like this nowadays is priceless in making us laugh and relive the good olden days. Nostalgia is the theme for this one!

In their own funny demeanor the cartoon displays the antics of the protagonist and defending one's life by avoiding flying-hammers with the baseball-bat all of course while experiencing success with every single shot. A hilarious moment never falls short in this movie. Being an old classic, there is not much room to talk about graphics, SFX, animations and the likes. Its a legend in its own right with ample fun-watching for the entire family.

If you think the lack-luster animation is a complete thumbs-down to this movie, let me tell you, the music co-ordination is so good that you will wish you were in the movie instead. So, do Tom & Jerry survive the attack by the Red-Indians? Umm, well you have to watch it for yourself.