Film Review: Flying To Disney World (2016)

For a film that literally uses one piece of paper (a winning lottery ticket) and a hot dog (a magical-scientific means of travel) Flying to Disney World really makes the most use of its limited resources. Its director and writer Jonathan Vargas takes his barren production potential in terms of locations and props to create an elaborate joke which is both funny and laden with subtle references to the popular culture. While not perfect in execution, this short film clearly shows that the ability to restrain one’s aspirations and ambitions for any one project is the key to its success.

Flying to Disney World presents its story as a one-line joke, opening with Sam, who is ecstatic to find out that he just won a ticket to Disney World. Being a grown man, he still takes the news as the most excited 12-year-old in the world, but only unit he finds out that he can claim it in Disney World itself. However, his car was recently destroyed by his roommate Roxy. But, just as all seems lost, Roxy enters the film and she comes with the perfect bang.

Part Dexter’s sister Dee Dee, part lunatic, Roxy is first distraught by the news that Sam won’t be able to get his prize because of her, but then, being that she is some kind of home-based insane scientist, she offers to resolve his problem using her invention. When the invention turns out to be a hot dog (a real, eatable hot dog) the film kicks into higher gear.

Here, the real jokes begin to fly and it seems that Vargas rightly recognized that this is the part where his actors really got into their roles. Both Amanda Ortega and Christopher Michael do great as Roxy and Sam, but once the "invention" enters the fold, Ortega takes it to a whole new level. Even though the film was up to that point intriguing because of its simple setup, the appearance of the hot dog is the glue that ties all elements of the film together and makes it work.

Here, the first few chuckles can mutate into full laughter as Roxy presents her idea to the bewildered Sam who doesn’t have any alternative. As a comedy, here the film shows its multiple sources of inspiration, from goofy slapstick to bizarre domains of things like Wonder Showzen. In fact, the film could have even better if an even bigger number of jokes came in even faster.

Cleverly, Vargas presents all of this in neat and tidy shots, where the camera doesn’t get used or abused in any way. He also uses sound editing to a degree that is above regular independent short films, which is also a great means of introducing humor, like the “sounds” that follow the unseen creation process of the powerful hot dog. This allows the film to focus on the characters, especially Ortega, who clearly finds her mark around this time and drives it home.

Flying to Disney World cannot be called a masterpiece of short filmmaking, mainly because of the fact that the visual domain was mostly used to present the dialogues, but doesn’t venture further (a safe bet, but not enough for greatness). However, it can be seen as a miniature sitcom which really is funny and entertaining. Independent short films regularly fail at both of the previous, which is why Flying to Disney World can be called a really good short comedy. Vargas possesses a big potential for a possible move to TV production because he has all that is needed for making short-form TV shows, especially if he could push his weird type of humor even further.

Find out more about Jonathan Vargas on his YouTube channel and Facebook fan page and watch the full Flying to Disney World below.

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comedy, short,

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Voices From The Mist - A short film by Vladislav Pantić

Vladislav Pantić is a visual artist and animator from Belgrade, Serbia. As a veteran of the gaming industry, Vladislav was included in the game development process for several years before he published his first short animated film called Voices From The Mist.

Featuring a combination of the classic frame by frame animation and CGI element, the short film tells about the relationship between humanity and the hidden world of the fairies.

With a brilliant voice over acting and plenty of atmosphere, the short piece really has that vintage fantasy feel that marked so many fantastic films from the 70's and the 80's. 

I hope the film will provide Vladislav with some of the much needed attention that he could then use to make a bigger project - I have no doubt he has what it takes to make that happen.

Watch Voices From The Mist below.

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Animation, Fantasy, short,

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Crowdfunding Push - Abattoir: Waiting Room

Imagining you're an animal in the slaughterhouse sounds like a really bad idea, but this short film being made in Serbia explores the exact same idea. Here's what Abattoir: Waiting Room Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign page states: 

What if we are not the most powerful creatures in the universe? What if "the others" have the power and reason to serve us what we deserve? What if "the others" are here just for that - to show us how wrong we are doing?  Two humans, one “waiting room”, many questions, and two stories. First one: the host (played by famous Serbian actor Radoje Cupic) is a vegan who didn’t do much to save the animals, besides the fact he stopped eating them; his karmic punishment is an existence with never-ending brief residents who are about to end up as a meat products. Second one: newcomer (played by highly regarded Nenad Pecinar) is just one of many with the same questions, behavior, and fears. As a meat-eater, he will end up as a… you can guess.

Abattoir: Waiting Room campaign is entering its final 12 hours and has currently collected over 20% of the funds it is looking for. Check it out here and see if you can help this film out.

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Crowdfunding, short,

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Crowdfunding Push: iSyndrome

A new interesting crowdfunding campaign is looking to make a short science fiction film with the topic of terrifying psychological disorder called iSyndrome. The film plans to focus consciousness and the way it is represented in the minds of individuals, but also in a wider cultural context. The iSyndrome official Indiegogo page states:

iSyndrome is a 20-minute narrative short film about a young and brilliant brain researcher suffering from Depersonalization Disorder, losing his mind. His wife, a post-materialist researcher, tries everything she can to save him, even if it means reaching the end of life, and going to the heart of consciousness. 

Barak Shavit, an Israeli filmmaker is the man behind this film and it’s impressive to see him go for the mixture of science fiction and hard-hitting drama. Films like these are usually difficult to pull off because most see Sci-Fi as a collection of tech gimmicks and visual amazement that is not primarily cerebral in nature, where the added drama often feels forced and unnecessary. But, Shavit seems to have a clear vision and has already measured up the atmosphere he desires to achieve, making iSyndrome seem very promising.

Currently, the film raised around 30% of its target. Visit the film's Indiegogo page and see how you can help make iSyndrome come to life.

If you're looking for exposure for your film-related project, contact me right here.

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Crowdfunding, drama, Sci-Fi, short,

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Film Review: Kung Fury (2015)

Copyright: Laser Unicorns

Like all great plagues in history, the 80’s nostalgia was also gaining strength unseen and hidden, sprawling in the corners of the public collective consciousness. It started with the demonic resurgence of pixel art, a form of visual design that people in the gaming industry happily buried more than two decades ago. This spread to VHS tapes, vintage computers and many other things which are now cool as cucumbers only because the generation that grew up in that period (like me) entered their fourth decade and is prepared to pay money to see more of this falsely golden decade. But like Mary Schmich remarked long ago, nostalgia is essentially a process of recycling that turns old memories into overpriced notions which we cherish.

Kung Fury is a half an hour of 80’s roller-coaster of action and comedy, but it’s not a cheap trick to get money out of the pockets of the Millennials and X generations (not completely, at least). In the film, the viewers are bombarded with colors and action scenes, making the film something similar to a 12-year-old boy’s dream that took place somewhere in 1987. There is a loose plot, where the main character goes through an epic adventure involving porno-looking Viking female warriors, Hitler and hacking time, but watching Kung Fury is mostly about the laughs. Using some true kung fu wisdom, the creators of Kung Fury decided to steer clear of long dialogue or verbal humor, apart from several 80’s puns and instead focused on the slapstick elements, some of which are really brilliant (shooting through the phone connection, for example).

During its crowdfunding campaign, the film promised a joy ride colored in the tones of a none-existed era of Regan on LSD and definitely delivered the same. Like Blue Ruin, it shows that this system of gathering money really can produce very successful films, both from an art and business perspective.  For me, the great thing about the film is how its director David Sandberg compacted it into a run-time that is neither long nor short. I believe that this is the ideal length for the future genre of YouTube feature films (along with a brand new production and financing model) and I’m very much looking forward to those movies.

Watch the complete Kung Fury right here.

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action, comedy, short,

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Crowdfunding push - Extinction: Prologue

A new post-apocalyptic short film is looking for crowdfunding help in realizing its vision of a deserted and destroyed planet Earth. The film’s Indiegogo page states:

Twenty-five years after a cataclysmic event killed most life on Earth, a lonesome wanderer discovers an abandoned housing complex in the middle of a forest. There he meets another survivor – a weird old man who constantly talks about a long-lost friend called "Matthew". When the hermit is willing to share his greatest treasure, the wanderer decides to stay for a while. However, there is more to this strange place than meets the eye, since the apocalypse unleashed something that was hidden for a very long time...

Although it is not too original in its setup, Extinction: Prologue is being produced by the Avenir Film Company and judging their ambitious teaser, they seem really capable of making a nice post-apocalyptic story (especially in the area of photography and how they position and operate the camera in the shots). Also, they are aiming for more films in the same narrative universe (another sign of ambition). Currently, their campaign crossed 30% of the funds they are looking for, and if you think you can help them, check out their official page.

If you're looking for exposure for your film-related project, contact me right here.

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Crowdfunding, Sci-Fi, short,

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Film Review: Board to Death (2015)

Copyright: Broken Lens Production

Wife.
Life.
Death.

A lot of cool sounding things come from Board to Death, a short indie neo-noir thriller made by a Broken Lens Production, a production company made up from young filmmakers. The film’s director Dammie Akinmola created a very simple thriller black and white piece about a crazed husband who is determined to kill all those who have disrespected his beautiful but very insidiously quiet wife.

With this film, Akinmola showed that he really can pack a tight frame and position the camera (and even its motion, which is always tricky for small productions) so it shows all the hallmarks of the noir genre.

At moments, the film seems like a raw version of Sin City: A Dame to Kill For before the CGI is plastered over the actors. Here, the film really shines as a mute piece about a dangerous man in bleak surroundings.

But, once the plot begins to unravel, Board to Death becomes more constrained and slightly less focused. With the use of heavy narration provided by the main character, the audience is drawn through the story like a child through a museum that was deemed too complicated for it. Here, Akinmola also decided that things should be both shown and told, which is not a great direction for a movie that drives towards a noir feel.

During his killings, the main character explains things both in person and to the audience, killing not only his victims, but also the noir atmosphere. The only thing which offers an alternative to this blatantly verbal approach is the board which is used by the wife to show the husband who he needs to kill. But, the board is also a Scrabble type of game, which results in even more words for the viewers.

Board to Death is a tight looking film, but which sounds as one that thought it should be even tighter. On the other hand, it needs to be said that the aim of Akinmola and Broken Lens Production was respectably high and most importantly, it shows skill and knowledge that can result in even better films to come.

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indie, short, Thriller,

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MFM Interview: Ferand Peek

Ferand Peek is the director behind the excellent independent sci-fi short film called Mis-Drop. The piece, apart from being very engaging to watch, also offers a glimpse into a combo of filmmaking techniques that offer a way of producing a movie that both looks and feels like its counterparts from the big production companies. I got an opportunity to talk with Peek about Mis-Drop and other things, especially those concerning the production of this little sci-fi gem.

Movies, Films and Movies (MFM): Mis-Drop is one of the most interesting Sci-Fi short that came out in recent years. Tell us more how this film came about? Who had the initial idea and how did the project move forward after that?

Ferand Peek: The idea for Mis-drop came during a time of my life when I was working as a contractor in sound in the film industry and had applied several times, and been rejected, for funding from the state-run Film Commission here in New Zealand. All the scripts I had written for them were for the kind of movie I thought they wanted to see (a contemporary drama with local content) but this was in no way the kind of movie I was really into or wanted to make.

Around this time I landed a good contract working on-set on a local TV show and I saved some money to put into a film. As soon as I made the decision to do so I knew it HAD to be a sci-fi film, but the question remained: how to make a film that looked and felt like the kind of big-budget sci-fi that I love on the very modest budget I had available?

The answer was firstly to do a short, and secondly to tell it all in one shot - from a camera that exists in the world of the movie. That way I knew I could have something really cool (which would have been insanely expensive to do in CG) happen just off-screen. So maybe you hear it, or you see it in reflection, but it is compromised in a way that saves money. Also coming from a background in sound I knew that much of the scale of the film could be sold with really great sound design.

Writing the movie was very quick, and we shot the film about 8 months afterwards. This was all very exciting and gratifying but it also used up all my money so to finish I needed to find help from a post-production house to assist with the CGI and compositing. But to get to that stage I knew I had to be able to show people something better than a rough-cut or I would always have to be on their shoulder telling them what they were supposed to be seeing at any point.

So I locked myself in my room for 6 months and taught myself how to composite. I took this (fairly rough comp) down to Wellington and showed it to the wonderful people at Park Road Post who got right behind it. In fact they went out of their way to help me find another vendor (Workshop FX) to do the CGI while they took on the compositing, grade and sound mix.

Workshop FX delivered quite quickly and it was a really amazing experience getting to experience being a director with them. With Park Road it took much longer as being a pro-bono job it was always at the end of their list of priorities. While this was often frustrating it actually led to an even more amazing opportunity to upskill my own compositing as I tried to push the project along and eventually, when the Hobbit movies came along, work for them on that project while also getting to finish my own movie.

So it was a really long slog to the finish line, but as a result I've been contracting in VFX for several years now and growing as a film-maker as I get exposed to the world of post-production which was an unknown to me before starting this film.

MFM: Let’s talk a bit about the production of the film itself. While it uses CGI in a very savvy way, it still had plenty of it. What was your take on using it in the film, meaning do you wish you had more or are you satisfied with the current end result when it comes to CGI use?

Ferand Peek: In terms of the CGI, my focus with it on this film is really borne from a dislike of bad visual effects. I wanted my mantra to be 'if it can't look real, don't put it in'. I dislike watching sci-fi movies where the CGI is average. You can kind of see where they were going with it, but it always pulls me out if it's not flawless.

So I'm happy with the amount of CGI in the film. Ideally I'd love to do as much as possible physically, but on a budget with this subject matter it's just impossible so you always have to find ways to cheat. In my case that was making a lot of the big CGI only visible in the reflection on his helmet (of which the glass is entirely a CGI fabrication). Of course there are always things I would like to be better and things I still look at and cringe just a little. But I always go back to the fact that the final product so far beyond what I ever thought I'd be able to achieve so I am very happy with the film.

MFM: Military science fiction seems like a very popular topic for short films, including both fan fiction set in things like the Halo universe and completely original pieces like your film. Why do you think this is the case?

Ferand Peek: I'm not really sure why military sci-fi is so popular in film other than perhaps a natural male preoccupation with conflict, war, and huge toys (guns and tanks, etc.)

MFM: What did you learn while you made this film? What would you share as your personal words of wisdom with other filmmakers looking into working on similar projects?

Ferand Peek: In terms of what I learned on this film: a little bit of money goes a long way towards getting really world-class assistance. Often if you are producing a passion project all you need to give someone is the ability to put food in their mouth and they'll pretty much waive the rest of their fee if they think it's a cool project. But you got to be prepared for it to take time. It can be good, quick, or cheap but you're only ever allowed 2. So if you want it to be good and you've got no money it won't be quick. You're always going to be at the bottom of the priority list. But in saying that if you can put in a finish deadline you'll be amazed out how everyone becomes motivated in the last couple of weeks to help you meet it.

MFM: Mis-Drop made its way to movie festivals, while it was also noticed by audiences online. Are you pleased and/or surprised with the things it accomplished?

Ferand Peek: So far I've been pretty pleased with the reception Mis-drop has received. There is something quite special about putting something out into the world, to become part of the culture, and have it well received. Especially by fans of the genre (who are really the people I made it for).

MFM: Will you try to convert the success of Mis-Drop into something new? This goes both for you personally and the universe in which the film takes place (possible sequels)?

Ferand Peek: Of course I'd love to make a feature inspired by the project, especially as it has struck people as so unique. There has been a lot of interest in the idea so now it's down to me to come up with the best possible version with which to try and bring to fruition.

MFM: Ferand Peek, thank you very much!

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Interview, Sci-Fi, short,

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Crowdfunding push: Albion

After We Are Soldier, here is another Sci-Fi short that seems really interesting. It includes crash landings and ancient relics, which is a solid starting point while adding the Arthurian legend sprinkles even more flavor onto it. This is what the official Albion Indiegogo page states:

A long friendship will be put to the test when Arthur and Eric crash on the continent of ALBION. They are occupied in the search for an ancient artifact, but when they stumble across a native of the hostile world, a struggle for power will come to the fore and both of our heroes will have to decide – who returns home, and who DIES. This is the origins of - KING ARTHUR.

Albion - Indiegogo Campaign Video from Joshua Eley on Vimeo.

Although the notion of Sci-Fi in the woods isn't too exciting, the feel of the pilot for this short film has a few things going for it, including the crucial atmosphere of danger and discovery, along with a welcomed focus on the characters. Albion just began their campaign and have currently passed a few percent of their targeted budget of 1000 British pounds (which is pretty modest). Check their Indiegogo page here and see if you are interested in helping out.

If you're looking for exposure for your film-related project, contact me right here.

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Crowdfunding, Sci-Fi, short,

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Crowdfunding push: Divine

Contemporary Berlin is the setting for this short film, and two completely opposite characters are examined in it, both coming from the Russia. The official Indiegogo description explains the film like this:

Divine is a short film that follows two young, very different, Russian expatriates living in Berlin with an aim to explore how our unfulfilled dreams and desires soon catch up with us. Alina, forced into the dark work of prostitution, finds herself speaking to Anna, a well kept woman, after she answers a ringing telephone booth phone. Faced with questions of her aspirations, she is left with a two-pronged path and a decision to make.

 

I noticed this film mostly thanks to its minimalistic elegance, and an almost creepy but still somehow emotionally stinging soundtrack. By the looks of its current production state, it has a great chance to become a strong drama about the sadness of modern global nomadic lifestyles filled with loneliness. Currently, Divine crossed 70% of its target on Indiegogo campaign, so check it out if you would like to help it see made.

If you're looking for exposure for your film-related project, contact me right here.

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Crowdfunding, drama, short,

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Crowdfunding push: PLEASED TO EAT YOU!

This is a short film about a lifeboat scenario that includes cannibalism. Oh, and it's a musical.

Naturally, I am very interested in any art form that covers isolation, gruesome death by starvation and the possibility of eating human flesh. But, when all of this is provided in a musical setting, a genre that definitely lacks cannibalism (among many other things), I have no doubt that this crowdfunding project needs to be supported. The official PLEASED TO EAT YOU! description states:

Pleased To Eat You! is a a short musical comedy film set in an art-deco style fantasy world.

Stranded on a raft at sea, John (Oliver Lansley), Tom (Anthony Spargo) and Vinnie (Lee Ravitz) are starving. When Vinnie croaks it, John and Tom’s imaginations go into overload as they dream up some questionable and very musical ways to consume him.

Influenced by the golden age of Hollywood musicals, Pleased To Eat You! is a homage to their design, sound and imagination, but one we're pulling into the 21st century with digital technology and visual effects.

Apart from a really cool and funny setup, the film presents an interesting visual style, which is a bold move by the director Adrian Hedgecock. He could have easily gone for a low budget approach and the film would still work - now, Hedgecock and his team are looking for funds on Indiegogo to make PLEASED TO EAT YOU! happen. Currently, they reached 35% of the funds they are looking for. So, if you want to help this film, find out more here.

If you're looking for exposure for your film-related project, contact me right here.

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comedy, Crowdfunding, music, short,

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Neary's Void - A short movie by Dillon Schohr

When it comes to weird stuff happening in the desert, LA filmmaker Dillon Schohr is definitively not a stranger to short movies which feature these elements.

But, unlike his last desert film Alone, this time Schohr sets his piece into the realm of science fiction, but underline this with a good and very developed soundtrack, as well as some fine photography that uses the natural contrasts of this arid land. In his latest short film, story follows a man who witnesses a stranger doing something strange in the remote area.

Soon, the story splits, and although I am pretty much in the dark when it comes to the narrative and its purpose, the presentation of it is very smooth, and it even managed to remind me of Banshee Chapter, a great atmospheric feature length piece. Watch Neary's Void right here.

If you're looking for exposure for your film-related project, contact me right here.

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Sci-Fi, short,

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Crowdfunding push: CONCLUSIONS

CONCLUSIONS is a short film about suicide. While many already have a strong opinion on this subject, recent events that included well-known figures taking their life have shown that there are conflicting thoughts about this act.

Like art should, CONCLUSIONS explores the issue, but does this from a slightly different perspective. Its short summary states:

Conclusions is a drama which deals with the subject of suicide to promote suicide prevention by giving the viewer something to think about. This is aimed towards people who may actually be going through depression or suicidal thoughts. It will follow the story of a young man and everything that makes him decide to end his own life. Then the story jumps back and tells the story from the perspective of another character which shows the real tragedy of his decision and what would have happened to him if he had not of jumped to CONCLUSIONS.

The key issue for me in this film is the fact that it deals with the ripple effect that any suicide has on its surroundings; while reality might be unimaginably hard for anyone contemplating this act, the fact is that other people will be significantly impacted by it. That is why I believe that CONCLUSIONS should be offered its chance to present this notion. The film's author Rodney Stewart began looking for funds through Indiegogo campaign, and is currently at around 10% of its goal. If this project sounds interesting, see how you can help Rodney here.

If you're looking for exposure for your film-related project, contact me right here.

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Crowdfunding, drama, short,

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Crowdfunding Push: Vagina Bug

This short movie was already shot in August 2014, but now its author Michelle Dyer, who directed it, needs funds to compete its post-production. Vagina Bug describes its plot like this:

20-something Edith attends a perfect baby shower and struggles with the unrealistic expectation of women today. As her own anxieties push their way to the surface, Edith undergoes a shocking transformation that will leave herself, the women at the shower, and the audience fundamentally changed.

From the Indiegogo promotional video, it’s clear that a lot of effort went into this piece, especially its visual perspective. The scenes and the entire scenography setup look great, bordering on hallucinogenic, which will probably serve as a fine counterpoint to the things that occur later on (I’m guessing, not really pleasant ones). Now, Vagina Bug is looking for help through its Indiegogo campaign, currently securing only a few percent of their goal. Check out the campaign here and see if you can help.

If you're looking for exposure for your film-related project, contact me right here.

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Crowdfunding, short,

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