EFF's Shorts Spotlight - Vol. 2

Last week I introduced a new regular feature here on the Eighty Five Films blog called EFF's Shorts Spotlight. We decided that every Monday we'd post some of the shorts we've found while trawling the web avoiding doing real work. So here, as promised, I am in week two.

This week we have a student drama from 'ryanhutchinsfilm' called 'Too Shy', a comedy from 'Boxcar Films' called '92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card' and the third is another comedy, this time from Australian production company 'Play TV', called 'Glenn Owen Dodds'.

As I said last week I would recommend watching the videos before reading as the article may include spoilers. Also I think I'd better place a warning somewhere so I'll stick it here: The films may contain bad language, nudity, horror or violence so children should only watch with their parents guidance and those old enough to watch by themselves do so at their own discretion.

Too Shy (2011)
Directed and Written by: Ryan Hutchins
Starring: Will Avon, James Duncan, Nina Gamgort

What I like about 'Too Shy' is it's simplicity. It's an amazing short, especially for a student film and it's all down to the storytelling. Hutchins does a fantastic job of writing a heartfelt poem that feels completely real, maybe Hutchins himself has felt this way; he gets the watcher to really feel for the main character. He manages to put a nice twist in too, skipping from heartbreak to joy in a matter of seconds, really playing with your emotions. Maybe I'm just soppy but I've felt a tear breaking loose each time I've seen it!

It's also well shot and well lit, while again keeping things nice and simple and the piano soundtrack work beautifully alongside the words of the lovestruck poet. The actors performances, while they don't have too much to do, are also excellent; keeping things feeling real.

'Too Shy' manages to show you can create a great film with little or no budget and is a fine example of how sometimes less is more. I do honestly think it is fantastic and would recommend it to everyone.

5/5.

'92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card (2012)
Directed by: Todd Sklar
Written by: Todd Sklar and Alex Rennie
Starring: James Pumphrey and Alex Rennie

Today's second film has a whole different feel to it than 'Too Shy'. The lengthily titled ''92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card' is a comedy, that while sometimes quite dark, is very funny. The best scene, in my opinion, is the dinner table scene which has some very good laugh-out-loud moments. I like the competitive nature between the two brothers and the violent extent to which their drinking competition finishes.

I did find the main characters quite hard to like, even though the one brother does redeem himself at the end. They are brash and childish, I suspect that is the way they are supposed to be but I just found them hard to sympathise with.

Sklar does a good job of directing, the film is well shot, moves at a good pace and sounds great. There is a slight sync issue every now and again (although this could have just been a YouTube issue) but overall everything worked well.

4/5.

Note: '92 Skybox Alonso Mourning Rookie Card has since been made into a feature length film called 'Awful Nice'.


Glenn Owen Dodds (2010)
Directed by: Frazer Bailey
Written by: Trent Dalton
Starring: David Wenham, Abe Forsythe, Bella Heathcote

Our short spotlight this week is rounded up with Glenn Owen Dodds or G.O.D. for short is quirky, funny and intriguing. We, as the viewer, are in the same boat as the young man Michael as he discovers the line to see Glenn. It at first appears that there is nothing mystical about Glenn and that he is just some bloke that is a bit off his rocker. I think it works very well to employ the slow reveal that maybe there is something heavenly about him after all as he manages to comment on things in Michael's life that nobody could possibly know. Slowly, more things pop into place and by the end it's revealed that Glenn probably is God after all.

The funniest moment for me comes at the end of Michael's five minute session, just as he is about to get the answer to his question (or not as the case may be, after all Glenn is all knowing and would be aware of the time). The comedy works thanks to a great performance from David Wenham (300, The Lord of the Rings) who really pulls off the character, his comedy timing is excellent and he makes Glenn very likeable.

The ending is very clever, turning seemingly whimsical remarks made by Glenn into all knowing set-ups for Michael and his quest for true love before returning us one more time to Glenn and his funny remarks on horses. The same credit as given to Wenham has to be given to writer Trent Dalton for writing a very funny script and director Frazer Bailey for moving it to camera.

4.5/5.


If you enjoyed the films, agreed with me or even though opinion was completely and utterly wrong then please leave a comment in the section below. Also if you would like us to feature your short in future spotlights then you can leave a link in the comments or contact us on our twitter page @eightyfivefilms at any time.

Which of this week's three shorts was your favourite?