I don't think this topic has been done....


People always mention feature films but very little attention is paid to short films. I love short films!

I watch them often but never seem to find anyone to talk about them with. 

One of the movie channels airs Black Shorts... ie shorts that are written, directed or feature black writers/filmmakers/actors.  Usually they air in Feb.

The oscars honors short films and, if you're lucky enough to live or be in/near LA you can go to the Academy of Motion Pictures on Wilshire and see screenings of these shorts. 

I tend to take in shorts when I go to various film festivals.

If you've seen them feel free to discuss them here.
I'll take your recommendations and will gladly accept warnings on which films to avoid.  ;D

One of the first short films I remember seeing (94 or 95) was Tuesday Morning Ride. It starred Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis I haven't seen it years but I remember being very moved by it. 

a couple dress up in their finest clothes, dust off their old car and take one last ride together.

as I mentioned elsewhere I was at the Santa Barbara Film Festival on Friday and went to see a few short films.


My favorite....no way this movie should've worked but it did.... was Wizard Heist.

It's about wizards who plan a bank robbery. It's basically Reservoir Dogs meets, well, low budget drunk college kid filmmaking.  but it was hilarious.

http://media.independent.com/img/croppedphotos/2012/01/27/wizard-heist_t479.jpg?6626f76dcd72edc2e28f46812c7026450162bdb2


here's an interview with the filmmaker

http://www.independent.com/news/2012/feb/01/wizard-heist/

My friend Joe wrote a film that was in the film festival as well

The Secret Ingredient  is the story about a grandmother who passes down family histories thru a cooking lesson with her 20ish year old grandson.  Its a sweet, slow film that captures the emotions of family, love, regrets and just that feeling of nostalgia.  It sort of reminded me of the feeling I had when I watched Brooklyn Bridge....they weren't memories that mirrored anything I'd experienced  but I could still totally relate to the intent and the power in them.

Stealing Kindness this also aired at the film fest. It kind of sucked...which is sad.
It's based on that real story about the man who took his mugger to dinner.  The film was overly sentimentalized and really poorly acted. The director said he had to do all of his audio in post production. It's possible the acting came across as stale because of the ADR but I don't know it seemed more than just an ADR issue. The whole thing was just sappy and stiff.

I'd post more but I need to get to work....  ;)


also, if you find any cool short films on the net post links here I'd love to see them!

shameless plug....

my friend Ellie wrote a semi autographical story about growing up transgendered and the pain in transitioning. 

Truth Takes Time
It's basically an animated storyboard. I would never tell her this but the animation is a bit  :-\\ well it's okay.
It's a pretty good film tho, especially considering it's her first animated project.

anyway- here's the link if you're interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRgFbr103yg

I'd embed it but I want her to get more views so I'm asking, if you choose to watch it please go there.  :)

I can't say as I have ever seen a live action short film, but I have seen many animated ones.  My all-time favourite is one the NFB (National Film Board of Canada) made in 1979 called The Log Driver's Waltz.  Many NFB animated shorts have received Academy Award nominations over the years, though oddly enough, this was not one of them.  Blasphemy! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upsZZ2s3xv8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FDXt8arBdw



Cat

Pull My Daisy (1959)
Directed by Robert Frank
Narrator: Jack Kerouac
Featuring among others: Allen Ginsberg and Peter Orlovsky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYtfNu9O3dc

Un Chien Andalou (1929)
Directed by Luis Buñuel
Written by Salvador Dali and Luis Buñuel
Featuring: Simone Mareuil, Peter Batcheff, Luis Buñuel, Salvador Dali
Music: Richard Wagner -- "Tristan und Isolde: Liebesto"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9zhKuV86NA

Zere vill be a brief discossion of ze film in ze lecture hall following ze zcreening in vich I shall tell you vat ze film
iz really about...eet is really about 16 minutes!
:D

The Critic by Mel Brooks (1963)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiYjwRZK_NM

There is the classic The Red Balloon.



Cat

Here are the opening portions of Skaterdater.  It's about skateboarding and the end of the latency period.
:-\\

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfjsKzYCFEc

Remember this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh4DstK2w_Q
Norman McLaren's "Neighbours:.