There's been a steady decline in the number of people viewing Oscar-nominated films, but the short film categories have suffered the most. It's sad, because I think some of these films are actually better than the feature-length ones nominated for Best Picture. They aren't restricted by requiring a plot, and the length has (nearly) free range. Fresh Guacamole, an Oscar-nominated, animated short clocks in at only one minute forty-five seconds long, but others nearly hit the thirty minute mark. The title to each film is a link, so if you have a spare 7-25 minutes, I really encourage you to watch at least one of the films. The longer ones could also be viewed in lieu of a TV episode.
To This Day (2013) is one of the previously described short films that has no real plot. That's because the "screenplay" is a spoken word poem written and performed by anti-bullying advocate Shane Koyczan. He first received acclaim when he read his poetry at the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Olympics, but he decided that his next project was going to be something deeply personal- about the effects of bullying. The film is made using crowdsourced animation; 86 animators and motion artists created 10 second segments that were spliced together to make To This Day- a very fluid and very touching piece about beauty and self-worth. It's difficult to talk about these kinds of topics without branching out into after-school special territory, but Koyczan handles it with grace and some violin accompaniment.
There's never been a scientific study to determine the best-loved short film, but I'm pretty comfortable in saying that it's The Butterfly Circus (2009). There have been talks and teasers about turning it into a feature-length film, but I don't see what the purpose would be as there isn't a wasted moment in the 20-minute version. Nick Vujicic plays the main character, Will, a man born without arms or legs. It's no feat of CGI either, Vujicic really was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, and has spent his life helping people overcome obstacles in their lives. Will is part of a sideshow act in a great-depression-era circus, but decides to leave for The Butterfly Circus when he has a heartfelt encounter with the charismatic ringleader. The Butterfly Circus is touching without being saccharine, enlightening without being maudlin, and gorgeous without being self-indulgent. It's on the longer end of the scale, but every second is spent wisely.
The Promise (2013) is a dark comedy about a drunken promise made between friends. It's clearly low budget, in a single location, with few actors. With either poorly-written dialogue or weak actors it easily could have failed, but the dialogue is sharp, and the actors are perfect. It's incredibly silly, but what's said is not completely unrealistic within the context of the situation. Not every film needs to beg to be analyzed or even have a deeper meaning. The Promise is a smartly-written comedy short that's just good fun all the way through.
It's incredible that George Méliès' silent film Voyage Dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon) (1902) has survived and is still widely appreciated over 110 years after its initial release. Often considered the first sci-fi film, Voyage Dans la Lune is the story of a group of astronomers traveling to the moon, and their strange encounters with the Selenites. The effects are incredible given the time period, with elaborate, painted backdrops, the use of contrapuntal motion before a static camera, matte paintings, and controlled smoke. It is captivating and immaculate, one of the first masterpieces of cinema.
The Confession (2010) is is a British film directed by Tanel Toom, and one of my favorite short films despite its darkness. it follows the loss of innocence in young boy as he prepares for his first confession, aided by his best friend. Besides the twists and turns brought by the plot, the most surprising thing is just how good this film looks. It's stunning, and one scene in particular stands out to me. When Jacob talks to Sam through the bathroom stall, it's like a casual confessional, composed beautifully onscreen. The acting performances are another welcome surprise. Child actors who can convey pure emotion are hard to come by- a quick look at the massive mistake in Modern Family can back me up- but Lewis Howlett and Joe Eales are true talents, displaying the most genuine of emotions: love, guilt, and devotion.
I'll be honest: I have no idea how to explain Everything Will Be OK (2006). It's very minimalistic visually, but you'll probably recognize Don Hertzfeld's style from the old Pop-Tart commercials and Rejected Cartoons, that strange amalgam of clips that was really popular six or seven years ago. Everything Will Be OK is nothing like either of those, though. There's no real storyline. It's everything we all feel, say, and do, but were never sure enough of someone else doing it to talk openly about it.
Apparently The Black Hole (2008) is shown in film schools as an example of the perfect short film. It's short, silent, and was shot over 24 hours, but it's powerful. Some .gifs of it have been circulating around the internet lately, but it's really worth watching the entire thing, if only to see actor Napoleon Ryan's wonderful acting without speaking.
To This Day (2013) is one of the previously described short films that has no real plot. That's because the "screenplay" is a spoken word poem written and performed by anti-bullying advocate Shane Koyczan. He first received acclaim when he read his poetry at the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Olympics, but he decided that his next project was going to be something deeply personal- about the effects of bullying. The film is made using crowdsourced animation; 86 animators and motion artists created 10 second segments that were spliced together to make To This Day- a very fluid and very touching piece about beauty and self-worth. It's difficult to talk about these kinds of topics without branching out into after-school special territory, but Koyczan handles it with grace and some violin accompaniment.
There's never been a scientific study to determine the best-loved short film, but I'm pretty comfortable in saying that it's The Butterfly Circus (2009). There have been talks and teasers about turning it into a feature-length film, but I don't see what the purpose would be as there isn't a wasted moment in the 20-minute version. Nick Vujicic plays the main character, Will, a man born without arms or legs. It's no feat of CGI either, Vujicic really was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, and has spent his life helping people overcome obstacles in their lives. Will is part of a sideshow act in a great-depression-era circus, but decides to leave for The Butterfly Circus when he has a heartfelt encounter with the charismatic ringleader. The Butterfly Circus is touching without being saccharine, enlightening without being maudlin, and gorgeous without being self-indulgent. It's on the longer end of the scale, but every second is spent wisely.
The Promise (2013) is a dark comedy about a drunken promise made between friends. It's clearly low budget, in a single location, with few actors. With either poorly-written dialogue or weak actors it easily could have failed, but the dialogue is sharp, and the actors are perfect. It's incredibly silly, but what's said is not completely unrealistic within the context of the situation. Not every film needs to beg to be analyzed or even have a deeper meaning. The Promise is a smartly-written comedy short that's just good fun all the way through.
It's incredible that George Méliès' silent film Voyage Dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon) (1902) has survived and is still widely appreciated over 110 years after its initial release. Often considered the first sci-fi film, Voyage Dans la Lune is the story of a group of astronomers traveling to the moon, and their strange encounters with the Selenites. The effects are incredible given the time period, with elaborate, painted backdrops, the use of contrapuntal motion before a static camera, matte paintings, and controlled smoke. It is captivating and immaculate, one of the first masterpieces of cinema.
The Confession (2010) is is a British film directed by Tanel Toom, and one of my favorite short films despite its darkness. it follows the loss of innocence in young boy as he prepares for his first confession, aided by his best friend. Besides the twists and turns brought by the plot, the most surprising thing is just how good this film looks. It's stunning, and one scene in particular stands out to me. When Jacob talks to Sam through the bathroom stall, it's like a casual confessional, composed beautifully onscreen. The acting performances are another welcome surprise. Child actors who can convey pure emotion are hard to come by- a quick look at the massive mistake in Modern Family can back me up- but Lewis Howlett and Joe Eales are true talents, displaying the most genuine of emotions: love, guilt, and devotion.
I'll be honest: I have no idea how to explain Everything Will Be OK (2006). It's very minimalistic visually, but you'll probably recognize Don Hertzfeld's style from the old Pop-Tart commercials and Rejected Cartoons, that strange amalgam of clips that was really popular six or seven years ago. Everything Will Be OK is nothing like either of those, though. There's no real storyline. It's everything we all feel, say, and do, but were never sure enough of someone else doing it to talk openly about it.
Apparently The Black Hole (2008) is shown in film schools as an example of the perfect short film. It's short, silent, and was shot over 24 hours, but it's powerful. Some .gifs of it have been circulating around the internet lately, but it's really worth watching the entire thing, if only to see actor Napoleon Ryan's wonderful acting without speaking.