Hello ladies and gentlemen, your pal Muldoon here with this week's edition of kickass shorts for your viewing pleasures, created and submitted by fellow AICN readers. Here on SATURDAY SHORTS I tend to lump shorts into genres, so we have a block of horror or comedy or drama or... well this week's going to be a bit different - this week we're going all over the place with shorts that span all across the categorical board. Regardless of whatever you're in the mood for, here's hoping we've got it and on top of that here's hoping you find a gem you didn't even know you were looking for. So bam, let's get this whole shebang underway, shall we?
So go grab yourself some popcorn, lock your kids in a closet, kill the lights, relax and check out this little weekly film fest we've got ourselves here:
KILL YOUR TELEVISION
(DRAMA)
(TRT: 9:43)
First up we have a rather beautiful film from director Hank Devos. "Lingering in the final moments of his Theo wakes ups in a dirt field to discover his only companion is a strange 1970's era TV. The further he investigates peculiar surroundings the more he realizes what he needs to do. There is a dissociative power to television that sometimes disconnects from the reality of our situation"
COMPULSION
(THRILLER)
(TRT: 17:54)
Here we have Christopher Stapleton's slightly messed up little story full of psyhcopaths. Curtis (Christopher Stapleton), a gleefully sadistic serial killer who preys on young women, follows Leslie (Mimi Michaels) home one night and terrorizes her only to discover he may have bitten off more than he can chew. An unexpected game of cat and mouse ensues, culminating in a violent conclusion. However, the situation takes an even more sinister turn when Special Agent Randolph (Treva Etienne) and Special Agent Blake (William Walton) show up and assume jurisdiction from the local authorities to preserve their own hidden agenda.
Compulsion HD Short Film from Christopher Stapleton on Vimeo.
THE END - A ZOMBIE SURVIVOR'S STORY
(Horror - Zombies)
(TRT: 12:51)
Here we have Jeremy Brown's first foray into the zombieverse that feels authentic. Call me a jaded movie watcher (an incredibly handsome movie watcher while you're at it), but zombies... Zombie movies haven't really held a place in my heart at all minus a few of the biggies. They don't really do anything for me, now zombie-werewolves and we're talking, but I digress. I dug the hell out of this flick, even with my own personal "zombies are lame" pretentiousness. This is a quality film that feels like a complete meal for your movie watching eyes, not just candy. And the incredibly attractive young lady who drives the story seems to have some clean acting chops, so yeah - Mr. Brown - I'm a fan man, keep 'em coming.
This independent film/series follows a young woman, Katherine Brooks, as she finds herself thrown into the apocalypse. As she realizes that the dead don't stay dead, she begins running through a fast deteriorating world. Alone, afraid and armed only with a camera, she must cling to her sanity as she struggles through a perilous new terrain.
Striving to bring depth back to the horror genre, this series utilizes the intimacy of a webcam alongside the cinematic shots that have become the industry standard, in a never-before-seen attempt at realism in zombie film.
GOLD OF THE LOST BANDITO
(SUPERNATURAL PUPPET WESTERN TRAGEDY)
(TRT: Roughly 19 minutes total)
So when I saw "Supernatural-puppet-western-tragedy" I couldn't help but scratch my head (figuratively) for a second before clicking a few links and discovering Jacob Snyder's redliculously fun and insanely "out there" three part story of a kickass puppet. I get sent more puppet videos than I ever knew existed and while most just aren't up to snuff(leupagus), this one sure as hell is.
His name was Fast Draw Edgar. He was the baddest bandito of the old old west. He never got out of that wilderness, but people say his ghost still wanders there, guarding his bag of gold. And any man fool enough to try and steal it plays a risky game of poker with Death.
Gold of the Lost Bandito Webisode #1 from Jacob Snyder on Vimeo.
Gold of the Lost Bandito Webisode #2 from Jacob Snyder on Vimeo.
Gold of the Lost Bandito Webisode #3 (FINALE) from Jacob Snyder on Vimeo.
ENTER THE BEARD
(DOCUMENTARY)
(TRT: 17:00)
Matt Lawrence, along with Scott Ballard, and Charles Parker Newton, have done the impossible - built a damn good documentary about beards. Not much more to it than that - it certainly held my attention on something I never thought I'd find myself batting an eye at.
Beards – God’s crowning achievement in the design of man. A litmus test for one’s own virility and machismo. A veritable sea of fuzz hanging just below the nostrils. And it was in the Spring of 2009 in Anchorage, Alaska, that over 250 men from all over the globe competed in The World Beard and Mustache Championships. One such man, Charles Parker Newton, documented his quest - a quest to gain knowledge of and compete alongside the follicle elite. Join Parker on his journey as he navigates through the hirsute – ENTER THE BEARD.
Enter the Beard from M. Lawrence on Vimeo.
And oh no, the house lights are starting to come on and I've got so many more badass shorts! I guess that means I'll be back next week with some more crazy fun films, but hey check out some of the past SATURDAY SHORTS:
If you have a short and think it belongs here or are on the fence about whether to send it in, please do send it in - I'd love to see what you've put together. I've already seen hundreds of fresh new filmmakers' shorts and like any good addict, I need more!
Shoot me an email at "Mike@aintitcool.com"
In the subject line include:
“SHORTS” + “Your film’s name” + “The film’s genre”
Then, in the body of the email, please include a synopsis of the film and any contact information you might think I need or would want published.
Please don’t feel the need to submit multiple times. I swear to each of you I truly check every email I get, and sending the same short a few times just makes it a bit messier.
Remember, the filmmakers might still be in the audience, so feel free to share your thoughts in Talkbacks below. (JUST DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE). I picked them, so you know I think highly of all of these, but how about you fine folks? How'd you like 'em?
- Mike McCutchen
"Muldoon"
Mike@aintitcool.com
