Hello ladies and gentlemen, Muldoon here with the very first SATURDAY SHORTS of 2015! Last year was full of great shorts created by all sorts of interesting folks, so I've got my fingers crossed that this year will be just as great, if not infinitely better. And to start our new year off right, we've got four shorts that will make you either think, laugh, or completely piss you off (in the right way). They're truly all over the place, just the way I like it, so I hope you fine folks out there enjoy them as much as I do. While I know not all of you folks out there in AICN Land are necessarily filmmakers, if by chance you're thinking about a cool story or feel like getting your hands on a camera and making something - do it! There's no time like the present to create something interesting, and while that first film might or might not turn out how you wanted it - the next one just might (and it ought to be even better!). Everyone's got a voice and after screening shorts week in and week out, I've learned with certainty that even with the same story - people will end up with a different film (tone, camera placement, casting, etc...). So if shooting a film is a New Years Resolution of yours, then get on it! (And shoot it my way if you think it'd fit SATURDAY SHORTS).

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:

Lance Oppenheim kicks us off with the first pick of 2015. While I've never been big into sports, specifically the NFL, I have always been into great films and that's exactly what Lance brings us here. This is an engaging piece of work that beautifully gives us a perspective that few folks have experienced: having everything and then losing it all. You're left with two options: work your ass off to get back on top or give up and live in the shadow of what you used to be. This story tells the tale of what happens when you don't give up - when you fight for your dream. "After losing his job, a record-holding free agent spirals into obsession to reclaim former glory & return to the NFL." Do yourself a solid and head over to Lance's website. The guy's a talent that deserves your attention - I'm certain we'll be seeing more and more from him.

Next up we've got an answer to an age old question (well, as in "age old = the ability to text"). From Michael Matzur (writer/director) and William Haynes (writer/actor) we get a fun little two minute slice of life we can all relate to, but with a twist. "Texting is like some cereals, it's hard to know when you need to stop." If you like the short and want to check out more from Michael (primarily fun scifi), then head over to his website. On that same note, William has a Youtube Channel that's full of all sorts of crazy stuff.

Here we've got a short and sweet film about a killer garden gnome. I've never quite understood gnomes on a lawn, but hey - I don't need to. Patrick & Paul Gibbs are back with another bizarre film. You might remember them from their last short, STEVE FROM ACCOUNTING VS. THE SHADOW DWELLERS. I see this film and instantly think "Patrick and Paul need to hook up with Troma and make this a feature." While I may or may not be alone in that thought, I do think it's a pretty fun film and absolutely is a gear shift from the two shorts above.

To wrap up this week's picks, we've got an interestingly magical tale from Kyle Scott and Michael Kaye starring real life magician Rob Zabrecky. "THE MAGICIAN features world class magician Rob Zabrecky as a down-on-his-luck magician who plots revenge on a rival (Eric Pierce) who cost him his fame. A short film created by the writing/directing team of Kyle Scott, Michael Kaye and Dustin Scott, all California natives, THE MAGICIAN features an original score by Los Angeles-based musician Marcela Carmona and stunning black-and-white cinematography by Martin Runel." For more info on the film and the filmmakers, zap! your way over to their facebook page!

All right, ladies and gents - I'll see you fine folks later. In the mean time, feel free to peruse the links below to check out hundreds of great short films from all over the world! Again, HAPPY NEW YEAR! (Now go make something cool!)

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. The more info you send my way, the more info there is to put with your short.

Please don’t feel the need to submit multiple times. 

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?

BY THE WAY: If you've had a short featured here, that means that I personally am a fan of your work, so feel free to shoot me any kind of news on new projects/films/whatever. I can't say I'll be able to help or in what capacity, but I'm interested in your work and am always down to see more! (Keep making cool stuff, everyone!)

- Mike McCutchen

"Muldoon"

Mike@aintitcool.com