Hello ladies and gentlemen, Muldoon here with this week's beautiful selection of short films you might not have seen yet. I'm still taken aback at the good news here in the States from yesterday, so I'm riding a pretty cool high at the moment. Whatever your thoughts, I think we can agree America is taking a step in the right direction. (And... that's my two cents.) Seeing as you didn't come here for politics, but to see some pretty incredible short films - you're in luck. I'm glad you're here and I'm glad I have some damn fine shorts to share with you. Each week I'm curious myself as to what the line up is going to be. Occasionally I'll see a short that blows me away, one that I'll hold off on screening for the next week, but at the same time there are weeks when I've got only a handful I'm in love with, then it's suddenly Friday and I'm surprisingly innundated with great films - so I'm just as anxious to see the new films as anyone else who frequents AICN. This week is loaded with quality, a lineup I'm genuinely excited about with the key that keeps this fun column alive (innovative filmmakers wishing to share their art with the world). So as I try to say each week, if you've got a cool idea about a short you're passionate about - go out and make it! There truly is absolutely nothing stopping you from making something badass. Nothing. The filmmakers below created their films because they had to - something inside pushed them to create. That same thing is in all of us. We live in an era with Twitter and blogs where all you need to call yourself a "critic" is a place to type your thoughts, regardless of whether they are informed or not. We're solid on critics, the world needs more creators, that's why this column exits - plain and simple. "Muldoon, stop preaching. We came here to watch some films." You're right - let's get this shindig underway!
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:
THE WHITE WOLF
TRT: 9:12
Bam! First up is a film from Andrew Fogel, a fun (and unique) tale of an old man and his werewolf story. When I opened Andrew's email, I took this film at face value - as a short film, so I watched it and enjoyed it before reading the bulk of his email. "Muldoon, that's messed up!" No - I watched it, enjoyed it, and immediately checked myself. This is part of a web series Adrew's been working on for quite a while. It's the perfect thread to pull - to dig into this rich universe he and co. have created called "The Adventures of the League of STEAM." So, if like me, you enjoy this taste - be sure to check out the full series.
WHAT YOU CAN BURN
TRT: 11:55
Next up is a comedy adventure tale from writer-directors Chris and Jeff Smith. "What You Can Burn is a comedic adventure, inspired by the works of Terry Gilliam and the Coen brothers. It’s the story of two inseparable friends who hate each other, wandering the desert in search of buried treasure. Their self-inflicted purgatory is cut short when a mysterious stranger beats them to it." The actors feel real, the locations are interesting, and well - it's just 12 minutes of solid fun.
PEDAL
TRT: 20:54
Gareth Calverley has our next film, a drama that will leave you speechless. "Led by flint-hard cynic Cannon (SIMON LYNDON), a motley band of drug rehab patients await release. When the youngest Miles (MATT CALLAN) decides to ride a push bike home to Perth, the others enlist Cannon’s help. But Cannon knows the world can be a cruel place. In the aftermath of Miles' quest, Cannon is forced to find his courage."
PEDAL - A Short Film from Boilermaker Pty Ltd on Vimeo.
DOMESTIC PROTOCOL
TRT: 7:03
Saturday Shorts Alumn Sharad Kant Patel is back with a new short. "All is not what it seems in a small town. What does it take to survive?" Sharad's also finished a micro budget feature (something I can definitely relate to), called SOMEBODY'S DARLING. If you like what you see here, then be sure to hit up his feature's trailer. Sharad's got an interesting style that's unique to him. I've only caught glimpses of it with THE BUBBLE and AN APPLE A DAY, but am a fan of the guy and wish him nothing but the best with his feature (so check it out!).
Domestic Protocol from Sharad Kant Patel on Vimeo.
GRADY FRANEY - "SAFE WORD"
TRT: 3:25
To wrap up this week we've got a narratvie music video from Darryl Shaw and musical act Grady Franey. You might remember Darryl from his GARLIC BREAD MAN VS SUPERBO LASAGNA MAN film a while back. I don't typically post music videos - but this one... I really like it and would love for others to check it out. If you're interested in seeing what else Darryl has in his library of films, then head over to his Youtube page and poke around a bit - where you're sure to find something cool.
That's it, ladies and gents - that's all for this week. I hope to see you all here next week where who knows what we'll be screening. Go out, have a great week - do what you like to do - and come back for more shorts that you might not see otherwise. In the mean time - click on any of the links below to be teleported to the past, to a little slice of film fun with a past column. No matter what you click, it's a link full of films I truly believe in and hope you enjoy. I'll see you all later.
SATURDAY SHORTS 2012
SATURDAY SHORTS 2013
SATURDAY SHORTS 2014
The Off Season; Why Does My Girlfriend Text So Much?; Landscape; The Magician (1/3/15)
Atropa; Good Conduct; Ulla; Blackouts; Pizza And Bullets (1/10/15)
Vicki; Strange Thing; Kill The K-Cup; The Grandson; The Dark Walk Backward (1/24/15)
Leonard In Slow Motion; A Good Man Is Hard To Findl The Baker; Certified; Chloe (1/31/15)
Old/New; Alexia; The Beating; Temblor; Royal Blood "Out of the Black" (2/7/15)
Hibernation; Good Morning; Refrigerator; Bar Talk; A Lady & A Robot (2/15/15)
Fish Friend; The Outer Darkness (Part 1); Bus Stop; Don't Look There; Valentine (2/21/15)
The Gold Sparrow; The Brain Hack; Blood Drinker; Meet Your Maker; Al Pacino As Han Solo (2/28/15)
The Pavement; Breathe; The Black Rock Mountain; Plain Clothes; Whispers (3/7/15)
Sequence; Teasers; Static; I do; Point Of Interest (3/14/15)
Moonwatch; Robert's Circle; Tongues; No more Tomorrows; Slit (3/22/15)
Terminal; Windscreenwiperman; Ringo; Sunglasses; Sundays (3.28.15)
Trunk Troubels; The Last Time I Saw Richard; One Thousand Years; Tourists; Tides Of Change (4/4/15)
Moments; SBCR | The Grid; If One Plays Music; One In A Million; Don't Hug Me I'm Scared 4 (4/11/15)
Burnt Grass; Manicorn; Dear Friend; L'invitation Au Voyage (4/18/15)
Bad Guy #2; State Zero; No Help; Attack of the Brainsuckers; Super Mario Taken (5/23/15)
Predator: Dark Ages; Imprints; Back To The Fuhrer; Crime And Punishment (5/30/15)
Frames; Crow Hand; Streamline; Good Treatment; Remains; Scorpion Vs. Jason (6/6/15)
Dollar Night; A Modern Marriage; Hideaway; Jurassic World Trailer Parody (6/13/15)
Waterborne; Gotcher; Bloomers; Savage | Like Michael Jackson; A Killer Of Men (6/21/15)
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
