BFI Short Film Trip Review
On Wednesday 7th October 2015, we travelled up to London to the BFI London Film Festival to watch an overall of 6 short films, from all different directors and plots. The collection of shorts was called ' New British Shorts', so as you can tell they were either produced or directed by someone who was British or shot around Britain.
1. OPERATOR
Director: Caroline Bartleet
UK 2015 6mins
Gemma wakes to find her house on fire. Trapped with her son, she dials 999. The operator who answers holds Gemma's life in her hands.
This short was so interesting due to the fast paced event that is occurring, although you are not there for this event you feel that you could be the person on the call. Every minute of this film had my eyes glued, this film really did open your eyes to the reality that occurred every single day around the world and that you truly don't understand. Being that environment and hearing the pain and suffering that many were going through was horrific but also intriguing due to understanding how the operator is dealing with the situation. It's weird to feel panicked when you are not even doing anything, just sitting in my chair i was getting very on edge and thinking about the outcome and wondering if the mother and baby would make it. I think they way that they directed this short film was extremely clever and well thought through and truly well shot, in the aspect of you feeling like you are part of it.
2. OTHERWISE ENGAGED
Director: Alicia MacDonald
UK 2015 5 minutes
Megs and Dave have been together forevs and it's atop a sunny London landmark that dave finally grabs his chance. In just a few moments they find themselves looking towards the future (and waiting for 765 of their closest friends and colleagues to get the message).
This was a true comedy that did actually make me and quite a lot of the audience laugh, i think it was due to the scary reality that we live in today and this actually happening. The overall concept of the short film was skillfully planned and played out and i think that really did work out which i was happy about. It does however bring the reality of technology in the present day to life, being a teen and having a phone has become the normal now and actually most people, however the thing that i find scary is 8 years olds asking for an iphone and getting it they should be enjoying the playground that many were at that age. Just seeing what everything has become does bring up some scary truths.
3. LINES
Director: Cecile Emeke
UK 2015 4 minutes
What's really in a song? Lines looks at how songs shape and score our lives, focusing on women dissecting the lyrics of their favourites, including Missy Elliot's 'Work It' and Destiny's Child 'Nasty Girl', and discussing what the music has meant to them.
This was a really down to earth short film, it opened up a lot about society and how different issues are portrayed. This shot film only included women however and i think was because it wanted to show how women interpreted each of their favourite or childhood songs. Listening to the director at the BFI Film festival you could understand the passion she had around the whole process and context, also reading reviews on youtube allowed me to understand other peoples opinions and the majority were really positive around the whole idea.
4. COPYCAT
Director: Charlie Lyne
UK 2015 9 min
In 1990, teenage film maker Rolfe Kanefsky successfully raised $100,000 to shoot a pioneering horror film, 25 years later, this is the story of the cult classic that never was.
This short film was a little different from the 3 before that i had watched, this was actually quite deep around the point of someones dreams that had been shattered due to not having the big following and then a company making a film to make millions to the exact story line near enough. It does show that being successful does take time and in the most part doesn't work out but sometimes there is a break through but it does take time. Listening to his experience of working with Rolfe Kanefsky you got to understand that he wasn't happy around the whole idea but never admitted his true feelings which i found quite interesting. Overall i enjoyed the short film and it brought a lot of issues to the table.
5. C.T.R.L
Director: Mariana Conde
UK 2014 4mins
A young man's attempt at a first contract with a love interest is hijacked in a most entertaining way: could a phone app exist to control ... people?
Out of all the short films that i watched i felt that this was the one that i couldn't connect with as much just to the overall feel and presentation of the story line. Although i did like the story i just didn't enjoy the concept of the dancing and the controlling but i guess that was the overall point. The choreography was controlled and planned which allowed you to understand a lot more about the story. I truly didn't know what i didn't like i think it was the factor that i didn't connect with what they were doing or saying, it all seemed too controlled and the facial expressions didn't really attach me instead i seemed quite detached and bored. Listening to the director and the amount of time, space and money she spent on the whole project seemed quite amazing and i didn't understand how something could be that amount but i guess it does add up. She seemed very passionate around the whole project and that was inspiring and you could see she enjoyed herself it just wasn't for me.
6. BLACK SHEEP
Director: Christian Cerami
UK 2015 16 min
Two brothers from the North of England are curious about the English Defence League, a right- wing street protest movement against radical Islam in Britain. Watch Sam and Jack decide for themselves whether this organisation is a cause worth fighting for.
I felt that this short film really drew my attention and kept me interested throughout, i felt this was due to the overall story line and the plot they put in front of you. To me the story was completely wrong and the things that the men were saying were totally out of order in the world we live in today, but this is how they had been brought up and no one had ever told them anything different, so why would they know any different. I think listening to the director you got a good understanding around why he did it and actually trying to work out and listen to the issues that the boys raised, although he did not agree with what they had to say he still thought showing that some parts of the world are still like was a good point to bring up. Overall i really enjoyed this short film and the way it showed a story that many would be to afraid to voice or show and i like that he has shown the everyday in some areas and has given people a shock about how cruel the world can be.
1. OPERATOR
UK 2015 6mins
Gemma wakes to find her house on fire. Trapped with her son, she dials 999. The operator who answers holds Gemma's life in her hands.
This short was so interesting due to the fast paced event that is occurring, although you are not there for this event you feel that you could be the person on the call. Every minute of this film had my eyes glued, this film really did open your eyes to the reality that occurred every single day around the world and that you truly don't understand. Being that environment and hearing the pain and suffering that many were going through was horrific but also intriguing due to understanding how the operator is dealing with the situation. It's weird to feel panicked when you are not even doing anything, just sitting in my chair i was getting very on edge and thinking about the outcome and wondering if the mother and baby would make it. I think they way that they directed this short film was extremely clever and well thought through and truly well shot, in the aspect of you feeling like you are part of it.
Director: Alicia MacDonald
UK 2015 5 minutes
Megs and Dave have been together forevs and it's atop a sunny London landmark that dave finally grabs his chance. In just a few moments they find themselves looking towards the future (and waiting for 765 of their closest friends and colleagues to get the message).
This was a true comedy that did actually make me and quite a lot of the audience laugh, i think it was due to the scary reality that we live in today and this actually happening. The overall concept of the short film was skillfully planned and played out and i think that really did work out which i was happy about. It does however bring the reality of technology in the present day to life, being a teen and having a phone has become the normal now and actually most people, however the thing that i find scary is 8 years olds asking for an iphone and getting it they should be enjoying the playground that many were at that age. Just seeing what everything has become does bring up some scary truths.
Director: Cecile Emeke
UK 2015 4 minutes
What's really in a song? Lines looks at how songs shape and score our lives, focusing on women dissecting the lyrics of their favourites, including Missy Elliot's 'Work It' and Destiny's Child 'Nasty Girl', and discussing what the music has meant to them.
This was a really down to earth short film, it opened up a lot about society and how different issues are portrayed. This shot film only included women however and i think was because it wanted to show how women interpreted each of their favourite or childhood songs. Listening to the director at the BFI Film festival you could understand the passion she had around the whole process and context, also reading reviews on youtube allowed me to understand other peoples opinions and the majority were really positive around the whole idea.
4. COPYCATDirector: Charlie Lyne
UK 2015 9 min
In 1990, teenage film maker Rolfe Kanefsky successfully raised $100,000 to shoot a pioneering horror film, 25 years later, this is the story of the cult classic that never was.
This short film was a little different from the 3 before that i had watched, this was actually quite deep around the point of someones dreams that had been shattered due to not having the big following and then a company making a film to make millions to the exact story line near enough. It does show that being successful does take time and in the most part doesn't work out but sometimes there is a break through but it does take time. Listening to his experience of working with Rolfe Kanefsky you got to understand that he wasn't happy around the whole idea but never admitted his true feelings which i found quite interesting. Overall i enjoyed the short film and it brought a lot of issues to the table.
Director: Mariana Conde
UK 2014 4mins
A young man's attempt at a first contract with a love interest is hijacked in a most entertaining way: could a phone app exist to control ... people?
Out of all the short films that i watched i felt that this was the one that i couldn't connect with as much just to the overall feel and presentation of the story line. Although i did like the story i just didn't enjoy the concept of the dancing and the controlling but i guess that was the overall point. The choreography was controlled and planned which allowed you to understand a lot more about the story. I truly didn't know what i didn't like i think it was the factor that i didn't connect with what they were doing or saying, it all seemed too controlled and the facial expressions didn't really attach me instead i seemed quite detached and bored. Listening to the director and the amount of time, space and money she spent on the whole project seemed quite amazing and i didn't understand how something could be that amount but i guess it does add up. She seemed very passionate around the whole project and that was inspiring and you could see she enjoyed herself it just wasn't for me.
6. BLACK SHEEPDirector: Christian Cerami
UK 2015 16 min
Two brothers from the North of England are curious about the English Defence League, a right- wing street protest movement against radical Islam in Britain. Watch Sam and Jack decide for themselves whether this organisation is a cause worth fighting for.
I felt that this short film really drew my attention and kept me interested throughout, i felt this was due to the overall story line and the plot they put in front of you. To me the story was completely wrong and the things that the men were saying were totally out of order in the world we live in today, but this is how they had been brought up and no one had ever told them anything different, so why would they know any different. I think listening to the director you got a good understanding around why he did it and actually trying to work out and listen to the issues that the boys raised, although he did not agree with what they had to say he still thought showing that some parts of the world are still like was a good point to bring up. Overall i really enjoyed this short film and the way it showed a story that many would be to afraid to voice or show and i like that he has shown the everyday in some areas and has given people a shock about how cruel the world can be.
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