SIFF The Problem With Short Films
posted by on May 29 at 15:00 PM
After watching Paris, je t’aime:
And SIFF’s 2007 Fly Filmmaking Challenge, which contained three short films by local directors (Lisa Hardmeyer, Matt Daniels, and Dayna Hanson), I have come to conclude that film, as an art form, requires length if it is to be meaningful. Short films, unlike short stories, are mostly empty and consistently end in disappointment. To make a short film is to make something that is bound to fail. Even the best short films are barely worth the effort required to make them. For example, Hanson’s “Rainbow,” the second film shown in the Fly Filmmaking Challenge, has great (even magical) moments, but nothing substantial can be drawn from the brief experience of watching it. As for Paris, je t’aime, what a mess of a movie. Only two of its 18 shorts can be classified as any good. The rest are dust to the mouth and dull to the mind.
Holy fucking shit. I agree with Mr. Mudede! There is hope after all!
can't agree. chicken (dir. barry dignam), the heart of the world (dir. guy maddin), the stars are beautiful (dir. stan brakhage)—all three leap to mind when i think of great film. all three are short films as well.
I suggest watching "I Remember Now, We Never Danced, I Miss You Goodbye" in the I DOT THE EYE shorts program at NWFF tonight at 9pm. It is by far the most magical 8 minutes you'll spend in a theatre this year.
I wholeheartedly disagree! Clearly you've been watching the wrong short films, Charles - I've caught many over the years that have entertained and enlightened me. Have you ever seen Robert Enrico's haunting An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge? How about Robert Rodriguez's hilarious and energetic Bedhead? Allison Maclean's creepy and unforgettable Kitchen Sink? Certainly, all short films aren't winners, but do you really want to dismiss the entire format because a few recent duds didn't pass your muster? It's like declaring the feature film dead after watching Pirates 3.
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a classic!
Wrong wrong wrong. To name two masters, off the top of my head: Guy Maddin has a number of shorts that defy the trend and defile the mind -- 'Heart of the World', 'Sombra Dolorosa', 'Sissy Boy Slap Party', 'Eye Like A Strange Balloon', etc. And Jan Svankmajer makes amazing animated shorts; 'Darkness Light Darkness' anyone? Check Youtube.
The form simply needs to be approached differently. I mean really, what mystical force operating in the universe could render it impossible for a short film to succeed aesthetically? That's just silly talk.
ok. sissy boy slap party is retarded. we're seeing eye to eye on heart of the world though.
and feature filmmakers aren't equally guilty of making crap upon crap? the difference is you have to watch btw 80-180 minutes of it. advantage: short film.
and feature filmmakers aren't equally guilty of making crap upon crap? the difference is you waste btw 80-180 minutes waiting for something to happen. advantage: short film.
They're not trying to achieve the same objectives, Charles.
translation: mudede doesn't make short films.
if he didn't make films at all, he'd simply conclude that film is dead, a mere sad repetition of some part of the phenomenology of spirit better represented by hip hop.
I think that a major problem with short films is that the filmmaker focuses on character over situation. Short films that focus on character usually fail, while feature films that focus exclusively on situation (most action/adventure) fail.
Charles do you just post to cause debate by posting things you really do not believe but think it would be a cool idea to have some fun by watching people disagree with you. Most of the time it seems that way.
Ah come now; 'Sissy Boy Slap Party' is funny as hell. Great rhythm and editing, and just plain silliness. Totally legit. Also, someone should have mentioned La Jetée by now....
MSN I NIIPET
MSN
MSN I NIIPET
MSN
Comments Closed
In order to combat spam, we are no longer accepting comments on this post (or any post more than 14 days old).