The organizers for the Santa Monica International Film Festival placed a big spotlight on short films this year.
Understandably.
After all, it is from this pool of fresh talent that emerging filmmakers often make their first mark on the festival circuit.
Unfortunately, the offerings often tend to be a bit "uneven" in quality for a number of reasons.
For starters, first-time-out filmmakers often do not have the skills, training, or experience under their belt, to execute their ideas to their full potential.
Notwithstanding, budget constraints often limit the filmmaker's ability to realize their vision on celluloid, as well.
At the Santa Monica International Film Festival this past weekend - in the picturesque community by the sea - a handful of up-and-coming directors managed to meet the challenges head on much to the delight of theatregoers who took in their eclectic mix of shorts.
On the Saturday afternoon program - "A Days' Work" - (which was ably directed by newcomer Edward Feldman) was a particular stand out.
In part, this was due to the fact Feldman started off with an intelligent script.
The insightful director was smart when it came to logistics, as well.
In advance of the shooting schedule, he carefully plotted his shots - for instance - before jetting off to Prague to capture the ideas on film.
The set-ups were impressive, too; not run-of-the-mill. And, the cinematography - itself - was stunning.
A second short came about in a novel way.The director (Sherwin Shilati) stepped out of the shower one day with the title for a proposed project swimming in his noggin.
"I kicked Luis Guzman in the face," he quipped to himself a couple of times.
"Great title for a film."
Then, he proceeded to contact Luis Guzman's agent to see if the actor was available. He was. So, the project took off full-steam from there.
The Shilati script exploits the current phenomenon of social hubs like myspace.
In this humorous short - the lead character tries to bolster his popularity on the Internet - by alleging that he "kicked" Luis Guzman in the face.
It works.
A curious scenario unfolds, thereafter, which results in a round of quirky entertainment for the duration.
The director uses a light lens and a few deft touches to buoy the project up.
But, unfortunately, the ending falls flat.
However, "Kicked" was a great vehicle to showcase the director's potential; consequently, I expect that the young auteur will be turning out a bona fide hit sometime in the future.
Sherman took Cultural Studies at USC - and laughingly noted at the Question and Answer session after the screening - that normally he is a "suit" in the industry.
For those of you not familiar with the term, it generally means the brains or business side of the business.
"This project represents my alter ego," he chuckled.
While we're on the subject of "ego", one young man appeared to have a lot of it.
The actor for "Choke. Kick. Girl." boasted on stage that - in addition to inhabiting the lead role in the project - he was Executive Producer of the short.
Ah, youth!
Why is it that young filmmakers are so focused on "labels" and flaunting their "supposed" status in the biz?
Frankly, it doesn't matter if you acted in, directed, and/or produced the project.
What ends up on the screen - whether you deliver or not - is what matters most.
In this instance, the young artist would have been wise to have left the producing to another more qualified individual.
Personally, I found the script a bit convoluted. And, confusing.
The production values - particularly the lighting - left a lot to be desired, too.
At times I felt like I was screening an industrial film for students!
However, the actor did have a flair for comedy. So, I would recommend that he focus on his on-camera schtick, and leave the rest of the production chores to experienced professionals in the future.
"Fun on Earth" - a tale about a student who bumps into a pretty young woman who turns out to be an alien from a "water planet" - also showed a lot of potential.
Although Sterling Jones played the male lead a little too "Clark Kent"-like in style, I expect he'll land a promising role or two that may send him on his way in the acting community.
Alexi Wasser (who currently appears in "Dirt" on a cable network) had a great on-camera presence which caused me to sit up in my comfy seat and take notice.
"She's actually quite funny," harped the director.
"She should be doing comedy."
The director (a Jesse Gordon production) noted he was working on a feature-length version of the scripted idea. I expect if the articulate filmmaker gets the financing, or a green light at a studio, that the project will fair well.
Responses to questions posed by the audience after the screening of the shorts, proved to be quite informative and enlightening as well.
In the Martin Luther King Auditorium at the Santa Monica Library, the young hopefuls noted - for the most part - how tough it was getting their projects off the ground due to financing.
Shorts do not traditionally make money, so it is a difficult row to hoe.
Why bother?
Since a strip of film from this genre is capable of generating buzz in the business - and oftentimes capable of spring-boarding a talented few into the spotlight - every bold-faced effort is made to obtain financing to launch a scripted idea.
"We owe a lot of favors now," Sherman chortled.
In addition to using-up precious favors, a couple of producers also stumbled on creative ways out of their financial dilemmas.
The director for "The Quickie", for instance, signed - what he referred to as - a creative contract.
In exchange for financing on his short, he agreed to hand-off fifty percent of his earnings from his first paid job in the biz.
Ah, talk about selling one's soul to the devil!
Well, the other option is an American Express Platinum card, I guess.
In the second program the following day, another round of celluloid gems impressed upon me how much original talent there is out there vying for the big brass ring.
"Distraxtion" - an animated short - was delightful and wowed the audience, for instance.
"The Art of Stalking" (a thesis film for Amitabh Klemm) was a bit too pedestrian for my aesthetic taste - but was a favorite with the audience - nonetheless.
In sum, the short film experience at the Santa Monica Film Festival was entertaining, full of surprises - and ultimately - showed great promise for emerging young talent in the short film arena.
Hats off to the festival officials for showcasing these talented filmmakers!
Alexi Wasser prepares for "Fun on Earth"...
Sterling Jones sets sights on Alien Valley Girl...
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