Tag: Short Film

[VFF2018] The Wild West Tale is Redefined with Undertaker’s Son, A Short Film

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By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Making an effective Western that stands out can be a challenge. All the tropes have been done to death and how can any filmmaker offer a tale that’s new? Foreshadow Film‘s (formerly known as Affolter Entertainment) The Undertaker’s Son is a very impressive work which I believe deserves number one place if I was to say which one of the 2018 Victoria Film Festival‘s BC Shorts Program (which played Weds night) I enjoyed the most.

This piece began as a challenge under the auspices of Vancouver’s Crazy 8’s challenge — to make a film in eight days. Since finishing this project a year ago, this nugget of gold has been making the film festival rounds.

With this tale, young Christopher’s (Darien Provost, The Whispers) anxiety shows when he knows that one day he is to train and be the next in line to continue the family business. In the days of the Wild West, death can be anywhere. Whether that’s a matter of surviving in untamed frontier or the lawlessness that’s around, we hardly learn about those on the sidelines or has the thankless job of burying the dead at Boot Hill. This short film looks at the life of a young lad — who clearly has interest in a girl he meets along the way to the morgue — and also his relationship with his father, Jonathan (Louis Ferreira, Breaking Bad & Stargate Universe).

Continue reading “[VFF2018] The Wild West Tale is Redefined with Undertaker’s Son, A Short Film”

The National Film Board of Canada Animates Its Way From Ottawa to Vancouver

National Film Board of CanadaBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) will soon be making a presence at two different celebrations across this country. New shorts will be playing at the Ottawa International Animation (OIAF, Sept 20-24, 2017) and afterward make their presence known at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF, Sept 28-Oct 13, 2017).

The variety that will be found is perfect! From dramas to virtual reality presentations (the Oscar-nominated Blind Vaysha got adapted to this new medium), this studio is embracing the new wave. In addition to Bear 71 (An interactive documentary which looks at the wildlife around Banff National Park), there’s also a retrospective from Theodore Ushev on pioneer Canadian animator, Ottawa’s own Evelyn Lambart, to be excited about.

Three titles of particular note are The Mountain of SGaana (which is also screening at Edmonton and Calgary Film festival), The Tesla World Light and Skin for Skin.
Continue reading “The National Film Board of Canada Animates Its Way From Ottawa to Vancouver”

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The Call of Charlie is a Fun, H.P. Lovecraft Inspired Short

The Call of Charlie is a wonderfully whimsical short film written by Nick Spooner (who also directs), Guy Benoit and John Simpson who brings the scares in a different kind of way.

mv5bn2rkzdc2ztetotq0ys00ndk3lwfhndqtmzy4zdy3zjg1zwyyxkeyxkfqcgdeqxvymti1njcwotk-_v1_uy268_cr90182268_al_By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Disclaimer: a preview was provided by the director.

You never know where to find cultists from the Esoteric Order of Dagon (ala H.P. Lovecraft). The Call of Charlie is a wonderfully whimsical short film written by Nick Spooner (who also directs), Guy Benoit and John Simpson who brings the scares in a different kind of way. Why fight it when you can embrace it? This short film is making its rounds at select horror film festivals and comic conventions around the world. A schedule can be found on this film’s Facebook page.

Although never explicitly said, I’m guessing Mark (Harry Sinclair) and Diane (Brooke Smith) are from that cult. They seem like everyday folks who invited a friend, Charlie (Sven Holmberg), from work to dinner — or so they say. They are setting him up on a blind date. But when old friends Jay (Evan Arnold) and Virginia (Roberta Valderrama), unexpectedly show up, the night is going to hell in a hand basket in a downright hilarious way!

The scares are jovial in nature and the gore is handled with simple off-camera shots to convey a sense of you must not look lest you lose your mind. Jay is the only character who shows signs of wavering sanity as the evening can only go one way. Arnold conveys a charm to show he’s the only character who realizes what’s going on. The hosts handle the “threat” well, and they act like this occurrence is not above the norm. When you’re a cultist honoring an Elder God at home, common courtesy is a must!

5 Shoggoths out of 5

The Call of Charlie Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J-fFbWeOp8%5D

Walt Disney Releases a Modern Short Films Collection!

51TCOfr9GALComing to Digital High Definition (online) on August 11 and heading to Blu-ray one week later, Walt Disney is releasing a modern Short Films Collection. This release is available for pre-orderNational Film Board of Canada on Amazon, and it will offer some recent titles that were once exclusive to owners of such works like Tangled.

The most engaging part to this new release is that fans of Frozen will get Frozen Fever, so young ones can hum to a new tune, “Making Today a Perfect Day.” But for other engaging videos, Feast and Get a Horse can be seen along with commentaries from the animators who crafted these ground breaking animations. This release can nicely complement the two Pixar Short Films Collection – Volume 1National Film Board of Canada and 2National Film Board of Canada, and hopefully the company may offer a three pack deal for enthusiasts who do not own these titles yet.

While this title does not cover Disney’s vast vault of animated shorts from the prior century, perhaps picking up Walt Disney Treasures – Disney Rarities – Celebrated Shorts, 1920s – 1960s is a must.

Thor’s Day Off in LEGO

LEGO Fanfilms can be hilarious, and this one is Thortastic!

Mad About LEGO brings us this funny little indie short about Thor’s day off from Avengers duties, from being a super hero and from being a Asgardian God.

This short was made with the LEGO Super Heroes Movie Maker for the Apple iPhone. The program was created by Pereira, O’Dell and Uncorked Studios.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACDpmMLL1MU&w=420&h=315]