Weekend Short Shouts - Watch Short Films Submitted By S&A Readers

16 Comments

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• Stoney Island | August 13, 2012 4:36 PMReply

  Katrina and Audrey I would like to know what message you were attempting to state with Train and why you chose this film to make. Based on what I have seen in your two short films your perception of men thoroughly fascinates me. Could you please expound on your perspective.

• NO BRAINER | August 12, 2012 2:07 AMReply

  SUGGESTION TO SHADOW & ACT: Maybe you would like to reach out to the many filmmakers you have shined a light on, in one form on another, throughout the past 3 years you guys have been doing this. Ask them for shorts. You know, the real filmmakers aren't paying any mind to your call for shorts. Go get them yourself and avoid posting horrific films like these...

• NO BRAINER | August 12, 2012 2:03 AMReply

  #RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Okay, I had to ask. What the hell are these people talking about? Wrinkle out the issues??? Did she mean iron out the issues? I like the theme BUT it should've been debated with better characters doing things towards a goal of some kind. One character was trying to solve her problems by sitting on the couch all day, making the most passive character ever. The production value was the pits. In the scene with him calling her on the phone, her sound was on the L (Left) speaker, his on the R (Right). What kind of sound mix is that? The acting was too around-the-way (casting people on the block or in your family instead of actors). I knew I was in for it when I saw the director's name is Twiz. And I took away a point for the spoken word intro...2/10... SKIN: What was the point of this? Putting lotion on his skin in a fogged out mirror? Really??? No story, nothing? Another director who better have a plan-b...1/10... FREDERICK DOUGLASS AT THE BARBERSHOP: Like TURNER, I stopped watching it but at the 2:55 mark...1/10.

• BluTopaz | August 14, 2012 9:08 AM

  I get what No Brainer is saying. I did not see the message in the bottle, because I kept fast forwarding through the video because I kept waiting for something to happen. And I have no problem with contemplative, meditative stories but it seems like Skin is more of a PSA that lasts too long. It could even be a compelling trailer for an actual film re: someone with skin color issues, but it needs to be shortened, and maybe some jump cuts and close-ups of the actor to add a little tension.

• NO BRAINER | August 14, 2012 1:52 AM

  I don't want subtle, I want a STORY... You know, that thing that all movies SHOULD be built on...

• the murphy group | August 13, 2012 3:53 PM

  Skin was good because it was subtle. clearly you didn't see what was written on the bottle. it was about a guy who wants to whiten his skin with the lotion he uses..NO BRAINER.

• NO BRAINER | August 12, 2012 1:26 AMReply

  CHASING PAVEMENT: Sigh... grossly passive protagonist; god awful sound editing. Seriously, she didn't want anything and if she did, she certainly did nothing but seek advice or something. The cinematography was to glossy, borderline VHS or DVCAM. The dialogue was too on the nose. The acting was stiff and unmotivated, maybe because the characters never wanted anything or, if they did, they did nothing about getting it. I would delete the narration track. I couldn't finish it...1/10... SICKO: It took two people to come up with this? Alright, I laughed at the joke about the subtitles but after that the film went south on a X-43. The movie didn't need to be made and could've easily remained a joke amongst friends...2/10... TRAIN: You can tell this was made by a female filmmaker. Certain things just didn't ring true amongst the men. the was an element of truth to the subject matter but the film was poorly executed on so many levels. the acting was the worst so far, the cinematography was pitiful, the editing was choppy, the sound was bad, and I didn't even get started on the story, besides my comments about the boys and the subject matter. I couldn't careless about the main character and her obvious obsession of the light-skin pretty boy. Sure, this sort of stuff happens, females like this degrade themselves in this way over a boy, but it's more complex than what was shown in this film and there was no respect for the characters in such situations...3/10... URBAN STITCH: An urban waste of time. This is not how you make a documentary. It starts with a theme then falls into a debate, at least the better documentaries. They also have interesting people. Who wants to watch these people doing carpentry, talking about what they gonna do? Who cares? I couldn't finish it... 1/10... SHANGO'S WIVES: Three words... W-T-F? ...1/10... This Katrina Mitchell person better have something to fallback on. Filmmaking isn't for her...

• Destiny Edokpa | August 12, 2012 12:31 AMReply

  wow. I honestly expected alot more. Something with some decent cinematography.

• JustSaying | August 11, 2012 5:07 PMReply

  Include a brief synopsis for each one. Other than that.....SILENCE

• Ladybug | August 11, 2012 3:17 PMReply

  I saw the first film and thought "can't get any worse" . . . but they just kept getting worse. My suggestion would be to watch some of the featured shorts on Shadow and Act . . . all of these shorts need not have been shot.

• pat | August 13, 2012 3:54 PM

  funny thing is neither of the people bashing people's work have the initiative or capability to go out and make something better.

• True Films | August 11, 2012 6:16 PM

  Each and every one of them, horrible. Can't be serious!

• turner | August 11, 2012 11:27 AMReply

  Considering these are offerings from a filmmaker site, I am truly sad about what I just watched. . Except for Frederick Douglas goes to the Barber which would not load or play. My constructive criticism would be: do something else, please! Film is not your calling.

• NO BRAINER | August 12, 2012 12:24 AM

  Turner is a cold-hearted, ruthless vato. But I like that! I like that!

• turner | August 11, 2012 1:13 PM

  @Adam-Thanks for the link. Have to say I stopped watching after a minute. sigh...

• Adam Scott Thompson | August 11, 2012 1:06 PM

  Strange. It played when I clicked on it. Try this link (we posted it on "Funny or Die"): http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/df3e7bbac1/frederick-douglass-at-the-barbershop