Short Film

[Ben4BCFC]

Hello fellow reds,

I've just completed an MA in Film and TV Production at Bristol Uni and have been lucky enough to be offered a job at the BBC (God knows how). Anyway, for my dissertation we made a short film, which I wrote and edited. Some of it was filmed on a bridge almost directly opposite AG.

It's currently being sent around to multiple film festivals to hopefully be picked up and be screened, but whilst we're waiting for replies, we're hoping to get some coverage, some opinions and just see what people think of it really. 

Now before you watch, I do want to warn you that it isn't the most conventional topic, and so it's worth entering into it with an open mind. However, I do like to think it's to a higher standard than most student films, and it would be great to hear what some of you thought. Believe it or not, despite everything that goes on with this forum, it is built on a community whose opinions on the whole I respect very highly.

Mods - if this isn't an appropriate place for this to be posted, or you'd like to remove it for whatever reason, then apologies and I totally understand.

Demons

[And Its Smith]

I thought it was superb.  A topic from a point of view that is rarely shown. 

Well done on the film and the job

[joe jordans teeth]

Very good mate,well shot but shoddy acting lets it down a bit,that's not your fault tho so well done

[Ben4BCFC]

BUMP

(Just a cheeky one to see if anyone else is interested...)

[Welcome To The Jungle]

That was class. Brilliantly shot and written. As for the acting, thought it was good when compared to other limited budget short films.

[WTFiGO!?!]

I watched it the other day and thought it was good, I didn't comment as I'm no self-professed film critic.

The film was both thought-provoking and emotionally upheaving - it had me on tender hooks throughout.  The effective use of music added to the suspense and the open end helped to leave the viewers mind ajar also.  

It didn't occur to me that the acting was bad only that it was slickly produced and wouldn't look out of place late night on C4.

Watched a film called 'Trust' the other night of the same theme, disturbing stuff but an insight into what it must be like.  A nasty old business.

[Ben4BCFC]

Wow, two very nice posts to read - thank you both for your kind words. And thanks for the recommendation of 'Trust' WTFiGO - will certainly give it a watch.

RE: the acting, I think it's a very subjective matter in general. We've not had very many, if any, negative remarks about the actors in the past; but it is very much a personal taste, and there are many many award-winning performances that I feel are incredibly unjustly won, and clearly people will see me as crazy for thinking so.

[howey_ducky]

A very touchy subject, covered in a compelling and emotive way without the usual drama.  It had me hooked until its end and I have the attention span of a goldfish.  Best of luck in the future pal.

[ciderup]

Powerful stuff Ben and, if you don't mind me saying, superbly made. Even the music adds to the drama.

You've left us on tenterhooks!

Well done Sir.

[Ashtonboy]

Very well produced Ben, and a very brave subject to tackle. I thought the actors performed very well and captured the intended seriousness of the theme.

Well done.

[Fordy62]

I'm really not surprised you won yourself a job with the Beeb. 

A little known fact about me is that I have a degree in television production and I think it's somewhat of an understatement when you say "I like to think it's better than most student films". 

If all of your work comes out to that standard then you'll go far. 

I suppose working in the arena that I do, I rarely get to consider the subject from the angle you've shown it. I'm guessing that on some occasions people like that must face a real battle with themselves. 

Good work Ben. All the best for the future. I think I'll be watching some more of your stuff. 

[Ben4BCFC]

Very kind words again from all, I've passed them onto the team and I'm sure they'll feel as chuffed as I do.

We've unfortunately had a few rejections from festivals right now, so had a little blip in our confidence in the film, but some of the comments here and made me feel as I did originally - so thank you.

I figured by posting on a place like this, the only people that would take the time to read, watch and comment are those that have an interest in film and therefore, people whose opinions will be relevant and taken seriously. And I was right. Very nice to know.

[And Its Smith]

Watched it again this morning. Really is excellent

i remember spending a day watching university students' short films at the National Film and Television School and this is head and shoulders above anything else I saw.

is the rejection due to the subject matter?

[Ben4BCFC]

Watched it again this morning. Really is excellent

i remember spending a day watching university students' short films at the National Film and Television School and this is head and shoulders above anything else I saw.

is the rejection due to the subject matter?

We're not 100% sure as most film festivals etc. don't contact you unless you're successful. We've received two pieces of feedback from either short film reviewers online or shortoftheweek.com - a website that specialise in promotion of short films.

From what we've been told, it seems as though the possible lack of a conclusive ending may be what is dragging us down, also that the plot doesn't appear to move forward that much, and also that a lot of the scenes tend to hit a similar note, therefore the entire film feels a bit flat. If I'm honest, I feel as though a few of those comments are a tad harsh - but then again, to keep up their high standards, they have to be. 

Fortunately, or maybe in this case, unfortunately, film and tv is an incredibly subjective medium and industry. There will always be films that one person will love and their best friend hate, and vice versa. It's the wonderful thing about it, but also means that there will always be people who dislike your work.

We missed the deadline for a few local festivals this year (Encounters being the main one, plus a few other South-West based ones) and so have those in mind in the coming months. Found out that a documentary on a very very similar topic (okay, the same topic!) was screened at Encounters, and a few people that have seen both have said that they'd have gone really well alongside each other. Shame we didn't have that opportunity, but maybe it shows that they could be intrigued in a year's time. Who knows?

Thanks for the kind words all the same though. We have some student festivals we're looking at too. Hopefully the production value will help improve our chances in comparison to some others.

[Ben4BCFC]

I know I posted this a long time ago, but fancied bumping it up again and also filling in the few of you that might be interested. In the past few months we've had some success on the festival circuit with Demons.

We've been accepted into 8 film festivals across the world - winning Best Director and Runner-Up Best Actor at one of these - and have been featured on two websites. We were longlisted for the South West RTS awards, but unfortunately were not nominated. We still have a lot to hear back from.

If anyone hasn't seen it and is interested, the link is in the initial post. As always, any responses are great to hear.

 

 

[PHILINFRANCE]

I saw your post last year and thought I would watch your film later, when I had time - I never found the time and have only just seen it.

I am most certainly no expert on 'serious' films or even cinema in general (the term philistine comes to mind) and fall very much in the 'I don't know much about it, but I know what I like' scenario: I thought the acting was fine, but am not qualified to judge.

I must say, however, that I found your short film (any longer, and I most probably would not have taken the time to even bother watching it) extremely interesting - I found it quite poignant and thought provoking and, obviously, the subject is quite topical currently.

With suitable advance warning, I really do think I would make an effort to watch a longer version film based on the same theme - unfortunately probably late at night on BBC2 or C4.

Well Done and Good Luck for the future.