Microcinema DVDs - Shorts! Volume 2

Catalog Number: MC-304	Type: Shorts Compilation	Genre: Mixed Genre
Copyright: 2004	Length: 210 minutes	Format: DVD Region: 0 (All)
TV System: NTSC	ISBN: 0-9745277-1-8	UPC: 8 83217 04001 0
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Films In Compilation

Dear, Sweet Emma directed by Andrew Carnwath USA, 2003, 00:05:21 As the search is given up for Emma's latest husband, Tucker, a private look reveals that Emma has a secret and uncontrollable dark side. The sweetest angel and favorite citizen of Fishtickle would indeed pose an uncomfortable dilemma for all if her problem were ever found out. Modeling and animation was produced in Lightwave 3d. After Effects was used for compositing. Editing was done on a Video Toaster System. Out of Our Minds Images produced the piece from concept to final in the course of two months with a six person staff.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness directed by Tiffany Shlain USA, Documentary, 2002, DV, Color, Magnetic Stereo, 00:14:00 Playfully updating the 1950's school documentary, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" offers up political and social satire regarding the current state of reproductive rights in a fast-paced spoonful. Found-footage, animation and original images are interwoven into a collage containing the fictional stories of a conservative politician, a young couple, and a fundamentalist activist (portrayed by Survival Research Laboratories founder Mark Pauline) along with the decline in amphibian populations and the insidious creeping erosion of reproductive rights in the United States. All linked together through a Chinese dry cleaner. from website
Child's Play directed by Charlie Fisher USA, Political / Social, 2004, 00:00:36 This 30-second film, focusing on a trillion-dollar debt legacy, features young children working in difficult service and manufacturing jobs – washing dishes, hauling trash, repairing tires, cleaning offices, assembly-line processing and grocery checking – followed by the line: “Guess who’s going to pay off President Bush’s trillion deficit?” Overall Best Ad and People's Choice Winner MoveOn.org Voter Fund’s “Bush in 30 Seconds” TV AD Contest Child’s Pay won the MoveOn.org Voter Fund’s nationwide search for the best spot to tell the truth about the Bush Administration’s policy failures. The ad also got the highest rating from members of the public, who gave it the “People’s Choice” award as well. Charlie Fisher is an advertising executive who was a registered Republican until the end of the first Bush administration, in 1992. He is currently on assignment in Denmark and flew in to attend the awards ceremony with his cameraman, P. Dreyer. “I was thrilled just to participate in this contest,” Fisher said. “When we finished editing ‘Child's Pay,’ I felt it was nice—maybe a little too nice. Perhaps I learned that you don't have to paint a bulls-eye on someone’s forehead to be effective. Most importantly, my Republican father said this when I told him I was making an ad for this contest, not knowing what his reaction would be: ‘I am proud of you for taking part and acting in the world around you.’” A panel of celebrities and political experts helped choose the winners after more than 110,000 people came to the Web site www.bushin30seconds.org in December to rate the more than 1,000 ads posted. Over 2.9 million viewer ad ratings were submitted. The contest was created by MoveOn.org Voter Fund to try to make the political process more accessible to ordinary Americans unlikely to be hired to create advertising in traditional political campaigns.
Milton Rogovin: The Forgotten Ones directed by Harvey Wang USA, Documentary, 2003, 00:11:41 This documentary celebrates the life’s work of 93-year-old photographer Milton Rogovin who dedicated his life to photographing the residents of a depressed six-block area in his hometown of Buffalo, New York.
Firefly Man, The directed by Todd Fjelsted USA, 2003, 00:10:42 A dying man relives a past nightmare and reunites with lost loved ones in this unique short that combines sophisticated puppetry and special effects to tell this emotional story. The Firefly Man is a pagan fairy tale that celebrates the cycle of life and death through the story of an elderly hermit who is isolated by loss and then transformed by reunion. The production utilizes an unusual and experimental combination of animation techniques including an animatronic version of an eighteenth century form of Japanese puppetry: bunraku, which requires multiple puppeteers operating manual rods for intricate lifelike movements. The puppets are animated from within miniature models, backdrops and sculptural elements, and then layered with 2D and 3D digital animations. The goal of uniting these disparate techniques is to merge them both visually and conceptually while paying tribute to the historical and contemporary processes of storytelling though animation. Since the twelve-minute short has no dialogue, the story is conveyed through sequential happenings compromised of classic symbols and southern gothic archetypes.
Coyote Beach directed by Markus Griesshammer USA, 2003, 00:21:24 COYOTE BEACH is a modern, humorous and at times reflective take on the eternal battle of the sexes. Set in the majestic sand dunes of Long Island, COYOTE BEACH is a fresh look at the age-old question that plagues every couple; namely, who wears the pants in the family? The dynamics of power between the protagonists seem to shift with the tide as they - just like every generation before them - fight their own version of the battle of the sexes: She’s French, gorgeous, successful, and superior, having just landed a leading role in a film opposite Sean Connery. He is an acting hopeful, a Jewish cowboy from New Jersey, so paralyzed with fear and indecision that his life is going nowhere. Long-overdue conflicts erupt and hilarious dialogue ensues as the two fall in and out of love in the course of an afternoon at the beach. In the end, old issues are resolved but new ones take their place. And through it all imaginary coyotes lurk in the background… or do they?
Fine Art of Poisoning, The directed by Bill Domonkos USA, Animation, 2003, 00:05:32 A lavish chiaroscuro montage of 2D and 3D animation, still photography and hand drawn images, 'The Fine Art Of Poisoning' seduces the viewer into an elegant netherworld of deceit, plotting, and secretly-served revenge. . When creator Bill Domonkos first heard musician Jill Tracy’s song (of the same name), he was compelled to bring her tale to life, a glamorous, yet grim depiction of 'slow poisoning,' a well-known practice throughout the ages of administering poisons so slowly that the victim seems, to ordinary observers, to die from natural causes. The vast popularity of 'slow poisoning' was largely among women who wished to dispose of unpleasant husbands and even children. With its fatal masquerades, parlour gatherings, and eerie hallucinations, 'The Fine Art of Poisoning,' will advise one to keep a particularly careful eye on their next cup of bergamot tea, or perhaps, taint the pork loin for their own devices.
Family Tree directed by Vicky Jenson USA, 2003, 00:31:25 Overwhelmed by visiting in-laws, a guy seeks help from his wife’s long-lost brother who’s own problems are ‘taking root’. Inspired by Ovid’s tale of Baucis and Philemon, “Family Tree” follows a guy on Thanksgiving facing bickering in-laws that all seem to need their conflicts more than they need each other. All except one long, lost brother who has finally come home but - with a problem - he sprouts leaves when he gets wet.
Mouse directed by Wojtek Wawszczyk Poland, Animation, 2002, 00:07:36 A man and his mouse move into a new town. But can his mouse compete with the town's seemingly more charming pets? A story about staying true to oneself--even when you are surrounded by stronger personalities. The film tells a story of a man who’s not accepted by the community of people living in a town he had just moved to. Each person’s personality is represented by an animal. A little mouse owned by the main character seems to be no match to other – bigger, stronger and more beautiful – creatures in town. He blames his loneliness on mouse and decides to hide the mouse in the box. In his garage he creates something so ridiculously spectacular that it sure would bring the attention of all people from the town – it’s a sculpture of a strange animal with features of different animals – an artificial hybrid of his neighbors’ pets. Everyone in the town likes the sculpture – but again not the main character, he never stopped being a mouse inside. The production took about one year (with long breaks in-between) and was the first Wojtek film animated entirely in 3D (created with softimage\|3D, rendered with Mental Ray). All the textures were drawn and painted. “MOUSE” has been screened at many animation festivals around the world: Annecy, ITF Stuttgart, London Effects and Animation Festival, Cracow Film Festival, Hiroshima, SIGGRAPH. At OFAFA Festival 2002 (in Cracow, Poland) the film was awarded the Special Prize for Excellent Artistic Values.
Here Was the Anthem directed by Sergio Umansky Mexico, Narrative, 2002, 00:21:24 Ricardo and Alain, two wealthy kids, are on a prowl for marijuana in the heart of Mexico City, but their adventure turns grim when they police stops them and, find the goods on them. They try to bribe their way out, so Alain is sent off to an ATM, while the other remains under threat of execution. After he fails to bring the amount that was asked for, Ricardo is told that Alain is dead and is instructed to phone for money – which he does. Later, Ricardo spots Alain’s car and sees his friend alive – just as Alain sees Ricardo. Clearly Alain had been given the same brutal story. The ending is another turn of the clash between these two youngsters with a reality they didn’t know and can’t control.
And the Redman Went Green directed by Ruth Meehan United Kingdom, Narrative, 2003, 00:01:48 An old woman negotiates the hectic streets of London fearful of being knocked over. At a pedestrian crossing her worst fears are realized as she collides with a rollerblader.
Space Off directed by Tino Franco Italy, Science Fiction, 2002, 00:21:12 The near future: man is about to land on Mars. GTN (Global Television Network) broadcasts its usual information - entertainment program to monitor the event: "News on Mars". However, no news of the spaceship Centaurus and its crew has come for over a week. The journalist makes up a case out of this silence: what could have happened? Are the crew members still alive? Finally there's a link with Centaurus... the captain announces a revolutionary scientific discovery, but for the anchor-woman this news just isn't sensational enough.
Good Night Valentino directed by Edoardo Ballerini USA, Narrative, 2003, 00:15:06 An infamous meeting between two famous men, Rudolph Valentino, silent movie idol, and H.L. Mencken, famed journalist. Based on Mencken’s original essay about the 1926 encounter. Synopsis: In 1926 silent movie idol Rudolph Valentino was in trouble. The press was attacking him mercilessly, calling him a “pink powder puff” and blaming him for the “effeminization of the American Man.” Valentino, his Italian blood boiling, tried to salvage his reputation in the only way he knew how. He challenged these tabloid writers to duels and fistfights to prove his manhood. But the world only laughed. Finally, he calls on famed journalist H.L. Mencken for advice. This is the story of that infamous meeting between two very famous men, using Mencken’s original essay about the encounter as voice-over atop a picture that goes from a 1920’s style silent film to present day “period piece” and back again.
Home Road Movies directed by Robert Bradbrook United Kingdom, Animation, 2002, 00:12:02 This vivid family history uses innovative, atmospheric computer animation and treated album photographs, with Bill Paterson in live-action as the father. We've all taken road trips with our families. But did your family ever see these excursions as a cheap form of family therapy? Catch the real-life story of a shy and awkward father who drives himself to become a better parent using the family car. ”our dad took us on motoring holidays of a lifetime..." The real-life story of a shy and awkward father who desperately wanted the family car to make him a better parent. The film is based upon the family folklore and memories of his children. After his death they realize that their first and only family car, once a luxurious chariot to endless holidays in paradise, had gradually become a painful vehicle of his affection. Their dad's struggle to be a loving parent had turned into a battle against rust. This vivid family history uses innovative, atmospheric computer animation and treated album photographs, with Bill Paterson in live-action as the father.
Most Beautiful Man in the World, The directed by Alicia Duffy United Kingdom, Narrative, 2002, 00:05:43 As a small girl searches for something to do on a hot day, she aimlessly walks into the path of a stranger.
Winter People, The directed by John Stimpson USA, Narrative, 0, 00:00:00 The Winter People is a story about a mother and daughter at a crossroad. Faced with the prospect of losing their family’s summer cottage in a nasty divorce settlement, Anne and Sarah Hanlon drive down to Cape Cod to close up the house for the winter. Generations of memories come flooding back as they enter the cold, quiet house for what could be the last time. Sarah heard rumors that there are spirits or winter people who inhabit the beach houses during the off season. Anne dismisses her daughter’s musings as childish fantasy. Meanwhile unmade beds and unrecognizable lipstick confirm Sarah’s suspicions. Anne knows what she believes to be the truth, however, and the pain of her husband’s philandering comes rushing back. When a charming plumber named Martin arrives to shut off the water, Anne experiences a strange sense of de-ja vu. Sarah is skeptical, prodding Martin for information about the winter people. In a strange twist of events both Mother and Daughter’s inklings are confirmed as the story throws us into an intergenerational limbo, clarifying once and for all the truth about the existence of the winter people and opening the door to a world beyond the one we understand.
Morning Guy, The directed by Mark W. Gray USA, Comedy / Satire, 2003, 00:05:19 He’s a morning person, she isn’t. A comedy about just how long a wife can put up with her husband’s unique way of expressing himself.