tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5709531.post6170923446849188353..comments2023-07-10T10:01:03.020-03:00Comments on The Annekenstein Monster: RIFF 4 Shorts ReviewAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05360091675217583387noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5709531.post-14084880228017694932006-02-21T13:40:14.000-04:002006-02-21T13:40:14.000-04:00Kudos to Peter and Fox for keeping the festival ro...Kudos to Peter and Fox for keeping the festival rolling this year. Well done! I think the guys went about it the right way going with all island films and keeping things simple in terms of planning.<br>In general, I really enjoyed the night and wish I could have made the earlier screening. I hope Joey burns a DVD so I can catch Flag Wars.<br>Every year I leave the festival saying "I'm going to submit something next year" and hopefully it will keep rolling long enough for me to actually do it.<br>Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5709531.post-29831763739138451572006-02-21T10:20:57.000-04:002006-02-21T10:20:57.000-04:00I agree with everything that Jay and Graham say. ...I agree with everything that Jay and Graham say. And I want to make it clear that I don't mean it as a criticism of Fox that 50% of the titles shown last night were by him or his studio. I think it's fantastic that he's capable of doing the work he does, and every one of his films is a worthy contribution.<br>As for the editing of Christmas Lights, I think it's that Rob MacLean's direction was of such a high standard that not even an editor could screw it up.<br>Robhttp://annekenstein.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5709531.post-90027204387605615852006-02-21T09:23:04.000-04:002006-02-21T09:23:04.000-04:00It's certainly not Fox's fault that he has...It's certainly not Fox's fault that he has more peices then anyone. He is easily the hardest working flick maker on the Island.<br>If everyone else, including me, decided to produce half of what he does, the Festivasl would be a full week of shorts.<br>I agree pretty much with the others. I only saw the second screening.<br>Mudqueen was well-done, visually nice and an interesting original story. Pacing is a little drawn out, but only at parts. I agree with Jason that it was nice to see a fairy tale. We should do more.<br>'This and That' was less coherent and direct then the others, but one could tell it was a very expressive piece. Seemed he was trying to say something very personal. Not sure what though...<br>Driving Lights/Christmas Lights: Genius editing helps the guys from that comedy show be funny and sad etc.<br>My viewers pick went to Fox's "Last Days of Death: Afterlife". Dan gives a very funny, layered portrayal of Death, and Fox has a lot of impressive Shots and cuts in it. Even though the joke was repeated somewhat, I enjoyed each segment.<br>Fox's obvious strength is his technical side, and I find the actors he works with make or break a piece. The projects with stronger actors end up complimenting his visual abilities, and vice/versa.<br>This is reflected in his fully animated peices, which are normally a head above his live-actions, as he designs and controls his own actors. If only he had the same control over humans as he does the digital characters, he wouldn't rely so much on the actors instincts.<br>Still, I find everything he does is even better then the last, and I am continually surprised by his ideas, jokes, effects and volume.<br>I have a soft spot for one of my own characters: SALT (Stupid Annoying Little Thing), that Fox came up with a few years ago. They are short and sweet. And being a meglomaniac, I like that I am in them.<br>All in All great work to everyone... Looking forward to the Docs tonight.<br>grahamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5709531.post-13187807997397379972006-02-21T07:59:59.000-04:002006-02-21T07:59:59.000-04:00as Rob knows, I caught Reel Shorts Part 2 (I was s...as Rob knows, I caught Reel Shorts Part 2 (I was sitting next to him). Like you, Rob, that This and That flick left me scratching my head. If anyone saw it and is able to enlighten me as to what the hell it was all about, send a post. Wait, on second thought, don't bother. I think if I do know what it's about, I'd probably hate it more. Ironically that was my favourite film of the night.<br>I'm kidding. Fox's stuff for me was all pretty fantastic in its own way. Of course, I liked some more than others. Found Jack and the Mud Queen could have benefited from a shorter script or quicker pacing and edits within the scenes. But I was impressed how effectively he used Island locations to shoot a fairy tale. A perfect marriage really. I also didn't care for Those That Did Dream. Some neat visual sequences, but the story didn't grab me. Gordo and the Other Demon for me visually was a tour de force. And the story was fun, if simple, too. You could really see Fox going the extra mile on the detailed backgrounds on this one. Nice. I don't know why, but I thought Gordo was going to cheer when, after he finds his stump exploded, he realises the other demon is dead. He's got soft heart, that little guy. And nobody mumbles like Graham Putnam (who voiced the other demon). The Last Days of Death was always one of my favourite Fox flicks. So I was excited to see the sequel. It didn't disappoint. With Fox's talents, he could easily animate some flames out of Death's hands or something, but he wisely chooses to keep Death's methods of killing organic. It makes him more human and pathetic, which is the key to making this premise work. And nice work by Dan Caseley (DCC factor in full effect). Daniel Arsnault's short was fine, but grew static. It's unfortunate when we see live concerts on TV like U2 and such with all those crane shots, that low budget concert tapings can seem to lack that visual energy. But some variety in the visual technique would have benefited the piece. Strong performances though. Of course, it was fun to see Christmas Driving Lights with a group of people. People laughed in all the right places. Dennis still cracks me up.<br>Maybe I've forgotten one, but that's my review. Good on Fox and Pete for keeping a worthy thing rolling. There were a lot of Fox flicks, but all enjoyable. I hope he has as many in next year, but with more from the rest of us.<br>Jay<br>Jaynoreply@blogger.com