William Neff
Blog
It was nice to watch some fictional films in the program. I have a film background and I was starting to lose hope that we would ever come to something in my wheelhouse. Telling stories is something that I am very adept at, and film has always been my preferred medium. With that being said I was thrilled to be given the assignment of watching Hillman Curtis shorts.
The first short that I watched was Circles. Despite marginal acting talent, I really enjoyed this short. It featured two men discussing the potential of multiple worlds and how the two may over lap. To accentuate the topic of the film, Hillman features an apparition that appears in the corner of some shots. Unless you pay close attention you may even miss this ghostly presence. I appreciate this concept that the close observer is rewarded with another layer of depth. Another stylistic element that is used is the multitude of shot angels used for the single setup. It adds depth to an otherwise static set. The moving camera as the last shot helps to make the viewer uneasy.
The second short that I watched was Roof. This short, while mildly cheesy quickly and effectively established a plot line about a biblical flood with very little energy wasted. The black and white esthetic helped add to an air of hopelessness that the characters must be feeling. I really enjoyed the ending of the film where the three characters enjoy one last song.
cheers,
Neff