Archive for September, 2011

“Validation” by Kurt Kuenne

Posted by    |    September 26th, 2011 at 8:00 am

Validation is about a parking lot assistant, Hugh Newman, who takes the initiative to make people happy by complimenting each person who presents their parking ticket for validation.  The effect is immediate as people from average folks to George Bush and Saddam Hussein queue up to validate their tickets because of Newman’s ability to make people smile.  Newman meets his match when he meets Victoria, a drivers license photographer.  Despite his efforts, Victoria will not smile, setting off a series of events that affects both of them.

To view this short film, Dallas viewers should go here.

Starring TJ Thyne & Vicki Davis.
Writer/Director/Composer – Kurt Kuenne.

Winner – Best Narrative Short, Cleveland Int’l Film Festival,
Winner – Jury Award, Gen Art Chicago Film Festival, Winner – Audience Award, Hawaii Int’l Film Festival, Winner – Best Short Comedy, Breckenridge Festival of Film,
Winner – Crystal Heart Award, Best Short Film & Audience Award, Heartland Film Festival,
Winner – Christopher & Dana Reeve Audience Award, Williamstown Film Festival,
Winner – Best Comedy, Dam Short Film Festival,
Winner – Best Short Film, Sedona Int’l Film Festival.

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“Last Minutes With Oden” by Eliot Raush

Posted by    |    September 25th, 2011 at 8:00 am

This week, we present a video that will make you cry.  Each and every Dallas pet owner has at some point had to deal with the last days of our pet’s lives.  This video is about Oden.  Oden was dying of cancer, and his owner, Jason Wood, has to make the call and then follow through with it.  This short film is graphic and uncensored, so you must prepare yourself to get up close and personal as Oden is euthanized on camera. 
 
Last Minutes With Oden is a raw, deeply personal first hand account of unconditional love and support that a three-legged dog brought to others who were struggling with a variety of issues.    And this is the real story.  Oden unconditionally comforted people who were hurting despite his own pain.  Oden served a vital purpose in this world and he did it well.  
 
This short film does not fully develop the story of Jason Wood.   Claire Booth, a writer for NPR, describes Wood in an excellent article she published in October of 2010.  In that article, she noted that “He is “a radical, Mother Teresa-type-person,” Rausch explained. “They call him the Mayor of Long Beach … His life is dedicated to loving on the forgotten people.” That’s because Wood, in a sense, is a ‘forgotten person’ himself. He is a convicted felon and former drug addict who spent 10 years in jail. Although he has been clean for 10 years, and has made it his new life mission to help others, Wood can’t seem to get a job — or get by.” 

We also note that Wood disliked the fact that Last Minutes with Oden won a Vimeo award.  Well, we thank him for allowing a talent like Rausch to document a story which resonates with so many of us who have loved and lost our pets. 

“Go say hi to Jesus and tell him we are coming.  We are coming soon.”

 
Our Dallas fans can find more articles, videos and short films in the short film network and short film gallery at www.youplusdallas.com.

 

 
 

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“Duck and Cover” with Bert the Turtle

Posted by    |    September 24th, 2011 at 8:00 am

Every Saturday through December,  we will present animated short films from the 1940s-1950s.  The first, Duck and Cover, is a civil defense film created in 1951.

Dan Coleman at www.openculture.com prepared a nice review of this animated film that was presented at schools around the country in the early 1950s.  Given what the government knew at the time and certainly what we know today, Duck and Cover is amazingly naïve as an instructional movie created to teach children a technique intended to save lives. An excerpt from his review follows.

The US government, working with Archer Productions and students from Queens, NY, produced a short instructional film given the no-frills title Duck and Cover. Shown to millions of children nationwide over many years, the film became a centerpiece of the government’s emergency preparedness program. Since then, the film has been entered into the National Film Registry (2004) and has inspired various parodies, including this recent goof from the “Australian Board of Civil Defence.”

 More articles and short films can be found in the short film network and short film gallery on www.youplusdallas.com.

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‘Amo la Vida’ by Nic Askew

Posted by    |    September 20th, 2011 at 8:00 am

We are not fans of talking head short films, but Julio Alalla is amazingly effective.  We selected ‘Amo la Vida’ for the YouPlusDallas short film network because this short film is all about the message.  Except for shooting this film in black and white, there is nothing about the method of shooting or special effects to talk about.  ‘Amo la Vida’ and this short film confirm in my mind that Julio Olalla is someone worth listening to.

More articles and short films can be found in the short film network and short film gallery on www.youplusdallas.com.

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“Table 7″ by Marko Slavnic

Posted by    |    September 19th, 2011 at 8:00 am

Table 7 depicts a couple on the brink of a breakup. The setting is a restaurant, and the couple is totally unaware that their private conversation is being closely monitored.  Table 7 was one of Texas-based short film maker Marko Slavnić’s first short films, and it met with instant success.  This is a good example of how talent can overcome little or no budget to create a a very good short film. 

 

Writer/Director: Marko Slavnic
Co-Director: Andrew McDonald
Producers: Andrew Lee, Marko Slavnic, Andrew McDonald
Cinematography: David Blue Garcia
Music: Ed Dunne

Cast:
Man – Ray Rosales
Woman – Stephanie Lozos
Recordist – Isaac Kim

For more information about the Director, go to http://www.markoslavnic.com./

More articles and short films can be found in the short film network and short film gallery on www.youplusdallas.com.

 

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Dallas Video Fest 24

Posted by    |    September 15th, 2011 at 1:00 am

Dallas Video Fest 24 will be Sept. 21-25, 2011 at the Angelika Film Center and Texas Theatre in the city of Dallas. The Dallas Video Festival, under the care of Bart Weiss, is one of the oldest video-based festivals in the country.

This year’s festival will present a large selection of films,  panel discussions, workshops and seminars. According to the folks at the Dallas Video Fest, Opening night will feature the film, “Film Socialisme,” the new feature from  director and French New wave pioneer Jean-Luc Godard. They will also present a MMA documentary “Once I Was A Champion,” about the life and struggles of former UFC Champion Evan Tanner. as well as documentary “Connected,” created by the founders of the Webby Awards.

YouPlusDallas and its short film network and gallery will showcase several of the Dallas Video Fest 24 short films over the course of the next few weeks.

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“Zero” by Zealous Creative

Posted by    |    September 5th, 2011 at 6:03 am

Zero: Behind the Scenes from Zealous Creative on Vimeo.

This piece is one of the best reviews by a short film maker we have seen.

More articles and short films can be found in the short film network and short film gallery on www.youplusdallas.com.

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In the Director’s Chair with Eliot Rausch

Posted by    |    September 4th, 2011 at 6:30 am

Eliot Rausch on “Last Call” with Carson Daly from phos pictures on Vimeo

Today, we introduce short film maker Eliot Rausch and his short film, “Sermon on the Mound”.  Over the coming weeks, we will be showcasing Rausch’s work because he is willing to tell stories that are difficult.  He is intense.  His work is forceful and yes, difficult at times to watch.  He provokes, exposes, and shamefully reminds us that we are not doing enough to help our fellow man.  Throughout most of his work lies a thread of faith and as he focuses on the human condition. 

The pundits at YouPlusDallas agree that Rausch flat out brings it.  In fact, if you don’t get upset, uncomfortable, angry, disturbed; if you don’t cry or look away in shame at some point in viewing his body of work, then you do not have a soul.

Directed and Edited by Eliot Rausch. Shot by Hunter Hampton Richards, and Matt B. Taylor. Music by Adam Taylor.

 More articles and short films can be found in the short film network and short film gallery on www.youplusdallas.com.

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