Two More Short Films...

Since starting this project, I've found myself, when bored, browsing YouTube for short films. Today I have found two short films, both of which have won awards and both of which are simple, but, I believe, brilliant.

Sign Language (2010)

'Sign Language' was written by Oscar Sharp and Stephen Follows and directed by Oscar Sharp. The film has a simple plot: Ben holds a sign for a living, and he loves his job more than almost anything but the day of the film is his last day. The film is about five minutes long - so about the length that my A2 project will be - and has only four characters. 3 men are Ben's collegues and hold signs in London on Oxford Street and one is a woman who hands out pamphlets on the opposite side of the road to Ben.

The film is so simple but brilliantly done and the short has won many awards such as: Grand Prize, Virgin Media Shorts
Grand Prix, Reed film contest
Nominee, Best British Short, British Independent Film Awards
Final 15, Short Short, BAFTA
Best Short, Portable Film Festival

This film is in a documentary style with elements of humour and has made me think about the option of creating a short documentary for my A2 final production piece.

Mixtape (2009)

'Mixtape' was written and directed by Luke Snellin. Like 'Sign Language', the plot of the film is very simple but beautifully captured and told: Ben, a young boy, spends his time listening to his Dad's old 70's vinyl and making mixtapes on an old double deck tape recorder. He makes a tape to try and woo the girl next door, Lily, the girl of his dreams. 

The film was shot over two days and had a budget of about £1000. it has won several awards and been nominated for a BAFTA.

This film is shorter than 'Sign Language' at about two and a half minutes and captures the innocence of youth and young love. It's such a simple idea, and while it doesn't really have an ending, it is so well put together that the audience doesn't really mind. It's certainly a film that puts a smile on your face.