Short of the Week

USA

Dramedy about Growth in Live-Action

A young woman (Selma Blair) becomes a medical oddity when it is discovered that she is “empty”. She struggles with that emptiness, but can anyone help her?

Dark Comedy about Revenge in Live-Action
Rob Meltzer / 18 min / USA / 2008

For character-actor Andy Shrub, life means always playing the sidekick. What would life be like if he was a leading man? Somebody like…John Stamos?

Documentary about Life & Society in Live-Action
Casimir Nozkowski / 10 min / USA / 2008

The Internets Celebrities Dallas Penn and Rafi Kam go in for an investigative report on Check-Cashing. Themes explored include usury, economic instability, commercial banks and their profit line, and the cycle of poverty.

Comedy about Love in Animation
Lev Yilmaz / 3 min / USA / 2008

How to break up in 64 easy steps, as told from the insightful, dry humor of Lev and his lo-tech Tales of Mere Existence animated series.

Sci-Fi about Desperation in Live-Action
John Coven / 8 min / USA / 2008

All is not what it seems in this psychological, sci-fi thriller with top-notch acting and production quality.

Experimental about Sexuality in Live-Action
Tom Stern / 9 min / USA / 2008

Quirky and often evasive story about fighting the inner self told using a slew of different storytelling techniques.

Comedy about Friendship in Live-Action
Bob Odenkirk / 12 min / USA / 2008

From the mind of Bob Odenkirk comes this very natural comedy about two real-life friends, Derek and Simon, and their struggle to find love.

Music Video about Love in Live-Action
Kurt Nishimura / 4 min / USA / 2008

Winner of the MTVU Decemberists’ Green Screen Challenge, this short follows a young lady’s unnatural obsession with an old TV set.

Thriller about Revenge in Animation
James Kim / 4 min / USA / 2008

An orphaned child overcomes her fear of her evil caretaker to exact a much-deserved revenge.

Thriller about Desperation in Live-Action
J.R. Robinson / 15 min / USA / 2008

In this post-apocalypic world, only two people have survived—too bad they don’t get along.

Fantasy about Loss in Live-Action
Phillip Van / 3 min / USA / 2008

Beautifully shot film about a woman’s loss of innocence at the hand of the world.

Dark Comedy about Love in Animation
Don Hertzfeldt / 3 min / USA / 2007

The genesis of the Don Hertzfeld cult is this beloved stick-figure animation of an earnest guy who is consistently struck down by unsympathetic women.

Thriller about Conquest in Animation
Patrick Smith / 6 min / USA / 2007

A friendly, handmade puppet takes on a life of its own in this horrific hand-drawn animation by Patrick Smith.

Drama about Growth in Animation
Thomas Leung / 4 min / USA / 2007

Often we can’t appreciate something so close to us until it’s taken from us—such is the case in this film when as a young boy, Thomas, temporarily loses his sight.

Thriller about Reality in Live-Action
Trevor Sands / 8 min / USA / 2007

This doctor has her work cut out for her as she struggles to resolve the conflicting voices inside the chaotic mind of a patient with multiple-personalities.

Documentary about Politics in Live-Action
Jonás Cuarón / 7 min / USA / 2007

“Literary trailer” for the book by the same name, this short, produced by “Children of Men” director Alfonso Cuarón, mixes archival footage as well nifty motion graphics to dramatize the book’s thesis.

Dramedy about Love in Live-Action
Wes Anderson / 13 min / USA / 2007

Wes Anderson gives us a glimpse into the dysfunctional relationship between a hotel hermit and his ex-girlfriend served up with Anderson’s no lack of quirkiness.

Parody about Inspiration in Live-Action
Joe Nussbaum / 9 min / USA / 2007

The young filmmaker struggles to write his masterpiece in this film that comically combines the story of Shakespeare in Love with endless Star Wars references.

Thriller about Greed in Live-Action
Lucas Crandles / 7 min / USA / 2007

Would you press this button for a million dollars? What happens when you press it? A classic moral dilemma unfolds.

Comedy about Nothing in Live-Action
College Humor / 3 min / USA / 2007

Just another day at the High Times Editorial Office where real work is always difficult to accomplish and employees are fired for passing their drug tests.

Documentary about Inspiration in Collage Animation
Kristian Boruff / 6 min / USA / 2007

Kristian Boruff documents how he found himself in the odd position of designing obscure puzzles that combine technology, pop culture, and history for a small but rabid base of fans.

Experimental about Life & Society in Animation
Lizzi Akana / 5 min / USA / 2007

Quirky, animated film from RISD student, Lizzi Akana, takes us into a bizarre world where despondent characters lack crucial features and monkeys strut with balloon heads.

Drama about Life & Society in Live-Action
Nicole Barnette / 6 min / USA / 2007

Ambient sounds and near-abstract close-ups provide our window into the community rituals of a fourteen year-old girl’s birthday to a surprising end.

Satire about Politics in Flash Animation
Chris Harding / 5 min / USA / 2007

Fun yet violent animation that teaches us self-defense techniques (or attempts to) through everyday man, George—a character we all know well.

Sci-Fi about Life & Society in Special FX
Jamin Winans / 8 min / USA / 2007

An angelic DJ is sent to remix a series of unfortunate events with the use of his trusty wheels of steel.