Category Archives: Short film

‘POWER/RANGERS’ fan-fic short film shines a dark light on the nostalgic franchise [Update: It’s back]

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Did you grow up watching The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers? Well, if you did, like me, it’s pretty much a sure thing that you will thoroughly enjoy this 14-minute short film produced by Adi Shankar and directed by Joseph Kahn. Shankar enlisted Katie Sackoff (Battlestar Galactica) and James Van Der Beek (Dawnson’s Creek) to play Pink Ranger Kimberly Hart and the second Red Ranger Rocky DeSantos, respectively, in POWER/RANGERS.

The dark-and-gritty short takes place in a dystopian future ruled by the Machine Empire, which, if you remember, consists of robotic villains hellbent on world domination. Rocky, who has since abandoned the Power Rangers to join the winning side, is on a war path to find Tommy (the Green Ranger) and questions Kimberly for answers. The intense interrogation allows for breaks to catch up with the other members of the MMPR–the present is bleak for the lot of them.

Don’t want to give away too much here. So go on and enjoy this R-rated take on the Power Rangers for yourself. And just so you know, this short has no affiliation with the upcoming 2016 reboot film from Saban and Lionsgate. Shankar produced it merely as fan fiction; as a kid he imagined the teenaged Power Rangers as “child soldiers” tasked to ward off evil forces in an intergalactic war “they had nothing to do with.” Yeah, it’s twisted, but it makes total sense. You can hear about Shankar’s inspiration here.

Since there’s no official affiliation and it’s not a pitch, after watching you should go on and support these filmmakers and hopefully after gaining viral traction they will go on to make even cooler projects! Check out Shankar’s YouTube channel where you’ll find previous work like this incredible Punisher short. As for the director Joseph Kahn, he’s mostly dabbled in music video fare (most recently Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space”); here’s to hoping Shankar’s wishes for Kahn to become the next big box office hit maker are granted. This short is concrete proof he’s got the chops to make explosive sh*t happen. He expands on the making of POWER/RANGERS at HitFix.

Update (2/26): Hope you caught it while it was up, because it’s been pulled. After raking up over 13 million views in two days, YouTube removed the short from its site because Power Rangers owner Saban Brands is claiming copyright infringement. Adi Shankar isn’t going down without a fight, however; the producer’s legal team is prepared to bring a case to court to get the video back to streaming. Let’s hope this gets settled sooner rather than later; POWER/RANGERS, at the end of the day, is an impressive work of art meant to be shared with MMPR fans now and until the end of time. Yeah, it’s that radical.

Update 2 (2/27): POWER/RANGERS lives thanks to Facebook, the one destination Shankar uploaded his short to that isn’t taking it down at the moment. “Thank you Mark Zuckerberg for hosting Power/Rangers and taking a stand,” he said in a statement to the Facebook founder. Now, don’t waste any time; if you haven’t seen it yet, do so now before it’s too late (again)!

Update 3 (3/1): The legal battle is over and Saban played it cool by letting Shankar re-release the short across YouTube, Vimeo, and anywhere else, really, so long as it specifies a disclaimer, which it does now. Said disclaimer basically states that his production is in no way associated with Saban and their original take on the Power Rangers; plus there’s a viewer discretion warning due to violence and nudity. Which brings me to my next bit of good news: Shankar’s unfiltered, NSFW version of POWER/RANGERS, which was originally banned from YouTube, is now available for your viewing pleasure right here, above. So sit back, relax, and rejoice for today marks a big win for creators everywhere! Director Kahn released the following statement to Deadline: “They put these disclaimers on so kids so don’t confuse our super-violent film with their Power Rangers brand. There are no hard feelings. We signed contracts. We can play it anywhere we want on all platforms. I think they realized that people just want to see it.”

Up-and-coming director Chris Alender’s short film ‘Eye of the Storm’ catches J.J. Abrams’ attention

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In 2008, J.J. Abrams put director Matt Reeves on the map with the shaky-cam monster movie Cloverfield; Reeves would go on to also direct the thriller Let Me In and this year’s excellent Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Abrams is looking to strike gold again by fostering new talent, according to Deadline. Enter Chris Alender, the founder of Soapbox Films, a production house that specializes in the making of music videos, commercials, and films. One of his films, namely Eye of the Storm, must have caught J.J.’s attention because Alender is now working hand-in-hand with the Star Wars director on an upcoming top secret project for Sony Pictures. Of course, as details slowly but surely spill out about the Abrams/Alender project you’ll hear it here.

But more on Alender’s short film. Eye of the Storm, embedded above for your viewing pleasure, is technically a music video for musician Ben Lovett whose song of the same name is featured throughout the clip. It wears an aesthetic that’s reminiscent of what you’d find in a Sin City movie, and yet it’s distinctive enough to be hailed as a success all on its own. Elements from science fiction and steampunk are fused together here to create a mini-adventure in the sky as a giant ship soars into the eye of a massive storm. There’s a mystical potion and a dragon, to boot. What Alender’s created here, essentially, is an exquisitely executed short film that leaves the viewer wanting more by the time you get to the end. Equally impressive is the effort put into making it a reality; after the break, check out a BTS video revealing practical effects used to manifest stunning results.

Abrams knows how to pick ’em. Cannot wait to see what Alender cooks up next. Continue reading Up-and-coming director Chris Alender’s short film ‘Eye of the Storm’ catches J.J. Abrams’ attention →

Mysterious sci-fi pic ‘Ambition’ requires your attention [Update: ‘Ambition’ revealed, short film inside]

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Coming completely out of left field is this extremely promising science fiction film Ambition. I happened to have stumbled upon it at Sploid and ever since I’ve been fascinated by its lofty design and minimal exposure. Here’s what we know: Ambition hails from Polish director Tomek Bagiński who is best known for his short films Bieg, The Kinematograph, Fallen Art, and Oscar-nominated The Cathedral. It stars Aidan Gillen (most famous for his role as Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish in HBO’s Game of Thrones) and Aisling Franciosi (Netflix’s The Fall). And here’s what we have in terms of plot:

Bagiński’s latest project – tells of a young apprentice (Franciosi) struggling to master nanotechnology on an alien world and prove herself to her enigmatic master (Gillen). Will her herculean goals remain tantalizingly out of reach, or will she fulfill them and in the process, change life as we know it?

The film was shot on location in Iceland, and as you can see in the trailer embedded above, the director took full advantage of the stellar landscape. What else does the trailer disclose? In the future, humans have the ability to build and control worlds. Oh, and Gillen poses the lovely existential question that so many movies before have attempted to tackle: “What is the key to life on Earth?” It certainly seems like Ambition will be, erm, ambitious in figuring out the meaning of life and how to truly sustain it.

“This is a project, ultimately, about great ambition: the power of the human spirit and our collective will to exceed all perceived boundaries,” said Bagiński of his shiny new film. “As our heroes seek out and close in on the very key to life, it goes beyond mere cinematic tropes to deal with the bolder universal themes of facing the future, battling uncertainty and showing the determination that makes us great. But it’s not all that it seems!”

Up to this point, this is all the information we have regarding the mysterious Ambition. Of course, there’s the movie’s official website which offers posters, production pictures, and behind-the-scenes stills. YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram accounts also follow the journey of its release. And yet Ambition is riding under the radar. Perhaps the tide will change when it premieres in front of an international audience tomorrow, Oct. 24 in London at the British Film Institute’s celebration of sci-fi film and television. A major announcement regarding the project (it better be a stateside release!) is expected.

Jump after the break and let Bagiński’s vision wash over you with its utterly beautiful landscapes, computer-generated visuals, and epic score. Check back here in the coming days to discover more about Ambition.

Update (10/24): What if I said Ambition is available for you to watch right now, in the comfort of your own home? Well, it is! Click after the break to view the short film and learn more about its origins and purpose.

Continue reading Mysterious sci-fi pic ‘Ambition’ requires your attention [Update: ‘Ambition’ revealed, short film inside] →

Short film ‘The Treehouse’ presents enlightened story about discovery and unadulterated imagination

Entertainment, Short film, Video,

I’m proud to present the online debut of the fantastic and fantastical short film The Treehouse from directors A.J. Sheeran and Sam Shapson. After wowing audiences at prestigious film festivals around the nation, The Treehouse is ready to shine publicly via popular video-sharing portal Vimeo. For your convenience I’ve embedded the 10-minute short directly above.

So what is The Treehouse? The official logline goes like this: “The story of a boy who’s lost his mom and a girl who claims her spaceship can find her.” But, oh, it is so much more than that. While grieving the death of his mother, a young boy (Joshua Hunter Magers) connects with a girl (Jacqueline Scislowski) equal his age who claims she’s an alien. Intrigue! And then what? She invites him into a treehouse that mysteriously doubles as a spaceship and together they soar off into space. It’s there that the boy believes he will find his mother’s soul and reunite with her. But it’s not long before he realizes–along with a captivated audience–that this is an unexpected journey of self-discovery and wonder. By the end, this sci-fi expedition will leave you wholly satisfied and simultaneously grasping for interpretation; a second watch, though not required, will surely aid in your formation of a solid theory. Turn on your imagination again and take a plunge into the emotional, gripping tale that is The Treehouse.

[experience-it-all] asked Sheeran, who also penned the short, what his inspiration behind the film was. “It probably comes from the show that I watched religiously and was ingrained in me when I was a little kid–Rugrats,” he said. “The idea of make-believe being completely real in their minds. Because when those babies “went” to the South Pole, they really believed they were there. The last shot of that episode is of the pair of underwear serving as a makeshift flag, right where they left it. We know it didn’t really happen, but what matters is that they believe it did. That’s pure escapism. And that’s kind of what movies do. None of it really happened, but if the characters believe it, so do we. Now, obviously, the tone of The Treehouse is a far cry from Rugrats. But throw in the film Let the Right One In and that’s the nutshell.”

The epic, emotional story that unfolds across The Treehouse rests on the shoulders of two young, bright actors who don’t waste any time to make an impression. Shapson, co-director and editor, worked closely with Magers and Scislowski (aged 11 and 12, respectively, during the making of the short in 2011) and shared what it was like working with such youthful, professional, and mature-beyond-their-years talent. “Working with Jacqueline and Josh was absolutely awesome. They each brought such a strong emotional grasp of the material, despite the heavy and abstract ideas we were exploring. Oh, plus their energy on set. I remember Jacqueline would march around rapping, ‘This. Is. Re. -diculous. These spacemen are so tick-a-lish.’ And on and on. She had all these verses worked out by the end of production. The crew was always in a great mood with those two around.”

Now, go watch it. Watch it again. And don’t be shy–share your theories in the comment section below. How do you interpret The Treehouse? Why?

Watch ‘Fringe’s John Noble let in a mysterious ‘Friend’ in new short film

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In February I told it it was coming and now the mysterious John Noble short film has surfaced in full. The man who played Walter Bishop for five years on Fringe steps into a new, not-so-different role in Friend, an eight minute short produced and written by Noble’s daughter Jess. “A labor of love,” Friend reunited Noble with many behind the scenes players from his FOX sci-fi series.

“The amazing thing about Friend was our entire production team was made up of Fringe crew. That’s what made it such a unique and personal project,” Noble shared with TV Guide. “Our director was Fringe director of photography David Geddes; our editor was Ari Margolis, who created Fringe‘s wonderful online trailers; and our original music was composed by Jeremy Little, who contributed that wonderful cover of “If I Only Had A Brain” heard in “The Firefly” episode from Season 3.” Additionally, “the cameramen, grips, lighting, sound, catering, script supervisor, makeup, hair, wardrobe, props — they all came from the Fringe family and brought this project to life. Jasika Nicole [who played Astrid Farnsworth] even designed and handmade the paper flowers used in the film. It was a family project in every sense.” The balloon seller at the end? That’s Noble’s wife Penny.

As a refresher, Friend follows “a lonely, grief stricken man of wealth [who] finds a new lease on life after an unusual ‘friend’ is mysteriously delivered to his door. A unique and unexpected relationship quickly forms, bringing hope and color to the man’s bleak existence. But will tragedy strike again?”

It doesn’t take long to discover the mystery behind the door, and in such a short period of time you will connect with Noble’s heartbroken protagonist through his emotional performance that’s sprinkled with some subtle humor. The actor describes it succinctly: It’s “sad, and funny, and special.” From the disorienting mental breaks to the piano-heavy score, Friend is a treat for Fringe fans who recognize Noble’s unparalleled capabilities when he’s placed in a mysterious setting and lost his way.

John Noble readies an emotional performance in upcoming short film ‘Friend’

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Since Fringe ended, nobody has swept us off our feet and into the heart of a man like John Noble did. His powerfully emotional character Walter Bishop is certainly one of the most memorable fictional portrayals to grace television. Need your weekly Walter fix now? Unfortunately that character has been put to rest as Fringe aired its series finale last month, but I have for you the next best thing.

John Noble is set to star in a mysterious short film that goes by the name of Friend. Noble’s daughter Jess wrote the script and together they produced the project. Noble called upon Fringe‘s director of photography David Geddes to direct.

Collider scooped a synopsis: “A lonely, grief stricken man of wealth finds a new lease on life after an unusual ‘friend’ is mysteriously delivered to his door. A unique and unexpected relationship quickly forms, bringing hope and color to the man’s bleak existence. But will tragedy strike again?”

Noble had this to say about his daughter’s short: “Friend was a labor of love. During the turbulent last stage of filming the Fringe series finale, my Fringe colleagues gave their precious time and amazing talent to realize my daughter Jessie’s beautiful short film. Two intense and fun filled days of filming, and then over to Ari Margolis and Jeremy Little to weave their magic with the editing and score.  It was an unforgettable experience. I adore the film. Sad, and funny, and special.”

Check out tantalizing trailer for Friend above; it was put together by Ari Margolis, the guy behind all of those incredibly epic Fringe promo trailers. The short will play at film festivals this year and will hopefully release in full to the public in the coming months. I wonder who’s behind that door… could it be, dare I say, September?! I kid.

Short film: ‘Address Is Approximate’ (using stop-motion & Google Street View)

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A lonely desk toy longs for escape from the dark confines of the office, so he takes a cross country road trip to the Pacific Coast in the only way he can – using a toy car and Google Maps Street View.

Address Is Approximate is produced by director Tom Jenkins of London-based commercial production company The Theory. The stop-motion animation short, shot with a Canon 5D Mark II, quickly went viral and has garnered over 1.8 million views in fifteen days. The story it tells is so simple yet unbelievably captivating. And the idea of taking inanimate objects for a “drive” cross country in front of a computer monitor using Google Maps is utterly ingenious. In case you’re wondering, the soothing track that plays throughout is “Arrival of the Birds” by The Cinematic Orchestra.

The clip was a pet project for Jenkins who was recently signed to the talent agency WME with his partner Simon Sharp. Hopefully this means that we can expect more from Jenkins in the future, perhaps on the feature side of things.

[Via Deadline; Vimeo]

Short film: ‘Portal: No Escape’

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Whether or not you’ve played the innovative video game from Valve known as Portal doesn’t matter here. This short from LA-based filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg fuses top notch cinematography with a gritty, pulsating score that will blow you away. If you’ve played the game and know your Portal lore, there’s no question that you’ll fully embrace the Chell-like female protagonist and her quest to escape from the shackles of Aperture. The CGI work is fantastic and actress Danielle Rayne will pull you in and never let go for the five-and-half-minute duration. It’s guaranteed that by the end of the film you’ll be foaming at the mouth for more. In less than one day the video has gone viral–it’s nearing 700,000 views. With such a large fanbase formed already, it’d surprise me if Trachtenberg never returned for a second installment.

Portal the movie would be hard to manufacture for mass audiences due to lack of dialogue (GLaDOS is noticeably absent here), but as Trachtenberg has proven it can work wonders in the short film space. Has Valve got wind of this? Do I smell a Portal web series in the works? I’ll keep you posted.

Now flick on HD, turn up the volume, and mash play!