Film Notes: How to Do Visual Comedy

Shorts I liked: Detention

Notes:

• Opening dialogue directly relates to what the whole short is about

Notes: Brad Bird 'Simpsons' Storyboard Notes

link

Notes: The Spielberg Oner

Shorts I Digged: Oktapodi

Logline: Two octopus lovers are separated by a seafood salesman in Santorini, Greece.
Concept Statement: True love entails great determination.

Runtime: 2:25

http://www.oktapodi.com/index.html

Things  I digged:

1) The set, prop, and vehicle shape languages.

2) The 'button' at the end, with the seagull taking the male octopus. A nice twist, as it's the female's turn to be hero now.

3) The unique camerawork, like the 'pulling out of the tank' shot which almost feels like a fourth wall break until the next shot, as well as the dynamic chase camera shots through Santorini.

4) The man's design: very blocky, sharp, and expressive.

5) How they maintained a sense of movement throughout. Great progression of gags.

6) Fun, light-hearted, yet suspenseful tone.

7) The fantastic visual development.

Shorts I liked: Wild Casting

Logline: A lion chases two workers through a city
Concept Statement: ???

Runtime: 1:00

Things I liked:

• Clever and specific film festival opener
• Opening pulls you into the story right away by starting in the middle of the chase.  I just wish there was a little more shift in emotion throughout the short since it stays at a constant of fear
• Seeing objects fly and dust through the air at 0:14 but not the characters themselves adds texture to the chase

Shorts I liked: Pyrats

Logline: A Pirate is about to be hanged at the gallows, when suddenly, his fellow Pirates arrive to rescue him... or so it seems.

Concept Statement:  ???

Runtime: 1:24

Things I liked:

• Awesome camera movements
• Pirates have clear and distinct personalities from one another