Use of Budget
I have to say that this one comes close to taking the cake for best use of budget. The funds went to cover lighting accessories (filters, gels, etc.), props/costumes, tape stock, and food. Because it was filmed in a public access television studio, the location, equipment, and editing facilities were available for free. Not only that, but they were lucky enough to film at a public access studio where the production crew are certified producers who have been trained in the technical aspects of film production (camera, audio, lighting, etc.) and have their own series. The director works in a reciprocity agreement with them, where he crews on their shows, usually as technical director, in exchange for their service on his. As a result, there are no paid crew members, and the actors are not paid.
Lasting Appeal
This is a very good film, and very insightful, especially considering that it was done two months after September 11. (Ironically enough, Del Gaudio had written it awhile before then, so it wasn't a "reaction piece" to the events that unfolded.) "Moratorium" brings up a lot of questions about society, leaders, power, and questioning authority. The only downside is that I wish that we had received this a few years earlier. In the five and a half years since the attacks in NYC, a number of movies and television shows have addressed similar issues. (Who is our enemy, really? Is it the ones our leaders tell us are our enemies? What if what we've been raised to believe is wrong? What if our leaders are lying to us? etc. etc.) Because of this, it reduces the rewatchability factor. However, I would recommend this film to a friend, not because it repeats the themes that were so frequently heard after September 11, but because it was one of the first to voice such concerns. I would also highly recommend this film to microfilmmakers (current or aspiring) to show what all can be accomplished with effective preplanning and creativity.
Overall Comment
The Realm of Never: Moratorium is a creative and well-done film. The writing and acting are very good, and the story leaves the audience with several things to think about. I would suggest tweaking some of the blocking during long dialogue sequences, and using different transitions in certain scenes. Overall, the filming and audio quality was excellent, especially considering the limitations and time constraints the cast and crew had to work with. Del Gaudio's use of budget was phenomenal, and a great example of the creative ways ultra-low-budget filmmakers can make good quality projects for very little money. While the film suffers a bit as a result of the flood of similar authority-questioning films and shows that have emerged since 9/11, Moratorium holds a place of distinction as a forerunner to them all. A great piece of sci-fi drama, and an excellent example of microfilmmaking creativity and ingenuity.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Content |
8.5 |
|
Visual
Look |
8.0 |
|
Use
of Audio |
8.0 |
|
Use
of Budget |
10.0 |
|
Lasting
Appeal |
8.0 |
|
Overall
Score |
8.5
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
