Use of Audio
I really loved the audio in this film. There was no music, just the constant beeping of some sort of medical monitor. Music can really be a source of comfort, and its absence really helped set the tone of anxiety and fear. I couldn’t tell whether it was supposed to be a heart monitor - in which case the beeping probably ought to have been a bit faster – but either way it was a great choice.
In addition, the sound effects created for the little claymation creatures were also unique, and weren’t too over-the-top or excessive.
"...Good men, the last wave by,
crying how bright..."
"...Their frail deeds mightr have
danced in a green bay..."
Use of Budget
Working with 35mm film is very expensive and animation is very time-consuming – which alone can account for such a large budget in such a short film. In this case, however, the majority of the budget was spent on equipment ($2,500 for a Canon 5D, $900 for a tripod and head, $300 on lenses, and $125 for a dolly). Only $400 was spent on film (not too bad a deal, even for a 5-minute short), $1,200 went to the DP with equipment, $1,500 for post-production, and the rest to the talent and kraft services.
The Canon 5D is a great digital SLR and, while the price tag is very big, it’s a very good investment, especially for an animator. $900 seems like a lot to spend on a tripod, though once again, depending on the type and model, it could also be a good investment. I hope that both of these items will be used in many future pictures.
Additionally, the filmmakers were also resourceful in making their own dolly for stop motion tracking shots. They seem to have the right balance between thrifty resourcefulness and knowing when money needs to be spent.
"...Do not go gentle into
that good night..."
"...Rage, rage, against the dying of the light."
Lasting Appeal
This film does a very good job at blending live-action and animation into a cohesive piece. The visuals are great, as is the audio, plus it gets the point across very well.
It’s tricky to deal with such a heavy subject and at first I thought that perhaps this film might be difficult to watch for someone who has dealt with cancer. On the other hand, it’s possible that anyone with any kind of physical illness may have viewed it in a similar way – as an invader within their body – therefore, this film may be quite therapeutic in nature.
Overall Comment
Cancer is a touchy subject. While I don’t know if the director has dealt personally with it in any way, she certainly approaches it like someone who has. It’s one thing to fight an entity outside of oneself, but when the enemy is something within, a completely new level of fear and anxiety is reached. You can hide from a person or a situation – you cannot hide from something inside of you.
The
author of half a dozen screen plays, two novels, and a proficient
camera-woman in her own right, Monika
DeLeeuw-Taylor is Microfilmmaker's lead writing analyst and
one of our top film reviewers. When she's not writing a critique for
Microfilmmaker, she's writing screenplays for Viking Productions.
