4085: Connected & Rip Current
Connected, a visually alluring dystopian short film, demonstrated unique plot conceptualization and expressive storytelling through cinematography. The first film to screen at 4085 Production’s first in-person festival on December 3rd served as an attention catching opener with a story reminiscent of the wave of YA dystopian media of the early 2010’s. The film’s excellent camerawork is obvious throughout, yet is especially prominent in the first scene. As three members of an apparent hive mind begin a routine in sync, each individual is shown in a heavily color graded shot until the three line up outside. Brief shots of each person are spliced together seamlessly so that every motion looks fluid between three bodies, emphasizing the phrase all three repeat: “we are one.” The impressive editing continues to elevate the film’s professional quality as the story picks up speed and follows one of the three members as she breaks free of the hive mind and finds her family. In one of the final scenes, in which the main character realizes she cannot trust her supposed siblings after escaping authority jurisdiction, editing once again takes center stage. Overlapping dialogue and sound in combination with jarring visuals including blur and skewed angles allow the audience to embrace the main character’s point of view as all she’s learned thus far unravels. Indeed, Connected’s stellar camera work, sound design, and editing underscore its plot well. Yet, though the film succeeds visually, it unfortunately lacks in writing. Much of the film’s script paled in comparison to its technical aspects, including the occasional strained delivery of poorly written dialogue. At times, the audience laughed when it was unclear whether something a character said or did was satire–specifically during the scene where the three main characters decide which car they want to take. Essentially, the dialogue sometimes ended up hindering the story from flowing smoothly from scene to scene. Yet, Connected still proved a decent effort in creating an original concept in such a popular genre. Questions left unanswered left the audience with reason to follow more of the story, as if the film needed a sequel to fully explore relationships between the characters and establish an exposition. Ultimately, though the short film’s screenplay falls short, its cinematography and original story contribute to a visually and conceptually intriguing narrative.
One of the better short films all-around at 4085’s festival, Rip Current stands out visually and is further supported by an emotional performance by its small cast of three. Aside from a few awkward lines, the film’s script felt authentic and allowed its actors’ performances to shine, even though two of them were playing well above their age range. In addition to a moving storyline, Rip Current captures attention with its stunning visuals and on-location shooting. Two scenes in particular are distinctly eye-catching: the drive to the beach and the scene on the beach itself. As the main character speaks to her deceased father as if he were sitting in the passenger seat, stunning shots from the outside of the car display the windshield as the trees above the car are reflected in detail in the glass in front of each actor’s face. Photography then becomes more prominent in the aforementioned beach scene in which the main character attempts to follow the imaginary version of her father into the ocean. Cuts vary the distance between camera and actress, including one overhead drone shot, as she moves further into the water. The photography contributes to the film’s intense final scene in this way, elevating both performance and screenplay. Still, though visually impressive, the film’s overall cinematography left something to be desired in terms of editing. Sound design poses the only minor complaint regarding Rip Current. In a story full of such heavy plot points and sentimental interactions, smaller flaws in sound are more noticeable. Inconsistencies in volume and unbalanced cuts between voiceovers become so distracting that they remove the viewer from the story. Save for sound, however, Rip Current set itself apart within the festival. The film is visually quite impressive and effectively incorporates skillful camera work into its heart wrenching narrative, lending itself easily to its performers and delivering a powerful yet simple story.