Smart mix of genres, directors brings more ups than downs
The lights lowered to darkness and the 2007 Toofy Film Festival was underway.
The first short was actually a music video for the song “Heart’s a Mess” by Gotye. Long, lanky stick-figures walking the Earth to the background of a twilight sky, and the eerie setting of the video matched well with the song.
“The concept of the video was very powerful, and very indicative of today’s situation,” said Travis Loving, a junior film studies student.
The next film was more indicative of what the film festival had in store — comedy. “Winner Take Steve” by director Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) showed the story of two high school students competing to keep their name, “Steve” in gym class.
This movie was very similar to Napoleon Dynamite; it had the same camera work, dialogue and setting. Although it had a few funny moments, it was disappointing that the director had nothing new to offer.
“Choque” was the first foreign film of the night, about a man who gets into a fight with teenagers, culminating in a bumper-car face-off. Clever and entertaining, the plot contained a series of unfortunate events.
The fifth film entitled “Stomping Grounds” was a documentary about Biz Markie, “The Human Beatbox”.
Unfortunately, the documentary content was overshadowed by the excessive product placement. By the end I felt like I was watching a commercial.
The last film of the first festival segment was “Full Disclosure,” one of several romantic-comedies.
“Full Disclosure” depicted two strangers on a date as a man tested out his new dating strategy: telling the date everything about himself – even the bad things – on the first date as to surpass the first six months of dating. The audience laughed throughout the entire short and it received applause when it ended. Director Douglas Horn developed a smart script and presented a humorous, but poignant story.
The second segment consisting of only one feature. “Netherbeast Incorporated” was a full-length film starring a diverse cast including Darrell Hammond (Saturday Night Live), Steve Burns (Blues Clues), Jason Mewes (Jay & Silent Bob), and Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club).
Director Dean Reynolds portrays a group of “Netherbeasts,” better known as vampires, who run a phone company. After contracting a deadly vampire disease, Turner Claymore (Darrell Hammond), in his delirious state, hires the company’s first human employee. What follows is a comedic take on the un-glamorous life of vampires.
It seemed like something straight out of Saturday Night Live. While it wasn’t the best comedy of the summer, it was witty and enjoyable.
Many of the film festival’s shorts are available online at various websites or on Itunes, and in some cases on the big screen.
“We’re in the process of getting [Netherbeast Incorporated] sold,” said director Dean Reynolds. “Whether it is a limited theatrical release or straight-to-DVD, expect to see it in the first quarter of 2008.”
Reynolds gave one last thought before he jumped off the stage to greet audience members.
“If you loved it, blog about it, if you didn’t, don’t,” Reynolds said.
Contact Staff Writer Devon Taylor at devon.taylor@colorado.edu
