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Film Friday Movies

Film Friday: Death and the Wine Maker

Freaky Fright-Filled Flicks for Film Fanatics

TGIF! The Horror Of Being Emily likes to start the weekend off right by featuring one spooky short film each week. Watch late at night with the lights turned down low to maximize the scary atmosphere. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!

Since my days curating ScareLA’s screening room, I have loved watching creative films from around the world. Short films are a wonderful way to start out as a filmmaker and demonstrate a proof of concept for longer works. It is much harder than you’d think to convey a coherent story in a short amount of time! I hope you enjoy this curated selection of the best fantastic horror, science fiction, and fantasy the internet has to offer. 

Want to binge more? Check out all my past Film Friday entries.

Death and the Winemaker (Directed by Victor Jaquier)

Death and the Winemaker Poster

Fans of horror animation will love this week’s entry: Death and the Winemaker. Written and directed by Victor Jaquier, this short was based on an old tale from the Swiss region of Valais.  Featuring watercolor backgrounds and darkly whimsical characters, viewers are pulled into the fantastically macabre world from the very first few seconds. Be forewarned, that this is not the most uplifting film I have presented to you here in this blog, however, its beautiful story of misguided acts for love and eventual understanding will stick with you long after the film’s seventeen minutes have passed. 

I love fairytales and films set in whimsical interpretations of the past. Jaquier crafts a beautiful depiction of Death (“La Mort”), highlighting both the fear and beauty that lie within her embrace. Man’s feeble attempts to outsmart their inevitable fate have dire consequences that can affect far more than an individual can realize. Take heed from the young winemaker’s mistakes and accept that which cannot be avoided. 

Released in 2021, this film had a successful film festival run, screening at Fransasia, Fantastic Fest, Filmquest, and over 40 other events. It has since been posted on ALTER’s youtube channel. ALTER describes itself as “an ever-expanding platform for the most daring storytellers in the world of horror”. 

Synopsis

A young winemaker creates a wine so exquisite, that even Death demands to taste it. As he learns the awful truth about his beloved’s fate, he captures Death in a barrel, ignoring the consequences on the natural order of things.

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Behind the Scenes

Want to learn more about Death and the Winemaker, and Victor Jaquier? Jaquier released a behind-the-scenes video chronicling the making of the short. In it he describes his filmmaking process – from unearthing a long-forgotten Swiss tale to working with a talented team of actors, animators, and live symphony. See rough sketches, animation reference videos, and the voice-over actors recording their lines. Gain even more insight into the process through a 2023 interview Jaquier had with Ramin Zahed of Animation Magazine.

Stay up to date with the latest news and announcements from Victor Jaquier on his website and Instagram. Click here for Death and the Winemaker’s official website. 

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Film Friday Movies

Film Friday: Rick & Ruby

Film Friday: Rick & Ruby

Image credit: samuelfddunning.com

Freaky Fright-Filled Flicks for Film Fanatics

TGIF! The Horror Of Being Emily likes to start the weekend off right by featuring one spooky short film each week. Watch late at night with the lights turned down low to maximize the scary atmosphere. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!

Since my days curating ScareLA’s screening room, I have loved watching creative films from around the world. Short films are a wonderful way to start out as a filmmaker and demonstrate a proof of concept for longer works. It is much harder than you’d think to convey a coherent story in a short amount of time! I hope you enjoy this curated selection of the best fantastic horror, science fiction, and fantasy the internet has to offer. 

Want to binge more? Check out all my past Film Friday entries.

Rick & Ruby (Directed by Scott Woodburn)

Image from the Rick & Ruby Kickstarter Campaign

Rick & Ruby is the brainchild of Writer/Producer/Actor Samuel FD Dunning and Director Scott Woodburn. Dunning wrote the piece after the success of Woodburn’s previous horror short, It’s a Boy. Hype and excitement continued with this new venture – over $26,000 was raised from two Kickstarter campaigns to film and later complete post production for the short. Since entering the film festival circuit in 2019, Rick & Ruby has graced screens around the world at Screamfest, NYS Horror Film Festival, Dead by Dawn Film Festival, and Sitges Film Festival – just to name a few.  

Although I had thoroughly read the description in the 2019 Screamfest Horror Film Festival program and had been recommending this short to festival attendees for most of my week, nothing prepared me for the awesomeness that is this action-packed horror-comedy short. From an intriguing opening of a mysterious woman dragging a large chest to the surprising reveal of Rick, the audience never quite knows exactly what twists and turns they are in for next. This film had me and the rest of my fellow moviegoers laughing and cheering for the captivating onscreen duo of  Samuel FD Dunning and Ellie Lee. Their strong chemistry as allies journeying to defeat a shared enemy brought the already well-written script to life. Dunning’s Rick is a fun, refreshing take on the classic vampire – and his comic timing is impeccable. Lee’s Ruby holds her own as a strong female character who is an equal to her vampiric counterpart. One also can’t help but enjoy the over-the-top gore and mayhem.

The short sets up a larger story that I hope someday becomes the feature film we all deserve. I need to know exactly how their quest end!. Well, I am pretty sure Rick & Ruby will kick butt – but I need to know how they ultimately get there, what other quick retorts they will spew out, and how many bodies will pile up along the way.

Stay up-to-date with the filmmakers via Samuel FD Dunning’s website and the films Facebook & Instagram pages.

Synopsis

Ruby, a mysterious, leather-clad badass, drags a trunk with unknown cargo to a seedy Roadhouse in the middle of nowhere.​ Inside, three overly friendly hicks overpower her and prepare to have their “dueling banjos” way, when her trunk teeters over and… out…​pops…​RICK, a “man” with an unquenchable thirst and an allergy to the sun.​ In short order Rick and Ruby dole out their own form of frontier justice on the trio of hillbillies in a suitably grotesque and oddly satisfying fashion. Heads and dad-jokes roll.

Watch the Movie

** Warning: This film contains violence, gore, strong language, and is intended for mature audiences. **

About Screamfest

Screamfest Horror Film Festival is America’s largest and longest running horror film festival. The festival runs for 10 days each year in October in Los Angeles. Screamfest, has launched careers – providing a platform for filmmakers and actors to showcase their latest work to enthusiasts and general audiences. Every week they upload a fantastic short horror film that has premiered in their festival to their Youtube channel. Horror fans please LIKE, SHARE, FAVORITE or EMBED their videos with your friends and support talented filmmakers on Screamfest’s official Youtube channel. Join me in supporting this amazing non-profit organization!

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Film Friday Movies

Film Friday: Shine

Film Friday: Shine

Freaky Fright-Filled Flicks for Film Fanatics

TGIF! The Horror Of Being Emily likes to start the weekend off right by featuring one spooky short film each week. Watch late at night with the lights turned down low to maximize the scary atmosphere. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!

Since my days curating ScareLA’s screening room, I have loved watching creative films from around the world. Short films are a wonderful way to start out as a filmmaker and demonstrate a proof of concept for longer works. It is much harder than you’d think to convey a coherent story in a short amount of time! I hope you enjoy this curated selection of the best fantastic horror, science fiction, and fantasy the internet has to offer. 

Want to binge more? Check out all my past Film Friday entries.

Shine (Directed by Jesse Blanchard)

Although not used together as much as they should be, horror and puppetry go together quite well. From Jim Henson’s creepy Skeksis to fluffy aliens in Attack the Block, puppets can add an element of horror to films. They lead themselves to practical effects and can be quite expressive if done well. 

Puppetcore understands this principal well. The group makes all-puppet horror films. Their self-imposed rules are simple: 1. The Characters are real; they just happen to be puppets. 2. The effects are practical whenever possible. This leads of solid horror films that would work well even if created as live-action films. The group has created multiple short films and, in 2020, a feature. 

Shine (2011) uses a simple concept – and harmonious tune – to create a chilling little tale of terror Be wary, there will be blood – a surprising amount in fact. This juxtaposition of cutesy puppets and gore adds to the uneasy atmosphere and watching these poor puppets meet their horrific fate packs an extra punch for the viewer. 

As someone who enjoys spending her time in the spotlight, I think I’ll keep an extra light (or two) on tonight – because you never know what may be lurking out there in the dark. Enjoy!

Shine - Synopsis

A barbershop quartet fears their moment out of the spotlight.

Watch the Movie

Fun Fact: A Family Act – The barbershop quartet’s costumes were creaeted by director Jesse Blanchard’s mother. 

Now that you’ve had a taste of Puppetcore, are you ready for more? In 2020 Puppetcore finished their first feature film, Frank & Zed. It has since been touring the festival circuit and delighting horror fans around the world. You may even see a cameo from our lovable quartet in the feature. Follow the film’s latest news and stay abreast of release announcements via Puppetcore’s official website

Frank & Zed Synopsis: Two reanimated corpses, dependent on each other for survival, live a life of solitude until a power-hungry magistrate tricks a group of villagers into attacking their lonely castle, fulfilling an ancient prophecy: The Orgy of Blood.

See the trailer below.

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Categories
Film Friday Movies

Film Friday: Rebooted

Film Friday: Rebooted

Freaky Fright-Filled Flicks for Film Fanatics

TGIF! The Horror Of Being Emily likes to start the weekend off right by featuring one spooky short film each week. Watch late at night with the lights turned down low to maximize the scary atmosphere. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!

Since my days curating ScareLA’s screening room, I have loved watching creative films from around the world. Short films are a wonderful way to start out as a filmmaker and demonstrate a proof of concept for longer works. It is much harder than you’d think to convey a coherent story in a short amount of time! I hope you enjoy this curated selection of the best fantastic horror, science fiction, and fantasy the internet has to offer. 

Want to binge more? Check out all my past Film Friday entries.

Before the days of CGI and the catchall “we’ll fix it in post”, practical effects were king in horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Ray Harryhausen’s stopmotion  skeletons in Jason and the Argonauts and dinosaurs in One Million B.C. thrilled audiences. Rubber suit monsters like The Creature from the Black Lagoon terrorized teens at the drive in. The animatronic t-rex from Jurassic Park still holds up for today’s audiences.

Rebooted, written and directed by Michael Shanks of Late Nite Films,  pays homage to these classic effects with a touching story that is sure to delight move fans of all ages. Despite being a silent stop motion skeleton, Phil is relatable and a character to root for as he comes to terms with the fact that the world has moved on from the type of filmmaking he rose to stardom through. Although Phil’s world may no longer have a use for stop motion, this film proves that classic practical effects do still have a place in modern films. With a strong story and using digital processes to enhance the practical effects, you can create a filmic world that feels real – much better than CGI alone. 

Synopsis

It’s not easy for a movie-star to age – especially when you’re a stop motion animated skeleton monster. Phil, once a terrifying villain of the silver-screen, struggles to find work in modern Hollywood due to being an out-of-date special effect.

Watch the Movie

Mixing Classic and Modern Techniques

Rebooted is a perfect example of how filmmakers can mix classic techniques and the “realness” of practical effects with modern computer technology. Shanks incredible team combined traditional stopmotion animation, rear projection, creature suits and more with motion capture and After Effects to bring Phil and his friends to life. You can learn more about the techniques and filmmaking process for this short from this interview Shanks did with Ian Failes of Befores & Afters. Shanks describes many of the behind the scenes challanges the team faced – and overcame – during production. It is a fascinating read and quite inspirational!

Want another behind-the-scenes look? This video gives a more in-depth look at the stopmotion and VFX processes used to create the film:

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