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One of the things
I enjoy most about reviewing movies and
DVDs is that I often get the opportunity
to see films that others don't. These generally
fall into the range of the 'independent
film' and for better or worse, watching
them is rarely a bore.
What surprises most people, at least from
what I can tell from casual conversation,
is just how many independent films are produced
every year… heck… every DAY.
There are more aspiring filmmakers out there
than it is possible to keep track of. So
as you might imagine, in watching them,
you take the bad with the good.
But like the great Hollywood machine, which
churns out tons of horrible movies, there
are the gems that stand out. Sometimes you
find a film shot on a shoestring budget
and looks it, but the story totally draws
you in. Other times, it is the opposite…
great cinematography, but lousy script.
It's when you find a project that offers
both that the fun really kicks in. When
that happens, the hopes kick in that I might
be watching the work of a future star director.
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A couple of weeks ago I started hearing rumblings
about a short film called "Broken."
It sounded intriguing so I thought I'd find out
more about it. From what I understood, it was
a short action thriller that offered a number
of high tech special effects. Though shot on a
low budget, it boasted a look that could give
a lot of the Hollywood flicks a run for their
money. I also found it interesting to note that
the buzz surrounding this particular project was
so good, that a DVD was produced and offered on
Amazon.com, and a feature-length version was on
the horizon. At that point, I was hooked and knew
I had to see it for myself.
Last week, a copy of the DVD found its way into
my player thanks to the folks at Enigma Factory
(the production company for the film) and I sat
down to find out for myself what all this buzz
was about. The story revolves around a seemingly
innocent young woman, Bonnie (Samantha Jane Polley),
who is abducted from her home late one night.
She awakens to find she is in strapped to a wheelchair,
surrounded by an array of tough-looking goons.
Before she even has a chance to take in her surroundings,
her kidnapper (Paul Gordon) gets right in her
face and begins to terrorize her by threatening
her life. He does this with a charming smile,
alluding to some past that Bonnie seems to have
which is the reason she has to die.
As we bear witness to this… conversation…
we are shown quickly edited clips of an armed
and masked person, breaking in to the building
where she is being held, perhaps on some sort
of rescue mission. Once in, he becomes a witness
to the proceedings only to be drawn into a firefight
with the goons. At this point, the film becomes
a bloodbath (only with more blood implied than
actually seen). I would go further, but it would
only serve as a spoiler best left unspoiled. I
will say that by the end of the twenty minute
running time, I was ready to watch it again, if
for no other reason than to see if I could spot
any more clues as to the bigger picture of the
plot, as there certainly was one.
While there were a few nitpicks I had about "Broken',
they would only fall into the performance of actor
Paul Gordon. As the main villain, there were moments
where he exuded a strong sense of menace, but
there were times that he seemed a little over
the top. During these moments, he was a little
more comical that frightening. But that's it…
I have nothing else to pick on. The story, though
obviously a part of a greater whole, was well
plotted enough to keep my attention. The editing
was tight and kept the flow moving smoothly. And
as for the cinematography and the effects used
therein, I was blown away.
Directed by Alex Ferrari, "Broken" delivers
some eye-popping special effect photography that,
rather than hinder the production, adds to the
viewer's experience of the psychological and physical
terror that Bonnie is faced with. In the past,
I've seen films that rely on camera and computer
effects to 'make' the movie. Usually they are
so overdone that they become a distraction. This
is in no way the case for "Broken."
Every shot is there for a reason and the tension
some of it creates is very powerful.
Where I was even more impressed by this particular
project is in the work that went into the DVD
release. The film, as I mentioned, is only twenty
minutes long, but the DVD offers over three hours
of extra features. Just to kick start these features,
are six separate commentaries on the film by various
members of the cast and crew. Each one giving
a different perspective of the production. From
there, you'll find featurettes covering every
single aspect of the filmmaking that you can think
of… as well as undoubtedly a few you might
not have. I'll refer you to the list below to
see just what you have to choose from in terms
of seeing how this film was made. I also have
to hand it to the DVDs producers in that they
chose to break down each of these parts of the
process into individual 'bites' instead of putting
them all into one long documentary. It makes them
much easier to watch.
"Broken" is an impressive 'first film'
from Alex Ferrari, and one that showcases his
talent as a filmmaker. I look forward to seeing
a full-length feature film, if in fact one becomes
a reality. Beyond that, I hope that enough doors
will be opened with this short film to allow him
the opportunity to continue to stretch those talents
on bigger and bigger projects.
Directed by: Alex Ferrari
Starring: Samantha Jane Polley, Paul Gordon, Amber
Crawford, Derek Evans
Extras:
6 Audio Commentaries
Pre-production -
Concept Art
Costume Design Gallery
Storyboards (9 Edited Sequences)
Storyboards Comparisons
Rehearsal Comparison with Final Scene
Blocking Action in a Scene
Evolution of an Action Sequence
Rehearsal: Finding Your Shot
Production -
The Guacamole Gun Experience
Recipe - How to Make a Guacamole Gun
A Technical Advisor's Job
Special Effects Makeup Breakdown
Anatomy of a Stunt
Guns, Guns, Guns
Tips on Producing an Indie Film
Being There - The On-Set Experience
12 Behind the Scenes Vignettes
Post Production -
How to Make Mini DV Look Like Film
Color Correction Lab - The Overview
Color Correction Comparison
Visual Effects Breakdowns
VFX Breakdown - The Title Sequence
Visual Effects in Indie Film
Cinematography in Indie Film
Sound Design / Composing in Indie Film
After the Short -
The Making of Broken
Marketing - Promoting a Short Film
Marketing - A Poster Gallery
Alternate Ending
The Art of Broken
The Broken Shoot - Gag Reel
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Enigma Factory
Release Date: Available
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
We'll give Broken an B+.
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