This little indie film hits every beat in a melodic story. The film benefits from superb performances from the veteran bit actor Bates Wilder (Joy) and from up and comer Jessica Rotthe (Happy Death Day, La La Land). These two have a compelling chemistry from the very first time they share the screen. They swiftly create a believable dynamic that reveals the craft of this screen writer's ability to handle dialogue. This film does not fall into the overwritten dialogue trap that most indie writer/director films suffer from. Kightlinger executed this script with great restraint. He allowed the performers to bring their touches to the characters. The choice of location is almost as stark as one can imagine. It serves a purpose to give one a sense of complete isolation and yet it feels like a place we all know and find beautiful. This is a film that would have been a darling for indie spirit awards if it had a slightly bigger named actor attached. It is well written, directed, edited and scored. For a small film it has big heart.
Reviews
7 Reviews
Destroyer
(2014)
Nice Short Film
4 September 2014
Director/writer Andrew Kightlinger does it again. He is well adapted to handling a strong cast and bringing together the elements necessary to make a successful short film. Peter Wigand is rock solid behind the camera. He has captured the stark beauty of the landscape to punctuate the quality of this film. Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)delivers a top notch performance. Judith Hoag (Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles) is great in this short film. It is good to see actors with the star power of Ruck and Hoag working with young directors and production crews on short films. This is how the next generation of great filmmakers are developed. The entire production company should be proud of this film.
Werewolf in a Girls Sorority
(2013 Video)
Werewolf In a Girl's Sorority is precisely ridiculous.
22 January 2013
Andy Mogren is not bashful about asking you to check your snobbishness at the door with this film.
True to Mogren's other work WIAGS is a lampooning comedy romp with no throttle on the Tom Foolery.
This film is hard to criticize because it is so outlandish. I find his work very funny. Not dry British humor funny, rather college student on a weekend bender kind of funny.
The animation is crude, the story line is pure camp, the animated violence is over the top but it all works.
This film won't be for everyone, but high school and college age men will raise Mogren on a pedestal one day and chant his name as the visionary of their youth.
True to Mogren's other work WIAGS is a lampooning comedy romp with no throttle on the Tom Foolery.
This film is hard to criticize because it is so outlandish. I find his work very funny. Not dry British humor funny, rather college student on a weekend bender kind of funny.
The animation is crude, the story line is pure camp, the animated violence is over the top but it all works.
This film won't be for everyone, but high school and college age men will raise Mogren on a pedestal one day and chant his name as the visionary of their youth.
Wild Bill's Run
(2012)
Found Footage Documentary Offers Intrigue
21 January 2013
I saw the feature doc at the South Dakota Film Festival. The audience and I truly enjoyed the film. A few hundred viewers were laughing and had plenty of follow up questions during the Q&A.
Wild Bill's Run tells a true tail of Bill Cooper leading a rag tag bunch of adventurists on an attempt to cross the arctic ice cap on snowmobiles, from Minnesota to Moscow in the 1970's.
Director Mike Scholtz got a gift set in his lap when he found reels upon reels of documentary footage from the original cross arctic trip. Combining the priceless original footage along with personal interviews with a number of the members of the expedition, Scholtz crafts a well paced film with plenty of humor and even a few twists.
The film has been circumnavigating the festival world and will likely find a home on a television channel.
If you see it at a festival near you it is worth pulling on your snowmobile suit and taking in this arctic adventure.
Wild Bill's Run tells a true tail of Bill Cooper leading a rag tag bunch of adventurists on an attempt to cross the arctic ice cap on snowmobiles, from Minnesota to Moscow in the 1970's.
Director Mike Scholtz got a gift set in his lap when he found reels upon reels of documentary footage from the original cross arctic trip. Combining the priceless original footage along with personal interviews with a number of the members of the expedition, Scholtz crafts a well paced film with plenty of humor and even a few twists.
The film has been circumnavigating the festival world and will likely find a home on a television channel.
If you see it at a festival near you it is worth pulling on your snowmobile suit and taking in this arctic adventure.
Paper People
(I) (2013)
High Quality Short
24 October 2012
I recently saw PAPER PEOPLE at the South Dakota Film Festival. Luke Schuetzle and Andrew Kightlinger scribe a suspenseful tail of loss and self reflection. Pitted against his inner demons the lead character contemplates his suicide, but it doesn't stop there.
The lead role played by Steven Luke captures your attention from the first scene. Luke offers a very controlled approach to his character. His acting chops in Paper People were recently rewarded with a Best Actor award at the Best Actor(in a)Film Festival in San Francisco, CA.
Opposite Luke was Desire Jansen, playing a moon eyed young mother on the move with her daughter trying to find their way across the country. Jansen and Luke build a palpable chemistry in seconds.
Olive Coon and Kevin Kunkel offer sound support in this short film.
The cinematography by Peter Wigand is well executed. Attention was given to many details of light control and color for effect.
Edited by co-writer and director Kightlinger, the film has a solid pacing. It doesn't rush to the end nor does it over stay its welcome. Paper People is a solid short narrative with attention to the details.
This largely South Dakota film crew is putting their state on the film- making map.
You will enjoy it at your local festival.
The lead role played by Steven Luke captures your attention from the first scene. Luke offers a very controlled approach to his character. His acting chops in Paper People were recently rewarded with a Best Actor award at the Best Actor(in a)Film Festival in San Francisco, CA.
Opposite Luke was Desire Jansen, playing a moon eyed young mother on the move with her daughter trying to find their way across the country. Jansen and Luke build a palpable chemistry in seconds.
Olive Coon and Kevin Kunkel offer sound support in this short film.
The cinematography by Peter Wigand is well executed. Attention was given to many details of light control and color for effect.
Edited by co-writer and director Kightlinger, the film has a solid pacing. It doesn't rush to the end nor does it over stay its welcome. Paper People is a solid short narrative with attention to the details.
This largely South Dakota film crew is putting their state on the film- making map.
You will enjoy it at your local festival.
The Deep End
(2011)
Good Competition Film
19 September 2012
This is a good quality short film. The cinematography and lighting is strong. Shaun O'Connell directed this film skillfully. Matt Klundt helmed the camera with decisiveness. The acting is good. Steven Luke offers a solid performance. He expressed his emotions well with limited dialog. The story needs some development. As a competition piece, the limited runtime (7 minutes) constrained the back story and forced the plot pacing. I saw this film at the South Dakota Film Festival and it was an award winner at the Fischgaard Short Film Project. The crowd reacted well to the uncomplicated story line. I think these characters should be explored and the story line developed. As these young filmmakers hone their craft this film will improve.
Butter
(I) (2011)
Butter spreads easily on the big screen.
19 September 2012
"Butter" penned by upcoming writer Jason Micallef has plenty of flavor. The story is fun and uncomplicated. Yes, there are not-so thinly veiled political undertones that enrich the film, this is an easy watching fun film. I thought Micallef did a fine job balancing the very real world of butter sculpting competitions from the Great Plains states and the absurdity of this unreal black comedy.
Olivia Wilde is a tour d' force in this film. She plays the drifting, sexy Delilah with control and command. No doubt she steals her scenes or is allowed to steal the scenes from the rest of this straight laced line up of characters.
Not to be out done, Jennifer Garner offers a fresh and unpredictable performance. We have grown to love the often tender Garner, it was fun to hate her this time.
Ty Burell gives us more of what we love him for. Mr. Kicked in the Groin, has never been more masterfully perfected than by Burell.
If I could I would buy stock in Yara Shahidi. This young actress will win your heart and have you rooting for her from her first scene. Shahidi is surrounded by a strong cast but she finds her own light and performs above the fray.
The art direction, photography, costumes and other creative rolls are completed well within the expectations of well funded Hollywood backed indie film.
The Weinstein Co with their RADiUS distribution are are again testing the VOD prior to theatrical distribution model. Only time will tell how this will work out but Itunes users are popping for the $9.99 rental. I think the multi-platform distribution model will be perfected and small projects will benefit in the end.
Olivia Wilde is a tour d' force in this film. She plays the drifting, sexy Delilah with control and command. No doubt she steals her scenes or is allowed to steal the scenes from the rest of this straight laced line up of characters.
Not to be out done, Jennifer Garner offers a fresh and unpredictable performance. We have grown to love the often tender Garner, it was fun to hate her this time.
Ty Burell gives us more of what we love him for. Mr. Kicked in the Groin, has never been more masterfully perfected than by Burell.
If I could I would buy stock in Yara Shahidi. This young actress will win your heart and have you rooting for her from her first scene. Shahidi is surrounded by a strong cast but she finds her own light and performs above the fray.
The art direction, photography, costumes and other creative rolls are completed well within the expectations of well funded Hollywood backed indie film.
The Weinstein Co with their RADiUS distribution are are again testing the VOD prior to theatrical distribution model. Only time will tell how this will work out but Itunes users are popping for the $9.99 rental. I think the multi-platform distribution model will be perfected and small projects will benefit in the end.
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