short film – NZ Film Freak

In Need of Seawater – Documentary Short Film

A beautiful walk through the life of poet Mark Anthony Thomas; In Need of Seawater. It’s an absolute treat of a short film for any poetry lover.

“When I was 21 I wanted to reflect on life, so I started working on my second book called The Poetic Repercussion,” Mark begins.

“Everything I share with you tonight, I wrote between the ages of 21 to 24… it really tells the story of a young black man finding himself in this country. Everything I’ve done in my life, nothing is more meaningful than the experience of writing this book.”

In Need of Seawater is the performance of Mark’s early poetry works, read in the intimate setting of an apartment surrounded by friends. Poems such as Ink Blot Testing, The Declaration, and Even the Sky takes us on a stroll through his life.

Each poem is presented like a chapter, fantastically edited with accompanying music, and re-enactments by young actor Ziaire Mann. Directed by Richard Yeagley, the cinematography is stunning and an absolutely beautiful piece of art within itself.

We experience where Mark’s head was at when he wrote this poetry. Every poem puts a spotlight on a a turn point or important moment during his young adulthood – and we see it through his eyes thanks to his talent for the written word.

I noticed that it’s not only his talent of the written word that transports us, but his ability to perform his work too. I think that’s a rare quality in a writer; being able to speak up as well as he can write down.

In Need of Seawater covers topics such as stereotypes, self-discovery and even the security of a barbershop chair, which provides the opportunity to speak without judgement. This was a personal favourite of mine.

“In this shop, status means nothing; it falls like hair to the ground. At least it should.” – In the Shop.

This is not my first time enjoying the works of Mark Anthony Thomas. In 2022, I wrote about a performance of his – Folded Whispers – and I’m so pleased to have had the opportunity to write about his work again.

In Need of Seawater is set to be released in January 2026. Check out the trailer below, and follow Mark on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Are you an artist looking for a promotional post about you or your project? Get in touch to see how I can help: beachmarketing.co.nz

Lasting Flames (short film)

The grief of heartbreak is both a unique and universally relatable theme explored in the short film Lasting Flames. It perceives break-ups as a grieving process; mourning someone who is still alive.

Written and directed by Federica Alice Carlino – recently recognised as the most awarded director under 35 – Lasting Flames is a deeply personal project that almost wasn’t pursued.

“I wrote this project based on a very personal feeling and experience. It took me a while to decide whether or not to produce this short, as it came from a deep emotional place,” Carlino said.

Above: Federica Carlino

A story close to her heart, Carlino explained that as painters paint, and songwriters write, she processed her experiences through writing stories. She pursued the idea, knowing it was a universal experience many could relate to.

“It was an incredibly cathartic process for me, and I’m proud to have come to a place where I can share it with others… [As] I was explaining the concept to my cast and crew, I could see their minds travelling through their memories. Some of them told me they could definitely relate to it, and that was one of the first impressions that showed me I was on the right path.”

Lasting Flames follows ex-lovers Danielle and Jack, who have recently broken up and now experience the agonising loss of one another.

Above: Danielle and Jack played by Emeline Nsingi Nkosi and Jack Roper

However, through their emotional journey, the film explores the theme of hope.

As Danielle and Jack learn to live without each other, they find solace in cherishing their memories together, forever holding onto the love they once shared. The painful process of moving on is contrasted by the enduring power of love, memory, and the quiet promise that the past will never be forgotten.

Lasting Flames celebrates previous relationships that you look back on fondly. They’re the people who have taught you lessons that help you to become a better person for your future relationships.

“You learn to give your whole heart again,” Carlino explains. “This [short film is] for the good exes that you don’t resent in any way.”

Currently in pre-production, Carlino’s favourite part so far has been the casting process.

Danielle is played by Emeline Nsingi Nkosi and Jack is played by Jack Roper. Their new partners, Ashton and Mary are played by Nathan Bryant and Willow Zhao respectively.

Carlino will include English voiceover narration by Rory Kilgor from USA, and Italian narration by Michele Vitarelli from Italy.

“It was important for me to have it in my language as well,” Carlino said.

Born in Milan, Italy, Carlino first explored television before studying filmmaking, acting, photography, editing, visual effects, prothetics and makeup. In 2016, she relocated to Los Angeles, where she earned a BFA from the New York Film Academy. She further honed her acting skills at the Met Film School in Ealing, UK, and Pinewood Studios.

Despite living and working in Los Angeles, Carlino is shooting her new project in London, England. She had to start networking all over again and assemble a new crew to work with.

“The most challenging part is definitely finding my way in a new city. I had to find new people to collaborate with from scratch when I moved to London… Surprisingly it was smoother than expected, but it still had its challenges.”

Above: Ruby Ballantyne, Director of Photography.

Carlino always hoped to work with a predominantly female team, and on this project, it came together naturally.

The film is produced by Cameron Wight and shot by cinematographer Ruby Ballantyne. Gracie Herring handled hair and makeup, including the wig for Danielle’s character. Amy Reid (gaffer) and Chelsea Bernard (first assistant camera) played crucial roles in shaping the film’s visual style.

The film’s music is being composed by Victor Muñoz from Spain.

Being on set with the cast and crew is another of Carlino’s favourite parts of the process.

“I’ve been doing this for more than 15 years now, and it’s still the same feeling. There’s a sense of energy and creativity in the air, and it’s truly a magical experience to be a part of.”

Lasting Flames will be released on YouTube this year (2025), and within film festivals worldwide.

To stay up to date with the short film’s release, follow their Instagram account @lastingflamesmovie, and @federica.alice.carlino for sneak peeks behind the scenes.

With Carlino’s professional influences including Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton and Greta Gerwig, this short film is sure to be an emotional and visually transportive experience for anyone who has ever been in love.

“I hope to reach broken-hearted people with my work [and] offer them some relief, as I found it for myself. I want them to know that what they feel is valid and it’s part of life, but there’s hope.”

Above: Cameron Wight, Producer

All imagery by Leon Philipp.

This is a paid article.

Love the Original Way (short film)

Love the Original Way film review Director: Hassan Leo of Elmore films
Writer: Keldamuzik
Released: 2016
Starring: Keldamuzik
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Judging by the 40-second trailer, Love the Original Way‘s plot was difficult to grasp.

Having consulted the Facebook page, I discovered this was a romantic comedy about a recovering alcoholic woman, Sissy, who turns to online dating.

After a few weird dates with various people, the so-called ‘mentally-unstable’ woman finds out that a man she has been messaging is actually in her drug and alcohol rehab class.

The concept seems a bit dark for a comedy, but online dating aspect is probably quite relatable to a young audience.

I’m suspecting this is a low-budget film – with the echoes in the audio making me wonder if an internal camera microphone was used. Judging by the trailer, there were a few post-production issues too. Resulting in a few premature cuts, and audio drowning out the dialogue. However, the lighting is quite good in the scenes I’ve seen.

I haven’t heard of Keldamuzik before, she plays sissy in Love the Original Way. But she is a recording artist and television personality who has given acting a go, with this project being her first independent film.

It would be interesting to see the entire 15 minutes to judge the storyline and actors, and to see if my suspicions are proved wrong. But for now, it does look like the production issues in this film might distract from the overall concept.

Let me know if you’ve seen Love the Natural Way – perhaps the trailer is just selling it short!

A Little Heart (short film)

A_Little_Heart_by_Annette_Prieto_starring_Breanna_Baker_as_Gabby

Director/writer: Annette Prieto
Featuring: Breanna Baker
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A Little Heart is a short film about a student who finds a disused music room, and rediscovers the old magic of playing an instrument.

I do enjoy the simplicity of this film. One person, one room, no dialogue. Emotion is transferred via the use of lighting, which tells the story of how the character is feeling. The lighting transforms the dingy room into concert hall for the character.

It’s usually the music that carries emotion, however, this wasn’t the case for this short film. Perhaps it was the instrument chosen to transform the character – the marimba. A percussion instrument, that although obviously requires a lot of skill and timing, doesn’t produce the most philosophical or reminiscent sound.

I think the audience would be on the same emotional level as the character if the music supported the story a bit more. But maybe that’s just me! I do like a bit of piano.

Nevertheless, A Little Heart is a well made short film and worth a look.

Glitch #1

Glitch film review

With a mere $200 budget, and made within one week, Glitch #1 is a music video that shows a post-apocalyptic world in all its darkness.

A woman types frantically on a tinfoil-covered laptop as her apparent space ship is hurtling through the stars.

The music is really quite unique; every individual sound effect is made from scratch, and never repeated.

Produced by Cine Vibes Productions, this music video and soundtrack is unlike anything I’ve heard or seen before.

Miniature models and green screens were used to create this outer-space environment.

An interesting and unusual creation, that might be of interest to short-film makers who are into abstract galactic tales.

Check it out:

Crash Testing (short film)

Crash Testing short film review

That is so freaky… I love it!

Crash Testing is a short 4 minute animation showing the life and desires of a crash dummy – the ones companies put into vehicles to see how a body would fare in a car crash.

Not a word of dialogue, which works so well. The sound effects tell the story incredibly well. This is a whole art form in itself, which is so well utilised in this animation.

Crash Testing short film review I’m not a scholar, so I’m probably only grazing the surface with this interpretation of the story.
But I walked away from it thinking how everyone wants to leave their mark behind. Death is inevitable for everyone, but this character still goes ahead bravely and leaves his story behind at every crash. The character does this by painting his face before the crash, leaving a mark on the air bags.

I love the slow motion graphics! I got chills.

Very well done indeed! Quite creepy. Quite moving too, though.

Keep an eye out for when you can see it on their Facebook page.

Jodie

Goldfish (short film)

Goldfish short film review Director: Dale Driver
Writer: Dale Driver
Starring: Lindsay Bennett, Stephen Fawkes, Aimee Branson
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The first thing I noticed about this nine minute film was the sound. It’s incredible how simple effects, such as the overlapping of sound between scenes can make such a huge impact.

The score during the credits fits the mood perfectly. The sound and original score is by Tony Agar.

Goldfish short film review This is a story about a child, Rosie (Aimee Branson), who in basic terms has Alzheimer’s disease. The mother, Anna (Lindsay Bennett), has a choice: To enjoy the final 18 months with her daughter, or have a procedure that allows Rosie to survive, but with a 99 percent chance of her having no existing memories remain.

‘Delete her life’ – she dies either way.

The second thing I noticed was how believable the actors were. I especially thought the doctor, Stephen Fawkes, was convincing.

A short, simple film that is layered and told in a powerful way.

I thoroughly enjoyed Goldfish – well done to the small cast and crew involved! I think the hardest part is to stay within one’s means when making films. But with three characters and almost as many scenes, they managed to send a strong message without going too broad.

Goldfish short film review But I think this is a heart-warming, yet tragic story. The harsh lighting, score and believable acting certainly carries the emotions across.

I’m fascinated by memory – which is why Inception and Inside Out are two of my favourite films. Goldfish is definitely worth checking out!

blueridgefilms.co.uk
goldfishfilm.co.uk

Jodie

A Great Speech: Look Up

I’ve written on this subject before regarding a fantastic poem called Touchscreen.

I came across this other spoken word video ages ago, but it came up on my newsfeed again today (how ironic!).

It’s made by Gary Turk, about how alone we can be despite having so many ‘friends’ online. I think this sums it up; how isolated generation Y is. Despite being so connected.

I have 422 friends, yet I’m lonely.
I speak to all of them everyday, yet none of them really know me.

It’s a chilling and upsetting observation. I can certainly relate. Seeing couples out, but staring at their screens in silence. Friends more concerned about checking how many likes their selfie has gotten rather than speaking to the person next to them.

When I was a child, I would never be home,
I’d be out with my friends, on our bikes we would roam.
We’d ware holes in our trainers, and graze up our knees;
we’d build our own clubhouse, high up in the trees.

Now the parks are so quiet, it gives me a chill
to see no children outside and the swings hanging still.
There’s no skipping or hopscotch, no church and no steeple,
we’re a generation of idiots,
smart phones and dumb people.

In Turk’s spoken word film, actors demonstrate miss opportunities that come about when no interaction takes place.

When you’re too busy looking down, you don’t see the chances you miss.

This unfortunate reality has been expressed a lot lately. Kirsten Dunst did a two minute film showing our lack of communication skills:

But just to cheer you up, here are a couple of funny (and creepy) videos about social networking in real life:

College Humor’s “Twitter in Real Life”. It’s hilarious.

“Following” people in real life…

Feel like forgetting your phone now? Although, I have to say there is some anxiety associated with not having your phone on you. Because you’re life never shuts off. What if you miss an email from work? What if somebody needs to get a hold of you? It’s such a foreign concept not to have that extension of your arm.

Nevertheless, this directly ties into my longing for the sixties.

Jodie.

Tissue (Short film)

Director/writer: Stuart Wahlin
Featuring: North Roberts and Anita Boska
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A six minute film made in a 60 hour film competition about a drinker with a writing problem.

A one-character show with little dialogue, but a compelling voice over script making it seem almost Sin City-esk.

I actually quite enjoyed it. Showing the struggles of somebody who finds a 9-5 job utter hell. The only thing this character enjoys is writing, despite never finishing his projects or having anything published.

With a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, the writer finds himself to be the biggest hindrance. Even more so than the power cuts and constant distractions.

I’ve found that many of these amateur/self funded films with limited dialogue reflects badly on the actors who tend to over-act to fill in the silence. I didn’t finds this was the case in Tissue though. The acting was subtle and believable.

A perfectly entertaining short film.

Jodie.

Check it out on Youtube by searching for “Tissue Stuart Wahlin”

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Chinese Penhold (short film)

Directed by: Gabriel Sunday
Written by: Steve Sanders and Gabriel Sunday

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What a glorious film.

Chinese Penhold premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

I thoroughly enjoyed this five minute gem. In the opening scenes it reminded me of the film Peaceful Warrior. Certainly carrying similar themes of self-competition and distractions in life.

It follows a man Jake Scribner (Jake Miller) whose underlying passion for competition clashes with his girlfriend who isn’t the nicest of people.

Finding himself in a worn-out flat at a grotty party, he plays an intense game of ping-pong. He fights against his inner voice, his distracting girlfriend and struggling to stay focussed on the game at play.

I loved the parallel storyline of the white dog and what he represents. There is so much symbolism and so much thought gone into the use of colour, lighting and a fantastic amount of time put into the editing.

In my eyes, at least one of the morals of this story is: to stay in the game and don’t over-think it. In other words, fight for what is important to you, don’t let anyone stop you, but don’t take it all too seriously, because you’ll overlook the point of it.

(Although I’m sure I’ve barely scratched the surface of unpacking this film).

I really enjoyed this short film. A lot of work and effort has clearly gone into the storyline despite the lack of dialogue.

A delightful watch!

Jodie.

Book me to independently review your favourite song, music video or film here.

Love Thy Neighbor (Short Film)

Director: Mika Boorem
Writer: Mika Boorem
Released: 2014
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A short film exploring the dark effects of grief.

We follow a teenage boy, Jonah (Slade Pearce), who has become obsessed with his neighbour. The neighbour (Jaclyn Ferber) is a widow whose husband died in the war. She is grieving and begins to take a liking to Jonah.

Certainly mature subject matter and probably not material I can really relate to.

However, on a technical level, Love Thy Neighbor is fantastically made. The lighting and set design reflects the characters very well.

I think the director/writer, Mika Boorem, achieved her goal of making the story seem ordinary on the surface. That is until you scratch the surface to discover the intricate, dark and twisted lives of the neighbourhood.

I think the best accomplishment was how well the crew has done on limited means. Having a main cast of three, and one location was a great way to take advantage of what they had. It can be easy to let the imagination run wild, but keeping it simple allowed the deeper storyline to take centre stage.

A fantastic production. An example on how high quality a short film can be.

Jodie.

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Broken Record – Short Film

Director: Andy S. McEwan
Writer: Andy S. McEwan
Released: April 2014
Featuring: Steven Patrick, John Gaffney, Darren McColl, Chris Quick, Paul Massie, Karen Quick, Alan Cuthbert, David Marshall and Tony Quigley
—

A great 11 minute film about two men finding a suitcase full of old records which they reckon will bring them thousands of pounds.

I enjoyed this film, it is simple and very well produced. The lighting is great, the camera work is steady, the sound is even, and the acting is natural. It’s come together very well indeed.

The storyline has a couple of plot-holes, like the context of the first scene, I’m not sure if they are painters painting a house or clearing out a deceased relative’s home. Not that it would have contributed hugely to the story anyway.

I’m not sure what the men decided to do regarding getting rid of the third guy who wanted some of the profits either, it wasn’t entirely clear.

BR02 I think if each scene began with a wide or establishing shot, it also would have helped to give context of the situation.

The continuity was impressive, every shot led seamlessly to the next.

Despite those nit-picking critiques, I thought it was funny and enjoyable. A great scene is hidden at the end of the credits so keep an eye out!

A fantastic piece of work by Pentagram Productions UK (@PentagramProdUK and their Facebook Page).

This team have clearly worked well to make a short film. They should certainly be recognised for their skill and technique of film making.

Check out this fun Glasgow film below.

Jodie

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Locked (Short Film)

I wondered what I was going to be watching when I first saw it actually…
This short film is about a man who calls a lock smith to get him out of a compromising situation.

It is tastefully done and leaves most of it to the imagination – making a bigger impact! The clever thing about the film is that it is based in one room with only two characters and no music, yet it still tells a convincing story.

It will be interesting to see the final cut, so that I could comment on the lighting and audio. But certainly a solid effort was put into acting a scripting with clear morals.

It’s an interesting concept made simple and entertaining – I’m very keen to see the final cut!

I was lucky enough to see the rough cut, but if you are keen to take a look, keep up to date with their progress on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lockedmovie

Read up about their film here on IMDb.

Jodie.
Book me to review your favourite song, music video or film here.

Agophobia (short film)

Director: Benjamin Ross Hayden
Producers: Benjamin Ross Hayden, Fred Alapat, and Plainsight Pictures
Written for the screen by: Benjamin Ross Hayden and co-written by Tyler Hayden
Music by: Chris Tenz
Starring: Kevin Fraser
Genre: Sci-fi
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This short film is unlike anything I have ever seen before.

There are some small thematic similarities to the likes of The Matrix and Avatar. But this is actually an original, thought-provoking, metaphorical and emotionally-charged representation of what I perceive to be our dependant and warped relationship between nature and technology.

This movie is pretty ambiguous, you can read into it as much or as little as you wish. I’m sure different themes, concepts and interpretations could be picked up by every viewer.

You can’t fault Agophobia. The visuals, the imagery and the graphics are incredible – almost looks 3D.
It’s dark and complex, but ultimately, Agophobia is amazing art, with talented actors, writers, visual effects and camera work.

The music fits very well indeed; supports the film perfectly. Almost like you could close your eyes and still understand the story.

Agophobia has already been accepted into several festivals, including:
– 66th Cannes Film Festival – Court Metrage
– 37th Montreal World Film Festival – (F.I.A.P.F accredited film festival)
– 17th FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying)
– 9th Monterrey International Film Festival

If anything, this film is inspirational to anybody interested in visual effects or make-up/costume. It also sets the standard for anybody hoping to enter the short film industry.

Agophobia will be available online once it has finished its festival circuit – in the meantime you can exclusively see the film Trailer here: https://vimeo.com/71386060
password: Transhuman

Or email info@agophobia.com for interest in film on a private basis.

Keep track of Agophobia here:
www.agophobia.com
Twitter: AgophobiaFILM
www.manifoldpicturecompany.com

Impossible to rate. This spectacular short film is something you need to judge for yourselves.

The best of luck in the film festival circuit, team!! :)
Jodie.

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