Seattle's True Independent Film Festival 2009

Q: What cost $197, took three days to film and three YEARS to complete, and probably isn’t coming to a theater near you anytime soon?

A: You’re soaking in it.


It’s an odd thing to admit, but after all this time, finding new and profound insights in regards to “short ends.” is proving to be a surprisingly tricky feat. This is a movie that was never supposed to get to this point; a glorified exercise undertaken by fifteen individuals in lieu of having an actual film program at their University, held together by a seasoned filmmaker, a couple of veteran actors, and a full cast of hungry nobodies.

This is not, as the wisdom goes, a movie that screams for acceptance, crowd pleasure and digestibility; it’s a thing of complex technical shortcomings, blatant warts and lessons learned the hard way. It strives for high marks and profundity, and often comes up—pardon the goof—short in its endeavors. But in that, it may be the purest expression of the filmmaking process that I’ve ever been involved in: after ten years of skirting around blowhard wannabee auteurs, jaded dickheads whose sole mode of encouragement is “give up before you get broken”, film school rhetoric and the ever-popular “professional” headcase who believes that his five-minute short can’t be done for less than $60k on the barrelhead, the fact that this movie was made on nothing more than blind faith still resonates with me.

Nobody got paid. Nobody was given guarantees of a pie-slice once the thing “sold”, in that deliciously naïve quiet that happens before the reality of the project and its limitations settled in. And to boot, nobody cared about that shit. “short ends.” was the cinematic equivalent of an Amish barn-raising; folks brought their work ethic, their dedication, and whether or not they considered themselves aspiring “actors” or just friends looking to help friends, they gave everything they could. And in many cases, more.

So. If there’s a point to be made with the maintenance of this bloggeral, then let it be this: if there’s recognition to be had for the fact that STIFF—from who I was fully expecting to be recognized with an award for “Nice Try, Asshole” or “Best Film that Misses the Point” and which is the only festival to which “short ends.” was submitted--sees fit to acknowledge the Indie Spirit of the project through its accolades, then I defer the praise to the people who made it possible.

Caleb Young, the embodiment of the filmmaker, who continues to make these minor miracles happen.

The cast, who were responsible for more direction than I was ever able to give.

The friends and family, who are forever fixated in the front row and offering their support and praise for what it is that we try to do.

And to anybody who’s watched the finished product. With the internet being what it is, and all the dreamers and well-intended fools who’re doing exactly what we do, it means a lot that a stranger would take the time to sit through our particular offering. The community at Vimeo has offered a level of support and encouragement that I simply didn’t think was possible in the cynical, self-serving trenches of the internet’s art culture; there isn’t a moment where I take that for granted.

That’s what I got. I may continue some production-related blathering on this thing in the future, but if this is all I’ve got to say on the subject… then thank YOU, for reading.

-a.