The Reviews for the 2023 Senior Show

 As an overall experience of the senior show, I'll admit the highs are not reaching the immediate highs I found in the previous year, nor is there such lows based on what I found. There is consistency, and at a very good quality from what I can see. It is clear the seniors this year put overall more passion into their work compared to the previous year, and I believe that is more or less due to RISD leaving the effects of the pandemic. Either way, this year I was more struck with the live action and experimental side of the show rather than the animation. Although I am not a live action filmmaker, I will try my best to honor the live action segments. I also see this year is much better at sound compared to the previous year, despite the problems the auditorium had on the first night. Either way, many of these films alone deserve recognition towards sound, and the atmosphere it plays in. I do have some films I feel less about, but for the majority, I am in love with watching them.

SkyHorse

SkyHorse feels like an hour long, and it is very ambitious in what it wants to tell and how to do it. I see a constant theme of the destruction of consistently or to glitch out, living with these glitches and surviving from them for the majority of the senior show. Skyhorse does play with these ideas, but the film overall is about questioning the consistant, humanity's relationship towards their limits, and using technology to explore it. Again, there are many things Skyhorse wishes to say, and I'll admit I had a hard time understanding half of them. But I know there will be many RISD students who will question and think about the themes of this experimental film, and I highly recommend you watch it a second time if you are one of them.

I did feel the themes were thrown too much at me as a casual viewer, and for the artist next work, I recommend limiting themselves towards exploring a few aspects of a specific theme. But even if the theme was too much to eat, the meal is still inspired. Out of all films, this feels like using the tools it has to its advantage, whether it be the RISD stage, blender, or the live action segments. I did feel the stage section wasn't as necessary in that format of real life, and I would have preferred the film replace the live action stage over with a blender one. The separation of real life towards the blender is confusing for me with the stage. But the combination of the live action actors mixed with their blender counterparts is overall the best visual development of the film, and how it reaches climax is well done. The actors, especially when singing, are phenomenal and I highly encourage this artist to make many more musicals if this is only a scratch.

The few visual critiques' I have is the lighting on the viewers in the auditorium is weak, and I would just take those shots out. Besides that, I hope this artist expends more into understand the limitations of humans, and the models we present. 

Playing Dead

The textures alone tell someone who they are inspired by, and I felt this person's art was trying to imitate something of Fantastic Mr. Fox. If not, then the work reminded me with its small movement such as the jittering of the main character, and how the pauses reflected the thought process of the character. The pauses within the character animation alone are worth watching this film, and I feel I better appreciate it on a second viewing. However, there is also the lighting and set of the piece, which I believe is competent. The hallway with its abstract and acute angles reminded me of Coraline. The light, although could push for more shadows, help set the tone of horror the film plays. But then again, the set itself did feel like it was made for the lighting. Its why I think the characters and set match each other greatly, because of how the color pallets are used to absorb the color lighting. Overall, the character designs are the highlight of the animation along with the film, and I recommend watching this film if micro expressions tickle your fancy. 

Then I watched it again and I realized the story. Although there is good set up and payoff, the timing of the execution is off. The meeting of the younger brother should have been a lot slower and have more smooth animation to create a contrast. This character is trying to battle stillness, and by the end he does. Still, if the motion of the film were to follow with the story, I believe this would have been a stronger piece at the end. 

But with that being said, I take back the talk on shadow. Looking over it, the shadow and light are probably the better executed as other films try to go pitch black with shimmers in the RISD show. Not that there isn't anything incorrect about that, only that this film manages to not do that and instead make the shadows act more as a looming conscious than a fighter. The shadows feel built in, which makes sense consider that set already had a feeling for complementing the moody colors. Overall, better on rewatch.

Your Inventor's Entropic Embrace

As much as I love the set design this film contains, I will admit the stop motion and live action doesn't flow as well as it hoped to. I can see the connection with the hands, and on second viewing its clearer. But besides that, I feel this film really needed to push more towards that connection because it feels like two different films, and that overall is distracting. Besides that, the set design is well executed both in the live action and stopmotion for showing a grim atmosphere. Moreso, I'm appreciative of the live action segments because it feels like it rejects the whole body. When the dancer dances through the music, the camera refuses to cut to a far-off shot resulting in the viewer being in the world with her rather than being alone. Our connection with her through the camera feels intentional, and how they move hypnotizes the audience. The pacing and editing are well timed, and I feel the musical aspect of the film helped the viewer stay within the dancer's trance. Although I touched on the shadows, I also believe, especially the hand shadow, was well executed for the shadow having control over the space. The biggest complaint is the body animation of the toymaker when the hands are about to grab him does nothing while the audio states he is screaming. But this wouldn't be so much of a splinter if the animation of the shot before showing the toymaker matching the screaming. As the body animation within that shot was very convincing. Overall, it should be two films rather than one, but these two films have so much to enjoy. 

The Death of An Art Slob

I've never been the best art reviewing a documentary because I don't really know the criteria, nor do I watch many. However, despite these limitations, I can say Death of An Art Slob shows vulnerability, and I believe it show how to document a person's struggle correctly.

Let me give you some background. During Spring Break, I was with my mother and her friends were visiting town. We went to the museum of science and industry and our last activity was seeing a documentary about volcanos. At first, the film was gorgeous, with the glow of the lava and magma splashing slowly and steadily. Then it went to a jerk off session with the explorer. That's how it felt at least. The voice over was obnoxious on stating how strong and powerful the explorer is, putting more emphasis with him rather than the environment. I was very pissed at the film, and my mother (who didn't want to hear any of it) told me to just appreciate the film and accept that the inclusion of the explorer was a positive. I tried to convince her, but I only had one sentence on why the film annoyed me, and I questioned my own anger. 

With that tangent out of the way, this film made me realize what was so wrong about the volcano film. The volcano film never really explored or pushed about anything of the explorer, only stated the same line of why he was so great. This film with its main character did. It has small, acted scenes, which really stands out in blinding reality from fiction, and makes the main character feel more connected to the art itself. This film looks at the perspective of the mother and shows this continued struggle of the performer having this second life. The film focusing on his acceptance of reality, and how a rockstar's dream can't be for everyone, on how going up is very rare. This film works because, through the editing of the film, it has an arc that can be felt through the subject. The feeling that these performances were just a dream but necessary to leave behind in order to grow up. How even if not big, there is still a feeling of impact, both from the performer and the audience that came to watch him. This film works because it's not about talking on how great the performer or his show was, it was how important those performances where to the performer personally. 

Besides that, the editing is well done, I did feel the mother perspective was needed more, and the uses of film to show the indie-ness of the performances connected tonally. I feel a lot of these films in the senior show could end at a certain point (Especially Sky Horse, serious, there was so many opportunities), but the length of this film feels very justified, and the ending shot of seeing the kid version of the performer and his current self-struck a nerve with me (in a good way). Overall, the artist making this film has a bright future in documentaries as this is one of the best in the senior show. 

Zoey

On first viewing, Zoey may be considered an angry film due to the sound. The sound is layered and constantly active, giving off a feeling not just discomfort, but of anger. The sound could best be described as confused rage, and I believe the film, in the end, what it really wants to do is to state this feeling of confusion onto its audience. I believe the core mechanic is that is purposefully shows what confusion is and its comfort in confusion, both through its techical side as well as the themes being presented. The sounds, as constantly distorted and angry as it is, still has nuance in its confusion, and when paired with the visuals, does one notice a contrast between the two. The sound does not slow down, but rather takes away specific audio for certain points in the film, and overall tries to keep its speed but not full detach itself from the film when the editing is slower or there are longer shots. It gives the illusion of slowing down, and overall takes the two mediums and makes them connect. 

As for the visuals themselves, I do believe there needed to be some tweaking. The editing, along with the visuals, is perfect in conveying this feeling on confusion, and when showing more grotesk parts does it show down while parts that have more implication speed up. This might be the other way around for many traditional story structure films, where something that invokes action or horror gets speed up while films with implication are speed down. So its interesting to see this film try to go against these tropes, and I feel relates to the overall idea of being an outsider. besides that, the visuals are striking. Granted, although porn was the hook for the film, I don't really think it was needed to convey the message at certain parts. Specifically, when at the beginning, the woman masturbating didn't add as much. It conveyed the tone of the film, but the audio existing before the film started already did that. Although I enjoy the ending with the two hands, not ending with the man masturbating when the film started with the woman masterbating felt like a lost opportunity and made me question why the woman started with her masterbating, with her also doing it so fast while the man did it slowly. I would keep the man section, but just take away the woman section or add it somewhere else in the film. 

Besides that, the symbolism used with the water guns is intriging and is why I consider the man masterbating so important. The idea of matyrdom spread throughout the film itself gives horror, but I believe the characters in the film accepting is what scares me. This idea of hurting yourself or others is what makes me enjoy the film so much, and others encouraging this feeling is what this film confusion comes from thematically. This film never makes you feel alone. Isolation is gone and replaced begrudging acceptance of others, whether that be from the character squirting water guns or on the characters encouraging others to self harm. There isn't much facial expression of discomfort (more of pleasure) but you can hear the discomfort, the confusion, through the sound alone, and thus justifying the sound existence of telling not the emotion of characters, but the situations they are in, how terrible it really is.  This is a very powerful one, was alot more clear in presentation than I expected, and is hard to jerk off to. 

Always Wrong

I tried to be positive about the senior films, however, Always Wrong is the first film that made me stand up and react. I wish I could say positively. Always Wrong is a disappointing piece for me just because of the intro, which felt like one of the best intros within the senior show. The texture of the shiny parrellel lockers acting like mirror while the dirty yellow entering into the far off blue, playing with the smooth and well chosen jazz. To me, this intro didn't get me intrigued, but excited because it felt very rich in atmosphere. However, the film just didn't work. It has a very high horse feeling, the shots were not creative, and the characters are both dumb as well as one dimension. It lies mostly however, on the teacher, who throughout the film I expected to be through deception and reveal. Showing us a broken character over time. But instead he is painfully one note, and malicious for no reason. Maliciousness isn't a negative idea, but the film presentation should have created. We hate the guy, but not because he is an asshole, but because he is an unentertaining or interesting character. For these type of characters, they both have to be detached from reality, be over enthusiastic about their bad behavior, and presented as an overbearing threat. Instead, the film never uses these tools to present the teacher as some to love to hate. Just hate because we aren't interested.

But going more into the high horse, the film does tell rather than show. This concept could work well if the conversations were descriptive and written with reveals, such as in "Free Churro" of Bojack Horseman or "No More Half Measures" of Breaking Bad. Instead, the topics the characters bring up aren't questioned or explored, just stated. We know the teacher is in the wrong, but it's never explored why he is in the wrong. It only shows that he is more conservative and a bit of a boomer, but him just stating it just feels the artist is more angry at the world rather than exploring the personality of these people. Why not have a shot where he tries to make conversation with his students but he is then dismissed by students. Why not have him be right for some things he saids, and let the audience questions his own perspective. Instead, we get someone, who based on the film, is solely bad because trends towards the right. It's simply the film rather than having a conversation, instead state that these people are bad because. This is even ignoring the logic of the film. If this were to happen in real life, he would have been fired a long time ago. He isn't in some high position, he is working at a suburban public school, if one student were to tell their parents about any of this, it would have been brought up to the school board. This isn't even mentioning the recording and how cliche it is. 

Again, there was so much potential in exploring conservatives and their mindset. A really good example would be of The Boys, as they demonstrate an overweight white male shooting an ethic storekeeper based on constant media coverage and fear mongering. But overall, this piece made me mad, because this film is always wrong. 

Moon Hangs Over Casper

Before stating this review, I asked some people about and they told me the audio was off. I didn't remember that problem personally, but I think its something the artist should look over. Besides that, the film is very competent both in its visual as well as the story and themes it tries to tell. I love the texture that the snow film and the dim colors overall making one feel the coldness of the environment, as well as the red from the film to contrast this, giving off a feeling of warm in this cold place. The texture of the snow, in my notes, felt inspired. That isn't mentioning the use of foreground and background, which was well executed. The environment, although could be pushed more through framing, is presented very well, with the silhouettes being done grand. 

As for the story of the film, I was a bit confused at first and push it off as an negative, but as the film went on, it turned to reveal the tragedy of this family and the pain the main character is going through. To reveal these idea slowly was fantastic, and I could see this artist work well as a writing if this is how their pacing and revealing is going to work. The story of the brother reminded me of the story of two children who were being documented in the southside of Chicago, and how their own father was unreliable and a felt danger to the family. There both personal stories and I couldn't tell which of these recorded the story better, although it feels more interesting to see the main character activity trying to cut the brother out of her life.  I also think the artist including themselves was justified, as includes the idea of the next generation. 

Again, there was problems with the audio, which looking at my notes seems to be something I did notice. I also think, as much as I enjoyed the red film light, is a bit overused. But still, this is a very well documented story. 

Acid Green

I won't lie and state there is no bias for this piece of art. The artist was someone who helped with my junior film and I consider very talented. It was also the first senior film I saw before the senior show, as I was working in Market house when it played. I was mesmerized by the sound before anything else, and I was so excited to hear it when the senior show came.

With that out of the way, I do think the sound is lesser than what I saw before. That's not because it didn't worked on second rewatch, rather the standard for this year was so much higher than the previous year, and held at such a high bar with films such as Salmawet. But I will say that this film is a master at a jack of all trades, along with doing some of its own work. Many films within the senior show do some aspect of their work extraordinary, whether it be the lighting, animation, acting or character design. This film doesn't reach that high compared to others, but it is damn close, and doing all of them consistently well. In my opinion, this film is a visual masterpiece in demonstration pure emotion through how well everything works together while having limited facial reactions, using its best attribute of pacing and frame rate to really hook and captivate the audience. 

I was never bored when watching this film, and fully immersed despite the lack of themes and underlying story. 

There is alot of implication of the dog and the implication of pain and fear, as, especially for the 2D animation, it feels like a forced dream that one knows. 

This film strikes harder for me because, at the beginning of Sophomore year, my own dog was put down and I didn't have time to grieve, only having seven hours while directly going back to school. Most of my grieving came in the form of dreams, where I know my dog was dead, but I still wanted to interact with that dream version of it. This film reminded of those dreams, the horror, and childlike wonder of it (which adds not to the horror but the pain itself). 

The animation with the frame rate and timing feels like something inspired by modern masterpieces such as puss and boots as well as Spiderverse, within each individual frame being given higher importance compared to if it was with any more fluid, as I would state the impact of each frame would be less if the animation was more fluid because of its dreamlike state. 

This is not even getting into the claymation, which was very unique for this film for the senior show. Alot of claymation I have seen normally goes to acting more liquid once it dissolved, but in this film its the opposite effect, feeling as if the clay, especially in the end, acted as if there was more limitations and barriers, a struggle for this material to replicate the bus. There there is the bus itself, with the insides being used a rotating set, and as an art student I can feel how masterfully down it was. It didn't need to be there, but it slowed down the film just for the main character running to be a stronger impact, and to add the dream like state to the real world despite it only being a pan of the inside. 

Other things such as the film and compositing gave a nice touch and I love the boiling animation for the main character. It would be a disgrace if this film was not showed to future students on the potential the senior films could go. I am confident to say, despite my lowering of the sound, this is one of the best, if not the best, animation with the senior film, and I am very excited where this artist goes next. 

Curse of the Contemporary 

Before writing anything else, I will state my problems with this film, only because it is very well executed. The main one being conceptual, with the main character being white in a completely different culture. I do consider this off putting as it gives off a white savior sort of vibe, and I'm not really sure why the filmmaker did this. I am not knowing in this culture, and the film taught me some good ideas on understand the culture itself. I think the intent was to introduce this culture to the audience by having someone who is also not from this culture, as well as giving off both and awaking and struggle. But there isn't anything too foreign to the audience that needed someone from a different cultural figure to enter. Personally, I think fixing this problem was to make it someone who isn't white but somebody of a different culture, my recommendations for someone muslim or arabic due to the history. 

I also think the script at times was a bit overdramatic, and implications of the ending I didn't enjoy. There also was too many F bombs and the climax was a bit silly with the sniper. It felt the artist need to add conflict when it wasn't necessary. I also think the climax should have had more wide shots in order to show the dancing the overall choreography.

With that out of the way, this film has to be the closest there is to a professional one in terms of live action. You could tell the artist took out a loan to create this film as all the sets and scenery is brimming with personality. As much as I feel off on the concept, I love how this film shows this culture and how it presents a feeling of something bigger through this house. The lighting is also very well done, especially within temple, and the struggle with the main character of her fears without showing her backstory or flashbacks was really well done.

As for the acting, there were times were it was over dramatic with the main character contemplating suicide, but I give it a pass as its still feels most grounded and, more important, is something the main character cares about since it relates back to her constant struggles. I also really enjoy the relationship between the main character and her ex, and I really hope the last shot is taken away so that there is a feeling of conclusion with the main character accepting her divorce. There back and forth is filled with regret, understanding, and spite, and I would love to see a longer version of this film if it had these to characters more. I do think the older man, despite me loving his introduction with the fish, wasn't needed as the film thinks, but he was overall entertaining and if tweeted could relate better to the ideas of Indian citizens moving away from their culture in favor of imitating the colonizers. 

Actually, writing this review now, I do realize why the main character was chosen to be white. Although I still stand by the feeling of white savoriness. 

Still, the strongest part of this film is the script, despite being overdramatic at times. This isn't a personal favorite of mine, but one I can highly respect and one that blurs the difference between the student and professional film. There are smaller things, like how the adding of the typewriter gives off a feeling of story improvised, as well as I adore than shots showing the housing as well as the characters environment. In the end, I am really scared of what happens if this filmmaker gets an even bigger budget. 

Hills for the Head

Hills for the head is very charming for how it uses overexagerated perspective to create strong humor. On first rewatch, I was a bit put off, but only because it was a style I wasn't used to. On second rewatch, the style it goes for is very strong and has alot of personally to it. The texture of the line art does feel like it's a bit too solid, and I think adding more a crayon texture or lowering the color pallete might have help. These part of 2D animaton, I'm not as sure because I know there will be someone disagreeing on me on the art style. I could see someone else stating the art style with color and line art is good, and I would agree with them. But me personally, I wish there was an alternative to the solid fill color as well as the change in the line texture. I do enjoy how slow and fluid the animation is, almost as if the world has half of the gravity, and gives off the better feeling of being tired and world around you slowing down without anything actually changing. This film works in how its conveys the situation of being tired.

The sound isn't anything special, and it does need some tweaking especially at the beginning with the therapist. I also think the ending of the old man running dies need a few more frames. The humor is mostly well kept because of the perspective shots and over exaggeration, and even with the audio problems, the dialogue works as well. A charming film to watch with your kids. 

Nature Scraps in "There's no Place Like Cone"

I will never not say this artist is the master of facial expressions and timing of those facial expressions within the 2D setting. Much of the humor for me comes at the stand alone facial expressions and how far they can go, and really shows the limits this artist would push through the 2D setting. The art style overall is fun, and has a lot great charm towards it. It's clear this artist studied the works of Avery, WarnerBrothers, and MGN productions from the 50-70s on designing likable, dumb and goofy characters to create an omage to that artstyle and history of animation. I personally enjoy the character design of the green cat with his hillbilly ascetic, as it compliments his personality of him being the smart dumb on who wants to return Ice Cream to get more Ice Cream. That sort of charm mixed with his design really create a likable character.

The dialogue also works well in communicating the humor, especially in the returning Ice Cream scene. The badger cowboy character works well for in the way his dialogue is written and how he comes to the conclusion of being the antagonist through just through convincing myself the two protagonists to be monetary valuable. It makes a good antagonist which we love to hate and makes his failings all the more enjoyable. This type of personality is only added due to the voice acting, which is very strong and almost professional for all the characters, especially the green cat (seriously, I would fuck the Green Cat if I could.)

There are some aspects of the film I think need the work. Firstly, it's clear the animation isn't done, and I highly encourage the artist to finish it during the summer or over time. I wish I could say it isn't distracting due to the passion of the artist and what has already been made, but it is. I know some senior films aren't done due to ambition, but films such as A Guy Walks Into A Bar could still be very enjoyable as a film because the focus during those scenes is the diolage over the visuals, as well as having strong replaceable models. But this film, in order to be immersed by the audience, needs to be finish because alot of the charm comes from the animation. This artist has created another work I really enjoyed called SeroTonin which is also unfinished, but works better as a film because its more limited in what its trying to do through its artstyle as well as being held up through stand alone scenes of facial expressions. Although there is great facial expression, there isn't enough for me to say I could enjoy this film without being fully done both in coloring and animation. 

But in the end, this man needs to be an animation director. 

Marks

When watching this film, I started realizing how less amounts of 2D animation there was in this year senior show compared to live action and stop motion. Although I enjoy stop motion, I did consider it strange that there wasn't a film like Al Bi for this year, in which there was a functioning story and not trying to replicate/ make an omage to. So to see a 2D film with a traditional narrative was a bit refreshing. I will say that alot of these films go towards the horror and thriller genre for this year specifically, although I don't really know the cause of this trend. 

Still, this film is a well executed thriller with how the teacher acts and play. Most of it comes from what the teacher knows and what the students don't with their in-escapable situation. I think this premise in general is really good for horror because if you have ego, you're going to end up surprised and horrified and if you don't you are just dreading for the teacher to come. The character acting of the teacher was great with how unknowing they feel, and how she shows compassion to the students who do the best. It reminded me a-lot of the teacher of the Swallow Flies South, except a bit esasier to understand their motivation. 

Besides that, the animation is fluid and that do to the simplicity of the character designs. Everything being simple shapes allow for clear and fluid animation, and I wished more students took that route if they wanted to tell a longer story. I also believe the facial expression is very strong and the amount of pauses in between helps the tension rise for the students. The framing was also done very well in giving off that feeling of tension.

Finally, there's the hero of the story which I think work. Personally, likability comes from the fact they were safe but even in their safety they choose to stand up. It's nothing complex, but how it's shown with them preparing and fighting immediately after the teacher gives them their results was well done. 

I'm looking in my notes, and I wrote that it worked very well in sound, especially the piano. Overall, this film just builds towards the climax and succeeds. I could definitely see this person as a great storyboard artist. 

A Guy Walks Into A Bar

A Guy Walks Into A Bar is strong enough because of the script alone. Beside that, the animation, as much as it wanted to overachieve, still felt strong thanks to the 3D models and the overall dialogue. Alot of the credits show this person meeting with others, and that is normally settled for a live action. I find that interesting that he collaborated with many people when many animation major would just choose to do mostly everything by themselves besides the voice acting, so I have to give credit for managing collaboration from an animation student. 

The animation as a whole is pretty good. I'm fine with the GCI models because of the other aspects, and do to how well they were made it was easier to imagine this story fully animated. When watching, I thought of it as an animatic rather than an animation, and I believe so did the general audience. With the story of the film and how much animation their was, the creator could have made a few scenes and just use all the animation he had without doing the story, and I feel it would have given the entire art piece a disservice. So I'm happy on how it turned out, and for the animator to take their time in finishing the whole thing. 

For the finished animation, it looks highly professional, in a similar level to Curse of a Contemporary but for stopmotion. I love the small details like the lighting of genies cigar or the color of the beer and how it flows. I also think the set is amazing, and isn't too over-exaggerated, such as the bathroom set. The character acting is pretty solid, and the animation itself is very fluid. It's clear this artist relyed on their story boards to do the pacing of the film and it payed off. My favorite part is the bathroom scene at the beginning because of good the fabrication of the characters looked along with the specific poses each character does.  I just think the overall work for what we got, especially all the extra small details, was very impressive.

However, the meat is the story. The dialogue, with the moderate stuttering and how the characters make mistakes in their voices makes this the best voice acted piece alone. The lack of pure drama in favor of characters talking out their feelings and making mistakes feels like something very real, and also brings great comedy.  There isn't any symbolism to dive into this film, but I wouldn't call it a negative. This person would work great in main stream TV and he is only guaranteed to get his wish. 

Northeasterly Wind

Besides Guy Walks Into A Bar, there wasn't alot of films that went into romance this year. Mostly romance aspects, so to see this film go more into romance compared to others was refreshing. Beside the genre, I think the strongest aspects is the main character and their arc of self discovery and how silent they feel in a world that not only doesn't care, but doesn't even need to know. When walking around campus, I see posters of Chinese protest and movement, and mentally I always belittle them since, in my mind, these students have less power than at home to make a difference here. So to see this concept that exist purely in college campuses and especially RISD felt more as an attack on that mindset, and I couldn't be happier to be attacked. The protest works well in parallel to the main characters own feeling of being used in the relationship, and I personally enjoy how it ends with the main character leaving her boyfriend, but not through any malices intent. As much as I enjoy Curse of the Contemporary, I did feel the romance was over dramafied for what it really was. I enjoy how both character accept this result and how it came to actions of the other. I also really enjoyed the boyfriend, not being outwardly antagonist but having understandable flaws on giving his family comfortable feelings to the point of hurting his girlfriend. These seeds were planted the beginning, so it's nice to see the story blossom to a mature conclusion. 

Beside that, the use of forground and background was well done, especially in the snow storm. The scenery of the school was well present by making it feel both familiar while also alien, and the side characters were pretty strong. Little moments or stand alone scenes are the best part of the film. The example being the red car during the snowstorm. The character is not shown to be antognist nor good, just someone who seems concerned about a person in the cold snow. I like how the main character tells him to leave be it shows more of a struggle for her in the face of the environment (both metaphorical and literal) as well as giving hints of her own flaws as someone tries to help her. If this scene had the car driver more antagonist, I feel much of the nuance would have been tossed. 

This film is about isolation, whether it be relationships, culture, or even the environment, and through that isolation there is a feeling of everything feeling antagonistic. The film, compared to other live action, is quite but mature, and in all honesty works better as a Christmas film rather than Thanksgiving.

Pretty Kitty

Pretty Kitty doesn't do much, it's minimalist in its set and character. But with that out of the way, it is done very effectively due to the emotion both facially as well as the character animation. In terms of facial, those blue eyes have to be the most on point expressive animation there is. When I mean on point, I state it doesn't over exaggerate but through timing and the situation the character is in you can tell exactly what the main character is thinking. Timing, although not pushed as much compared to other films, is used very well and is the forte of this artist. Beside that,  the use of shadow was well done is demonizing the hand and the fur animation with the sound effects were very on point.

For many of these films, the gore strikes as the strongest in this film for me because of how sparingly and well used the material was. There was more blood than gore, but the editing does not cut away from the bite and we see the blood more as an aftermath. In this was in a different less experience artist, the gore wouldn't be show or the aftermath would only be show rather than the gore, so I'm appreciative that they showed both. 

My only complaint of this film is the fabrication in terms of the paws with sleeping the wires and tied downs, and could have been fixed by putting temporary fur to stick on to. But besides that, a pretty strong piece. 

Buzz Off

This film I probably watched the most throughout the senior show, either in presentations or in reviewing. So I can say kindly that this film works best when being rewatched. Alot of the problems I had with the film were taken out once rewatch, and I came to appreciate more overtime. I do consider it very well done and very professional, along with it being almost complete. This film and Nature Scraps do feel similar because they are both omages, however unlike nature scraps which uses specific shots to imitate Jojo or go a bit too extreme on the facial expressions in terms of realism (which I enjoyed greatly), this film feels to play everything in that era, having no visual references or jokes that imply this film being from this year. Personally, since it sticks so close to the Disney esk feeling of the 50s and 60s, I would love to see a filter over it imitating film reel, I think it would sell it a lot more. With these reasons, this film I consider better that Nature Scraps.

Going more into specific, this film is fantastic if you love 2D animation. Since it doesn't overexagerate facial expression, it instead focuses on fluid animation and character acting, which work really well. The limits the animator put for the film real works because the film overall feels a lot grounded and therefore the tone acts a lot more calm and appreciative, rather than laugh out loud funny. Most of the charm is the layout of the animation, in which where they are in the frame and how they move one part of the frame to the other revealing the set. Storyboarding is clearly indicated in this set, and followed very closely to make no mistakes.

The story, although very simple, does work in enhancing this animation by focusing on the movement of the kid avoiding the fly as well as following it. It was smart making the fly as a plot point and an animation tool because, since it's small, there isn't any need for animation that's too complex, giving the artist more focus on the boy. Facial animation was also well done in charm and the single frames were inspired. Visual gags are also done very well through giving time for characters to emote. Specifically at the wolf section, we can have a good reaction of when the wolf is mad, annoyed, or realizing a solution. The wolf didn't need to be in the film, but I'm so glad he did because a lot of my favorite visual humor comes from him.

The sound was also very on point and greatly expressive enhancing to the atmosphere. I personally love the trombone being played and how jazzy it felt. My problem, although done well in most parts of the film, is the timing. Specifically, in the end where the kid realizes his mistake, as there should have been more time for him to think before smiling and letting the fly go. I also think in terms of staging, it could have been pushed more such as characters getting things or looking around. The boy suffers from that time to time and it took me a second rewatch to realize the boy did do that action. But besides that, this is one of more impressive senior films of this year just because of how well executed it was with a simple premise. Personally, I would hate this film to Buzz Off. 

Evangeline

I didn't like Evangeline very much and before watching this film was going to mentally rate this the lowest with the senior show this year until I saw Always Wrong. My biggest gripe is the sound and the context it has to the other senior shows. This year was fantastic in terms of sound, for something like Salmawet sky rocketing the music as something grand and also Sisters with how dealt with diegetic sound. So any film in the senior show had to follow that bar, and I feel I would have given this film more of a pass if it was in the previous year.

With that being said, what makes me mad about this film was, in the story, the whole premise revolves around sound, so the narrative making you focus on the sound itself feels really inescapable from ignoring the flaws. The audio should have been the number one focus of the film, but it doesn't feel like it. For a lot of the film, the ambient sound was either too loud or would cut off at times, giving whiplash to the years. Particularly at the beginning, when you can hear the outside too loudly despite everyone being in doors. The dialogue after was also really hard to hear and understand. This plagues the entire film. Then there is the piano playing itself, which although we are able to her, it chose a very familiar piece to play, which I didn't enjoy. I never like when films reuse popular songs over and over again because most times, the thought of the songs picked doesn't feel as intentional compared to if another time the song was played. This artist could have looked for a different song either for the pianist to play or to use as audio. 

I also don't like how extreme close up the faces had in the framing at the beginning, although the framing does get better at the second half with showing the building of the piano store. My favorite shot is when a birds view with the main character being under flight of stairs, giving off a feeling of claustrophobia and unknowing as he goes up. However, it terms of story, I didn't like the horror twist. I don't it was foreshadowed as well as Dinner With the Bells and it feels like it comes out of nowhere. I could only remember one shot of the tool the pianist had that forshadowed suspense, but the film with its majority made the suspense feel it was more on the tension of the characters rather than any horror present. Even with that tension, I couldn't tell why the pianist son was so mad at the main character for the majority of the film. It's hard with the sound and how the dialogue was recorded. 

Again, this film does get better in the second half up until the climax, and the acting is good. But if you want a good horror, I recommend watch Dinner with the Bells, and please make sure to get your headphones when watching this one. 

BitterSweet Placebo

There was some good parts of BitterSweet Placebo that I enjoy, but this is a weaker film compared to other for this year in terms of live action. Personally, the collage aspect just does not work in this film compared to other film, and it seems more off using past assignments rather than making different pieces. The story although sounding interesting, isn't executed as well as the film thought and I had a hard time understanding it until the film explained it to me. I am fine with being in the dark and slowly reveal the story overtime, but the way it tells the story just make in feel confusing. The story doesn't includes hints of a normal world and then sprinkled in little hints similar to something like Marks or Dinner with the Bells, but rather hits you with the setting and assumes you should know. It felt a bit of whiplash and how it reveals each aspect of the film feels like the biggest negative.

With that being said, I won't like and state there are positives I really enjoy. I think the acting (for the most part) was done well and I was invested in the main characters struggle. 

I am personally in love with the Morbius character for how EPIC he is, his epicness rains on us mortals and gives us golden showers >;).

Jokes out of the way, the character is fun and the highlight of the film. Even if this film was remade to a higher standard, I would keep that character Morpheus character the was he is. 

 I also think the compositing was very well done. Especially with the main character running away as it switches from an indoor setting to an outdoor was. That felt very professional and built up good tension, along with what was to come. Finally, I do enjoy the outdoor setting over the indoor setting do to how the subjects are used, specifically in an extreme wide shot with the main character.

Still, I do think the problems outweigh the positives. Alot of the shots with strange materials such as the head at the beginning did feel like they there without any meaning besides being weird, and the shot with the set could have been framed a lot better. Rather than having the shot start showing everything, the camera could have zoomed out little by little, slowly revealing the set as both the main character and the audience understands what is going on. But as the film as a whole, it taste less than bittersweet. 

Dinner With the Bells

For some reason, I think Dinner with the bells was the first senior show I watched while in reality was Party Poopers, but I think that's because it was the first live action film, and it started the standards high which I'm happy the senior show followed through. The first aspect that shows wellness is the intro with  both the audience and the main character not knowing where the film goes. Over time, we are revealed more information about the situation as well as the mental state of all the characters around. But as time progresses, the more information is shown until the climax of the dinner. I think this artist as a suspense writer would be perfect for them, and they know what it means to have subtly.

Small things such as the stillness of characters or the empty feelings of the rooms, to especially the good use of focus really sell the tensity of the film itself. I've always believed that Breaking Bad was excellent in scenery because of how isolating everything feels, and this film reminds of that. The showing of Mass feels homy, but at the same time very cold and unsettling, as if something is wrong. The subtle pans give off suspense as if there gonna be a jump scare when there never is. When it does finally happen, it's so quick and effective that you still need time to process it, making the cutting to black important.

There are some things I didn't like about the film. I do think the climax was show to similar to the rest of the film and it could have changed to match with the revealed threat the Bells are. The resolution to the film (before showing the Bells eating) was paced a bit too quick and felt a little goofy for my taste. I also think, during the middle of the film, the cut after the woman stranger did feel off and the film could have had a longer scene that show the main character rejecting this woman or running away because she was acting really strange. That cut, if I was being cynical, did feel like the writer didn't know how to resolve the scene.

Either way, the film was very well acted, I loved the meat, it gave a good sensory feeling, and the main character body acting, especially the hands, was perfect. Even if they're gonna kill me, I would love to have Dinner with the Bells.

A Short Poem by Monica

I normally like to compare and contrast the senior films together for several reason. The main being that, potentially, if once scene worked well with an aspect, then another one possibly would as well. I know with each film there are specific challenges and each was taking in a different time to shot or create, so this standard might be unfair. Still, so see the potential be reached for one film and not for the other is hard to ignore when reviewing these films, and A Short Poem by Monika and Moon Hangs Over Casper almost feels like two sides of the same coin.

Both are documentaries the specifically look at how generational time affects the matriarchs of the family and how they think of it. However, despite A Short Poem by Monica looking both better looking and has nicer editing compared to Moon Hangs Over Casper, I would rewatch the ladder due to the story. The main issue I have with this film is that I don't really think this story is interesting or needed to be told, and Moon Hangs Over Casper showed me why. When making a documentary, I believe you have to have a good concept a person needs to record, something that either teaches the audiences or something the audience can relate to. It has to be compelling, and although this film is very sweet, it isn't as compelling as the trauma shown in Moon Hangs over Casper.

With that being said, this is lovely piece, if not too sweet and caring. I like the film using the editing to show an idea of, despite it focusing on the grandmother, there is a feeling the who family is being interviewed through the story. The color looks warm and welcoming, and makes you want to eat with this family and have a good time. The sound mostly works well, however the reuse of the ding song when the film cuts to the pixelation does get annoying at a certain point, and I would use less of it in later edits. I personally like the voice overs and how they are used, as it normally happens when separates the voice of the characters when they are alone, and gives off a feeling of the collective over anything else. 

The use of mix media also works well for me. I really enjoyed the pixaliation of the photos and mixing of the film to show the past of the family and how it relates to the family now. The strongest aspect of this film is editing, and alot of time is shown to be there for it. 

This film does not work for me because of the concept, but even still this is a great omage to the artist's family and what they stand for. I wouldn't mind stay in the room for just a minute, if it's a short poem by Monica. 

Monk In A Motel

I am an in-experienced writer and I for me, many of these films such as the experimental are not what I'm used to reviewing, if any of these films at all. I know a more experienced artist and review would rate these films very differently from myself since they have seen more, and through that reflection I know I am rating these films higher or lower than they should be. For one of my favorite animations (Acid Green), I did a disservice by stating the lack of themes when, after talking to the artist, I realized that what I praised based on my own experiences was already telling the main theme, relating to grief and the inescapability of it. So reviewing these films, especially documentaries and experimental, is a challenge for myself since I don't really know what aspects I should look out for.

Monk In a Motel, with that context, did feel refreshing during my first viewing because it was a more traditional story which I have better experience on judging, as the films before where already experimental or documentaries. I also remember this film plot and story more compared to others because of its straightforwardness and clear plot after watch the films before. So it was a good change of pace for me for the order of films alone.

I do consider this film one of the stronger pieces within the senior show just because it's very clear on its message and themes. The characters, although not as fun in other films in the show, it does set the tone well and always have a good twist to them that demonstrates their character as compelling. I like the prostitutes reveal of doing the things for her brother, as well as the private investigator with a moral compass who is forced to kill. I especially enjoy how the artist wrote the villain, being both a religious person while also being monster, but at the same time not being too malicious with her actions. All of these characters are created through the circumstances the system the live in, while also having some agency that leads them to the paths they go on. The strongest part of the writing with these characters is that their stories are never resolved, with that being the point the monk finds in his journey at the end. Despite the story ending on the Monk and audience learning a lesson on judgement and the reality of the world, the story is still one where everyone loses. This clear indication of how this world works and how people are forced to stay in it is the strongest aspect of the film and what makes the story work very well. 

In terms of visuals, I do have a bias of the dirty darker filter it has since it also an aspect of my favorite show, but it works because of the tone of the story. The film is shot decent enough, although framing wise it doesn't impress me as others. It's very middle of the road as it doesn't have too many of the same framing that it exhaust someone, while not really having alot of impressive or textural shots compared to many of the senior show. Personally, there could be alot more pushed for the visuals, but in terms of telling the story, it is clear enough to know the mindset and see the reactions of the characters. Same goes for the lighting. 

I do have a few gripes with the story. Specifically at the climax, where the villain already has preplanned the shooting of the private eyes wife in store. I also think, although better in second viewing, contrivances does make the film a bit too goofy despite the serious tone it trying to go for. I would just rewrite the wife hostage part for something else. I also didn't like when the call from the brother's prostitute comes immediately after the reveal that the wallet was gone. I do think the call is a good touch, but it should have been put somewhere else in the film, possibly when the Monk was hearing the prostitute behind the walls.

The film isn't subtle with its themes and most come from dialogue, but I give it a pass since the dialogue and especially acting worked very well. Especially the private eye, as you can see the moral conflict through his reactions. His acting is what make climax work for me, and hope to see him in more projects. 

If you like a clear, well thought out story with an adult tone, then this film is perfect for you. It could be great if I could talk about the world with this Monk in a Motel.

Life of A Flower

This film I probably have the most bias about since I know the most about its production and the high amount of effort put into it, and it's hard to review on that alone. However, my thoughts on the film have remained constantly the same compared to many others of the Senior Show. That being that it is a visually glorious film and it should be longer. 

Going deeper into the visuals, the lighting and choice of plants feel like a realistic paint being painted out with the used of focus and charm. The focus especially of the plants, there is a sense of calmness when the focus shifts from foreground to background, revealing the blurred colors similar to a photographer when shooting nature. This is pared greatly similar to the lighting of calm violets, pinks and white being absorbed by the incredible sets of dirty yellow trees, reminiscent of fall. I think the lighting is overall unique because of many of the senior films, for their lighting in stop motion, normally go to doing dark and silhouetted. This isn't a negative, and many of them such as Playing Dead and Party Poopers are great towards using darkness to both push their narrative as well as setting tone. However, to see an environment where everything is in not only clear, but overwhelmingly has a feeling of welcoming while also using the focus to reveal the beauty of the piece, does set this apart from other films that do similar things. This artist, if not getting a job in set design, must get work in lighting within the industry.

 The whole reminded of when I was at home in spring, at the edge of my door in the early morning, the cold but subtle wind in my face while I looked out to the birds starting to sing and I had a warm hot chocolate in my hand.

The animation is also very fluid and very professional, similar to A Guy Walks Into A Bar. I think the face the artist create was perfect in showing the calmness of the world, and I could only image this face having several prototypes before being settled for the final puppet. With the animation of the eyes looking around with the audience, it create a very humble but alive character. The best animation being from the clothes and towel alone. 

As much as I enjoy this film, my main problem is there isn't really that much to chew on. It gets a very good feeling I described earlier, but it's so short that it doesn't last long. Despite the feeling, it's a very uninteresting film, not saying as it being bad but rather it's too simple for its own good. The artist could have pushed alot more animation to flesh out the world, such as adding animated birds or more life, and I feel that would have fixed my problems even with a lack of story. Im compelled to compare it to A Guy Walks Into A Bar because they also feel like to sides of the same coin, and I would rather watch A Guy Walks into a Bar because of how compelling the story is. This film actually made me appreciate the unfinished section of A Guy Walks Into A Bar more because there is alot more to chew on. I get the feeling if A Guy Walks Into A Bar didn't have the unfinished pieces, it would a similar reaction how I see this film. 

If you want that feeling I described of calmness with the world, I recommend this film. Otherwise, I feel there isn't enough life, for a Life of a Flower. 

Angle Tears 

In reviewing these films, I will be going more in depth on films such as Sister and Bird Life on what I expect from on a short film. However, to make things clear, what I hope for a shorter film is good pacing and rhythm to keep a specific emotion going, beautiful visuals with interest framing (something similar to the water paper section of Acid Green or the whole of Life of A Flower), and clear poses and reactions that the characters are going through to tell the story. I understand because of time shorter pieces can't hook me similar to longer pieces such Sky Horse or Monk In a Motel, but they at least have to create feelings through the visuals alone.

Now that its clear what I expect, I do consider Angle Tears weaker compared to other senior films. Weaker doesn't mean bad, more-so that alot more could have been done with what visuals were presented, such as more fluid animation or greater use of posing. 

I do consider the positives pretty strong. Specifically the pacing, as the cage pans to the angle and we cut to the eye water. I do think the editing was well time to introduce the setting as well as having the reaction of how the characters feel about the situation. The film overall, despite being very short, gives us time to feel about how alien the cage is, despite being one set with a white background. I also really like how the set is presented, and the use of lighting is well executed, especially in the cage to the eyes, in giving off a feeling of religious sanctity. Finally, with the sound, it works solid, especially when seeing the eye water in creating a very creepy yet overwhelming feeling, attributing more to an alien feeling without making the visuals of the film feel too unknowing or detachable to audiences. 

Overall, this films is very well presented. My problems comes at how little it does because although storyboard and sound wise it's confident, the actual animation feels like alot more could have been done. The poses of the angle in the climax could have been pushed much farther and with more detail in terms of telling telling emotion, and the read scene could have gone longer and with more animation if this is how the character looks. I do commend this film for using the realistic human figure to draw, but at the same time it feel like the figure is being used betterl, as the pose are more cowboy shots rather than wide shots, taking away visual information such as the legs and torso. 

Again, smaller pieces I do like. The glitch scene is very strong in terms of demonstrating horror and I do like the ending of hopelessness as the camera pans away from a spiked angle. But overall, it had so much more potential. It brings me to tears, knowing what could have been, of Angle Tears.

Something World

Something World was one of the last senior show films I watched, followed by The Malleable Reputation if my memory serves me correct. Personally, I would label this middle of the road for me, similar to Angle Tears. Although because of the textures and interesting use of compositing, I do consider this better than Angle tears, even if some aspects of Angle Tears are more competent. 

I think what really makes this film for me is the concept putting cuteness into electronica devices, and how it doesn't do it through standard anime eyes or pink colors like many other films taking that subject. In comparison to similar films bringing a childlike and harmless feeling towards a lifeless machine, this film reveals it state forward and has it explored rather than revealing it overtime, which I found compelling and visually pleasing. The artist didn't need to draw the 1s and 0s into more softer shapes, but they did and it adds alot of charm towards the piece. They also redid the stop motion into GCI and I think they remake to the different medium is done very well.  It's also a good way to blend reality with sci-fi because the stop motion is already fantasy, yet it goes further. I think of it as a reflection of a reflection, each tinted with their respected mediums. Then there is the compositing of itself of adding what is on the screen, which feels like the artist forte and I hope for them to work on, whatever compositers are actually called. 

I don't think there was anything wrong with the sound. However, it didn't seem to stand out for me. This film also didn't hit with stronger emotions and I don't think that is what it's going for. Although middle road, it is a stronger piece compared to others. I felt satisfied when watching it. I wouldn't mind something more or less, from Something World.

Little Lisa

I think Little Lisa stands out as a more unique film both in presentation and concept. For the artist to state their discomfort with having more family that most very interesting and personal to get through, and does show vulnerability. The way she describes it almost feels melancholic because of how back and forth the conversation was, and I enjoyed that. These are complicated and I feel this film so how complicating a subject matter of one life is better than any other senior film documentary.

However, despite my enjoyment of the subject matter and concept, I think the visuals really match these feeling perfectly. This stop motion is what makes the film stand out with the documentary, and it works very well. It's not as technically impressive as Life of a Flower or A Guy Walks into a Bar, but it is very smooth and the lighting feels warm. I'm also in love with the textures. The Artist could have good a different material to demonstrate a specific object, yet instead it goes for this clay and clothes texture, giving more of a child innocence vibe, where nothing should hurt the doll. It works really well for the documentary voice over because there is a feeling of safety within this world representing as hazy memories, almost as if this whole film is therapy. A lesser film would have had the textures be a bit off horror when showing more negative sides, but this film keeps the same lighting and textures, which I feel works in showing the perspective of the main character as unknowing. 

Overall, out of any of the films which both the subject matter and visuals fit together, this one does that concept the best. I would love to sit down and talk with Little Lisa. 

Avery

Ok, time to get serious. There should have been more scenes with the main character and lesbian girlfriend, the world need a romantic arc with the main character and girlfriend, 0 out of 10 I want this film to be eaten by a gator, then that gator eat another gator, and the that gator...

Ok, now that I got my only main cirque, I want to say this film is fantastic, and it is. At least this film in my opinion, shining up there with the film Acid Green and Salmawet. It's essentially the live action version of those films in terms of quality and I would consider one of the best, if not the best, Live Action within the senior show. It works to how I view Acid Green where although it doesn't do everything better compare so other films, its an ultimate Jack of Trade that makes me fall in love with it compared to any other live action film out there.

I think the strongest aspect how, by the end, the character loses or have to come to terms with her deafless. The artist and their timing for when the deafness comes in is perfect as both the audience and the main character can never tell when the sound is changing do to her tuning it out mentally or if its a real event. It happens slowly over the film and it keeps getting worse, which I love. I love how the audience sees her deafness affect her life and especially her dream opportunity, with the ending essentially being her coming to terms with the horror that's facing her, not being able to hear the cheers and everyone cheering not knowing what's happening to her. It relates fantastically to what the director was saying on a woman's struggle, and nails the overall themes as she feels isolated from the people who adore her. In this ending, I feel can interpret it in many ways. I personally think of this as a horror, but I know some people can see it as uplifting, and I wouldn't think they are wrong. The ending of her being deaf to the crowd, with her pure real emotion for the stage, is what I think many artist will relate to and what main non-artist would find compelling. Even if I don't this film to be the best, this ending, for me at least is definitely, pure art and colination of the whole show. 

Beside the ending and the great use of sound confusing thought from reality, I think the main character in general is pretty enjoyable. She isn't really complex, but I like how she gets more confident over time and I like how clear her motivations are and how passionate she is. I enjoy how, even if the acting doesn't turn out, her life already isn't as bad and she has stable friends. As much as I like Bojack Horseman and referenced it within these reviews, an underlining problem was to take everything good from a character to make them pity more. The main character is taken away her hearing, but her life seems relatively stable. She just has to deal with the consequences for something she can't control, and we see it the one time where she gets a win. I also like the side characters, they are charming. For the director character, I was at first a bit mixed when she supported the main character in her time of need despite not seeing a bond, but I give it a pass. The first reason being is she was never mean to the main character beforehand, as well as when she encourages her, both the audience and her are blocked out by sound, adding again to the theme of isolation when others support you. 

As for technical, the lighting and coloring is good overall, and especially strong when it's intentional. For live action standard where it's hard to get lighting right, it's pretty good, although Curse of A Contemporary did do it better. But this film reaches a close second or third. The monologues are strong and there are good subtle camera pans. I already mentioned it but the acting of the main character is great, both when she is fake acting and real acting. It's a hard line to go without seeing overdramatic in the fake acting, but I think this character did it greatly. I would love to see her in other work. The camera, especially for the face and background, works well to describe her isolation, such as the director scene I talked on before where the camera focus on the main character while the director is almost cut out of the frame. I made a joke about it, but I really wish we got more of the main character and the relationship which what I did is a potential love interest. But at the same time it might have over stuff the film so I'm fine with the film not going there. Also, I actually been to that roller rink, my fourth date with my first girlfriend was there.

Overall, a great piece and a contender for the best Live Action film this year. I wanna see Avery perform for her Emmy.

Devout Bobo

To me, Devout Bobo is probably the most unique looking film purely through its pixel art, which I think was done pretty well. Personally, rather than just key elements such as the church or far off setting, I would have loved to see the whole animation with this texture as the weak glow is pleasing to see and pushes more that this is a future world with old techniques. I understand it would take a lot of work for the artist, and if they did attempt that it would probably have less, so I'm fine with this film having only certain pieces in the end. 

The rest of the animation however, did feel more to be desired. I'm fine with a film that chooses not to be completed or even having that incompletion be what it is going for. I'm a big fan of Sky Horse after all. But at the same time I feel the set being inside a void confuses things due to the audience already entering the head of the Saint Mary. It feels hard to distinct do to how similar the worlds are inside the mind of Saint Mary and the world the main character go in, and overall I wasn't hooked as I would if had more clear distinction. The artist tried doing that with the coloring, but because of the already the environment being in a void, I still couldn't tell what was surreal and what wasn't. I am open to the audience being completely clueless on what's going on and questioning all realities. I am a large fan of the adult swim show, Xavier: Renegade Angle. But if that was what the film was going for, I feel it could had pushed it further to create this extreme surreal experience.

The models of the CGI, I did enjoy the cutest appeal of character designs and I love the hispanic slum vibe that the characters are in. It feels so dim and hopeless, like nothing happens, which does bring a positive for the whole street being in the void. The sound was very competent and I do enjoy the ending of the film being circular.

Overall, this film isn't my favorite. But I do see a strong appeal and potential that is explored within the animation. I'm not devout but I wouldn't mind visiting Bobo again. 

Sisters

The slowness of sisters is what always brings joy to my face. It's very well paced up to the point of the explosion of the confetti, which even then feels less dramatic and more nuanced in how we are supposed to feel, which I love . This whole animation feels like a perfect allegory for dying of old age, where it feels slow and both the audience and the main character are waiting for something, but when it finally happens it feels so null and grim despite the visuals trying to tell you otherwise, like its a celebration. I could only imagine this artist having experience with this concept, and meeting and revising to make that conclusion work, along with the aftermath. With that, I think the use of human figures rather than abstract figures does work due to clearing up the allegory, as well as making everything feel mundane and grounded only to be surprised by the end. It also does what I hoped Angle Tears did by having multiple body shots of the characters slowly moving to show their relationship to the environment.

The framing is also done very well, having the perspective be of the glass and of the ants. The animation is very fluid and slow, working well to bring the tension up, as I couldn't image this being animated any other way. There alot of limitations put in the facial expressions which are great in making the film feel grounded. The colors, especially the fruit drink and the outside work very well, with the animation to follow. The sound design, especially for the ants and the metallic feeling given, is one of the better RISD shows which take full advantage and is very careful with what the audience hears.

I can't really find anything wrong with it. However, despite my praise, I would put this somewhere under my favorites because, although one of the best executed, it doesn't experiment like films such as Acid Green or Salmawet. So did many of the live action, but I expected 2D animation to go outside its own comfort zone it already establish, as a different medium might make reaction. Maybe it could have worked a bit stronger if it was in a different medium after the explosion, but I fear it might take away from the already great film we got. However, this film should be what a short character animation in the RISD senior show strives for. I gladly take a seat and sit out with these Sisters. 

Edit: I felt I was giving this film a disservice from memory, so I rewatched. I'll have to take back my original about the experimentation on its creative way of using both glowing to show memory and live action, giving off the more surreal feeling to separate it from the mundane. Smaller moments, which what the film strive best at, was the acting with the grandmother biting in her glass. The sound is fantastic, and that act truly gives of a feeling of discomfort without the need to alter the colors or shape. Overall, I do see this film as more improved after the second viewing.

Salmawet

I been procrastinating on making a review for this film for a long time when doing these because I needed energy to state my satisfaction of this film. I was talking to some people before reviewing on this film and they had a very different opinion that I had, and so I had to think things through on what I want to say. I don't know why I enjoy this film so much compared to people who didn't but I guess that is what makes the film special. The film, through its different opinions of it, gives a different experience to anyone who watches it along with different feeling. It's so abstract that not everyone will enjoy it. But I love how far it goes in that route with the music posted. Although this film is decisive to others, I am personally in love with what the film does, and I consider it one of the best in the senior show. 

I should state the obvious first. This film is has the best music out of any senior or junior show I have watched so far here at RISD, at that is only stating in a great year alone with fantastic sound compared to the previous year. To be honest, I would have looked at the past senior show better if this film was in that category, and whoever made the sound deserved any award. It can range from a lovely human guitar in a cosmic context, to a song siren and distress is what is animation we already saw, giving a completely different feeling. The beginning alone with the text at the galaxy feels like putting this inconceivable concept of space to something emotional, something personal and taken with care as the guitar plays. It works in showing that, who ever this God is in creating the main character, he never intended the horror inflicted to the main character. That this act of creation becomes something horrifying, something unseen but still at fault of this God. Although we never see this God, this song alone on just observing this universe made me sympathize with him, and made me think on meaning of free will. 

The film does not stop there with it's music. The whole song feels sound beautiful and has consistant notes, but brings violins or more unnatural notes into the song to play along, rather than contrast. If this was does by a lesser artist, this could have botched. But both the timing and the visuals make the song work really well in demonstrating the horror. The song isn't about fast past emotions or anger. It feels like a song of acceptance, of a loving embrace of something horrible. Like accepting one's death to come over. You accept it sure, but it still terrifies you and you feel alone. This is just for the sound alone. A feeling of mystery and uncertainty comes with the whole soundtrack, and that alone makes me love this piece of art.

The animation is also fantastic. Although I consider animation such as Bird Life to have the reuse of the same visuals better, the use of the girl is great. I like how choppy-ish her animation is, and how the timing is focused more that the fluidity, with slownesss working on suspense of each step she takes. I also really enjoy the abstract parts such as the lines and how it relates to the music. It's a simple concept to have lines in animation react to sound, but it works really well here. I do think the angles who assault the girl is a bit poorly animated, feeling more rigged at times, but with how ambitious the overall piece is I give it a pass. 

The colors also help with the animation, which doesn't strive to be vibrate or fun but rather calm. Most of these backgrounds have a solid color such as white, and scene normally are connected based around the sound rather than a narrative. But I think that works wonders as this underworld is what I would image death to be like. Death with spirits being as abstract and full of emotion as the spirits are. Beside that. It also gives focus to the designs of the character, which I think are great. I also love how the galaxy was the start with these warm colors and how the camera rotates slowly. The color and design of the girl overall give off the feeling of someone who can't comprehend their own body. Like their body is chaotic when its not, or something not ugly but horrifying to look at if you had that body. As the audience, she looks great with the collage of colors and shapes. But for herself, you can tell based on the walk cycle that she feels depressed, and possibly because of her body. The music reacts for her and so the audience stills feels emotion while they never see the full face of the girl. To not show a reaction and to rely on the sound is really hard to do, and I believe this film does that in swimming colors.

For many films, I state to add or change something, but there isn't anything to add towards this film. I am still mixed on how long it went after how it seemed to conclude, and I feel like alot of people are too. One one had, it does feel very long even with the music and we already had the idea. But on the other hand, the film was already abstract, so to explain it a bit does help both myself and other audiences understand it better. On first viewing, I didn't realize that this film took place in the underworld, and the conclusion segment help me understand that, along with the text in the film at the beginning which was very well timed. I'm going to be someone who, although did think the film was too long, was also necessary in giving context while also gifting us with great music. 

It is a fantastic film and a much watch for both experimental classes as well as any filmmaker who wants to see minimalism with abstractedness. I can praise this film with another page, but I think I stated all that was needed. If not look than at the very least, please listen. 

Red Thumb

I was given a good chance to look over Red Thumb several times and disect as much as possible, thanks to the artist. My only regret after watching was not reviewing it anysooner as I should. Red Thumb, although not my favorite, is of course one of the strongest completed stop motion piece within the RISD show. As much as I enjoy works such as No Place Like Cone or A Guy Walks into a Bar, I can't help but feel appreicate of the work presented. 

I believe the most striking part of the animation would be the color pallete. Although during the presentation I did wish for some subtle changes, I believe the consistantcy of the background highlights the important aspects of the film, such as the blood and plant, is incredible. Some else stated it was like the illistrtations or concept art of the piece is the best translated to the final film, and I couldn't agree more. I do think this film is the most fantastical in the RISD show, in the sense where it strays farther away from what audiences are most familiar to and the color pallete with this consistant style of Tim Burton gloom, of pupples and dark blues truely sells that to me. This is also intensified with the light, which overall plays with the gloom so well, giving off almost a noir feeling towards the film. 

For animation, I believe the highlights are the depiction of organic material and non-human movement. I do believe the character animation is strong and the pauses should be praised, but I am more in love with aspects like the roots and the growing flower heart. It's hard to create these organic movements such as the beating of the flower heart due to the need to make the material stay in tact as possible, so on a technical level it is very impressive. Besides that, the pauses that come with the heart and the roots in themselves create so much tension, and the slowness gives off the feeling of an overall preparation for a jump scare. The roots and the heart are two different materials with different objections of animation, as the heart stays consistent in shape and form while the roots constantly change and morph. Yet the slow moving pauses of the heart and the pouring feeling of the roots does connect the two spiritually within the film. It's not the smoothness of the animation, although it is very smooth, but rather the pacing as it takes time for the motion to stop and start again, making each object feel hypnotising in its own right, as if having a fear of walking through night. This also includes the wind and especially the blood pouring. Again, the character acting is good and effective, with time given to the character to process actions. But its just overshadowed by the animation of the non human elements, and I couldn't be happier.

The composition and framing are both very strong, athough the compostion itself is possibly stronger. Everything just feels intentional to where its placed and almost gives a claustrophobic feeling despite the film taking place mostly outside. I would say the strongest shot is when the camera focuses on two subjects, and the camera shows a relationship through foreground and background, such as the worms eye view with the main character looking out the window, or the close up of the bleeding thumb. My favorite scene however, is the clone of the main character stretching out from the orange red, feeling so out of focus yet so close because of the texture of the plant. This shot, despite being minimal in subjects, shows the overall strengths of the animation, fabrication, and camera frame, and is possibly the most horrifying visual in the majority of the senior show without showing anything explicit.

Despite all my praise visually, there are some parts that aren't flaws, but is very much desired from me. I do think the ending, with all the incredible build up, doesn't work because of how fast it is. I do understand why it was done as a sort of contrast to all the other movement, but to have so much build up, with the whole film just being a build up to this scene, is a major let down as I expected the animation to go wild with enegry rather than what feels like a fade. I also think, despite how great it is visually, it needed more nuance within the story. The stress of the main character is very well done through the character animation, but after watching the film several times that is all I can interpret from this film. There doesn't need to be symbolism or more complex story, but what was needed was a range of emotions and the main character having different feelings besides dismisiveness or fear. What evelates Acid Green and A Guy Walks into a Bar was how there was a change of emotion within the characters, from fear to sadness to joy and it was all shown through the medium of the animation, many times without the use of the characters. This film feels very one note, although it plays that note execptionally well. The one execption within this film that showed a different emotion was the root scene with a feeling of wonder through the morphing, and I highly wished there could have been more scenes like that.

These artist are perfect for animation, and deserve to work in horror or grim fantasy. Although not in my top 5, this is a must watch and represents the greater visual aspects of the senior show. It feels in line with something similar to Sisters or Little Lisa, where I am more appriceate with where the artist went and how they pushed the work, with the build up being more impressive than the overall piece. Little Lisa and Red Thumb almost feel like two sides of the same coin, but using stop motion and specific style to relate a very specific feeling. Although I did get more enjoy from Little Lisa due to the nuance of story. Still, this is one of the strongest films in the RISD and I feel would definetly have a stronger overall audience appeal than other films. I want to have a Red Thumb if it means planting myself down to rewatch this film.

Chromoa 1

This was an anticipated film to watch since, in my memory, it felt as if it was connected directly to SalmaWet, expanding the themes of the piece from the eventual build up SalmaWet felt like it was doing. However, it is its seperate piece and it feels less impactful for me while looking back at it.

With that being said, on second watching it is more middle of the road, but at the same time plays with its concept very well. I really enjoy the two screens and how they connect together through projects as well as how the shadow is used to hide and cut off some of the form of the room or person for the live action. I really enjoy the high amount of glitch effects especially with the actors of the scene, as they move slowly with sudden cuts. I am conflicted with the animation however. Although the stop motion with how it repeats is well done, the use of cloth as a material rather than something that can have more distortion or pixelation feels like wasted potential. Or there could have also been more distortion with using the same techniques of the live actors. Although the animation in terms of character is quite smooth.

I'm also mixed on the drawn character, as when first watching this film I remeber it as an actor with too much brightness and the video on the character slowed giving off a feeling of a ghost. Although that is still the same attempt, it isn't as strong for me the second time as its the constant use of the same drawing.

Overall, Middle of the road. I think it needs more variety of emotion so that the fear factor could gain a harder punch. I think the two-screen idea is interesting, but the film doesn't go anywhere beside the same composition. 

Party Poopers

Party poopers was one of the first films I saw for the RISD show due to its aggressive colors, as a positive. Originally, on first viewing, I didn't see it as strong as other pieces as the concept wore off for me after the first minute and a half.  But after rewatching it, I gained higher respect for it due to how it uses foreground and background in such an interesting way. This film visually shows what Stop Motion can achieve higher than live action in terms of saturating the objects and moving them in specific positions as the camera continues to make the overall scene seem almost like a painting. In other work, I'm more interested in how the film places its props of its setting over how character actually move, which to me is a subtle but important part in animation. It warps the overall setting to make it impossible for live action and justifies its existence in experimentation.

Besides the setting, the way the characters cut with a fraction of the framerate is also really fun and also very continuous. Watching many RISD films, the use of framerate and manipulation of it is reserved for more films centered around glitching. However, while many of these films use horror or discontent, this film is opening celebratory in how it changes the framerate. It surreal seeing a film act this use of glitching as "normal" but the pacing and pixelization of elements allows this framerate to blend better as a part of the world. The special use of the framerate also matches very well with the props of the piece, which shows more intentional mistake raggedness to connected better to the child like wonder the film goes for. 

Overall, although there isn't much story in the film, I cannot tell if this film wants me to embrace the insanity or feel it, which I think is a very strong positive. It's not an incredible film, but it knows what it wants to be and dives right in to becoming the best version of itself. Due to that, I can't really say anything negative, and I believe I will respect it more on a technical level as time goes on. If you like abstract fun, I wouldn't want to be a party pooper by not showing this film.

Artist Profile

I didn't really enjoy Artist Profile as its clear it was meant as a substitute for a film rather than a film itself. It only made me want to watch the film it was describing, which is a form a success. When it does show the films the artist made, I was intrigued by the visuals and realized that this would be good for a behind the scenes piece. However, it terms of content, it was hard to follow the artist explanation at times and the film is poorly edited as so scene unintentionally go to black. Overall, this film I would consider a film, and I wished the artist would put in her junior project or another project from one of her classes.

Voyager

I might have a conflicted bias with this film, since during sophomore year I was in love with the concept of analog horror where it's very slow and careful to build up the horror and starts with slowly setting the tone. This is closest the RISD show will get to that genre, although I don't think the motivation is to scare. Rather, I think this film ask for theorizing what is happening and why, and I find that very new. Its tone of calmness strikes me in a positive way, and the overall tone make me imagine that this is how an astronaut would feel of a new cosmic entity. Completely curious, a bit scared, and overall wanting to know the fuller picture. The films minimalism helps with this concept along with the overall pacing.

    The blurs I feel is what highlights this idea for me and brings the small horror in the project. I love the use of camera movement and how it feels unintended from a human. I'm in a very similar situation with Party Poopers, where both films understand what they want to be. However, Party Poopers was a lot more ambitious and chaotic, which makes want to watch it over this. I did praise the minimalism, but at the same time, it could also hinder the film for being dull. I also think that it being so obscure dispatches myself from this film a bit too much, and I don't know how to remedy this without changing the film. I think the films faults are paradoxically its strength, and that might be off-putting for some. But if you enjoy the feeling of analog horror, I ask you to venture into Voyager.

The Malleable Recapitulation

The film is a lot, very similar to Sky Horse, and has many concepts I need a few viewings to comprehend. Films like these I feel I overpraise or distance myself because of how out of my field they are for me.  For the majority, it's one person talking, and the poems she says are very immersive at times on the use of syllabi and pronunciation alone. This is more digestible because the themes do seem to flow clearer and have a better connection with each other. However, unlike Skyhorse, it's not as ambitious with actors or extreme variation in situations, which was connected towards Skyhorse's themes and made that film worth watching. While there is great visual scene, I would have preferred the film staying in that area and expanding only on those scenes of active gore rather than differing shots. A shorter version, to me would have worked better due to higher manipulation of the film.