It is a common film school dream (and delusion) that your short film will catch the eye of the right person and soon you’ll be fighting off offers all around town. In the past several years, this has become somewhat of a reality for those making flashy FX heavy shorts. Neill Blomkamp burst onto the scene with his short “Live From Joburg.” Fede Alvarez’s “Panic Attack” got him a deal with Sam Raimi. Is Ben Craig next in line?
Heat Vision is reporting that Craig, an art director at an advertising firm in Edinburgh, Scotland, is now fielding inquiry offers from the likes of Warner Bros, Fox, Paramount, Vertigo, CAA, WME, Benderspink, and Underground Films because of his short film “Modern Times.” Most interestingly, Craig claims he had never even attempted to make a film before thinking of “Times,” which was inspired by an article he read about the British Film Institute restoring and archiving old movies (this will make sense once you’ve watched the film).
“Modern Times” is very technically impressive, especially as a first effort, and I wish Craig luck. Though there isn’t really anything in the short that has me lusting to see more of the man’s creative visions or ideas. The first portion looks like a music video version of Moon, and the cute payoff ultimately makes the whole thing seem like a clever ad for AMC or TCM. His sensibilities seem perfect for advertising actually. If nothing else Craig clearly has a bright future as a sought after commercial director now.
“Craig claims he had never even attempted to make a film before”….kind of like when your favorite guitarist says in interviews they never took any guitar lessons, and you think to yourself, “maybe I could do it too!”. Only you find out years later that they were classically trained, since childhood, in piano, violin, and every other instrument besides the guitar…which makes the leap, at least in your mind, of coming from nothing to laying down mind blowing riffs on on a debut album, not so special after all.
Indeed. I think all those years of art direction at an ad agency probably quality as “film school.”
Looks like “Mass Effect” a bit with the tech, but yeah, not as interesting as “Panic Attack”.
Nice work, but what bugs me is that shorts today have to look like professional FX reels to get noticed. I hear of people making 10 minute films for $60,000 just so they can get their foot in the door. Doesn’t seem right. What about all the aspiring film makers who don’t have access to the tech resources?
I think he did all this himself on a home computer in his own time with Carrara (a very cheap 3D prog) and some cheap mac-based editing program. Only the green screen would have cost him real money or a favor or two. The “actors” could just be pals.
Money has nothing to do with it, skill and adaptability/improvisation does.
These days there’s no such thing as an aspiring film-maker who doesn’t have access to the tech required to produce a film. If they don’t have access to actors, then that’s they’re own fault. Being able to gather resources and people/talent is an important film-making skill.
Well, sure, but nobody ever said about life or anything else being fair.
Yes, having access to money, resources and people leads to advantages. And sometimes, beyond all odds, true outsiders with no resources break in.
Besides, why spend all that money when all you really need are the cost of paper, ink, and maybe a cheap laptop or desktop (for the more resourceful, just pen and paper and access to a PC). I’m talking about writing a great screenplay, or novel that gets adapted. Most of the better directors were actually former screenwriters.
What about all the aspiring filmmakers who who want to tell stories that don’t require a $60K effects budget?
Sure Ben Craig can direct an effects team, but can he direct actors to create a performance? This is a cute piece, but the lack of dialog, characterization and human interaction doesn’t spell out “Great Director.” It spells out Star Wars Prequel.
It’s clever, but I knew exactly what was going to happen. It would be interesting to see someone get noticed for a short film because of its story or characterization or dialogue, rather than a bunch of cool effects. When that happens, I will be surprised.
I’m a sucker for silent films, so I really like it. Good for him. I don’t know how you can assume he knows how to direct a feature, though. That’s not a knock against him, just a big question mark.
David Fincher did an interview recently where he said how he’ll get a phone call once a week from studio producers or whoever telling him to look up some short film on Youtube about a monster destroying a city and that he gets asked, “Can this guy direct a feature film?” Fincher said that he responds, “I don’t know, but he can direct a monster destroying a city.”
Mr. Craig I LOVE your work already. In a world full of retarded outside the box manotony, it’s good to see work as newly innovative and thought provoking as this. You made TRON look like flu diarrhea.
This reminds me of something I would love to elaborate on. As cliche as it may be… can’t wait to work with you. Please continue… No Bullshit!