Forum Archive Home -> Short Film Competition 2005 -> Entry: The Cunning Plan
Entry: The Cunning Plan | ||||||
| vitualis posted 2006 Jan 13 18:21 | ||||||
Download here: http://shortfilm.videohelp.com/video/cunning_plan_(small).avi Author: Kristy Linderholm Name of short film: The Cunning Plan Short blurb about the film It ain't easy bein' Baldrick. Sponsors Steven Spielberg paid for my... I wish. | ||||||
| MeDiCo_BrUjO posted 2006 Jan 13 19:11 | ||||||
| Funny! I enjoyed the film. | ||||||
| lumis posted 2006 Jan 13 21:16 | ||||||
| amazing. simply amazing. this has everything, a cat, a cartoon drawing of a cat, a cat who knows how to give a high five, a crazy scheme, cleavage, and it's a silent film.. very very well done. this gets my vote as the best.
p.s. - i hope you dont mind me using your cartoon cat drawing as my avatar. | ||||||
| vitualis posted 2006 Jan 14 01:10 | ||||||
| This is my personal favourite too.
Regards, Michael Tam | ||||||
| Gobs posted 2006 Jan 14 03:46 | ||||||
| I also enjoyed this one the most. Great camera shots and editing. The music also worked very well.
Regards Bo | ||||||
| MeDiCo_BrUjO posted 2006 Jan 14 10:03 | ||||||
| Indeed the film is great, and it's my favorite too. I loved the way the envelopes flew through the window, the blueprints for the cat-plan and everything else.
5 points to you! P.S. I don't want to spoil the ending to those that haven't seen it yet, but I loved that part too! | ||||||
| lumis posted 2006 Jan 14 12:47 | ||||||
| i've watched this like 4 times now.. this is so good.. it's not even on the same level as every other entry, it's way above them.. it almost seems too good for this competititon.. if this doesnt win, well i dont know, but this one better win.. | ||||||
| Wile_E posted 2006 Jan 16 20:26 | ||||||
| Wow. What can I say? I can't believe some of the talent we have here on Videohelp. I really liked the magical flying paper scenes. At first I couldn't figure out how you did it, until I watched several times. Simple, yet very effective. I hope you will consider doing another one for 2006. I can't wait to see it. 5 points! | ||||||
| Shadowmistress posted 2006 Jan 16 23:02 | ||||||
| This one is my favorite - hands down! I loved it. :inlove:
It has a great storyline, wonderfull direction, excellent music, skilled acting, adorable comedy.... I mean, I can rave about it on and on. It's greatest asset is it's imagination and the execution of this vision was flawless. It makes me want to watch it over and over. (And I have.) :thumbs_up: Look out ladies and gentlemen, I think Hollywood's next top director has just been discovered right here on videohelp. :D This should by far be the winner. :yeah: P.S. The line in the letter saying "But this should help you compress your stuff" made me ROTFLMAO. :lol: | ||||||
| MackemX posted 2006 Jan 17 11:18 | ||||||
| Excellent piece of work all round :D. I liked the way the letters seemed to represent people's threads posted in the forum and Baldrick was giving out the replies. The part with the 'compression' of her stuff was also pretty cool and made me smile 8)
the Baldrick theme was well thought out and I liked the way you blended the 2 together. The 'cunning plan' with the cat was great as Baldrick always comes up with a 'cunning plan' for those who watch the Blackadder series :D I was half expecting to see a turnip in there somewhere :D | ||||||
| duffyr83 posted 2006 Jan 18 22:50 | ||||||
| this was my absolute favorite. the story, the characters, and everything was really good. I enjoyed this film a lot, Great work. | ||||||
| MOVIEGEEK posted 2006 Jan 21 22:26 | ||||||
| The Cunning Plan was my favorite:I liked the floating letter effect, the "film noir" look and Wanda. :wink:
:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: | ||||||
| ozymango posted 2006 Jan 26 12:36 | ||||||
| What can I say, this is brilliant work! :D
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't seen the movie yet, don't read the rest of this as I discuss major parts of the plot!!! At the same time, because I think this film aims so high, and accomplishes so much in so many ways -- the great soundtrack, excellent direction, the humor, the Fellini-esque quality to everything -- there is one thing about it that kinda throws me. BUT that's only because it is at such a level that I am nitpicking here, because I think this verges on greatness and when you get that close, even tiny, tiny, tiny things stand out. At least for me. Again I may just be nitpicking here, but you set the bar so high in the first part of the film with the music, camera, setup, special effects, and the whole "lead up" to the Cunning Plan that ... well, I was (perhaps unfairly] expecting to see the Cunning Plan in action. And that may be my fault, but I was "disappointed" in the resolution of the Cunning Plan -- with a setup like that, my reaction is, you've got to resolve it in some way, either through a complete switch (have the cat run off in shock, contrary to expectations), or go ahead and show us the "real" plan in action (though that would probably require effects at a level I know I couldn't even begin to contemplate). And just cutting from the setup to the chocolate on the doorstep, is too weak of a resolution, it leaves me hanging. Also -- and this is really nitpicking -- I think it would be stronger (thematically) if the Cunning Plan doesn't work out and there has to be some simpler way to accomplish his goal, as this would be a nice "progression" to him just writing a letter to Wanda and being a "real" person instead of a wizard in a sorta-fantasy world. How's that for me going off on tangents? So to me (and this is just me!), the "resolution" of the Cunning Plan itself -- not "The Cunning Plan" as a movie, just the Flying Cat sequence -- was not nearly strong enough to "satisfy" me, after the extremely high bar you set during everything else in the movie. Again again I know this is quibbling, but I have to approach this movie at a different, higher level than any other film here because it accomplishes so much and is clearly the work of some major and amazing talent. Being you put a lot of time, thought, and effort into this, I had to give you my time, thought, and effort in figuring out how to respond to this. Anyway, 5 stars! :) :D | ||||||
| dipstick posted 2006 Jan 26 18:35 | ||||||
| Excellent film. Great imagination, editing and effects. Five stars. | ||||||
| Shadowmistress posted 2006 Jan 27 14:59 | ||||||
You are. :P
The theme wasn't about the cunning plan (although the title may get your hopes up higher than it's intended to), it was about Baldrick. I think this film stuck to the theme without overembelishing. After all, you don't want to go off on tangents and detract from the main storyline.
Actually, it didn't work out which is why the character went back home and it almost ended that way. The film already has what you suggest. But I know what you mean. This film was done so well you almost forget it's an amateur attempt and are inclined to compare it to professional standards. Imagine what the author would have delivered had they had financial backing. :shock: :D This is still my favorite film. :) | ||||||
| liquid217 posted 2006 Jan 27 15:17 | ||||||
| I wonder if the creator of this film is indeed a professional? or at the very least, has worked with professionals before.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Kristy+Linderholm%22 | ||||||
| ozymango posted 2006 Jan 27 15:47 | ||||||
No, that's not what I meant to suggest. That is, the Flying Cat sequence, while very funny in setup, has, to me, a very weak resolution -- apparently it actually does work (the cat flies and delivers the candy), but because we don't see it, I was disappointed. I'm not saying that anybody else has to see it my way, but I'll be darned if I'm gonna change my mind on this just to make you happy! :P P.S. Just being a smartass there, in case it wasn't obvious. | ||||||
| ozymango posted 2006 Jan 27 15:57 | ||||||
Could this indeed be the work of the Kristy Linderholm? :shock: Actually I've never heard of Kristy Linderholm (no offense, Kristy!), but whether Kristy is a man or woman, the Kristy Linderholm or merely a Kristy Linderholm, good stuff! :) Although if there are two Kristy Linderholms making movies out there, that would be an interesting coincidence of names. Small world, yadda yadda yadda. Also also if the Kristy Linderholm did make this movie, I'm no longer jealous of his or her amazing talent, as he or she is not just a slob like me with a cheap camcorder, ten minute breaks to film between painting the kitchen, and laughably bad talent in front of and behind the camera, but is an at least semi-working pro. :) But if this is just a Kristy Linderholm who is just a poor slob like the rest of us, I hate you I hate you I hate you. :P Hey, I'd love if there was a question and answer session (email, post, whatever) with the various winners at the end of this, find out a bit more about how they made their movies and do a little Sundance Film Festival shmoozing! Also also also do you know how hard it is to type the name "Kristy Linderholm" over and over again and spell it correctly? Gads! :? EDIT: Because I entered this contest in good humor and have enjoyed all contributions, I personally don't care who wins because all these films got a showing. However, if it is true that Kristy Linderholm is in any way a professional film person, while I don't think the contest rules disallowed pros from entering, I as a judge would definitely take that into consideration when evaluating this film in relation to the others. I would also hope that if this film was created by someone with other than purely amateur status, he or she did in fact share that information with the judges when submitting the film and they have been able to take this into account from the start. | ||||||
| ozymango posted 2006 Jan 27 17:36 | ||||||
http://www.kristyedits.com/ Any possible relation? Kristy, are you out there? Either Kristy? :| | ||||||
| lumis posted 2006 Jan 27 23:03 | ||||||
i agree. http://forum.videohelp.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=146874 joined the last date of the film competition, 0 posts.. :whistle: | ||||||
| Supreme2k posted 2006 Jan 28 18:55 | ||||||
| Now that the competition is over, I have to cry foul.
Not because this may be professional work (you can't say that this looks remotely pro), but because it just wasn't quality work. I think with such a guy-fest here, the scantily-clad chick won the competition, rather than the work itself. "Wasp" was leaps and bounds beyond this one in terms of quality and overall story. | ||||||
| ozymango posted 2006 Jan 28 19:50 | ||||||
Don't beat around the bush, Supreme2k, tell us what you really think! :D Well, I still think that The Cunning Plan does evidence "professional" work just in that the only people I know who can draw and do special effects and get a scantily-clad chick to appear in their movie, have professional connections. :D And again the contest doesn't prohibit either entries by pros or the judges doing whatever the heck they want in terms of voting, including changing any and all rules at any time. It's a pretty unbeatable escape clause. :P Although I also didn't react as positively to this film as many others, not because I was jealous of the technical creativity ... well, not just because I was jealous of the technical creativity ... :P ... but because ... no offense ... well, it was really a throw-away story. The most creative thing was the Flying Cat, and that wasn't pulled off (to my satisfaction, anyway). The ending was just your "ooh, let's end this cute so the audience applauds." Y'know, boy meets girl, boy loses girl, cat goes flying, boy gets girl. :roll: In other words, this seemed like pro work as it was your typical light-weight Hollywood movie aimed at 18-25 year-old-white-males! :D EDIT: Although as much as I liked "Wasp," I just cannot agree that it was "leaps and bounds" ahead of pretty much any other movie in terms of story. I mean, c'mon -- aliens fight, one crash lands, he goes exploring, and gets squished. Wow! :shock: Screenplay by David Mamet! Geez ... again, I loved this movie, but frankly the "plot" was pretty disposable (also it's rather a bit similar to an old episode of The Twilight Zone, "The Invaders"). It was just a setup for a punchline. Not that I've got anything against a good setup and a good punchline myself ... :) ... but giving either "The Cunning Plan" or "Wasp" any awards for Best Screenplay would depress me, actually. But then, number one movie at the boxoffice last weekend and probably this weekend is "Underworld: Evolution." :| Sigh. Well, at least I've got a stack of Billy Wilder movies to watch on my home DVD player! :D EDIT EDIT: I hope I don't come across as actually trashing "The Cunning Plan," I'm just being a smartass about the plot thing. :) Actually I'm trashing the average member at videohelp.com as 75% of them didn't even know there was a contest going on!!! :D | ||||||
| lumis posted 2006 Jan 28 21:11 | ||||||
i have to disagree.. there were so many good things about this film aside from the "scantily-clad chick".. the whole "silent film" setup, the music, the effects (flying letter, girls computer lighting up once she received letter).. the "flying cat" sequence cracked me up, especially the cartoon drawings (see avatar).. the "baldrick theme" was played really well.. a guy who receives letters asking for help.. it was a nice depiction of how vcdhelp probably was in its infancy.. i did find the ending (after fadeout) kind of corny, the film was still very very good.. as far as wasp being "leaps and bounds" better in terms of "quality and overall story", i have to disagree again.. in my opinion wasp was just a good display of amateur special effects, the story was a bit boring.. i thought the cunning plan story was much much better (would have been even better without the happy ending).. although some people might have rated this movie highly because of the chick and the cleavage, i did not (even though i mentioned it).. even if the girl was dressed normally, i would have given it a 5.. the cunning plan was far more entertaining than wasp, or any other submission.. as far as kristy being a professional, i do have some qualms with that.. although it hasnt been verified, i'm pretty sure it's the same kristy.. none the less, i think the cunning plan was far and away the best submission. | ||||||
| ozymango posted 2006 Jan 28 21:43 | ||||||
I totally agree, and as I've said many times, much of my criticism comes out of nitpicking because I'm jealous and am looking for any way to salve my own ego as a moviemaker. :roll: Also I have been recently been privy to some behind-the-scenes info about this movie that causes me to see it in a new light. And while that light was pretty positive before, 'cept for the part where I very subtly imply that Kristy is a ringer :whistle:, I am now fairly confident that Kristy Linderholm's submission was in the best faith, in the best amateur faith, so I'm on board with her as winner of The Baldrick. Not that I'm any less jealous. Go, Kristy!!! :notworthy | ||||||
| vitualis posted 2006 Jan 29 13:48 | ||||||
Kristy sent me an email recently and it probably answers quite a few questions:
Congratulations Kristy! Regards. | ||||||
| gadgetguy posted 2006 Jan 29 15:02 | ||||||
| I don't know about anyone else, but that makes me feel alot better as the only thing that bothered me was that it seemed to be someone that just swept in, dropped an entry, and couldn't be bothered to grace us with their presence on the forums. But I have a niece that is the same way about public forums so I totally understand that emotion. It appears that Kristy is a Videohelp.com lurker and has been for quite some time. I can totally understand not registering if you're never going to post, but with the advent of the competition, I can understand why Kristy decided to register to enter. I hope we get to see more of Kristy's work and hope she will enter again in the future.
Congratulations Kristy and thanks for setting the standard for next year. :lol: |
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