SFF, day 5: shorts and shorts!

Another day, another $5 in quarters to a meter!
That's okay, I had nothing but shorts on my agenda until later tonight!
That's right: I returned after school for a night film!
But more on that later.
Today started and ended with films at the Lucas Theatre. One of my favorite venues ever!
It started pretty early, too: 9:30 AM.
Yeah, that doesn't sound that early, on the face of it, but remember that I had to get ready for my classes, have breakfast, and find a parking meter before I could watch anything.
(Yes, I am a wienie and spoiled rotten. What of it?)
With the focus of this year's SFF on documentaries, it was only appropriate that there be some 'Doc Shorts'. Today was the day for me to see those eight films!
First up was "Fighter", a biopic about an Afro-French chanteuse, Jara Ezo. Her style reminds me of Janet Jackson's work. Watch this and see if you agree. (I don't know why the film characterized her as a 'female Michael Jackson'. Odd.)
The next one was quite good! The director/producers Jane Davis and Mandy Mushlin have filmed a series of "Meet The Maker" docu-shorts, available on their youTube channel, about six food and beverage creators in St. Louis, Missouri. The one screened today, "Meet The Maker - Vol. 2: The Roaster", was about a coffee-roaster, Scott Carey. A chemist cum lawyer, he became a roaster after his brother's death, when he realized that the time had come to indulge his creative nature. Here, we saw him use the scientific approach to coax the optimum flavor from coffee beans. Maybe, one fine day, I'll visit his place, SUMP Coffee.
"Boxeadora (Boxer)" follows Namibia in her goal to become the first female Olympic boxer from Cuba. She's 38 years old and the cut-off age for Olympians is forty. Hopefully, she will find a patron soon, as Cuba does not allow female boxers.
A television repairman, Bill "Czappa", was the next focus. Why? Billed as having the "oldest art gallery in Burbank, CA", he creates art from found objects, including old mechanical and electronic bits and is in need of a gallery, or a buyer, for his many works. His store, Arc TV & VCR Repair, needs the room!
(Note: The use of 'billed' was a deliberate pun with the artist's first name. Several of his pieces are quite 'cheeky', as the Brits would say!)
After that bit of levity, "Body Team 12" brought us crashing back to the harsher side of life. Set in Liberia, the film's spokesperson is the only female member of a team tasked with picking up those dead from an Ebola epidemic. Heartbreaking film, with a heart for those whose dead are taken away before they can bury them.
The next three films were much lighter in tone.
"From Tonga" is about football in Euless, TX, primarily from the perspective of Patrick Vahe, one of the high school football team's twenty-seven Tongan players. The Polynesians make up a third of the team and are poised to make on impact on higher levels of the sport. Patrick has now received a football scholarship and will be the first in his family to attend college. Go, Patrick!
"Tomgirl" is about Jake, a gender nonconforming child. Born a boy, Jake is as content in leggings and skirts as he is in jeans. It isn't that he identifies as a girl; he simply views his options as more open. Fortunately, he is blessed to have a supportive family and school. I'd really like to know what happens when he hits high school!
The last film was a hoot and a half! Tom and Barbara, a couple with a fabulous sense of humor, are the stars of "The House Is Innocent". Their new home in Sacramento was a realtor's nightmare: the previous owner had killed seven elderly and buried their bodies in the side yard while she continued to cash their checks. But the house has become a home and now helps raise funds for a local charity.
As entertaining as the whole thing was, my favorite part of that film was at the very end. Above a list of seven names was written "in memory of". Superb!
Then it was Q&A time! Jane Davis and Mandy Mushlin, of "Meet The Maker - Vol. 2: The Roaster", were available, as was Scott Carey, the subject of their film. Very nice! And guess what? I talked with Scott afterward, in front of the Lucas, about chemistry and coffee beans and olives and cacao beans. Joy!

Time for a quick lunch at Subway before the next block on my agenda!
The 'World Shorts: Australia' was comprised of 8 films I had eagerly an-ti-ci-pated!
(smile!)
What a sweet first film and what a delightful twist! In "Second Hand", Harvey ventured back into the world, just for a day visit. His drink of choice: an old-fashioned. That set the scene nicely - you want more, look for the video. All I could find was this.
"The Best Way To Kill Your Mother" was a fun film! At first the daughter felt trapped with an aging mom who spent her days and nights watching Julia Child on the telly. Ho hum, her life was so tedious. Then, the daughter allowed her imagination to run amok! I really liked the chickens, too - reminded me of Key West and happy times!
The same cannot be said of the creepy-toned "Harvey's Dream". Then again, I guess the film's tone was well-deserved, as it was based on a Stephen King tale of the same name. Nice of the husband to have my brother's name!
The man in the first film was also named Harvey. I guess the name is more popular in the land down under!
I definitely liked "Heartbreak & Beauty" better! Showcasing the artistic talents of a dozen differently-abled young people, it combined elements of dance, theatre, and music. Bravo!
Then, back to the creepy film factor, apparently. "Oscar Wilde's The Nightingale And The Rose", based on the titled short story, was a bit harsh, as was the story, but my question is this: Why the nipples on the bird??? Very creepy.
You might expect "Death In Bloom", about a 'type of death' salesman, would be creepy, but you would be mistaken. This film added some much-needed levity to the block! Nice for the red rose motif to be in both films - good programming!
Speaking of which, the festival folks were hard-pressed with this block of shorts. "Caravan" was yet another dark film, this time with two children in a trailer with a probable dead body. What else would you expect, though, from a group whose tagline is "SO much drama"? Check out the trailer, if you dare.
The final film was one that was already a favorite of mine!!! Hooray!!! I was able to see the thoroughly wonderful "The Orchestra" again! What a welcome palate-cleanser after so much dourness!

And on that happy note, I was off to school for my Office Hours at the Learning Commons, whistling a tune from the film! Thanks, y'all!

Incredibly, the lab scheduled for tonight - the titration of vinegar - was completed by everyone by a quarter of nine!
What fabulous timing! I might be a few minutes late for the 9 PM screening of the Charlie Kaufman experimental film, but I wouldn't be missing the expected half-hour or more.
i thank You, God!
I already had my ticket for "Anomalisa", mostly because Jim Reed had so highly recommended the film. You might want to see the trailer here to get a feel for the stop-motion comedy-drama. The businessman is in town for a conference where he is to speak about helping service industries be more conscious of their clients' needs. Yet he sees all in the world as having the same dull roar, in the form of his voice being the only unique sound. Then he meets Lisa and her roommate - big fans of his work, there to hear him speak - and Lisa is unique to him and her voice is different from the din. Well, it is until the next morning, after their one-night stand. As they are having breakfast, her voice begins merging with the din of the world.
I'll be interested to see if it comes to one of the local multiplexes. Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets! My money is on this being my one chance to see it on the big screen.
Thanks for the heads-up, Jim!