Synapse - 16mm Short Film Won Best Student Film

[matthewmch]

why can't student films ever be upbeat?

[matthewmch]

kind of like magnolia. i like.

[catchsomenicebass]

Wow.

[IntelligentMovement]

i absolutely loved this.... the cinematography captures the fact that it was a past event and almost made them look like home videos. so it was like i was seeing the memories you were portraying perfectly.

ill remember this short.... made me really think.

[LMMFilms]

i actually liked this. Shorts Bay, says it would turn many off because of probably the monotony of the voice over and the style, but I think it captures an aspect of life well. To me, it was like a lethargic expression of something missed or changing in life. I felt like it lacked some more story to it, to understand it a bit better. Only a bit. It does provoke thought, though. Thats what I searched for and thats what I got.

[drdistracto707]

am I the only one who thinks this feels very Paul Thomas Anderson-ish?

[cobbarts]

MAN THIS SUCKS MAJOR COCK... CHECK OUT MY SHORT FILM BABY KING KONG.. MADE IN 1975

[DonRMB]

The beginning reminds me of the beginning of Magnolia.. It also feels kinda like PI and Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind a little bit.. To sum up, yeah this is very good for a short film.

[tillasmax]

This is an amazing video. Great work.

[amardeep33]

i love every second of this. the cinematography is amazing

[DreamFactory91]

Just wondering. Is this true?

[DreamFactory91]

Beautiful! Moving! Amazing!

[doubleyoyu]

Great Writing. Good Job

[dallasluce]

the music is hilarious

[Graceof93]

So good :).

[prettydOpeproduction]

that was amazing

[irishrider1337]

You sure it didn't win for pretention? "Award Winning" they hand out awards for just crossing the finish these days. "Best Student Film"? AMong how many entrants. I don't trust or credit anyone who plays their own fanfare prior to showcasing their work to a PUBLIC audience. That is what someone does when they try to SELL you on their product. Most call that bullshitting.

[KeyFilmation]

@irishrider1337 you must not have seen the film. its so good that you wouldnt have said that.

[irishrider1337]

@KeyFilmation You must be a stubborn douche and ignorant troll. I made a paragraph with 3 or 4 statements to explain my disdain (instead of just saying "this sucks" or something equally meaningless) and all you come back with is a condescending two-liner (both of which were incomplete sentences at a 7th grade level) with zero attempt to use proper grammar, or punctuation. Good job, oh scholarly film-school "wanna-be". You must not have seen anything BUT this "film", because you like garbage.

[DanceMyGrimFandango]

I loved t. I really liked the cause and effect at the beginning and the way it makes you think. I loved this :) really inspiring, but also so sad too.

[superjel6]

Nah... Not great, sorry.

[themooseOFpower]

i got really bored watching this thats the only effect it had on me the cuase was becuase it was boreing it seemed more like a demonstration of your aquired knoledge rather than an exspression i see all these other cats bumming it off . but i found it really boreing bro

[Zeeceei]

love the way this follows through... well done. You're bringing the media into repute.

[kaprioshka]

WoW!! great film! really had a great impact! well done!

[waddupnoob]

when was this filmed?

[kenrben]

*Chills*

[DrummingMonkey13]

Totally incredible

As StinkyBurger said, Tragically Beautiful

[AntwonDogg]

I enjoyed every second of it, In my opinion anything that you create from nothing, and makes someone feel any kind of emotion, is art. so good work.

[dallasbagley]

This was great. I know one woman in particular who reminds me of the girl in your story. And I agree with the comment below. You should definitely enter this into BigStarTV's online film festival. It's a $25 submission fee with a prize payout of 50k. P.S. You just can't beat film, never ever. The 16mm looks awesome.

[TheMrAssassin]

Good as a tribute but you shouldn't have entered it into a film award it wasn't that type of good.  :' ) :' (

[andMaskellshrugged]

@TheMrAssassin Well seeing as the film is award winning, emphasis on the winning, I would say the film IS that kind of good, whatever that kind is.

[1650libby]

OMG!!!!!!!!!! So beautiful and amazing it made me cry

[CentronProductions]

wow that was great. I could feel the emotion in it

[japers1234]

the narration at the beginning reminded me a bit of magnolias opening. good job!

[fredNielssen]

I like the ultra saturated look (it almost looks like reversal film), along with the not quite sync sound, I'm guessing an old Arri or at least a bolex. This is splitting hairs, but it would have been nice to have the titles shot in 16mm instead of doing it digitaly, it would have added to that retro, not too clean aesthetic.

[jktpc1991]

@fredNielssen irrelevant really, you haven't mentioned anything about the content of the film at all.

[ahdeath2007]

She was real?

[leeoFaaneellii]

the beginning was interesting but the rest was boring.

[emceefreshjiveLA]

nice film with a sociological twinge, great work! You should enter it at BIGSTARtv's online film festival

[MrPossumOnAStick]

The beginning was brilliant. The cinematography and writing were superb. The music was chosen very well, and combined with the 16mm graininess, it gave the whole thing a nice 70s vibe. Sadly, I didn't really like the second half. The writing and cinematography were still interesting, but the story failed to catch my attention. I can see why this won an award, though. Excellent job.

[TheNachtjager]

you know a film is good when you don't notice the editing points, all that, and the filmic reality kicks in so you can sit back and enjoy the movie.

Very excellent movie. Nice tribute. I think Jennifer would have loved it.

[xAllie88x]

that was amazing :D very, very well done, i am inspired! (i am a media: film and television student)

[jcali9]

Excellent work. I am a student film maker at University of Illinois. I might pass this on to my professor.

[swannfood]

really really amazing... really touched me

[fishboy728]

wow, this is really amazing. I love your rough camerawork and your direction of the girl was superb. I'm a film student in high school and last year made a bw 16mm film, I would love if you checked it out (on my video channel) and told me what you thought! It's called Run to the Devil.

[nabstudio]

Wow.

[xXgillie90Xx]

Its so good! i have to make a short movie too but I have no idea what im gonna do!!! BRILLIANT LOVE IT!

[etnies4life]

its a bit like American Beauty. Great Film though.

[tecnobrains]

really great film, i wish i could see it projected and not with crappy youtube quality. I LOVE FILM!!!

[themaster6303939]

wow, I didn't know how much that film was going to speak to me.

[StickKingProductions]

Really strange film, but it was great.

[dellmanofme1]

cool vid :D

[paikeaproductions]

Job well done.

[dschaafnz]

weird but beautiful. Raw cinematography and amazing insight into life.

[mrgrosvenor123]

check out ominous thoughts

[Pandemonius88]

that was really crap

[BoiLight]

this is goood! I wish I was in this movie.

[boulevardwizard]

very nice film! I love the cinema verite

[NicholasASkinner]

I love it! But I'd love it even more without the VO. Perhaps it could be reimagined as a 25 minute one-act with no VO and little dialogue, just visually telling the story. But on a more personal level, I've got to say that your story resonates so much with my own early love life. Great job, but I hope you go for more visual storytelling next time, especially with content as powerful as this! Way to go!

[tiarnan76]

You cant do that - a film is what it is....

[fredNielssen]

They probably used an MOS camera (one which cannot record sync audio eg: bolex. arriflex 16s...) so dialogue is quite difficult or near impossible.

[tebudamum]

:'(

[freakynimmo]

i m speechless wat a grt creativity ....

[Anushree19]

hey luvd ur work....no doubt it bagged the best film ...how many films hav u made as such??

[LittleEbert]

Started off genius. Then it became another film with a cheap tie in to the beginning. Still, it is a solid short.

[Tiamithius]

yea, i felt that too

[ChuckCranston3]

Very cool

[GabiN64]

The beginning was pretty interesting. Then came the girlfriend talk.... The fact that this film won anything tells me the competition was weak.

[cattlebeast]

Let's have a screening on 16mm on a rooftop somewhere

[mynameisedgein]

this is beautiful

[Villesanti]

Amazing. A very creative view of cause and effect and what lies between.

[MortiumVerus]

This is terrific. Watching it for the 3rd time i noticed more of the subtleties in the film. The imagery and sound really complement the story.  Question, why change the dates?

[iwitchhunter]

i thought the first three minutes was dumb but the rest was really good

[emmanuel90212]

deep

[Rigormortiz88]

great film, it really bummed me out though.

[jenjiworld]

Pretty fantastic!

[noose357]

This film is amazing. Great job Matthew.

[youngbono18]

good :)

[alSation81]

question creates search for an answer not the answer itself ....

[MorrisIrvine]

well i supose youve got potential but you realy need to combine the deep philosophical stuff with intense action and peril senes like i did in my student films PSYCHE PROBE, PARALYSIS OF THE MIND and COSMOSIS (watch them on my channel now)

[Villesanti]

Dude, your movies are quite bad... sorry

[DaBrowNukkaTre]

Have you made any movies? I would like to fairly compare films. I'm majoring in film and I'm constantly looking for well-done short films. If you have made any or know or any, please, notify me.

[TheBigHead1291]

This is on a completeley other level than what ive been doing. I feel a little discouraged, but the field of film is still the direction i want to go in. any help or suggestions at all from you would be greatly appreciated.

[happyman724]

This video is a work of genius.

[allupinyourgrillxxx]

Cause: Giving stoned kids a camera

Effect: This video

[fukinyankee]

word.

[DaBrowNukkaTre]

Haha, and it works great, too, huh?

[newinlv2]

wow. i love this sooo much. very well written. very beautiful. you're a genius man.

[samdahobodude]

Very creative and interesting. It makes a statement that few other films attempt to breach.

[filip5589]

creative concept

[julia1191]

that was really beautiful and inspiring

[killdoser666]

great film

[luc214]

I'd say you have potential but you need to stop using narrative voiceovers in every film you make.

[arikharris]

I've commented this video many times before, but it was just now, watching it for the millionth time, that I have realized how much this short film has changed my life.

I don't mean that in a small way. I mean that in a big way.

[DramaQueenOne]

I disagree. Fascinating concept! A good idea for a short film, indeed!

[wluprocks]

So here is my critique of your film:

1. Overall good and meaningful cinematography

2. Interesting story, but it might as well have been literature, you gave it all away with words and left little to the visual side of it

3. I am big on being 'in the moment' and all that jazz, but i do not like how you presented it as simply 'cause creates effect' you are missing a lot!

[daniellefilm]

I disagree with your critique. I think you miss the impact of the visuals and are reading too much into the cause/effect segment and its relationship with the 2nd part of the film.

[wluprocks]

I personally like it when films don't rely so heavily on narrative to tell a story, I can read the visuals and if the cause/effect had little relationship to the 2nd part why should it even be there?

[newinlv2]

IDK Look at Martin Scorcese

[pacific5crush]

The visuals and the narration worked together effectively. The visuals emphasized the narration.

What is your interpretation of the film? I'm curious to know because you wrote that you didn't like how it was simply cause creates effect. I interpreted as once you've made a decision, it's hard to stop something once in motion (ex the synapse (title) and the rollercoaster).

[wluprocks]

After watching it again I realize I missed things and for what it is its well made, thought out, and shot nicely. Sad too. My criticism lies in my own preference for films.

My interpretation: The ground(her ex b/f) was missing so she fell. You never know how your action or inaction will effect others.

Being a film major, I respect any person who takes time to make films, but I also know the value of criticism; even if I decide the person talking is a blubbering idiot. :)

[newinlv2]

you sound like a lawyer with a grudge*

[newinlv2]

okay. and naked busty teens running from serial murderers in the woods i better? This is what most film majors do. Sad but true.

[wluprocks]

Lets not assume things mmkay?

[cristalhills]

amazing every detail is thought out. your gonna go far!

[StinkyBurger]

Really fantastic. It's amazing that you've turned your pain into something so real, something so tragically beautiful.

[ajurieu]

lol, well played

[jkhgsdhgdhgjklsdhfgj]

the passing reminded me of kieslowski´s "blind chance", keep up man, very sensitive work

[markbutt]

This is really good.

[raproan]

super sad though i meen damn wouldnt you love to have been the one to .. like help her in some way ... shit

[raproan]

holy that reminds me of that movie teen suicide like the whole droan vibe . suiting of a video about someone killing ones self

[benmcpeatfield]

i enjoyed watching that, you are a true artist.

weird that somebodies suicide 15 years ago should be something of artistic enjoyment. if her death was 1, and my observation was 3. then i guess you are 2 my friend.

[EternalRiverFilms]

You ignoring her made or contributed to her final straw. She definitely wanted to get ur attention and also to make you feel guilty. but if you did you would have never made it to through to her. So you did the right thing by ignoring. Those kind of people are very abusive persona. After they make that last detachment, its impossible to get them back and they will become sort of evil.

[yingyangboy89]

Eternalriverfilms: That's a very interesting statement you have just made. You have just corrected the answers that i have been looking for buddy.

Your statement is a very good example of say perhaps a girlfriend leaving you, and that detachment is suddenly gone, and the ex girlfriend becomes sinister, and starts being horrible.

[EternalRiverFilms]

Good job man that is very creative and well done. Good luck. I think I know some1 like that only she didn't kill herself (yet). I think its NPD. Look it up. If it makes you feel better, there is nothing you could have done.

[repeatoffender420]

Wonder if she just wanted attention and didn't mean to kill herself...

[wbennett09]

i've never been so emotionally involved, so moved, so dazzled by a piece of art in my entire life. Certainly a landmark in cinema history.

[ThatKarlKid]

An excellent film. Very unique, creative...I like the style.

[GreystuiosCO]

That was really great. I love seeing films with a unique point of view. Your creativity really shows in this and its extremely refreshing. Thank you for the inspiration :)

[iceagecominmoney]

This is the most beautiful short film I have ever seen.

[adolfsatanishere]

Pretty good.

[somethingsmlsfunny]

this film is easily the best student film i have seen in a long time if not ever, bravo, oscar standard 5 stars

[somethingsmlsfunny]

this film is easily the best student film i have seen in a long time if not ever, bravo, oscar standard 5 stars

[apple0zebra]

it's a bit haunting, and i did enjoy it, but i can't really consider it to be impressive or unique. there's talent to work with. i like your style. the opening was very good, and the narration added something unique, but the writing seemed like it could have been improved a little.

i'll remember this film. there is something about it.

[thetaxman2008]

i think the prelude was helpful. i did have that anticipated feeling with the blackboard. Cause and effect!

[fredfurkin]

you could easily delete the first 2mins 30secs of this film without effecting the story.

[countumga]

Then it would lose it's intrigue. For me, anyways... I thought the incite was good for attracting attention.

[iancollatondaly]

I usually hate excessive voice over, but in this case I think it was very tasteful. Very well done.

[jaemie717]

i didn't get it..can someone please explain?

[vioguy]

Good job bringing the pieces together to connect the main character as the brother of the little girl and the girl as the same girl on the edge of the dresser. Well thought out.

[yingyangboy89]

You made it sound like that girl was acting. She really died ya know, the story is true.

[borisparkour]

powerful film.

Just by interset how much did the whole film cost you?

Good work.

[TheSectional08]

Extremely well done; great meeting of arty vs. emotional; love the narration, soundtrack, all very effective.

[Ancaja123]

arty vs. emotional vs. intelligent

[momentollogy]

Yes,the music was made with a korg m1 and acoustic guitar.

[yingyangboy89]

Gives me massive chills man. I really like this film. It explains a lot, and yet so little time to explain it. A very powerful piece of film indeed. That's really bad that this actually happened, it must have been extremely devastating at the time huh? Very nicely put together 5 stars. Can i see any of your other work??

[JarlenS]

Did you make the music yourself?:)

[dotheeEVOLUTION]

I've watched this over and over and over again. It still is just as powerful as the first time I saw it.

[NinjaParakeet]

This is genius

[arikharris]

I discovered this video about a year ago, and I keep finding myself back here watching it. Over and over.

This is unprecedented.

I love it.

[csselement]

excellent work. you have 'it'.

[thecaelin]

great production, great acting, great.

for a student film its unbelievably well done. it's effectively (helped by the 16mm shooting) somethin u could see on TV. the problem that bugs me is then when watching it, i think of it as something i'd see on TV, and in that context it seems nice, but a little dry (i get the symbology). the production is so great that it's not even in the same league as most student film and so u i don't even compare it to others, in my mind. Still liked it alot though

[ToutEstVivant]

beautiful symbolism.

[cherry1917]

That was a great story. I wasn't to obvious and it was expressive in the way you captured other things that were going around you, not just her.

[johnwhittle08]

Good work mate, i really liked it...was quite sad in the conclusion but can you tell me if if really happened???

[momentollogy]

Yes, this really happened. The story of Jenn is based on a girl I knew when I was a kid.

[Lefaikone]

I bet she would love this too.

[santamonica445]

good job, intelligentlly made

[SaviorisKlaper]

You relieve me. You give me hope for a future of good films. Keep on making them my friend.

Btw, when was this shot? I know it's on 16mm but i was just wondering how old it is.

[dotheeEVOLUTION]

I think it was actually filmed in 2001, although it looks much older. Another reason why I love it. I looked it up online and IMDB stated that it was released in 2001 and it had to have been after 98/99 because the little girl is playing with Powerpuff Girl Dolls.

[rr827]

great film bravo bravo

[dotheeEVOLUTION]

Wow, I am speechless. That was absolutely brilliant. Ahhhh, I can't even express my feelings towards this film. It's beautiful.

[notNEWW]

bravo! well done ... nice... i fav'd it

[YueMolkoDepp]

excellent!

[TSJ92]

great movie

[NABOPOLASSAR]

great

[quickeroo]

the greatest films are the ones you wish you should have written. brilliant!

[Mirizzisyn]

How old is the kid that made this pearl?

[xenepp]

I'm sure I commented on this before but honestly, what a fantastic film for a student to have made. Truely fantastic.

[bigkahunaguy]

great film!!

[boarderjaymee]

that was a great short film :) couldnt keep my eyes off the screen 5/5 :)

[infinitepossibility]

Absolutely fantastic.

[fadermaster]

She should have gone sky diving before she decided to kill herself.

[michaelrobertwolf]

brilliant

[kingmike4down]

destined for big things...

[Edlemann]

AMAZING, wonderful

[xxuselessbulletsxx]

wow.

[showbiz1234]

I usually don't post comments, but wow. This was an amazingly well done film.

[loganq]

wow!