Added: 3 years ago
From: JakeKovnat
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  • i really love this. so much.

  • I watched your film about two years ago and it touched me so much that now, two years later, I remembered it and just had to come back and watch it again. This film is just THAT good. Bravo on a beautiful, inspiring film- so simple but so.... not! love it!

  • Wow... watching all ten finalist right now... and definately think you guys have the best film.

  • That was very beautiful, I definitely think that your film should have won. I'm actually in awe that it did not. It was great.

  • that was powerful.

  • This is a very beautiful piece. I was awe struck in the end. Excellent job.

  • Amazing...great job!!

  • Dave Dalrymple of Major Grange is an Amazing song writer, I first saw the band in 2007 and was blown away. just one more band in Torontos Flourishing music scene. thanks for the tune

  • great use of the dissolve

  • really really good

  • I liked the last quote, but other than that I was a bit bored.

  • wow, that was so cool. with the pictures and what not. awesome.

  • nice!!

  • This was beautiful. At first I was afraid she was leaving him, then with the pills thought he had killed himself. I also shed a tear at the end. Excellent short.

  • I cried at them end. I could relate to this.

  • that was magic...congratulations on creating something so meaningful.

  • Great Video. Have you guys heard of Vthov? Search "Vthov Obama Inauguration Song". This dude surprised the hell out of me with his talent.

  • i almost thought I was wasting my time watching this until I saw the hot people in this video

  • By far the best of all the entries. This is truly what real filmmaking is all about. This one has fine acting, great pacing and some excellent motifs. All emotion and heart - keep up the great work - expand this film and make it part of a feature length picture.

  • this was a really great video it was totally what i expected and i have to say that you met the standards of what i expected to see.

  • what i want to say is your flim is the most beautiful short flim i ever see, i hope yours guys can still make these kind of flim and maybe will be the winner for next time!!!! i will always give full support.

  • Fantastic, I just love how there's messages to be seen in movies as these. Short as they are, they kinda stick to my conscience. This is a good example of 'Everything will be alright'. But that is my opinion. Too bad I only just found out about this Project, you would've gotten my vote. Cheers!

  • Co-Director and DP here. I just wanted to say: We didn't lose! We were the only video that got promoted by YouTube (as in one of the 16 promoted videos, of which 4 are shown on the front page) AND we are the most viewed of all entrants (by 24,000 views as of this posting! 180,000 to 156,000). That counts for a lot in my books.

  • Thank you for that wonderful film. Hard to watch because I lost my wife when I was 24. Very touching.... and beautiful.

  • to bad you didnt won :(

    Its such a beautiful movie

  • Thanks to everyone for all of your support! Too bad we didn't win, but the overall response has been incredible. Congratulations to fellow Torontonians for winning second place for "White Collar Criminals"!

  • One of the best in the voting lineup, honestly. Good job, and keep making great movies :) God bless.

  • This film short "Monday Morning" and "Mirror, Mirrors" are the two best out of the ten!! What were people thing!! I hope the makers of "Monday Morning" and "Mirror, Mirror" keep making great fime and don't give up!!!! these film are real art!! Only my thoughts!!!

  • 4:00 lol

  • maycryinrain:

    You are probably right. Project Direct may haave a panel of judges to select the 10 finalists. That makes sense. However, all common sense and discernment is lost by allowing the overall general YouTube public vote to select the winner. Think of it. What videos on YouTube get the most hits? Usually those videos of nonsense, violence, crude humor, some celebrity clip, maybe a silly animal behavior or laughing baby.

  • maycryinrain:

    The winner and 2 runner ups won by public voting by viewers on YouTube. There was not a panel of judges. The winner was then given the opportunity to show their short film at the next Sundance Film Festival.

    Because the vote is by the general public, all the key artistic elements are overlooked. Hollywood's silly entertainment and America's lust for reality concept shows has dumbed down most people's discernment abilities to judge real art, talent, character & honest work.

  • thats a tad cynical.

    Bear in mind, people's interpretation of 'key artistic elements' will vary, and whilst I agree, the two runner ups weren't exactly plunging the depths of humanity, I could still see considerable artistic merit in the winner.

  • I am disappointed by the short that won & the 2 runner ups. I am stunned at the choices made by the public vote. Just shows what is considered valuable artist work in the world today. I was compelled by the tremendous talented efforts of "Mirror, Mirror" & "Monday Morning". I hope these 2 directors will not be deterred in their endevours & never compromise the beautiful gifts within they have to offer a world in desperate need of realness, honesty, depth, truth, morals & humility.

  • Beautifully captured, acted, edited, directed, etc, etc. Absolutely beautiful!

  • the girl is cute as <3

  • very good pictures, but as they say in my country do not cry just remember, and the message of the final, so it's great love, love it, everything ..

  • Leaves me hanging...

  • Brilliant, well done. Really captured the moment.

  • Great video. Tells a story from the first picture to the end. Very well done! Happy New Years!

  • look*

  • there is no story... just a cheap tactic to lok emotional and deep... no likie

  • Looks like somebody had a case of the Mondays..

  • is the best story I do not tire of writing the master, the better. the most beautiful, vote, vote is the best! the best, the best I love you, I suggest thousands of things. even more sad to leave the message chido. which is really nice, I get tired of see it over and over and over again. is fantastic

  • This entry is by far the one I liked the most. It is so straightforward, and yet reaches the point carefully expressing the most delicate nuances. The message in the album and the shaky camera moving away from the actress ended this so exquisitely that they left in the air that rare touch of "magic perfection". This is what this short-film is; "magically perfect".

  • I dislike the tropes in this, a simplistic contrast between the happy past and the sad present. A more nuanced interpretation of life would warrant closer consideration and certainly leave a greater impression. A million different despondent young woman looking away from the camera begin to collect like droplets into an opaque puddle of languid trepidation.

  • I'm curious, what might a "more nuanced interpretation of life" have entailed? The entire story emerges out of the collision between past and present. I think the message was clear and at least it didn't have to hide behind any convoluted statements...

  • What was there to hide? If anything I would have welcomed some sense of doubt. Her expression is always constant, as if her sadness is all that is left. It's hard to tug at our emotions when there is no defining moment to shape the storyline, but instead unbroken pouting. I consider a more nuanced interpretation to include a range of emotion rather than a polarization. Convoluted or not.

  • I think there are some subtle changes in her expression throughout the film; from a deep sadness before entering the home to mixed emotions (wants to smile when going through the album) but just can't break free of her sadness. I also sense a hesitance at first to relive these memories and as the film progresses this turns into an urgency (when she sees his stuff, and reads the final message). I think the acting is solid and is purposely not over the top.

  • for someone suggesting more nuance, its surprising that a nuanced performance appears lost on you - there is much more than just sadness left, the character clearly vascillates between utter despair, thoughtful contemplation of the past and "coming to terms" with the present, and does so without bashing one over the head with it...I would agree with you if you're description was accurate, but it does a grave disservice to the film and performance to suggest that it displays "unbroken pouting"

  • amen...talk about empty observation masquerading as intelligent criticism...a million verbose armchair youtube critics spouting prolix pretenses begin to coagulate like droplets into a phosphorescent puddle of excruciatingly unjustified self importance...

  • i think the handheld touch at the end is great

    it adds a little bit more humanity to the video

  • eh is the best seen for a long time, I love him

  • I feel great site to find the song of this video on myspace but not with major grange appears find other songs with the band but not this one, someone who has already been found and is very good to send to my mail ... please ... thanks

  • Very emotional. Great!

  • Is Ben dead or did he break up with her?

  • if you read through the comments there are some great interpretations of what happened...

  • .

    He was lying on the couch sick; don't forget the pills. Also, if they had broken up, he would've taken the skateboard :P

  • i thought it would have been looked better without the wiggly movement at the end, cuz it makes me feel that there's a camera guy spying on her in her room, it would have looked more peaceful without that distracting wobbly movement

  • maybe it's a good thing that it feels as though there is a presence in the room?

  • Invest in, or rent, a dolly wagon. The closing pullback, hand-held, was the only flaw in a beautiful piece. I wish I could conceive ideas like this.

  • Our intention was to go handheld with the last shot. If you notice, that is the only shot that wasn't done on a tripod. Thanks for watching! And I think that everyone can have good ideas. It's just about digging deep and being honest to yourself.

  • GlleamingtheCube - you should watch the video a little closer. She loses her boyfriend to an illness. This is a very touching story and should remind us that life is short, we should live full, love a lot and live everyday as if it is our last.

  • 挺好听的,真是天籁之音呐!

  • you shouldn't have cheated on him you stupid girl

  • The background music is much too loud and infringes on the personal pain of the lead character we are to believe is suffering...

    A previous poster wrote about the loud drumming effect and I have to agree that it very clearly takes away from the misery/sympathy in which we are to feel and share. It often drums me 'back into reality' instead of allowing me to disappear and have your lead character emerge strongly.

    Your lighting suffers as well.

  • that sad.i really go into it

  • !!!!!!!!!!

  • This is amazing and beautiful!

  • Very well done and emotionally real

  • I love this!

  • it's really touching.I wanna that kind of sweety love.

  • Awesome...slit your wrists depressing but still...

  • This is awesome! I'm totally depressed now, but it's still an awesome vid. Kate More really made me feel her pain. Could have done without the drumming in the song though. BUt that shouldn't be enough to keep this from winning!

  • This just has to win, all the others are not even close to the artistic quality and directors vision. really well done. You have my vote 2 thumbs up!

  • Thats one of the saddest things I've ever seen. Good Job!

  • Its just so boring. It screams WHO CARES!!!!

  • is echt schöööö....

    mehr kann man dazu nich sagen

  • i love the ending .

  • beautiful and so sad. well done. I LOVE the moving pictures.

  • excellent video, it is surely going to win the festival. All the other videos are lame.

  • very bad percussion there. jembé right?

    u should fix that before entering a contest.

  • jake didn`t make the song, a friend of his did...the recording is 5 years old so there was no way to fix it and not enough time to rerecord...your criticism is legitimate but there wasn`t really another option...

  • Winner

  • please

    please

    please

    Can anybody help me with this beautiful songs is called?

    Where can I find the music it says that the website myspace / grange major but not the meeting please, help me.

    are more accurate and write where the encounter with patience?

    provide artist's name or the name of the song please thanks

  • It's not grange major ... majorgrange

  • Great.

  • it's sooo good! it's sad though

    i could feel me crying on the insides...:(

    btw the grafics were awsome!

  • To add, it is not a simple video. It is complex and makes you feel for the characters.

  • This is an amazing video, I loved how the story was told through pictures not someones voice it made me use my head. I loved it. Good job, JakeKovnat.

  • stay tuned to the major grane myspace, the song will be up in the next couple days...

  • The song is called "Monday Morning". I wouldn't be surprised if the band rethinks putting the song on myspace now that it's gotten some love from the youtube community.

  • what is the bands name?

  • I liked the idea with the moving photos.

  • it's a video about loosing someone you love. and also a few deeper meanings as well.

  • WOT IS IT ABOUT ?

  • i dont get this video

  • elle est bien la video

  • what is this about. i don't get it

  • Watch closely.

    It is about the loss of a loved one.  Notice the prescription pills and Ben's other belongings are packed up. Also, the picture slide at the end show that Ben has lost all his facial hair and is wearing a hat probably to cover his baldness. He most likely died from some form of cancer.

  • nice! ;]

  • it´s so boring

  • MY STORY

  • quite sad, good for a music video

  • Great! The idea with the photos is very good!!

  • I wish I had the last 4 minutes and 53 seconds of my life back!

  • this is really really good! one of my favorites!

  • I cried with it.. =(

  • me too!

  • i meant that i cried too

  • touching! Well done :D

  • beautiful. i loved it!

  • I don't really get the story. Did the guy die or something?

  • yes, can't you tell by the meds and the pictures of him on the cough under the covers and the get better cards en the thing he wrote at the end of the photoalbum?

  • That was so good I watched it all. Well done.

    Hollywood should take a few pointers from who ever made it.

    Great job.

  • 不错,老外还是有点水平的~~~~

  • I love this one! Awesome!

  • i love when u used photograph as memories

  • Very moving! My favorite by far. Bravo!

  • Very moving! My favorite one by far!

  • perfect actor!!!!

  • cool

  • i actually really liked this one.

  • message me if you want the song, i'm friends with the dude who wrote it, I can send it to you...

  • 不错··很有感觉··

  • love the flip "picture" idea...however it makes the girl seem insanely obsessive and that gets on my nerves

  • BORING!!!

  • This short film is just annoying, to be honest. I understand where you're trying to get at but I'm not feeling it.

  • Amazing short film Jake! Something we can all relate to and you packed in a lot of emotion without any dialogue! I think there are several areas in which you stand out from the competition. Good luck!

  • the music for this video can be found at

    myspace/majorgrange

  • please someone that I can get the music I liked, where can I find hurts, where it pleased me please thanks

  • por favor alguien que me pueda conseguir la musica me gusto mucho,diganme donde la puedo encontrar, donde la consigo me encanto por favor gracias

  • great video, moving, top pick.

  • its a movie with no spoken words, the story is shown through the visual and and the music. beautifully done. it's def. NOT a music video. by the way, its not a film, its a video.

  • por favor alguien decime como se llama la cancion i kien sos el q la canta??? por favor

  • I agree feels like a music vid than movie.

  • feels more like a music video than a film.

  • This one gets my pick for NUMBER 1! Beautiful story telling. Innovative, creative, touching and compelling. Great acting. The fliming was well done also.

  • great story********

  • Love the concept of photographs as flashbacks!

  • Imaginative visual techniques SUPERUB! I've watched all the 10 submissions this one is the best by far. Who is this Major Grange band and how can I contact them?

  • Very moving. I think you did a great job telling this story. Bravo!

  • decent effort,good job.

  • Excruciatingly BO-ring! Good video for chicks with cats to sit at home and watch, with tissues nearby. A total waste of viewing time...4:53 of my life lost forever.

  • Beautiful, Warming very lovely and very good job I applaud you.

  • Beautiful, Warming, Painful, Nostalgic.

    I applaud you.

  • There are some very inventive visual techniques in this film, but there's too little story for the 5 minutes it took to tell.

  • can i say it? oh well i'm going to scream it! i loved that vid! so neat!

  • Very good clip!! Unique musical score doesn't overpower very good acting and direction. Clever use of the photographs. I feel for her.

  • i didnt understan the story, can someone explain it to me?

  • Her boyfriend died from disease.

  • toooooo sad 4 my taste!!!!!

  • Wow

  • soundtrack is lovely great job.

  • ?D legal

  • Brilliant, just brilliant!

  • She remind me Faye Dunaway.

  • great film

  • great film. major grange rules. you'll both be huge.

  • For the unmotivated, try making some hickups to hold attention. Change in music/more varying music? Change in atmosphere?

    Or maybe it has to be just like this.

  • what a great job, the way you created to tell the story in every photo was so simple and brilliant at the same time ...

    Congratz, you got my vote =)*

  • great video jake!

  • good luck Jake! you definitely deserve this!

  • sentimental story that dissolves to goo

    good song though nice try

  • oh my gosh! the pictures show a timeline of what happened in each place she went to. and the photos in the album, when she picks them up and there are all the other pictures underneath, its showing the entire event. that is so cool!

  • Great job! You got my 5 stars.

    I invited all my friends to vote for your video.

  • did the man die?

  • What was the point?

  • very sentimental, i love it

  • Really taken to this, acting and filming are awesome. Good choice of music too.  I'll be voting for you :-)

  • I love the flipping-photos effect, a really touching piece.

  • i just want to cry... that's all.

    excellent... it's like watching an Italian opera. you know what will happen but you can't do anything about it...

  • What about this song? Did this guy died? Film is very good!

  • I loved this! Great job!!

  • This was an awesome short film. Loved the lyrics. A must watch. Great work Jake!!

  • It was excellently filmed and edited, and the acting was great! The only thing I didn't like was that it seemed more like a scene from a movie than a stand-alone short film. More of a plot would have been nice.

    Very good overall though!

  • Wow. Excellent short film. Thumbs up. Good luck.

  • Thanks guy, I guess you did not get my joke :o)

  • Haha. I didn't get the joke initially either. Now I do. I was amazed at how well this video played. Every other video there seems to be a delay (long time to buffer). Some videos play fine, and others not.

  • It mostly depends on the background, if you have a static background with no details, then the video will load quickly because of the Mpeg compression.

  • Goosebumps...

  • Beautiful.

  • I don't think I could compliment you enough for this tremendous work you all have done. This short captured me like no other of the other finalists in the contest. Perfect from the actors, music, site, lighting, camera work, direction, content, story line - from beginning to end. Every human on earth can relate to this short in some way no matter the culture, the language, religion, race, sex or way of life. Bravissimo. I hope you win. What a work of REAL artistic talent of deep value.

  • nydno!