Bittersweet (2009) - Short Film

Bittersweet (2009) - Short Film
Featuring Sam Weisberg, Raleigh Heath, and Eleanor Koski

Directed and Cinematography by Will Phelps

A short silent black and white film set to the music "Moonlight Sonata" written by Ludvig Van Beethoven.

philmzteam@gmail.com

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Bittersweet
• Short
• Independent
• Silent
• Black
• White
• Film
• Moonlight
• Sonata
• Ludwig
• Van
• Beethoven
• Canon
• GL2
• Jim
• Jarmusch
• Bicycles
• Phone
• Booth
• Graffetti
• Will
• Phelps

[BROKENHOUSEFILMS]

very nice

I really do love these poetic surreal films

[Andrewz05]

Very good job of course will!

Do you shoot it in widescreen? Because the aspect ratio of the movie looks a bit distorted.

I got the overall idea of the film, but I would have made the plot more concise. Like I was confused for second, because I thought Sam was riding the bike, but it was another kid.

Of course your shots rock, but remember your a filmmaker and can compress time, alot of those long shots you can do without.

Very good job man!

[filmguru1100]

I very much enjoyed the short film, you guys. Extremely well made and artsy with well directed and composed shots. Acting was stellar for the characters that are portrayed in this film. After reading the comments from you and MartianTripod from down below, I now fully understand and get what you were getting at and it turned out wonderfully. Can't wait to see more stuff from you guys, you'll be big in the future, I just know it!

[PhelpDogg]

I don't think I understand what you mean by too broad of an interpretation, forgive me. Another thing I forgot to mention is that along with having the audience make their own assumptions and etc., we also wanted to just show a small snippit of everyday life, how little things motivate people, what people do, and so forth.

[MartianTripod]

ok so i watched this again, but in full screen HD. It got a little bit better for me knowing the intention. You were right, the atmosphere is more present and the angles are effective. still there are some elements that confuse me. B&W is naturally used to create a surreal environment, however the setting is just a suburb with no fantastical events. yet the series of "events" with this bike creates too broad of an intepertation

[PhelpDogg]

in full quality on a big screen in order to get the full feel and atmosphere of the overall film. YouTube obviously doesn't give off the same vibe, haha, thus making the shots look dull and cheap looking, but in better quality and on a larger screen you'd be able to pull and piece out interesting things and objects out of each angle that was set up purposefully. Again, thanks for the in depth review, Jimmy, I hardly get any of these, haha. :D We're obviously breaking new territory as well.

[PhelpDogg]

Thanks for your honest review, man. I appreciate your comments a ton and I understand where you are coming from completely. What we tried to established and accomplish here is that we wanted to give the viewer the chance and freedom to make their own assumptions and interpretations of the film by only giving them some plot clues/ elements and the viewer would then have to piece those and their imagination together. As for your take on the camera angles, I think this is a film you'd have to see

[MartianTripod]

i understood the pace. its breaking the rules of plot structure. and you took an admirable chance, but to me it doesnt give any reason for wanting to finish what seems like a dragged out film. just my honest opinion :(

[MartianTripod]

forgive me for being critical. I appreciate the quote at the beginning about the no need for plot. You took a brave chance and thats fine. however, there was such a lack of substance in the visual imagery that its hard to remain stimulated and wanting to finish the short film. I stress this to anyone, if your not going to have a plot at least make the shots interesting, otherwise what is the entertainment or intellectual value?

[SelfDestructiveEnt]

Very nice Will.