Although not as famous as their longer cousins, the short films produced by various American directors and studios have nevertheless managed to make a presence in the world of film. From the experimental short films of director Stan Brakhage to the more traditional (yet independent) film " The Hunt for Gollum," these short films manage to pack a lot of action into a small movie.
"Window Water Baby Moving"
Although not for the faint of heart, this experimental short film by famed director and film theorist Stan Brakhage redefines what we think of when we think of the medium of film. Filmed in real time during the birth of one of his children, the film asks us to think outside the idea of narrative (the dominant way of making films in Hollywood). Furthermore, it also does not feature any sound, so you are denied the things that normally draw us into a movie. Still, this is a short film that will challenge everything you think you know about the movies.
"The Hunt For Gollum"
If you could not get enough of "The Lord of the Rings," then you might consider watching this particular short film. Although produced independently, it does manage to capture some of the spirit and even the look of the epic work directed by Peter Jackson. This short film, which has become very popular since its release in 2009, shows just what can be accomplished with even a small budget and in a very short time frame of film. Clearly even the shortest of films can be successful and help us understand how cinema works.
"A Trip to the Moon"
Although highly unrealistic by our contemporary standards, "A Trip to the Moon," directed by early French filmmaker Georges Melies, was revolutionary for its portrayal of the possibility of journeying to the moon (the film was made in 1902). Again, this movie shows that even the shortest of films can still manage to capture our imagination and, in this case, even have many of the aspects of the narrative film that have come to dominate the way that we watch movies.
If you want to dive into the world of film but don't necessarily want to watch the same types of movies everyone else is watching, then you should definitely consider watching one of the many short films, many of them experimental, produced by some of the best and most talented directors.
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