Split

The team intro for this action film set us up well, but was a little disappointed as the film itself really slipped into 'thriller' territory rather than true action. We see a man choosing to ignore his persistant girlfriends phone calls, but at one point the story splits, and we follow two lines; one where we see the lead answer the phone, and one where he doesn't and ends up going through a violent kidnapping, but in the end manages to get back with his girl. The other story he ends up alone. I take the overall theme was you have to sometimes just make a decision and fight for what you want. Overall I could see the concept there, which was a cool idea, but didn't really pull it off as well as it could have - added to the fact I was expecting a action film. Again - another genre hard to pull off with the people and resources we have in the competition.

Good effort and worthy film, respect that there was an actual message and underlying theme, and I liked the main actor's presence on screen.

An interesting piece this. I liked the concept, a character splitting down two paths from a seemingly innocuous decision, although I find it difficult not to compare it to Sliding Doors - similar in nature. If I were, for a moment - I liked yours (the idea) better for the fact that it was a concious decision of the character rather than a chance event, however I think the story lines diverged almost too quickly. Unfortunately this cannot really be helped easily in a film of 1-7 minutes, but the instant blow to the head was a little quick for me! I think I, like most of the audience, didn't really understand the kidnapping at all, but perhaps that wasn't necessary. There was some great moments in the film, and a few good laughs... the woefully inadequate bondage for a start... and I enjoyed the cutting together of the fight scene on the lawn. The main actor was good, and convincing in his role, and the film came together as a whole quite nicely - though I would be lying if 'action' rang loudly in my head while I watched it. A good piece, with a nice underlying story-line - well done!

We follow Nicky, who has been ignoring calls from his girlfriend, in parallel story-lines which split due to a choice he made - in one his normal life carries on; in the other he is a victim of kidnapping. This was nicely shot and edited, although one moment of violence proved comical when the thug clearly kicked the floor instead of the victim. Ha! The acting from the lead was good but the required line delivery was a bit unnatural as a response within the conversation they had - "Did you do it?"; "Yeah, I did that." Seen this a bit during the screenings. Overall, a nice attempt that delivers a good message about choices but ultimately gets a little lost in itself.

A guy in a tenuous relationship has an even weirder relationship with his phone and then some stuff happens... or does it? This was a bit of an odd film. I really liked the intro, which was substantially more polished than most of the other intros I saw. The cinematography on this was excellent, with one shot in particular standing out in my mind (the guy crumpled on the ground, with the legs of a baddie straddling the frame). I liked the music you chose to use when the guy wakes up. The blood effects were well done. I really liked the office sequence. Overall, though, I was kind of confused as to what the heck was going on. There seemed to be two different story lines transpiring, but then they also seemed to intermingle and I wasn't sure which was which. The music for the fight scene was pretty thrilling, though the fight scene itself was a bit brutal. Things to work on: I don't know how clear the plot was in the script, or if it was muddied in the edit, but I didn't have more than a general grasp of what was going on more often than not. You guys have some great technical chops, so with a more coherent story I'm sure you would be a force to be reckoned with!

The team intro had me SO EXCITED!!! however from there on I was rather let down by this film. interesting approach using a split story. although given that you got action film I dont understand why you chose make a drama/thriller. sadly your "action" fell short of ever making this an action film. I can see that it was competently edited and at times well shot. all n all I thought it was a solid enough story but just not fitting as a action film

This nominally Action film quickly makes its statement of intent by creating a forking timeline narrative, a la Sliding Doors, precipitated by the decision of either answering or not answering his phone. On the one hand, his work-day proceeds normally, and on the other he is attacked and kidnapped (for no reason that we ever learn). In the normal day, he talks to his girlfriend on the phone, eventually admits that he “did that”, and the relationship would seem to be over. In the other timeline, he tries to escape a few times, and ultimately is facing his own demise when he finds the courage to battle his captors, and at the end of it all, reconciles with his girlfriend who is waiting on his veranda as he, dishevelled and bloodied, arrives home. It didn’t quite hold together, but there were a few nice elements at work here, such as the annoying but effectively repeated ringtone whenever his girlfriend called him, and the well-chosen seemingly empty and abandoned house where he is held. The performance of the lead was very good, and was in no small part responsible for keeping the story afloat. The amusing irony in the story was that at the crucial decision point, taking the call leads to a break-up, and ignoring it leads to reconciliation. At the start this film was getting me thinking, but by the end it just had me confused. Oh well, still some effective individual scenes and moments.

The storyline was interesting. But the action was quite fake looking.

An interesting piece this. I liked the concept, a character splitting down two paths from a seemingly innocuous decision, although I find it difficult not to compare it to Sliding Doors - similar in nature. If I were, for a moment - I liked yours (the idea) better for the fact that it was a concious decision of the character rather than a chance event, however I think the story lines diverged almost too quickly. Unfortunately this cannot really be helped easily in a film of 1-7 minutes, but the instant blow to the head was a little quick for me! I think I, like most of the audience, didn't really understand the kidnapping at all, but perhaps that wasn't necessary. There was some great moments in the film, and a few good laughs... the woefully inadequate bondage for a start... and I enjoyed the cutting together of the fight scene on the lawn. The main actor was good, and convincing in his role, and the film came together as a whole quite nicely - though I would be lying if 'action' rang loudly in my head while I watched it. A good piece, with a nice underlying story-line - well done!