Instutution

Barring a strong disagreement with what the judges think, I think this film finally, finally gets Everything Sticks into the Christchurch final. Really well sound designed GROUNDHOG DAY-esque film as the 30th year celebration of a dinosaur of a teacher makes our lead begin to question their sanity when they have to blow out the candle on more than one occasion.

I liked the small but brief visual guides you gave us as a viewer; rulers and diagrams establishing that this senior teacher was a believer in rules and formula, a bit of a stick in the mud for lack of a better term. So this in term justified their reluctance to really join in the 'He's a Jolly Good Fellow' style celebrations, let alone wear a leprechaun or lobster hat.

Also loved the camerawork and clean shoot location, some excellent focus pulls on display here really got us some rich imagery on screen with extreme close ups matched very well with wide shots through a clean edit.

Progressing the storyline with an us and them, millenial fuckery versus just getting on with the job gave tonal nods to APRIL FOOLS DAY and the film was all the better for it. Sinister but well earned and impactful ending, great job!

Story: 4/5
Technical: 4/5
Elements: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Really funny throughout with great performances from all. On a personal level I am not a fan of the closing dialogue… but I have to admit I laughed at it so I would still call it a successful ending.

To be perfectly honest, I was surprised this one made the city final, but glad for the team (and maybe I just need a second watch!) On first watch, I thought the story was a bit thin and the ending didn't really land. HOWEVER- it was really well filmed and put together, and the acting was believable and well done.
I have seen films I personally liked better from Everything Sticks that I thought should definitely be in the final and weren't, so I didn't expect this one to make it. This team is a stalwart of the Christchurch competition and that should be admired. I'm flip flopping all over the place here, goes to show how subjective this comp is, and congratulations on being a finalist :)

Everything Sticks have for a number of years now been a regular shortlist team so I thought it was great to see you guys make it to top 15 this year, and I reckon it was well deserved, definitely the tightest and strongest story I've seen from this team.

I loved how he got a different hat each reset.

I loved the whisper, the pacing of that performance was stunning.

The twist was chilling.

Hope to see another great film from you next year, and while I'm here big thanks to Stu once again for your tireless effort giving every film feedback, it doesn't go unrecognised! and being someone who makes a half arsed attempt to do that, I respect how much of a slog it can be, thanks so much for your contribution to Chch 48hours culture!

Very believably acted from the lead. I was drawn into the micro-world and sometimes a well timed and said **** you can be an absolute tonic. Great use of whisper and a fun mean spirited twist at the end. Looking forward to seeing your next film.

Congratulations Stuey boy! You're the man, man!

What a delight it was to call Everything Sticks and let them know they'd made it through to the city finals, especially with what is their best film yet.

While some of the technical aspects are a little scrappy, this is such a great film with a mysterious and dark core, and an attitude that is *classic* Gilpin. I think that's what I love most of all - In team leader Stu's Olympian climb through 48Hours over the years, he's at long-last reached the city finals with a film that doesn't trade in his own sense of humour or story for a cheap crowd pleaser something he thinks will get them in - there's no tradeoff here, this is pure Everything Sticks.

The most visceral I felt this was with the line "what is this, some sort of millennial fuckery?" - probably my favourite line of the year, and one which tickled me bright pink because of how much it felt like Stu groaning at myself and the other Millennials whose fuckery he's had to deal with over the years. I love it, genuinely. I wouldn't be surprised if a team registered under the name "Millennial Fuckery" next year.

We also have some awesome natural performances here, especially from Beth and Stu himself, all which created a tight and engaging package. Stu's "fuck you" whispers, all drawn out and sans-music, with nothing but footsteps and the squeak of the linoleum, create such a fun, tense and awkward vibe.

The ending is one which does have people asking questions - it is (thankfully) deliberately vague on what the rules of this specific time-loop/purgatory scenario is, but I think we get enough information to put enough of a picture in our heads.

Overall a fantastic effort, and one I loved watching and re-watching everytime.

Challenge for next year: I'd love to see more crochety grumpy narratives from Everything Sticks, combined with compelling and dark stories. I think this film has an excellent sense of humour as well, which is a step up from previous years. If there is any area of tangible improvement needed, I'd say get a dedicated audio person and get ride of some of those harsh atmos shifts - not too big of a deal in the long run.