By Rhys Graeme-Drury
Last week I had the privilege of attending the People’s Choice Award screenings for the 27th Annual WA Screen Awards. Across three exciting nights, 22 locally produced shorts received their time in the sun courtesy of the big screen at The Backlot in West Perth, with all manner of genres accounted for.
From killer robots, to spiritual journeys of discovery, and irreverent cult comedy wannabes, the entrants covered cinematic tastes of all shapes and sizes. With the winner to be announced shortly, let’s take a look at the cream of the crop – here are my Top 5 picks from the People’s Choice category.
5. One Fine Day
Director: Kelli Cross
Starring: Clarence Ryan & Rarriwuy Hick
Spear Point Productions
What starts as an unassuming insight into a typical, everyday family of four blooms into one of the more poignant and affecting entries from this year’s collection of shorts. One Fine Day is about nothing more than two parents, and a trip to the hospital, and yet, it crams so much emotion into its short runtime that it’ll stick in your mind long after the credits have rolled. Kelli Cross’ direction is gorgeously executed, and supports a rich narrative that explores themes of love and loss that isn’t just deeply personal to her, but to everyone and anyone watching. It’s a touching story told in a simple and subtle manner; Clarence Ryan’s heart-breaking performance has gone on to earn a Best Actor nomination, which says a lot when the script only works dialogue in when absolutely necessary.
We also loved One Fine Day when it screened at Flickerfest earlier in the year, check it out here.
4. High Tide
Director: Kimberley West
Starring: Taj Jamieson & Synae Lane
Bathed in the bronze glow of the hot Broome sun, High Tide is an enchanting story of childhood romance that’ll transport you back in time to your own adolescent courtship days. Directed by Kimberley West, the story centres on Jamie (Taj Jamieson), a boy with his heart torn in different directions by two loves; the girl of his dreams, and fishing trips with his uncle along the coast. When he falls hook, line and sinker for Trudy (Synae Lane) and they take a trip to the movies, Jamie struggles to keep his mind from wandering back to the boat. Interspersed with some gorgeous time lapses, and dreamy editing, High Tide is a slick production that will bring a warm, sentimental smile to your face.
3. Karroyul
Director: Kelrick Martin
Starring: Chanelle Hawkins & Bruce Martin
Factor 30 Films & Spear Point Productions
Karroyul is the tale of an Indigenous girl who, feeling lost and empty after the death of her mother, discovers her past in an unlikely place. Accompanied into the bush by her uncle, Kelly (Chanelle Hawkins) soon finds that her surroundings are rich in Indigenous culture, with the stories of her ancestors waiting amongst the trees ready to be uncovered.
This short film has been showered with WASA nominations this year, and it’s easy to see why; from Ash Gibson Greig’s ethereal score, to Torstein Dyrting’s haunting cinematography and Lawrie Silverstin’s sublime editing, every technical aspect of this production is excellently crafted. The use of sweeping crane shots lends a sense of clarity, as well as drinking in some gorgeous bush scenery. The message might feel a little on the nose, but by highlighting the importance of Indigenous history and heritage, this isn’t a short that should be ignored.
2. Pale Blue Eyes
Director: Joe Henderson
Starring: Ben Mortley & Maddy Culver
Image courtesy of Tanya Voltchanskaya
A man walks into a bar, but what happens next is anything but a witty punchline. Pale Blue Eyes is a heart-pounding thriller from Joe Henderson, and it follows the events of one tragic night at a roadside diner in rural Western Australia.
Through a mixture of creative camerawork and pulsating sound editing, this chilling short builds a thick atmosphere of tension through even the subtlest of details; from the mismatched clothing, to his undisclosed motives, an air of mystery envelops our main character from the moment he steps foot in the claustrophobic setting.
It’s also a film that communicates so much in its short runtime. Like any captivating thriller, Pale Blue Eyes leaves you piecing together all the clues and making sense of it all at the very end. Slick and smart, this David Lynch inspired short balances both substance and style.
1. Top Knot Detective
Director: Aaron McCann & Dominic Pearce
Starring: Toshi Okuzaki & Masa Yamaguchi
Blue Forest Media
What do you get when you take a cult 70’s cop show, add a dash of Dan Harmon metahumour, mix in influences of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, and top it all off with lashings of tongue-in-cheek documentary filmmaking? Well, the end result would be something akin to the multi-WASA nominated short film, Top Knot Detective.
Top Knot Detective oozes creative thought, and a deft understanding of genre from the very first frame. From the Roger Moore Bond inspired opening credits, to the goofy file photos, and flimsy sets that wobble, it’s a hilarious unpacking of numerous genre conventions that film fans will lap up.
I’d like to say it was a close fight, but it wasn’t; I loved every second of this inventive short, and never second-guessed its inclusion at the top of this list. Do yourself a favour, and check it out – you won’t regret it.
WASA poster courtesy of FTI
Hooked On Film 