CREATIVE TOP TEN'S

Creative Top Tens

Gennie Rose’s TOP TEN COMEDY SHORTS

Gennie Rose lives in Shepherds Bush. She has had something of a colourful career, which has included writing, presenting and producing her own TV show in Italy, touring in a musical, working as a children's TV presenter, and being a presenter on two television series for HTV Wales.

As a maker of short films, Gennie is passionate about the short-film medium and frequently shows work in festivals and via web streaming. In recent years she undertook some training at Media Cafe to increase her skills in learning to combine film with Internet technologies. She also works as a trainer with media entrants and on a range of community media and new media projects.

Please note that the "Top Ten" series expresses the personal view of the individual author and does not reflect the position of Westlondongrid or any of the partner agencies managing the project. Neither the author nor Westlondongrid can be responsible for the content of external links. Since Westlondongrid aims to serve an audience of 16 years and older, parents are advised to supervise their children's' use of this site, as is advised on Internet use in general.

Gennie Rose's Top Ten Comedy Shorts

1. Angry Kid BONE Aadman Productions

At number one from the makers of Wallace and Gromit the great Aadman Productions, is this very short skit. One of a number of animations made initially only for online consumption on the Atom film web site. Now available on a DVD compilation, including many other episodes of the adventures this naughty little boy.

Angry has become quite a cult phenomenon amongst lovers of Internet films. This episode BONE has to be the most shockingly funny of them all, and it’s definitely my favourite. It’s not for the fainthearted, but isn’t that what all the best comedy is really all about? The DVD also contains three foreign language episodes, a director’s cut and inside Angry Kid, hours of fun. For further info visit www.angrykid.com or www.atom.com.

2. The Shave Dir: Ravi Kumar Sadly Compromised Productions

I love this film. It should be number one, but they can’t all be number one so I’ve had to place it at number two. What a beautifully shot and put together short this is. Almost entirely without dialogue it can also cross cultural barriers that most films can’t. A rather possessive father, who runs a barbers shop, is most perturbed to find that his teenage daughter is dating a local lad.

Fate brings him his opportunity to wreak his revenge however, which he does without hesitation. Superbly directed by Ravi Kumar the film was produced by Sadly Compromised Productions and is distributed by Reelshort.com. For more info go to www.reeshort.com.

3. The Big Snit Dir:Richard Condie The National Film Board - Canada

This wonderfully wacky animation film is a look at two simultaneous conflicts, the macrocosm of global nuclear war and the microcosm of a domestic quarrel, and how each conflict is resolved. Presented with warmth and unexpectedly off-the-wall humour, the film is open to a multitude of interpretations. It was nominated for both an Oscar and a Genie, and has won 16 international awards including: The International Film Critics' Prize at the 15th Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Best short Film Award at the Montreal World Film Festival, A Silver Plaque at the 21st Chicago International Film Festival, and the Best Animation Film at the XVI Tampere International Short Film Festival.

Since it's release, The Big Snit has been the subject of worldwide acclaim, and continues to be screened at festivals around the world today. The Big Snit is one of the most popular cartoons ever made. For more information about the brilliant director of this gem, Richard Condie, go to http://awn.com/condie/index.html

4. Stumped Dir Colm McManus Whatever Pictures

Made in 2002 as a co-production between Whatever Pictures production company and BBC Northern Ireland as a part of their Northern Lights series, it was screened on BBC2 in 2002. This film directed by Colm McManus is so very stylish. The story of a chap, who wakes to find himself deficient in an area where no man would like to be lacking, is snappy and unique. Was it the tooth fairy what did it?

Bruce Web and Alex Lewis of Whatever Pictures have now moved onto bigger and better things, and they deserve it. They are currently co-producing a feature film with Orlando Bloom, to be shot in the Camen Islands called ‘Haven’. For more info and some great shorts that you can view online go to www.whateverpictures.com.

5. Sixty Cups of Coffee Dir: David Ward Raygun Films

Written by a Scott, directed by an English man, this high quality short was picked up and funded by a small Texas production company, Raygun Films. The protagonist Rickie Cass having read somewhere that drinking sixty cups of coffee could be lethal decides to find out if it’s true. He enters a Texas diner and sets about finding out what will happen if he does.

It’s a really well crafted film from director David Ward, and it’s been a big hit on the festival circuit. It’s well shot, well paced, and just well really great entertainment for those who love off beat dark humour. This one is as dark as the black coffee he consumes. No web site details yet on this one. Contact david.ward12@virgin.net.

6. No Buns Great British Productions

All Basil wants is a snack, all Aggie wants is to get through her shift, is that really too much to ask? This short and funny skit is everything you could want in a short comedy film. Great British Productions are based in Bellevue Avenue in Los Angeles, California, but they make films with a distinctly British flavour.

This one is short and sweet and to the point, with a really funny punch line at the end. Just what I love in my comedy shorts. For contact information and more pleasingly funny films go to www.greatbritishproductions.com.

7. A Rock and a Hard Place Dir:Peter Jones Ripe Productions

When Mathew gets locked out of his flat, he asks his beautiful, mysterious neighbour for help. But the situation turns tricky as two very possessive boyfriends arrive in quick succession. Of course hiding in the bathroom or under the bed may help, at first, but as the situation progresses is that really such a good idea? This short comedy of approx. 15 minutes was shot on DVCAM in London in August 2001.

It’s a low / no budget production, and the third short comedy by Ripe productions. The film gets off to a slow start, but when it gets going, it is very amusing indeed. I love this kind of stuff. The production values aren’t all that you could wish no, but these guys for me have the right idea. Don’t wait until you’ve got a million in the bank and investors at your doorstep. Get out and make that movie now with what you’ve got. Smashing stuff. Contact peter@tdfmusic.freeserve.co.uk.

8. Editing is Everything Great British Productions

Editing Is Everything is a satirical spin on the writing of the Bible from a modern viewpoint. The film is set in a surreal 1940’s style “writers room” where halo-sporting, high-strung scribes bang out their latest stories for “The Book” over coffee and cigarettes. Citing “market research” our writers Matthew, Mark, Luke and John know what the public wants from this book.

They want stories that appeal to the meek, a protagonist who has superpowers AND who knows how to party. And of course, they know readers always want more sex. In the end, they know they’ve got a best seller on their hands. For more information on this witty and elegant black and white short and other groovy shorts go to www.greatbritishproductions.com.

9. Green Monkey – Dir:Rob Sprackling Whatever Pictures

When an armed robbery that results in the shooting of a security guard happens the police begin their investigations. We relive the scene relayed through the eyes of various witnesses. There are inconsistencies in their versions of events, and no strong leads. Even an identification parade fails to turn anything up as the robbers were wearing masks. That is until a little boy called Max remembers an important thing he saw on that day.

One of two offerings I can highly recommend from Whatever Pictures production team, it was shot in 1997, and was the first film produced in collaboration between Bruce Web and Alex Lewis, formerly known as Wily Productions. Director Rob Sprackling brings his unique style to this one, which has been extremely well received at festivals. For more information and other great shorts go to www.whateverpictures.com.

10. The Incredibly Stupid Stunt - The Yes Men

Available on a compilation CD of films from ‘The Lost Film Festival’, this film is truly cheeky. A group of environmental activists manage to get themselves invited to speak at the Centre for International Legal Studies due to a mix up when an email destined for the World Trade Organisation gets sent to their web site by mistake. Posing as Andreas Bichlbawer the speaker takes the stage, but will he get away with the deception?

This true story should make us all sit up and think. For more info about those crazy Yes Men go to www.gatt.org. For more on the Lost Film Festival and all the fantastic films they have to offer go to www.lostfilmfest.org.

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