Short Film: "Under The Knife" - Etta Bond

A short film collaboration project for the "Random Acts" series by Channel 4 literally goes "Under The Knife." The film, directed by Jeremy Cole, opens with a continuos shot of UK singer Etta Bond which is fragmented into hundreds of shattered pieces. 1374 3D layers in After Effects to be exact, all individually key framed and positioned. As the song progresses, the pieces begin to merge together, revealing a face behind the voice.

"Under The Knife" is undeniably unique and technically beautiful, with a powerful message. And not to mention, Jeremy Cole is an After Effects wizard.

See how the film was made here.

The Great Nick Carraway

Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby

A great film for me is one that stays with you long after watching it. I can strongly say that about The Great Gatsby. If this film wasn't one giant movie moment for me then I don't know what would be. However, with that said, one thing that truly stood out for me was Nick Carraway. As the narrator of the story, I felt Fitzgerald's voice and truths weaving through him.

Movie Moment: The party scene with Nick, Tom and Myrtle. Drunk Nick, dazed and hazy, stands by the window looking out into the night. The shot shows a sort of tableau of life occurring through the windows of the neighbouring apartment: different stories and lives happening in each one of them. As if each person, each life in their window was an element in a painting, and only all of them could tell the complete story. Now, I remember Nick describing this; his window as just another story, just another life occurring amongst the thousand of lives appearing before him. How did his window appear to another? I wish I can remember exactly what the quote was (I guess I'll have to wait for the DVD) when Nick describes a sense of being and observing himself simultaneously. For a reason in that moment, I felt a deep understanding of what Nick/Fitzgerald meant. And how, really, we are all our own stories, alone and together.


What was your Great Gatsby Movie Moment?