Take 22: Behind the Scenes of Sequestered Review

“Research is critical.” “Secure financing before production.” “What’s my motivation?” When you make a film, this kind of stuff is what you will probably hear from all the crap heads trying to ruin your artistic vision. But Executive Producer, Todd Hunter (Chris Pina), doesn’t let technicalities like research, money, and actors stop him. He’s determined to make his legal drama, Sequestered, a theatrical masterpiece. To bring his dream to life Todd stops at nothing, even hustling his own grandma. He tirelessly pushes his cast and crew to the edge of breakdown in spite of a haunted location, a wandering murderer, and a cascade of Craft Service catastrophes. But in the end, the on set problems run too deep. Director Miles Tenent (Rick Overton) won’t watch the film; he’s scared of the ‘big heads’ on the screen. The cast and crew screening is a huge bomb. Sequestered will never see the light of day.

Now, after hellish weeks following the doomed production, a group of disgruntled student documentarians are out for revenge. They will dig deep to expose all the flaws and ineptitudes of Sequestered in their hilariously scathing film, Take 22: Behind the Scenes of Sequestered.

From the first scene, Take 22: Behind the Scenes of Sequestered sets a brisk comedic pace when the audience realizes that the fact they’re watching this film means Todd Hunter’s life has officially gone to hell. The plot’s pull is immediate and keeps the funny coming as the film spins further and further outside Todd’s control. Writer/director Michael Bayouth has assembled a sweet collection of actors for this orgy of bad luck, including not just Rick Overton and Chris Pina but also playful, chaotic cameos from Dave Thomas and Gary Anthony Williams, and featuring the legendary Groundlings.

Five jurors are sequestered to decide a man’s fate. In the end, it is their own fate that is sealed. Sequestered could have been an awesome film if anything, even one little thing, would have gone right. But nothing did. (Especially not the research. There are twelve people on a jury. Not five!) So now instead of suffering through Sequestered audiences can enjoy watching a fellow human being’s dreams crumble to ash in Take 22: Behind the Scenes of Sequestered.

"The Sierra" Review

A sexy game of hide and seek through the mountain snow takes a dangerous turn when a gang of mounted white men rides through Indian Territory. Now one man is out for revenge against those who took his beloved.

Throughout “The Sierra,” everyone is hunted. The man hunts the woman. The white men hunt each other. The Indian hunts them all. In this deadly game, two natural enemies end up unwittingly on the same side. But in the untamed wilds of the West, the enemy of an enemy may not stay a friend even long enough to let the gun smoke settle.

Powerfully photographed and with a dead-on soundtrack, “The Sierra” is both tender and action packed. The use of the native language of the characters lent a special touch of realism to the film. There was a strong sense of vision to the piece, thanks to director Alano Massi, which comes across beautifully. In the end we see that two men from very different backgrounds can become united by the life and death struggles common to us all. Kalani Queypo gives a vulnerable performance. "The Sierra" is one short film that's not to be missed.

Layabouts, "Corrupted Scene Behind the Stage" Review

Spanish rock band, Layabouts, serves up a raw track with top 40-style in this music video for their song, “Corrupted Scene Behind the Stage.” With creepy use of colors and imagery, this video’s sense of duality is as driving as the beat.

The duality of an individual is a frequent theme in rock music. Here, director Ivan Mena Tinoco focuses on the interplay between the refined and the raw, presenting those two sides of each band member as existing simultaneously yet independently of each other. Water is the common thread throughout the video, appearing either explicitly or implicitly whenever these two sides of the self appear together. Its presence almost seems to suggest that there is something elemental yet fluid to what connects these two halves of the whole, something necessary yet illusive.

Though a Spanish band, the Layabouts, "Corrupted Scene Behind the Stage," has a very American vibe. With a strong musical and visual presence, this music video piques one's interest not only in the music of the Layabouts band, but also in the other work of director Ivan Mena Tinoco.

"Man's Best Friend" Review

Some guys spend too much time with their friends. Some guys spend way too much time with their friends. And when your man’s best friend lives with you, what’s a girl to do?

James’s relationship with the family dog, Zero (Sawyer), has gotten much too close since the dog saved him from a near explosion. It’s driving Diane (Pia Miranda) crazy. She and James (Brett Williams) are trying to have a baby, but all their romantic moments seem to be interrupted by their fluffy roommate. Even an amorous dinner loses its intimacy when there’s 50lbs. of hair and drool sitting next to you at the dinner table. Diane’s had enough. It’s her or the dog. But will Diane’s feelings about Zero change after a series of unforeseeable events that transform their lives forever?

Director Luke Eve delivers a good quality, loony comedy short about the true nature of friendship. “Man’s Best Friend” teaches that the ones we love are never really gone. Williams and Miranda have sterling chemistry as they depict the ups and downs of a believable long-term relationship. This Australian short comedy has a punch line that needs to be seen to be believed!

"Porn Guide" Review

The perfect mockumentary is all about the perfect imitation. Mockumentaries are, after all, imitations of documentaries. The more closely a mock resembles the thing it’s mocking, the more effective the mock arguably is. The trick is finding the humor inherent in the form (original) so as to exaggerate it in the shadow (mock). If this is the case, then “Porn Guide” is a brilliant mock.

Drawing out the inherent ridiculousness of 1970s film making, “Porn Guide” takes viewers on an abbreviated tutorial on making your very own porno film. Fashion, graphics, color, and shot angles are all near perfect imitations of their form, the 70s doc. Even the terrible acting was dead on. Louisa Lanewood as Pauline Flowers was a hoot. Mickey Diamond (Nicholas Brendon) was leachy in all the right places, especially as he plays the bongos. Who told him men could wear those shorts?

Those looking for a little cheap titillation won’t be disappointed either. The title of this film writes a check that writer/director Dick Thompson wasn’t afraid to cash. This film is a ‘porn guide’ giving tips and tricks all along the way that would be helpful if it weren’t impossible to take them seriously. And, as a famous porn producer once said, one can’t make a film about porn without some nudity. It just won’t be realistic. Porn guide delivers plenty, but with lighthearted flair. Sexy and silly, “Porn Guide” is, quite simply, really well done.

"The Shoes Maketh the Man" Review

The world has it in for Alesandro’s shoes. At least that’s how it seems. He’s on his way to an extremely important business meeting, but every time he turns around something threatens the safety of his expensive, immaculate footwear. He wants to make the perfect impression for a rich potential client. His suit is perfect, his hair is perfect, his briefcase perfect, but his shoes. His shoes! At this rate, Alesandro will be lucky if he makes it to the meeting with any shoes at all!

This comedic short from writer/director Tarek Sursock is a series of misadventures with a moral: One minute you’re on top, the next you’re not. In the end, what’s on the inside is always more important than what’s on the outside. Pasquale Cassalia play a wonderfully arrogant young businessman. You can’t help but sympathize with his string of bad luck, but who doesn’t like to see the cock of the walk get his feathers ruffled now and then?

"April" Review

Films about the joys and challenges of raising zombie children are rare, but have been on the rise in recent years. Few, however, capture the struggles of the child with as much poignancy as comedy mock short “April.”

Found wandering the woods by a young couple, April (Kallie Kerns) was immediately adopted. It was their goal to assimilate her into society by home-schooling her until they felt she was ready to attend a public high school. The other students, however, were not so ready to have a deceased classmate. There was the smell, for one thing, her difficult movements and her highly unusual diet. She struggles with all the typical issues that can make zombie kids magnets for ridicule.

But April won’t be deterred. She is determined to do well in high school, to fit in. But when one practical joke goes too far, there are doubts about whether or not April will ever be able to live in a world so unfeeling toward the “pulse impaired.” The comedy film “April” wonderfully captures the profound sense of isolation of someone trying to fit in who is fundamentally different.

What is this allure the undead have for the living? We want to love them, care for them, be scared by them. Perhaps it’s our own desire to have what they have, to never die. Perhaps we relate to them, feeling out if place in the world of the living. Whatever the reason, writer/director Mike Piccirillo understands our fascination and our need. He has a good sense of comedy as well as a deep understanding of what it is to be lonely. Kallie Kerns captures April’s range of emotion beautifully, letting the soul shine through her monstrous exterior. A deft and detail oriented performance... for a zombie.