As a filmmaker, I love short films, really because all the shorts I had to make in film school. I would rather see a DVD full of 5-10 minute short films versus a 2 hour feature film. There is such power in telling a story and conveying a message in a limited amount of time. Believe me, it is not easy and super rewarding when done properly. Today I present, Rare Exports Inc. and Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions.
These two short films blew me away and I wish I found them during the XMas season, since both portray a unique twist on our beloved Santa Claus. Maybe you will approach this year’s Christmas differently. At the very least, you won’t think of dear Santa the same.
The films at hand were written and directed by Jalmari Helander. He has 9 short films and 1 feature under his belt. The first Rare Exports was released back in 2003, the other in 2005 as it’s sequel. Both brought Helander great recognition and gained a phenomenal web presence.
The crew behind the films is Woodpecker Film, a full service production company based in Finland. The bulk of their work has been, certainly not limited to, TV commercials for high profile clients. They have a team of great filmmakers, top of the line equipment and tremendous talent. Watch what the collaboration produced below.
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Simply, they are entertaining and utterly genius. The production value is remarkable and has the epic ironic comedic touch that reels the viewer through to the end. The cinematography was outstanding and I especially loved the muted charcoal colors. Now, I was disappointed when I finished the second film, only because I wanted to see more. If you felt the same, there’s no need for us to fret. A feature length film was made based off the short films, written and directed by Helander. It was released back in 2010 and received positive reviews. Check out the trailer below.
I haven’t seen it yet. I just placed it on my Netflix queue, so we can see it together. I’m sure it has the spirit of the original short films but with a jolt. Enjoy and be inspired!
http://www.rareexportsmovie.com
http://www.youtube.com/WoodpeckerFilm
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