SIGNING OFF

Here is one of my favorite short films, from New Zealand director, Robert Sarkies, whose funney and eccentric first feature, Scarfies, premiered at Sundance several years ago. This film provides prospective, short-film makers with a great object lesson in the essential dramatic grammar. Watch how the writer/director introduces the dramatic problem and then how the protagonist actively pursues his utimate objective with ever-increasing risk and heighthened stakes. The comedic elements are kept credible and the journey that we go on is filled with enough surprises to maintain our involvement. Check it out and see if you don't agree that this great example of the masterful use of dramatic grammar. For more about the grammar of dramatic storytelling see GRAMMAR.