“When two worlds collide...”

That is the premise of the five films that were screened on tonight's episode of On the Lot.  Before we get to the films, however, Adrianna sends us straight to the taped footage of this week's elimination.  Based on last week, I thought Mateen should have been sent home, but America felt differently.  Adrianna informs everyone that Shira-Lee Shalit has been eliminated from the competition. 

So, this week, five filmmakers (Zach, Hilary, Will, Shalini, and Adam) got the privilege of making their films on the Universal Studios lot.  Incredible opportunity.  Before the films begin screening, Adrianna gives us one more very important piece of information.  Next week, there will be not one, but two filmmakers eliminated from the group of five.  And the same goes for the week after that.  On to the films!

Director #1 – Zach Lipovsky - “Time Upon a Once”

Zach, the runaway favorite to win the competition, the special effects wiz, gives us another winner.  Although not his best, this film reminds us that not only is Zach a great visual filmmaker, but he is also a good storyteller.  A suburban couple watch from their porch as some new neighbors across the street move in.  The thing is, the new neighbors are all backwards.  They move, talk, do everything literally backwards.  There are some clever shots, and I won't ruin the punchline, but I'll just say that it isn't a total gimmick.  Reginald Vel Johnson, of Family Matters and Die Hard fame, is in the film.  This made me sad.  The judges all love it.


Director #2 – Hilary Graham - “The Legend of Donkey-Tail Willie”

Hilary decided to make a Western/Comedy.  Like her other works, it proves that she does not belong in this competition.  The film is about a dude in the Old West with a donkey tail and how he found love after failing numerous times.  It's narrated by someone doing an old prospector voice and is sepia-toned.  The story is transparent, not funny where she thinks it is, and should be considered a failure.  However, the judges really like it, calling it a big step up from her.  I have no idea how they came to that conclusion. 


Director #3 – Will Bigham - “Spaghetti”

This is another Western/Comedy, but this one actually works.  Will uses a lot of dialogue for the first time, and the script is pretty good.  The story is ultra-simplistic, and relies on the dialogue, but it is good nonetheless.  A modern couple gets lost while driving, and they find themselves, somehow, stuck in a Spaghetti Western.  The man gets out to ask for directions, and finds himself looking straight at a Clint Eastwood-type Western bad ass.  The Clint guy is ready for a shootout.  It makes good use of the “two worlds colliding” theme, and the resolution to the shootout is solid.  Judges like it a lot.


Director #4 – Shalini Kantayya – “First Sight”

Shalini could not have shoved a message down the audience's throat any more if she tried.  It's about a girl who, along with a friend, are complete bitches to people at an outdoor market.  The girl is given a pair of glasses from a homeless man that allow her to see what people are really feeling inside.  It turns out that she is crying on the inside.  It is unbelievably heavy-handed and an insult to the audience.  But, Shalini is visually talented.  Her moralistic storytelling tendencies, however, need to be toned down.  Carrie and Luke dislike it, Garry defends it.


Director #5 - Adam Stein – “Worldly Possession”

This might have been the best film of the night, if just for its clever premise.  A snotty couple mistakenly receive a shipment from the military.  It's a globe.  They soon realize that the globe is, in fact, the actual earth.  Thus, they are able to play God.  Make sense?  You should watch it.  Maybe Adam could've executed the premise better, but given the time restraints, I think he did the best he could.  The judges love it, except for Garry, who has some minor storytelling critiques.


If it were up to me, I'd send Shalini and Hilary home.  Hilary is a no-brainer, but I hesitate with Shalini.  She is a gifted technical filmmaker, but her writing needs to improve.  Still, based on tonight, she deserves to be eliminated.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer (Image Courtesy of FOX)