Don't you love it when a film draws you in with a certain perspective and then leaves you disoriented with its true intentions? Gigging does something similar for the unprepared (and perhaps unwitting) viewer by positing itself as a documentary on the lives and times of innumerable professionals across the US who somehow manage to stay afloat by picking up whatever little work projects that come their way. Of course the strongest tool the narrative employs is satire, but it would be unfair to confine all its achievements to a single word. There are comedic punches in the most unexpected ways that adopt the most unexpected tone making the viewer pause and wonder if they have been tricked into swallowing an insight they did not even see coming their way. The film takes you into the lives of three characters, a cab driver, a freelance content creator and a dog-walker. As their work days turn into the most absurd and unforgettable misadventures, humour does prove to be the most powerful tool to critique society and its several problematic aspects. From exploitation that makes you rationalise and internalise it (a character expresses gratefulness at not having health insurance because it keeps him extra vigilant about his health. Umm...?), to employers who are perhaps in situations as pitiable as the freelancers themselves (a fledgeling start-up ending up with a logo that has strong phallic overtones) - the short film brings it all in its narrative to put forth a film that is hilarious, engaging and unabashed in its analysis of the subject matter.

Gigging | Short Film of the Day

David Crawford is a man on a mission - he is out to comprehend the dynamics of online dating in his investigative documentary. The small (and mostly indifferent) crew consists of a duo of two others - a cameraperson, and a pregnant woman who's simply glad to have received a professional gig despite the pandemic-stricken bleak reality of contemporary times. Now, Crawford a fan of the show Succession, has a vision marked by poetic grandeur, and lofty ambition to achieve it all - but on a budget. As the film progresses, the viewer finds their protagonist to be strange, but entertaining, along with being a combination of endearing and obnoxious at the same time. While he moves from one attempt to shoot his documentary to another, the dissonance between the images in his head and the truth of his lived reality offer the perfect contrast to amuse the viewer. All the punches land efficiently, generating laughter in the most unexpected ways at the expense of our fumbling protagonist. Soon enough the film becomes a conversation with his own aspirations and uncertainties, and less about the subject of online dating as a broader category, and deliberately so, further drawing the viewer's attention to how his idea of the self overwhelms any other understanding that he may have had of the world around him. Additionally, this world around him is also brought to life with ease and conviction, allowing the film to effortlessly achieve all that it has set out to.

Now Time With David Crawford | Short Film of the Day

Who does not love a well-written satire that aims to dismantle the monolithic idea of heroism associated with white men that continues to erase and overlook the bloody history that constitutes its foundation? Or simply put, if you have led yourself to this mockumentary of a film, consider it a wise decision. Artfully constructed with slapstick comedy of the misadventures of two nineteenth century explorers, the film is a treat that serves a dual purpose - draw your attention to several problematic aspects of society, while also providing a lighthearted break from the said society and its problems. The chemistry between it's only two actors is the main character of the film, a narrative marked by the source material in the form of citations and sources that await the viewer at the end. Of course their sacrosanct authenticity further helps to drive the message home - a powerful, relevant comment in the garb of humour. The film keeps you engaged and entertained throughout, while also leaving you with the desire for more and the door open with the promise of subsequent chapters in the story. Here's an important history lesson, make sure to not miss it.

Clark and Lewis | Short Film Nominee

The department the film deserves most of its point in is effort and the desire of the team to come together, have fun and create a video while at it. Trying to adopt a mockumentary approach, the narrative wants to generate humour at the expense of its characters and their misadventures. The major chunk of the story is of one day when a group of men try to cook beef porotta, an Indian delicacy that has its origins in the southern parts of the country. In this all-male space, the characters get together to achieve this culinary task while a journalist endeavours to document the events that unfold. The underground beef porotta set-up has taken the American takeaway services by storm, now secretly delivering the delicacy to its clientele. In its own attempted humorous manner, it is precisely this that the film wishes to be an account of for the viewer. The film, shot in about four hours, has some rough edges when it comes to the categories of light and edit. It would have gained from some seamlessness in them. However, as for the cooking endeavours, what would truly be the fate of the final dish, those involved in cooking it and the patrons who would finally consume it?

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links