The story of the short film is simple and straight. It is told with a crispness (of acting, editing, pacing of the structure), with not a single moment wasted on any redundancies, that succeeds in making Standby a deeply endearing watch. The narrative is about the shared space of two cops as they go about their daily duties. From an awkward start to their relationship to all the warmth, concern and mutual support it comes to stand for - the film portrays it all. This storytelling is further enhanced by an efficient utilisation of the limited resources of space, albeit self-inflicted by the narrative, that holds the viewer's attention throughout. Visually the film is achieved primarily within a single, fixed frame of the front of the car of the two characters, Gary and Jenny. While they keep moving with the occurrence of different events in their lives, the camera remains at the same spot throughout. Seamless editing further ensures that this does not become repetitive, while also allowing the film to be a humorous, touching watch throughout.

Standby | Short Film of the Day

The film gets its ambiance and setting right from the very start. Consisting primarily of three conversations, it presents a crime story that conjures deceit, dubious loyalties, and underhand dealings, bringing to life equations and dynamics that could eventually become matters of life and death. 

Two cops have wrapped up a long day, and have arrived at a bar for a drink as a means to unwind. When our protagonist, Vince opens up about the deeply traumatizing day, as he calls it himself, that he has had, an unlikely patron is already present to watch all of this unfold. 

The film chooses to confine its plot progression to the same physical space, further employing the earnestness of performances to paint the narrative. It sets up a premise as a way to portend what is to come, introducing us to characters and potential situations. This, in turn, opens the door for the story to develop into a longer project or subsequent installments that allow the viewer to engage with the characters more, and get a firmer understanding of their reality. With its visual language defined by control over lighting and the shadows that lurk within, the film has already established its world. The next step now is to expand upon it.

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