One of the many angles of a high school shooting is explored in Oscar Velasquez' Prelude.My Fall film festival season may not be kicking off until Friday, Sept. 26 when I begin coverage of this year's San Diego Film Festival, but don't let that keep you from getting a jump on me this weekend if you live in San Diego, Los Angeles, or the Inland Empire. The Temecula Valley International Film Festival kicks off this Wednesday, and there you will have the unique opportunity to catch my friend Oscar Velasquez' short, Prelude, which is currently making the festival rounds.
Prelude intertwines short segments of the lives of students and parents who are connected in an instant when they or a loved one is afflicted by a high school shooting. The film was made on a shoestring budget as Oscar's final project at the Los Angeles Film School, but you wouldn't guess it given its impressive aesthetics. Shot on gritty 16mm by gifted D.P. Trevor Masid, the imagery mainly consists of grungy, geometric compositions that set the mood well.
Certain actors' performances fare better than others--Germaine de Leon's turn as the focal shooter in a one-line part detrimentally suffers from trivial scripting and self-indulgent delivery--but such variance is an unfortunate consequence of the constraints of making a first film. Oscar occasionally gets a little too caught up in his narrative too, relying on a contrived situation with character Carmen (Dominique Concepcion) to carry dramatic-heft in the film's final third that comes off as exploitative when it should actually be emotionally-jarring.
Despite its flaws, Prelude makes for a worthy watch and a serviceable addition to a growing body of films that explore the complexities of today's youth. If you're attending TVIFF, it will undoubtedly be a solid addition to your festival-schedule.
Prelude screens in Shorts Program III at TVIFF on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 6PM and on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 9PM. Writer/director Velasquez will be present for the Saturday screening.
Prelude intertwines short segments of the lives of students and parents who are connected in an instant when they or a loved one is afflicted by a high school shooting. The film was made on a shoestring budget as Oscar's final project at the Los Angeles Film School, but you wouldn't guess it given its impressive aesthetics. Shot on gritty 16mm by gifted D.P. Trevor Masid, the imagery mainly consists of grungy, geometric compositions that set the mood well.
Certain actors' performances fare better than others--Germaine de Leon's turn as the focal shooter in a one-line part detrimentally suffers from trivial scripting and self-indulgent delivery--but such variance is an unfortunate consequence of the constraints of making a first film. Oscar occasionally gets a little too caught up in his narrative too, relying on a contrived situation with character Carmen (Dominique Concepcion) to carry dramatic-heft in the film's final third that comes off as exploitative when it should actually be emotionally-jarring.
Despite its flaws, Prelude makes for a worthy watch and a serviceable addition to a growing body of films that explore the complexities of today's youth. If you're attending TVIFF, it will undoubtedly be a solid addition to your festival-schedule.
Prelude screens in Shorts Program III at TVIFF on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 6PM and on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 9PM. Writer/director Velasquez will be present for the Saturday screening.
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