PORT TOWNSEND — Anything is possible.
That’s the message from the three winners of the inaugural PDN-PDQ Three-Minute Film Competition.
It’s possible to tell an absorbing story, surprise the viewer and make the viewer laugh, all in a few minutes of footage.
The PDN-PDQ contest, sponsored by the Peninsula Daily News and Port Townsend Film Institute, invited entries of three minutes or less shot on video cameras or cellphones.
Twenty-two entries came in, with the winners hailing from near and far
The three winning films were screened at last weekend’s 14th annual Port Townsend Film Festival.
Here they are, along with comments from the competition’s three judges.
To read more about the films and their makers, click on https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130915/NEWS/309159999.
Next week we’ll present some of the other 3-minute videos that got high ratings from the judges.
“Because It’s There” by David Gough of Burntwood, England, and Port Townsend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPd8-Zv90mU
“This was a story with an ending. Good fun and well executed. As one of our judges remarked, ‘An old gag made new again with visual humor.’
“The acting was good with a solid believable performance by the main character. It was a treat to watch, a tongue in cheek comedy, and was filled with Olympian hold-your-breath suspense propelled by an effective musical score.
“The film ends with a resolution that makes it all serious work with an ironic final twist.”
“Hareloom Seeds” by Peter Ray of Vashon Island
“Puns, play on words and human kind’s constant quest for an answer grabbed attention here with this little film.
“We are presented with a hero contemplating an existential question!
“The film included some special effects which by their very rudimentary nature add to the silly implausibility of the main conceit, punctuated by the film’s effective metronomic sound design.”
“Pink” by Torrie McIntyre, 18, of Port Angeles and Tenille Tosland, 16, of Sequim.
“This little film had many plusses. Put simply, it told a story, was enjoyable to watch, had some sweet moments and also a bit of suspense.
“There was nice interweaving of live action, animation and stills. More importantly, we cared about the characters.
“It’s hard to make a successful romantic comedy, and this was. All in less than a minute.”