This is a short film I produced with two friends, Sam Friend and Mike Librett, roughly seven years ago.
The concept in my mind was something like:
A mockumentary about the children’s card game Crazy Eights and the professional player’s inside perspective.
None of us had played Crazy Eights before and we intentionally didn’t research anything about it for improv purposes (I still don’t know its rules). We just had a pack of the cards and they looked silly.
Despite having no certain plans aside from a few production notes, the movie has everything. Sony HandyCam Nightvision, a dance number, the inclusion of my sister’s slumber party attendees as extras, a complete failure of a special effect in the climactic scene (yes, the blood spatters are already on the table when I get cut).
But every screening since its unveiling on the now-defunct OuterAspects.com has tortured me with its slowness. There were many portions that could have been cut and trimmed. It should have been a proper ten minute short.
I’ve finally gotten around to making a pass at fixing those things that bothered me. I’ve done my best without any of the original files, using only a low-resolution copy Google retained. It’s about 1 minute and 10 seconds shorter and, as I predicted, it’s tough to even notice.
The tagline for this movie (which has been available in its original form at Google Video for some years) stands:
Michael Fivis is at the top of his game, but will a long time Friend bring him down?
Originally shot and finished over one ninth-grade weekend in 2003 with a Sony MiniDV camera and Vegas Video.
