File 0529

James Lockhart

Web: http://www.myspace.com/file0529

15 Minute Short

File 0529 is a intriguing short film revisiting the Jekyll and Hyde tale by placing in a futuristic time and setting it in a non descript military base. Dr. Victor Stevenson is a brilliant yet emotionally unstable scientist whose one desire is to fulfill his uncles dream of making a serum to eliminate human aggression. During a series of tests, he accidently ingests the serum himself with dire results.

File 0529 is fifteen minutes in length but offers an effective evocation of the tale in that period. It is in black and white with the use of spot colour when showing the liquid which causes the transformation.

It illustrates a superior use of light, shadow and editing to create a moody and textured piece of cinema.

There are some memorable “focus pieces”, for example, the shot of the filing cabinet, isolated in the middle of the screen illuminated by a single light.

The music creates a good mood and ranges from dark ambient through to stronger electro/rock at the more intense moments. The special effects used while obviously created on a low budget are surprisingly innovative and successful.

File 0529 is an interesting and engaging short and considering it was made on $1,000 and with a small 20 person crew is nothing short of amazing.

I can’t imagine what this filmmaker could create on a real budget and I greatly look forward to what he produces next.