We are introduced to a young man, who has lived a long and interesting life, suffering from cancer and dying the day before his 70th birthday. We already from the beginning as an audience understand that we are entering a new and different place, with a new continuity and a new interpretation of what the present/past is. As Hugh wakes up in this new strange place, we are just as curious as himself on how he apparently died and ended up there.



Once he finds himself being alive we soon get introduced to what we understand to be his wife. They are both young again now, brought back to life in a new "dimension." They get brought to a house that is an exact replica from the 20th century, where they can live and get on with their new lives. We are being dragged between weather to live in this new world, apart from the world and everyday life we are used to. It awakens your thoughts as a viewer, and your being forced to pay attention to be able to get your head around, where and what is happening. Which is a good pull from the director, managing to drag the audience into the action and keep them there as the suspense increases. As well as it leaves us with unanswered questions. What is this place? Who are these people from this dimension? Why are they brought back to life? We get eager to want to know more.





Strong contrasts are introduced in a balanced but clear way, comparing new to old. Questioning the relevance between whats familiar and what is not, how it affect us as humans and how it impacts our well-being. All very relatable and important aspects and themes. That viewers can easily feel connected and familiar with, when comparing the content to their own lives. Which is a very important aspect of maintaining the viewers attention throughout the film. Which here, is done really well. As Hugh and his wife, Candace, are struggling to find out what their hearts are now truly desiring. Now that they have already had a lifetime together.





John manages to create a new sense of normality and abstraction, in a sci-fi dimension, and at the same time makes it feel very natural. We dont get thrown off by cheesy or rubbish effects, or creations. But the film is rather sticking to a good and believable design and constructions.




There are several things I like about this film. First of all, I like how it portrays the struggle of finding yourself again, after dying and now having to start a new life again. Different from the one you had before, but also the same. I mainly like how the storyline as well as the time it is set in, is totally different from what I have seen before. Usually sci-fi tend to "work the same way" and the stories are often very similar or overdone. I like how this film manages to bring sci-fi in to the spotlight, without overdramatising it. How it keeps the story itself and the expression of the film clean and simple. Aesthetically well executed, and cinematography is also very nicely done.




It is clear that this production has been planned and gone through a hundred times, before actually going out to make it. Time, effort and heart has been poured in to it, and that shows on screen. I must also mention how I like the focus in the clips and also the strong and pure colour scheme that has been chosen.

How this short film affected and influenced my own project, was by the fact that it is able to tell a quite heavy story in a simple, yet effective way. Considering that my story is also quite intricate and could be a bit hard to pull off, if not done the right way. I find this film to be a good inspiration to have as a goal, and to try to be able to achieve the same. And as I also mentioned, the cinematography is very nice, I like how it uses wide shots, as well as medium shots continuously throughout the film. And also being able to incorporate detail shots that is full of information and emotions. It also shows in a really good way, how the writer has been able to create and maintain moments. Which is truly important to get a good story.


A great short film that is definitely worth seeing, enjoyed every moment, and it kept me in my seat as I was eager to find out what had happened to Hugh and his wife. I wanted to follow their journey, to see where they would end up. John Harden is a talented guy, with a powerful and intriguing story. I also have to mention, that I am not the biggest fan of sci-fi, but that I actually really, really liked this one.


        
         New from John Harden on Vimeo.

Already from the beginning we learn a great deal about the character we are to follow. As a group of intimidating teenage boys approach him to take all the money he just earned doing magic tricks in the streets. He shows both courage, bravery and fear despite running off to escape from the teenagers.




One of the main red threads in this episode are the magic. It appears throughout from beginning to end, in all sorts of ways.  After being chased by the older teenage boys Tyler hides in a corner shop, which appears to be selling magic toys and tricks. The chemistry that occurs between him and the girl working in the shop, tells us that she has a bigger part and meaning in the story.



When he leaves the girl, she gives him some of the magic toys and tricks as a gift, because she can see and understand how much he appreciates and likes to perform magic tricks. He shows the new tricks to his friends at The Dumping Ground. Some of the girls confronts him to ask if he has stolen it, and they encourage him to go and thank her.


At the same time parallel to Tyler´s adventure, one of the other kids get sick. And it becomes one of the older kids quest to find out what causes his allergic reaction. While all the other backs off to avoid being infected by what they believe to be an contagious disease. He sticks with him and helps him finding out what can help to solve the decease.




As Tyler gets permission from one of the carer´s at TDG to put on his own magic show for the other kids. He starts to research and build his own magic case to make an assistance to disappair. As he is trying to figure out the case, Chanelle the girl from the shop, turns up and helps him build it. Tyler falls more and more into a crush. As viewers we can relate to the difficulties in teamwork, how to handle emotions, falling in love for the first time when your young and insecure on all the new feelings you suddenly have. At the same time the message of falling and then have to raise again, is striking and told in a very discreet but well working way.







There is both strong friendships and young love presented on screen in a most purely and innocent way possible. It is definitely a family series where everyone can watch and enjoy. No matter if your five or fourthy. I really like how they have managed to make the action very naturally, and not to excessive. They have kept it simple, easy storyline to follow, characters that develop and change. As well as making the audience develop a relationship to and with the characters, and their stories.



The magic is what pulls Chanelle and Tyler both together and apart. As they team up and she assistance for him in his magic show, and her fathers magic shop not making enough money and causing them to have to move away. A beautiful and really well done, cute little love story, about how fragile love and goodbyes truly are. Really enjoyed watching.


The cinematography in the episode is really nice, I especially like the lighting in all the different scenes, as well as the framing of the shots. They have managed to create a special, warm and cozy atmosphere, that makes you want to escape into it. This is something I took with me as an inspiration of how to be able to create such a special atmosphere in my story on screen.