I think the balloon represents the man he wants to be ... The letter represents what he wants to say but soon he second guesses it and tried to get it back ...and each time the balloon gets close and moves away, it's him thinking about it ... Finally he gives in and leaves his words unspoken
I liked this! I think when he tried to capture the ballon and couldn't its was there floating as it was his conscience! It represented his conscience! And when he saw it and tried to capture it he wasn't sure what it was ... As he tried and tried inbetween thoughts he finally succeeded but the baloon representing his freedom broke when he captured it to only fail in making the descion to end the relationship instead now he wasn't free anymore like the once free flying baloon he never had the courage to end it hence now he will be forever tied down to Catherine lol ...
v/o is fabulous, (perfect tones) love the use of silence and pauses, and the whole concept in the spirit of the fab film The Red Balloon--side by side they could be a comment on the male/masculine journey. Cinematography excellent.
I had to watch this wonderful short film twice to understand. The letter comes from the ballon, explaining its reason for deflating. It also serves as an analogy for the relationship experienced by the man who appears at the end.
niiiiiice. I had to watch it twice and listen carefully to realllly get it. amazing. love love it. Also- I've ALWAYS wanted to stop at that place and take photos! nice job!!!
Created in 100 hours by Keith Rivers Films, LLC for the Film Racing Grand Prix 2009 based on a theme (privacy) and surprise element (a balloon). Awarded Best Film of the Film Racing Grand Prix 2009. I can be difficult to find a short film where the director has so successfully managed to craft together a series of beautiful shots into a short film that has depth, meaning and a sense of solemnity, however for me this film does just that. The first shot lasts 1:40 a slowly tracks along at a high angle following a car down the road. In reality this first show is actually quite dull, although it is made interesting by the voice over that covers the film. One of the aspects I enjoyed most about the film is that you only realise towards the end that each shot is form the point-of-view of the balloon itself, which is why each shot is so smooth and slow. The soundtrack also fits perfectly with the film. Just like the video it provides a beautiful, rhythmic and moving tone, that also serves to keep as certain steady pace throughout. The titles as well, although very subtle, fade in and out perfectly without lingering unnecessairly on the side of the screen, and aren't at all in your face. The locations used in this film are (just like the rest of it) beautiful and so calm, and all credit goes to the director of photography who has done a rather stunning job of composing each shot so carefully for maximum effect. However, hands down the most impressive part of this film is the thing that is hardest to understand, the voice over. A voice over which - as evidence shows - can so easily ruin a film, has been perfectly executed in this case, but it is the meaning behind it that makes it so powerful. Comments that people have made on this film showed me a glimpse of the long debates people have had over TH-cam on what it all means. I have to say though after listening to the film at least 4 or 5 times I came to these conclusions. The letter/voice over is written by the balloon, if you listen carefully to the choice of words this becomes clearer: "I'm drifting" "You've sucked the air out of me" and my favourite, "There always a string attached". What the letter says are words I think that the main character has wanted to say for a long time, but he can't quite do it alone. However the balloon, which is almost a part of him or his conscience, has put his thoughts into words for him. Interestingly though, it seems as if even when he has the letter there he can't bring himself to give it to his wife, he drops the letter at the end. The best part I feel is that there are so many different interpretations people can have of this short, and so many aspects to it that allow for that. The whole short revolves around the theme of privacy. This is shown through the narrative - the balloon is almost telling him how he feels, which reflects the pressures he is under - and contrasted with the fact that he is alone throughout the film, however the balloon has a certain presence as if it is watching him.
That's why he was so good at "parking." In any case, nice job poking the bubble. The people you were referring to are in every art department and art gallery (especially modern art galleries).
My interpretation: He is the balloon. The lines "...sometimes I feel I can just explode..." and "I'm... descending" give it away. The man realizes how he treated Catherine after he observes how it constantly pulls away as he reaches out for it. Until he 'pops' and just drops the note. He is shocked at his own coldness when he reads his own message in the way that Catherine probably read it. The narrator did an absolutely fantastic job representing the two different points of view.
It is his subconsciousness speaking or expressing the inner most feelings but the ego is preventing them to surface. It felt like a huge balloon that was just about to explode and when it did, did he realize the reality that a part of him still loves her.
@Session7Media sounds awesome! a bit over budget concidering i just started getting interested in this whole thing.. but ill definately keep it in mind! thanks
This is seriously an amazing piece of work....I would say its better than most shit covering our "boxes of voidless shite" that we have to "entertain"....seriously impressed, keep up the good work, ive recently just bought myself a Zi8 Kodak so I can start some hi-def filmmaking (being a drama student and all) and its really inspiring....great work...
He is the balloon. "The world as a (w)hole" part of the letter is a metaphor for him being the ballon. And everything thats happened has been blown into him. And instead of letting "the air" out bit by bit he's been collecting it there. Reaching for the ballon as he tries is impossible , iow impossible to control himself while being in the state he's in.
I enjoyed this. Very good camerawork. Great angles especially the overhead shots. How was this done? I imagined someone paragliding and filming. Film score was subtle thus effective. Great job.
Very good. Great camera work. To me, the overhead shots made it. I'd like to see other works of yours. That must have taken a few shots to get the helicopter to stay lined up with the vehicle?
Ever write a hate note? Now make it a hate note to a girl you used to love? The fact that you write one implies you still care about her. And the person in this film still cares about Kathryn. He cares enough to be shocked that she did not receive his message.
You need a heck of a jib for that and an operator who knows what he's doing. So my thought is that they didn't use a jib, Especially since the image is very jumpy. If I were to achieve these results with no budget I would use a 450 Trex mini RC or some other camera mounted mini-chopper.
Wow I get it! The balloons are at different occasions like graduations and birthday parties, but they are usually ignored and feel unimportant, and thats why the balloon wants to blow up. The letter also resembles a relatonship between someone named Catherine, but things havent gone well and the husband/bf is leaving her.
I think good art makes you think alot. This is the 6th or 7th time I edited my posts because I think about more things everytime I watch the film. It still keeps me interested after the 8th watch. But I cant feeling that what I spelled out is stupid and redundant because it must have been many others that noticed it to (if my interpretation is close to the creators idea) since it didnt win prizes for no reason. In any case it's a beautiful work and will follow the film maker with interest.
@laserboy1995 Are you telling me that that one, long incredibly clear and high-quality shot in the air chasing the car is from strapping a 5d to an RC helicoptor? but.... how?
@lifeartpixels A Trex 700 RC Helicopter would work pretty well and costs around $1,000. The RC gimbal to control the camera is about $400, plus a wireless video feed is another few hundred, so you could assemble the whole thing for under $2,000, not including your camera. Then you just have to learn to fly it without crashing :)
WoW! That was Great. I'm doing something similar in style to this, and I'm just wondering what you did to get the color grade,(such as bring down the saturation, Gamma ,etc?). Thanks, and again, great short film. You deserved to win.
@Session7Media I was gonna ask how you got those shots... That was really good! I'd be scared to death to send my camera up on a helicopter, a damn gust would bring it to the ground in pieces, lol. How did you get the angle to change up in the air, I mean it looked like it was angling up, down, and around as you were flying.
This is amazing :D I am using a Kodak Zi8 until I can afford my DSLR - Probably a Canon 550D as my first, and a decent lens, such as 1.4 USM or 1.8 II.
@TheZburatorul The balloon was real, we rigged up a make-shift pulley system with fishing line and I removed it in post with After Effects. We shot it on a Canon 5D. The coloring was used to evoke a feeling of loneliness and solemnity. Thanks for writing!
oh... I thought it was just the balloon chatting about its life, and it was tricking us into thinking the man was talking. all the stuff about strings attached, being at events, above people's heads,deflating and drifting I guess.
The first thing I thought after I watched this, "Words will come back to haunt you"
I can't get over how amazing I found this to be! (both before and after I knew the meaning of the narration) It's done perfectly.
Hello
Thank you for bringing the short , back to short movies.. this is a beautiful film.
Hes not talking about his wife. Hes talking about his daughter. Birthday parties graduation. Yellow is a symbol of youth.
I think the balloon represents the man he wants to be ... The letter represents what he wants to say but soon he second guesses it and tried to get it back ...and each time the balloon gets close and moves away, it's him thinking about it ... Finally he gives in and leaves his words unspoken
I liked this! I think when he tried to capture the ballon and couldn't its was there floating as it was his conscience! It represented his conscience! And when he saw it and tried to capture it he wasn't sure what it was ... As he tried and tried inbetween thoughts he finally succeeded but the baloon representing his freedom broke when he captured it to only fail in making the descion to end the relationship instead now he wasn't free anymore like the once free flying baloon he never had the courage to end it hence now he will be forever tied down to Catherine lol ...
v/o is fabulous, (perfect tones) love the use of silence and pauses, and the whole concept in the spirit of the fab film The Red Balloon--side by side they could be a comment on the male/masculine journey. Cinematography excellent.
I had to watch this wonderful short film twice to understand. The letter comes from the ballon, explaining its reason for deflating. It also serves as an analogy for the relationship experienced by the man who appears at the end.
wow this is incredibly clever! one of the best short films i've ever seen! and excellent camera work.
I loved all the short, but the ballon scene... no words... amazing!
niiiiiice. I had to watch it twice and listen carefully to realllly get it. amazing. love love it. Also- I've ALWAYS wanted to stop at that place and take photos! nice job!!!
"But there are always strings attached..."
Incredibly touching film!
WE WATCHED THIS AT SCHOOL AND I SHOUTED AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS, HE SOUNDS LIKE CHANNING TATUM
+DisneyNoodles lol
DisneyNoodles HA MEEEE
Created in 100 hours by Keith Rivers Films, LLC for the Film Racing Grand Prix 2009 based on a theme (privacy) and surprise element (a balloon).
Awarded Best Film of the Film Racing Grand Prix 2009.
I can be difficult to find a short film where the director has so successfully managed to craft together a series of beautiful shots into a short film that has depth, meaning and a sense of solemnity, however for me this film does just that. The first shot lasts 1:40 a slowly tracks along at a high angle following a car down the road. In reality this first show is actually quite dull, although it is made interesting by the voice over that covers the film. One of the aspects I enjoyed most about the film is that you only realise towards the end that each shot is form the point-of-view of the balloon itself, which is why each shot is so smooth and slow.
The soundtrack also fits perfectly with the film. Just like the video it provides a beautiful, rhythmic and moving tone, that also serves to keep as certain steady pace throughout. The titles as well, although very subtle, fade in and out perfectly without lingering unnecessairly on the side of the screen, and aren't at all in your face.
The locations used in this film are (just like the rest of it) beautiful and so calm, and all credit goes to the director of photography who has done a rather stunning job of composing each shot so carefully for maximum effect.
However, hands down the most impressive part of this film is the thing that is hardest to understand, the voice over. A voice over which - as evidence shows - can so easily ruin a film, has been perfectly executed in this case, but it is the meaning behind it that makes it so powerful. Comments that people have made on this film showed me a glimpse of the long debates people have had over TH-cam on what it all means. I have to say though after listening to the film at least 4 or 5 times I came to these conclusions. The letter/voice over is written by the balloon, if you listen carefully to the choice of words this becomes clearer:
"I'm drifting"
"You've sucked the air out of me"
and my favourite, "There always a string attached".
What the letter says are words I think that the main character has wanted to say for a long time, but he can't quite do it alone. However the balloon, which is almost a part of him or his conscience, has put his thoughts into words for him. Interestingly though, it seems as if even when he has the letter there he can't bring himself to give it to his wife, he drops the letter at the end.
The best part I feel is that there are so many different interpretations people can have of this short, and so many aspects to it that allow for that. The whole short revolves around the theme of privacy. This is shown through the narrative - the balloon is almost telling him how he feels, which reflects the pressures he is under - and contrasted with the fact that he is alone throughout the film, however the balloon has a certain presence as if it is watching him.
I like the narration voice with the vintage film, wonderful for capturing emotion :)
That's why he was so good at "parking."
In any case, nice job poking the bubble. The people you were referring to are in every art department and art gallery (especially modern art galleries).
loved that opening sequence,,using just the one shot,,nice job
Wow!!! Wow... LOL Great job, guys... The balloon pulling away, such a great touch.
i keep watching it and everytime it hurts to watch it...its just such a good film
"accupuncture" hahah I get it now. Of course a balloon wouldn't like that.
Where can I get the music?? The piano piece is absolutely beautiful!!
Beautiful cinematography & excellent crane work. Very nice job guys. Good luck!
My interpretation:
He is the balloon. The lines "...sometimes I feel I can just explode..." and "I'm... descending" give it away.
The man realizes how he treated Catherine after he observes how it constantly pulls away as he reaches out for it. Until he 'pops' and just drops the note. He is shocked at his own coldness when he reads his own message in the way that Catherine probably read it.
The narrator did an absolutely fantastic job representing the two different points of view.
Great film. Ocotcopter, right? I have a friend who has one of those. Amazing take in the beginning. Good job!
I am watching this over and over again. Where can i find the background score?
Its amazing to see all of our takes on this. It shows we all see it from different perspectives.
There is not right or wrong way to view this. Art is to be interpreted however the viewer sees it. This video is wonderful.
incredible use of the "rule of thirds"....every shot was perfection becuz of it. videos like this is why i love indie films.
It is his subconsciousness speaking or expressing the inner most feelings but the ego is preventing them to surface. It felt like a huge balloon that was just about to explode and when it did, did he realize the reality that a part of him still loves her.
Beautiful scenery, plot, and music.
Fantastic work. Truly inspiring.
The problems with relationships. The internal wars that haunt us all. Great little artistic piece. Well done.
@Session7Media sounds awesome! a bit over budget concidering i just started getting interested in this whole thing.. but ill definately keep it in mind! thanks
good cinematography . i love the camera work . . . . . . .
my feelings couldn't be described so well as in this piece of art.
Great job Keith! I really enjoyed working with you on Thr33, and I'm glad to see that you're still keeping at it.
really impressive!!!! great job guys!!!
This is beautifully sad and so true for so many people.
This is really well shot and the colour grading is beautiful. Good job :)
The balloon pulling away was like how he acted to Catherine; she reached out and he pulled away, making them both sad and miserable.
This is so good...excellent even.
I like your interpretation. I got me from feeling indiferent about this. Thanks!
Amazing film! So touching and love the locations!
This is seriously an amazing piece of work....I would say its better than most shit covering our "boxes of voidless shite" that we have to "entertain"....seriously impressed, keep up the good work, ive recently just bought myself a Zi8 Kodak so I can start some hi-def filmmaking (being a drama student and all) and its really inspiring....great work...
@sgtppr There was a 3 axis radio controlled gimbal attached, so one pilot for the heli, one for the camera.
amazingly cool camera shots
amazing!!!! i loved it so much wow great work.
it was just beautiful and captivating regardless! so many meanings to be interperted
Very intelligent, I really enjoyed that, well done!
Great film! Good job
this es so good .. nice shot,nice apply rule of thirds...good work
Beautiful.
I'm french, I know English, I didn't understood the whole thing he said...
And i still love this... That mean, for me: this short film is awesome...
Wow breathtaking
dude the shots were incredible good job
yellow,lake and best picture
I love the screen play
He is the balloon. "The world as a (w)hole" part of the letter is a metaphor for him being the ballon. And everything thats happened has been blown into him. And instead of letting "the air" out bit by bit he's been collecting it there. Reaching for the ballon as he tries is impossible , iow impossible to control himself while being in the state he's in.
I was lost put this really clear things up thanks.
I enjoyed this. Very good camerawork. Great angles especially the overhead shots. How was this done? I imagined someone paragliding and filming. Film score was subtle thus effective. Great job.
the music is amazing! great job!
Very good. Great camera work. To me, the overhead shots made it. I'd like to see other works of yours. That must have taken a few shots to get the helicopter to stay lined up with the vehicle?
Omg, I love it.
The color correction is perfect
Amazing camera work!!!
wow didnt think of that but now that u explained it it makes perfect sense. thanks!
very good music and photography!
You're images are impressive. Congratulations.
wow such a good idea !!!!
amazing beautifully shot..
Great video! I love voice overs. I've done a few myself.
Ever write a hate note? Now make it a hate note to a girl you used to love? The fact that you write one implies you still care about her. And the person in this film still cares about Kathryn. He cares enough to be shocked that she did not receive his message.
No. The balloon is the narrator, the letter is from its previous owner, katherine. It drifted from her and came to the dude at the end.
You need a heck of a jib for that and an operator who knows what he's doing. So my thought is that they didn't use a jib, Especially since the image is very jumpy. If I were to achieve these results with no budget I would use a 450 Trex mini RC or some other camera mounted mini-chopper.
Wow I get it! The balloons are at different occasions like graduations and birthday parties, but they are usually ignored and feel unimportant, and thats why the balloon wants to blow up. The letter also resembles a relatonship between someone named Catherine, but things havent gone well and the husband/bf is leaving her.
Big fan of the color correction.
thumbs up~
the QUALITY..the best~
I think good art makes you think alot. This is the 6th or 7th time I edited my posts because I think about more things everytime I watch the film. It still keeps me interested after the 8th watch. But I cant feeling that what I spelled out is stupid and redundant because it must have been many others that noticed it to (if my interpretation is close to the creators idea) since it didnt win prizes for no reason. In any case it's a beautiful work and will follow the film maker with interest.
@oblivionzzzmike We used a Canon 5D which does not need a DOF adapter to use lenses with a shallow depth of field.
Really cool movie, I enjoyed watching it!
For what drafted his mind had confronted him, and the answer to seek was received.
Very well said, Sir!
@laserboy1995 Are you telling me that that one, long incredibly clear and high-quality shot in the air chasing the car is from strapping a 5d to an RC helicoptor? but.... how?
knowing it would destroy her, he kept the note to himself
This is brilliant...
Amazing! So intense and great! The quality is so good! What camera?
Where was this shot? The views are breathtaking!
im 90% sure thats where macklemore filmed otherside
Brilliant... I hope you won!
Bravo, the music was perfect, the narrator did a excellent job.
However its too bad that you had to use a plugin to fix the shaking sequences...
Now I have to add a helicopter pilot to the list of needed crew members.
@lifeartpixels A Trex 700 RC Helicopter would work pretty well and costs around $1,000. The RC gimbal to control the camera is about $400, plus a wireless video feed is another few hundred, so you could assemble the whole thing for under $2,000, not including your camera. Then you just have to learn to fly it without crashing :)
WoW! That was Great. I'm doing something similar in style to this, and I'm just wondering what you did to get the color grade,(such as bring down the saturation, Gamma ,etc?). Thanks, and again, great short film. You deserved to win.
Dang that heli-cam was awesome!
This is amazing!
I liked it. The feedback from the microphone you guys used to narrate the voice as somewhat noticeable, but nonetheless great job.
@Session7Media I was gonna ask how you got those shots... That was really good! I'd be scared to death to send my camera up on a helicopter, a damn gust would bring it to the ground in pieces, lol. How did you get the angle to change up in the air, I mean it looked like it was angling up, down, and around as you were flying.
This is amazing :D I am using a Kodak Zi8 until I can afford my DSLR - Probably a Canon 550D as my first, and a decent lens, such as 1.4 USM or 1.8 II.
How,frames,camera angles,lighting
@TheZburatorul The balloon was real, we rigged up a make-shift pulley system with fishing line and I removed it in post with After Effects. We shot it on a Canon 5D. The coloring was used to evoke a feeling of loneliness and solemnity. Thanks for writing!
What's the name of the piano piece? What a great short film!
oh... I thought it was just the balloon chatting about its life, and it was tricking us into thinking the man was talking.
all the stuff about strings attached, being at events, above people's heads,deflating and drifting I guess.