Filmmaker Noam Kroll and comedian Luke Barnett have released a short film titled “Ovation,” which has garnered over one million views on social media platforms Instagram and X within nine days of launch. The five-minute film explores what actors may think during standing ovations, a concept inspired by Joaquin Phoenix’s reaction during a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival.
In “Ovation,” the film focuses on Barnett’s facial expressions as he experiences an endless round of applause at the fictional 2028 Cannes Film Festival. Through a single take, Barnett’s character transitions from gratitude to boredom, concluding with a humorous title card. The production took five days, with a modest budget that primarily involved renting a soundstage for two hours.
Instead of using digital backgrounds, the filmmakers opted for a simple approach by enlisting friends to act as extras, emphasizing Barnett’s performance, which was captured with limited equipment in a confined space. Although the film was designed for festival circuits, Kroll and Barnett released it online to capitalize on its fresh concept and viral potential, leading to significant viewership and engagement.
- Why it matters:
- This film illustrates how creative ideas can be executed with minimal resources, potentially inspiring independent filmmakers.
- The online success of “Ovation” suggests new distribution models for indie films in the digital age.
- The latest: The filmmakers plan to keep options open for future festival submissions despite initial online release success.
Source: https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/ovation-short-film-cannes-parody-interview-1235155988/
Source: https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/ovation-short-film-cannes-parody-interview-1235155988/