Cinema 16 - American Short Films

With over three hours of films CINEMA16: AMERICAN SHORT FILMS is essential viewing for anyone with an interest in the moving image. The release of CINEMA16: AMERICAN SHORT FILMS follows the success of CINEMA16’s first collection of British short films - featuring Chris Nolan, Ridley Scott, Mike Leigh, Stephen Daldry, Lynne Ramsay and Peter Greenaway amongst others - and it’s follow-up EUROPEAN SHORT FILMS -featuring Lars von Trier, Jean Luc Godard and Lukas Moodysson – further demonstrating it’s dedication to this important area of filmmaking.

An engrossing, eclectic collection of the most striking short films made by many of America's most respected directors. Includes The Lunch Date - Adam Davidson; Carmen - Alexander Payne; The Discipline Of D.E. - Gus Van Sant; Daybreak Express - D.A. Pennebaker; Vincent - Tim Burton; Terry Tate: Office Linebacker; The Wraith Of Cobble Hill - Adam Parrish King; Freiheit - George Lucas; Feelings - Todd Solondz; Terminal Bar - Stefan Nadelman; Necrology (Roll Call Of The Dead) - Standish Lawder; George Lucas In Love - Joe Nussbaum; Meshes Of The Afternoon - Maya Deren; Five Feet High And Rising - Peter Sollett; Paperboys - Mike Mills; Screen Test: Helmut - Andy Warhol.

Titles

DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warp Films - Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Warp Films - Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	Between 3 minutes to 41 minutes each - see list below TOTAL: 209 minutes
Video	Various Aspect Ratios Average Bitrate: 4.15 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	French, Italian, Spanish, German, Japanese, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warp Films Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio mostly 1.33:1 + 1.85 (non anamorphic) Edition Details: 1.The Lunch Date (Dir. Adam Davidson, 1990, 11 mins) 2.Carmen (Dir. Alexander Payne, 1985, 18 mins) 3.The Discipline Of D.E. (Dir. Gus Van Sant, 1982, 13 mins) 4.Daybreaker Express (Dir. D.A. Pennebaker, 1953, 5 mins) 5.Vincent (Dir. Tim Burton, 1982, 6 mins) 6.Terry Tate: Office Linebacker (Dir. Rawson Marshall Thurber, 2003, 4 mins) 7.The Wrath of Cobble Hill (Dir. Adam Parrish King, 2005, 15 mins) 8.Freiheit (Dir. George Lucas, 1966, 3 mins) 9.Feelings (Dir. Todd Solondz, 1984, 4 mins) 10.Terminal Bar (Dir. Stefan Nadelman, 2002, 22 mins) 11.Necrology: Roll Call of the Dead (Dir. Standish Lawder, 1969-70, 12 mins) 12.George Lucas in Love (Dir. Joe Nussbaum, 1999, 8 mins) 13.Meshes of the Afternoon (Dir. Maya Deren, 1943,15 mins) 14.Five Feet High and Rising (Dir. Peter Sollett, 1999, 29 min) 15.Paperboys (Dir. Mike Mills, 2001, 41 mins) 16.Screen Test: Helmut (Dir. Andy Warhol, 1964, 5 mins) Commentary on Daybreaker Express with D.A. Pennebaker Commentary on Terry Tate: Office Linebacker by Rawson Marshall Thurber Commentary on The Wrath of Cobble Hill by Adam Parrish King Commentary with George Lucas on Freiheit Commentary on Feelings recorded by Jordi Costa, author of Todd Solondz: En Los Suburbios de la Felicidad Commentary on Terminal Bar with Stefan Nadelman Commentary on Necrology: Roll Call of the Dead by Standish Lawder Commentary on George Lucas in Love with Joe Nussbaum and producer Joseph Levy Commentary on Five Feet High and Rising with Peter Sollett and producer Eva Vives 16-page liner notes booklet with color photos and descriptions included DVD Release Date: June 5th, 2006 Keep Case Chapters: 16 (one each)

Comments:

Although this DVD is dual layered it is neither anamorphic (for the few widescreen shorts) nor progressive, hence it suffers from interlacing problems - see last capture. Otherwise the image quality looks quite true - without undue digital manipulation. Certainly tube acceptable. There are optional subtitles in French, Italian, Spanish, German and Japanese although many of the shorts have no dialogue. The best feature is the 9 added commentaries including such names as Lucas, Solondz and Pennebaker offering interpretation during their films. In a few cases producers join in the commentary.

Overall, this DVD has immense value to see some interesting, humorous and experimental short films that would otherwise be impossible to see. I'm very glad Warp Films have brought it to DVD accessibility. I can't see many film fans not being curious enough to make the purchase. It truly is a great collection.