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Hosts criticize student short about paperboy, describe it as low-budget and brief
Summary
On the return episode, Big Picture hosts reviewed a 4-minute black-and-white student short directed by Aaron Burke and starring Shannon Grizzle; the hosts criticized its production choices, discussed casting and makeup, and issued on-air ratings.
Brad Paulson and Ben reviewed a short student film shown during the Big Picture broadcast, identifying Aaron Burke as the director and Shannon Grizzle as the actor who played the paper boy.
Paulson described the short as a four-minute, black-and-white, largely silent chase film about "a bully that chases after a paper boy on his paper delivery route." He said the short includes a bike chase and called the film "an action" short because of the chase sequence.
Paulson and Ben criticized elements of the production. Paulson noted that the actor Shannon had to shave to appear younger; he described a production workaround where the director hired an older actor and used makeup and shaving to make him appear younger. Paulson said the director shot some sequences in slow motion so an actor who did not pedal fast "actually look[ed] like he's putting forth energy." Ben said the film had low production values and complained that there were "no women in this movie," describing that absence as a shortcoming.
On-air ratings: Paulson gave the student film "3 Arnold's" in the show’s rating system. Ben gave the film "a half an Arnold." The hosts emphasized the film’s short running time — Paulson said, "This movie is only, like, 4 minutes long." Both acknowledged the film’s limited reach before airing; Paulson said no more than a handful of people had seen it prior to the broadcast.
Why it matters: public access or local cable programs can be an early exhibition outlet for student filmmakers. The hosts’ critique gives local filmmakers public feedback on production choices such as casting, makeup, pacing and the presence of diverse characters.
What the broadcast did not provide: the program did not supply a formal critique rubric, scoring criteria beyond the show’s in-house rating labels, or specific contact information for the filmmakers beyond naming Aaron Burke and Shannon Grizzle on air.
