The Vibeys!

Posted June 10 at 09:02 AM

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first-ever Vibeys presentation: a blog giving fictional awards to the top short films in the first International San Joaquin Film Festival. The Vibeys come with no cash prize or statuette, and ballots were not checked by an independent auditor. In fact, the awards are based solely on the opinion of your truly, a guy who served as a short films juror for the film fest and believes Robert Downey Jr. deserves an Oscar for “Iron Man.”

So without further ado, let’s get to the awards:

Honorable Vibeys: “Aquarium," “Sexy Thing,” “The Sidewalk.” The first two films managed to tell engaging, character-centered, coming-of-age stories despite the limits of the short format (running time for “Aquarium” is 17 minutes, for “Sexy Thing,” 14 minutes.) They have fully-developed plots with a great narrative arc, which isn’t easy to do in less than a half-hour. “Sexy Thing” goes even further by minimizing dialogue, instead using scene settings and the actors’ expressions to keep audiences involved. “Aquarium,” meanwhile, has a smart, funny script that still emotionally jars viewers with what the main character reveals near the film’s end.

“The Sidewalk” also does a great job in the short-film genre. In just four minutes, the narrator provides a gripping look at the experiences of a mugging victim. The film’s gritty subject matter is amplified by its shaky, black-and-white presentation, which can stop viewers cold.

Unseen Vibeys: “Saving San Joaquin” and “Stage Left.” These were the two local entries in the festival that, unfortunately, I didn’t get to see. Still, they deserve recognition because they are serious films created by young Stockton filmmakers. The team behind “Saving San Joaquin,” which looks at efforts to preserve the San Joaquin Delta, includes recent Middle College High School grads, “Stage Left” examines the local arts scene through the eyes of performing arts students.

Silver Vibey: “Cabbie." “Cabbie” succeeds spectacularly in the first-person comedic mockumentary genre that’s made “The Office” a television favorite. It also was robbed of an award in the film fest, which did not have a comedy category. “Cabbie” works because of a funny, pointed script and Steve Gelder’s portrayal of Marty Yacovelli, a sad sack who lives with his parents in Chicago and aspires to drive a cab. His honest, relaxed performance is hilarious and forces viewers to love his character, despite his faults. In the end, you believe Yacovelli and you root for him - which is the ultimate achievement for a mockumentary film. Keep an eye on Gelder in the future.

And finally, The Golden Vibey for cinematic achievement in the San Joaquin Film Fest: “The Drift." Wow. Even though its running time is just nine minutes, “The Drift” still managed to knock me over with its innovative production and surprisingly gripping plot. Happy, brightly-colored promotional photos from the 1960s glide by as a gritty narrator tells a story of how America’s aspirations took away its innocence. Call it a creative mystery. Call it an experimental drama. However you want to classify it, by the end, you’ll call it incredible.

Check back later for more on the first International San Joaquin Film Festival and a list of the actual festival award winners. -Ian Hill / 209Vibe editor