PREG-GO!

This is comedy of eminent quality with some really enjoyable performances.

The deliberate pace of the edit builds a sense of frustration about the slow, interruption-ridden drive. As the urgency of the film ramps up, the team has some great fun contrasting the pace and intensity of consecutive shots. The punctuated use of music to contrast between calm and hectic shots is exquisite.

Overall a really logical plot, with intentional absurdity along the way bringing so much of the comedy. For example, the McDonald's asides make no sense but are a fun commentary on how in love young kiwi couples are with McDonald's and how essential this love story is to any road trip.

The crash scene was really well executed, with great integration between the miniature and interior shots and great use of slow motion.

The best use of parallel parking I've ever seen in a film. Period.

I would love to see more from this team as you collaborated really well. Your first placing in the heat audience favourites and your appearance on the Christchurch shortlist were well-deserved. This film could absolutely have reached the finals had the cards fallen a little differently. The comedy is high-quality and the film is dripping with 48Hours energy which is exactly what I love to see. Perhaps bringing in some fancier camera equipment, colour grading, etc would help tip you into the finals. Also more extras to call in if needed (for example in the protest scene).

You were far from the only team to feature toy cars and pedestrians being run over, but you did a great job of these gags and made them really entertaining.

This was awesome! A worthy shortlist entry!

Great gags, surprisingly committed performances hahaha and a wholesome ending with a clearly plastic baby. Was so cool to come visit you guys over the shoot weekend!

Only two things we really want to bring to your attention:

A lot of the pacing is great, but there are some choices that work against the overall product rather than enhance it. In particular, that McDonald’s joke just pulled us out of the intensity and pushed the film into something sillier than it maybe should have been.

The interior stuff was just a bit too dark! Have a crack at your colouring skills over the next year, and make sure your exposure settings are good before you shoot.

THE BEST THING: Bonkers idea paired with high energy and commitment -good stuff!

THE NEXT THING: Come back again next year and bring that same energy! It was so much fun, and we can see real promise from you in the future.