Elijah's Ladder

What a powerful film. So impressed it was a solo project, and your film poster is perfect for this too. I don't even know if I can find words to convey what watching this was like. It gripped, and it left me feeling all kinds of things. I needed a beat afterwards to process, and I wanna go watch it again.

Repeating the words as you climbed built the anticipation. I wanted to see what you saw, I wanted to connect the dots too. The whole thing felt like a poem.

So, so good.

Also your team intro was great haha.

A stairwell, a cellphone camera, intrusive thoughts, and a trip to Warehouse Stationery is all you needed to create one of the most effective character pieces 48Hours has had in a while. By accepting severe limitations, your film forces the audience to interpret what exactly Elijah is going through. A creative risk that paid off. An thoroughly engaging film. Top stuff!

This was the most memorable film of the evening. An extremely heartfelt film, clearly based on the real-world experiences of somebody. As a conservative Christian I found this deeply thought-provoking, a valuable reminder that some people's experience of religion is sadly one of hate rather than love, and a personal challenge.

From a filmmaking perspective, the film starts very humorously, and draws the viewer into the serious topics being addressed in a gradual manner, gradually stepping "up the ladder" in a way that keeps the viewer engaged with Elijah's experiences without ever feeling "preachy". An enormous amount of information and emotion is conveyed with a small number of carefully chosen words and well crafted delivery.

I enjoyed speaking with Mark after the heat, and am very impressed that he was able to film this in only half the weekend, having also filmed for another team before beginning this! From what I've seen so far, this would be my pick for best solo/duo film. Well done.

For me I was really drawn into the film, big time, and its a strong reminder to everyone that a lot of the most successful shorts are a slice of action. There's a reason they changed the time limit to 5 minutes max in this comp and this is a perfect example of how to make your short work and stand out.

An intriguing, surreal and surprising film that calls to mind several genre films from yesteryear. The looping staircase, the mysterious 'Elijah', and our protagonist who were are genuinely along for the ride with whether POV up the stairs or straight into their eyeballs for comedic relief.

Where the film shone was by breaking up any idea of the stairs being mundane by ramping up the revelations with each beat. From a simple action, to a relationship reveal to dark familial territory it was never obvious where the film was going to go.

A journey that may divide audiences, but I felt absolutely captivated by. Great work Mark!

What got my attention:
Intentionally unsettling in the continual, literal journey up the staircase symbolising both the struggles with sexuality but also, since the camera follows around and around on repeat, the frustration with feeling like you’re going around and around with finding yourself. The discovery of little treasures that trigger happy and painful memories was super clever, and we got a fully committed performance from our lead.

Take it or leave it:
As we pretty much saw the same stairwell (given the position of the cars outside didn’t change are we to surmise that this was intentional (the going round-and-round bit) or just efficient film-making and not wanting to traverse the stairs over and over? Probably all three - and smart! However, you do look out for the cuts (hope they are there ha-ha as it is well edited) which did pull me out of it a bit. Likewise, the close-ups on the eyes are wildly out of focus, but again, you can claim it was an intentional choice and get away with it – the lack of clarity of our sole character. It’s sure a risk to do things on repeat, but you are drawn in and intrigued at what our lead will find next to haunt or inspire him.

Final hot air:
A really heartfelt, absorbing short that is no doubt very personal. You could argue that a lot of the situations are cliché, but I imagine that is the experience and the frustration with it. And who am I to argue with that? Great job!

Loved your film. So good. So so sad, that's such a distressing experience for Elijah, and for the parent. I hope the entire family shunned the church and stuck together. Made me want to cry.
I love this is a solo film, so inspirational.
Such a veteran of 48Hrs, of course you pulled it off!
Just brilliant

This film is one of the very very few films in the festival that has made me feel anything. You can tell how deeply personal this film is and it demands the audiences respect and attention because of it. I loved the metaphor of the staircase and the way we found things along the way, like we were getting a tour of someone else’s life. If I had one note, and it is a small and subjective one, Im split on if I like that he reaches the top of the stairs. I understand why it that choice was made seeing as it’s the culmination of the events of preceding, and the conclusion to the story. But it also has the underlying implications that he gets married and that’s the last interesting or notable thing that ever happens to him. That’s the end of his story. I think a different way to do it is just have him get off the stairs at that floor, in a “this is my stop” kinda way, but have the stairs keep going.

All in all an amazing film and truly a piece of art!

This film has grown on me more and more after the screening, it was an experience, and I mean that in a really good way!
It was extremely beautiful in a way that's quite difficult to describe. The simplicity of your setting really made us focus on the character, and made every new element brought in hit all that much harder.
It felt like a mix of many different emotions, subtle at times, and not so subtle at others, yet not confusing or too chaotic at any point.

As others have said, this is a very heartfelt film that tells it's story beautifully!
Well done!

This was so funny and Ernest. Excellent use of the medium; the inventive shot choices were executed with technical excellence, alongside an effective, powerful sound mix.

Such a trip, such a journey, such a delight to watch in the heats. The funny start, either intentional or unintentional works either way to let the audiences guard down. Suddenly, it gets so much deeper than I ever expected, and the laughs turned to gasps and the film reinvented the 48hour format. No notes. Nothing to add or takeaway from the technical elements here, because they work exactly as intended. Surely best solo award. Really beautiful work here Mark ❤️

Incredibly well done! I'm only just now learning that you were a solo team so double congratulations because you've absolutely crushed it! I was so moved, I was clutching my heart watching this during the heats. So impressive to have so much emotional depth in such a short film let alone one made in 48 hours!

It’s not often a film will suck the air out of a room at heat. The type of silence brought on by a deep sense of community, respect and engagement. It’s even less often that this silence was preempted by laughter just seconds earlier.

In this way Elijah’s Ladder reminded me of Hannah Gadby’s Nanette. We were all taken along for a ride before having the rug pulled from underneath us. And I imagine this was very much the point. For a moment we were all back at high school, hearing titters about the boy who paints his nails.

To be able to turn this playground mirror, within 5 short minutes, to deeply personal moments of self-expression, anxiety and trauma was not only powerful but also shows a deft directorial hand in Mark. It’s not the structure we expect from a short film, so to have the confidence to tell a story in a linear manner, aided by both metaphorical and literal stairs was exceptional.

This film was incredibly special, and had the biggest impact for us this year.
Elijah’s journey was so specific to the queer experience. Finding items along the way, the meaning associated with each as part of the larger narrative of Elijah’s life, the moments external words become internalized, and how you can interpret each repeated line in different ways with each tonal difference all draws you in.
The intensity of the findings and events of Elijah’s life ramp up, building tension, and a deep pain for what this character experiences. And then… Elijah is in love – something which cannot undo the things that came before but which is a beautiful and hopeful finale. To experience queer love and to be yourself accepted in love both drives one to endure the painful parts and is a balm to it.
I suppose there are many ways to interpret this story, but a great film is one where the audience can shape meaning through their own experiences, and your film allows this on such a deep level. Elijah’s ladder is a beautiful short that proves that films do not need to be high-budget slick productions to have a lasting impact.
As a side note – thank you for your incredibly kind and thoughtful reviews for our films also. Long may we continue to see moving queer stories in the performing arts indeed!

Kubrickian. Is that a word? Anyway, a film that Stanley would be proud of, I'm confident. The corridors, the Kubrick stare, meticulous composition. This has Auteur written all over it.
While I'm less qualified to comment on any biblical reference, I would bet it has that by the truck too.
All power to you, Mark

As a builder of 20+ years I’ve climbed ladders, but I didn’t see any here. Did you mean to say Jacob’s ladder? But even then, I still could not see a ladder.

I asked my wife to watch it, and she couldn’t see any either. She wondered when it was set, I thought maybe 1990.

Maybe watch something like toy story, and have another go next year.

This was a really really special film and resonated with me a great deal. I think the audience will take their own meaning from things and attach themselves to different details.
What I took from this was a deeply personal story from the creator, told to us through the eyes of Elijah. I felt like navigating the liminal space with artefacts and messages from pivotal moments in his life showed the audience the impact of these seemingly small things and the cumulative impact they have. It offers us a glimpse into the psyche of a gay man who has experienced religious and interpersonal trauma, and who in learning to love and accept himself, has found love in another person.
What a BEAUTIFUL film - no notes. I REALLY look forward to seeing this at the city finals and cheering you on <3

Beautiful, funny and provocative film. Great use of a single location.

After our first watch we sat in silence for quite a while, before I let out "That film has made me think a whole lot more than I expected it to". But boy oh boy do I so deeply appreciate the surprise. This film really is what this competition is all about. We've had a number of films this year present an opportunity to step into ones shoes, and I'd say this is the one that really hit the home run on that idea, a truly remarkable effort (reMARKable, you might say).

I'm so mad we couldn't give this film more award praise! Its format is so unique; the use of genre so deeply intertwined with such a personal point of view. The shooting style and sound mix is fantastic, and lets not forget that this was put together before/after Mark helped Michael shoot Toot Toots film! What an undeniable showcase of just getting on with it, shooting your shot, and landing nothing but net.

Mark achieved capturing the audience in with a few giggles initially, to then keeping us hooked as we come to realise how many layers (or floors) are built into this story. This film has captured that same special place in my heart that "Hi Santa, it's Charlie" captured last year. It probably is my favourite one to come out of christchurch this year, the biggest surprise and most memorable one for sure. I think it would be a worthy addition to the grand finals, something that would truly stick out for it's unique format and delivery.

THE BEST THING: Just an absolute master class in how to rock up to this competition, walk up stairs for a bit and make everyone gape at the talent on display like it was nothing to you. Everyone needs to take notes!

THE NEXT THING: How about a children's book of this story? I'm not kidding! I'd read it to my kids if I had some to read it to. There are lessons to be learned and sometimes you just need to find the right medium to learn them in - for some, that will be watching this film. As for next year, I have zero notes, bring us Elijah's elevator if you wish, or something completely knew, we're absolutely fizzing for it!

Such a special film, so glad to see this at finals. POV is such a difficult genre to pull off, and to bring together something like this is something I massively admire. Have really loved the discussions this has generated with friends, the sorts of discussions you wouldn't typically expect to come out of a 48 hours film. Thank you for sharing this film with us all, it is one I will never forget! Hoping Fruitstorm returns next year, as well as your hilarious work with Toot Toot :)