Finger Ring: The Proposal

You two have excellent physical comedy! So funny to watch!

You nailed Comedy of Errors, not just with the story, but with every moment of chaos, supported by the shots, the timing, and the editing.

I really thought it was leading up to her choking but it didn't! It was delightful! Such a sweet film that left me feeling happy for those lovely made up people haha!

What got my attention:
Golly gosh, the performances are so hard to watch, but this, of course, is just what you wanted. Loved the prepping to the portrait, and hey, I have the same spin cycle! The chair pushing in and subsequent bouncing was so well done. Lands the genre well with comedic error after error after error – to a point of frustration! Nicely shot, good sound, and I enjoyed the ad that played.

Take it or leave it:
One thing people might pick up on is that nothing leaves the one room, which makes the whole staging a little bland. It’s a dinner date, so fair enough, but the whole film then rests on the characters. And while they do a good job, the weirdness of the leads and OTT extended facial expressions do get a bit much – we get they’re weirdos perfectly suited to each other. It’s a fine line in how far you push the one shtick.

Final hot air:
Played great at the screening and certainly made many people both laugh and feel uncomfortable at the same time. “Who are these people?” my friend said to me at one point, and “What are we watching?” So, if those sort of questions were your intent – perfect!

Funny! Go improv team!
Music, humour everything! And nice to have a happy ending too!
It felt like a natural comedy of errors!

Classic subtle comedy to carry us through the story. Loved the song choice in the back which fit that quirky/fun vibe nicely

Oh breadsticks you crazy bunch! I always look forward to you two going crazy with the over acting, and this time it all came together in a slightly uncomfortable but hilarious way! The music is such a treat! You’re really playing to your strengths this year!

My friends in team Breadstick, I was so pleased to be in the same heat as you, and I'm so glad we've both made the shortlist. There's nothing I would love more than to see your beautiful, character-driven film in the finals.

Breadstick is an A-team delivering excellent acting, writing, directing, cinematography, art direction, editing, and music. It's great to see how you're growing as a creative team and showing strong skills that I didn't even know some of you had! This film is a big step up from your already brilliant film last year.

The actors commit to their roles and it absolutely works. Such strong physical comedy and character comedy. I am completely vested in the story. Don't change a thing! It is the absolute conviction, commitment, and physicality in your characters that makes this film work.

The comedy of errors is so good. Constantly upping the ante, building tension and setting me on edge as we await the climactic conclusion. I am gushing over the charming romance and rooting for the characters, even as I anticipate Emily's inevitable sticky end. Then you turn the tables on my expectations, for a surprising, beautiful ending. The precise flight of the ring amazed me both in its execution and in its mirroring of your flying gnome of yesteryear.

A challenge for next time could be to push boundaries with camera angles and colour grading to create an even more distinctive look. Also get a cleaner recording of the dialogue to add the finishing touches to an already-strong soundtrack. There's no substitute for a boom mic (with a windsock if you do another outdoor film).

This film did awkward in the funniest way! You established the vibe very quickly and stayed consistent throughout. I have to admit I didn’t really ‘get’ the picture with the voices at the beginning, but once the dinner scene began I was hooked.
The genre was done so well, with funny moment after funny moment ramping up the action. Dinner scenes can feel static – but the character actions and shots kept the pace moving and the film engaging.
I was waiting for a choking-on-the-ring scene that felt set up to go and was pleasantly surprised when you went another way. The ring sailing through the air to land on the finger was a great moment!
Echoing other reviewers, the acting was standout - the couple feels like the weirdest and most perfect soulmates for eachother. You really made me root for them throughout, so the happy ending was very satisfying.