The Morning Watch: ‘Blade Runner’ Video Essay, FaceTime Horror Short ‘Where Is It’ & More
(The Morning Watchis a recurring feature that highlights a handful of noteworthy videos from around the web. They could be video essays, fanmade productions, featurettes, short films, hilarious sketches, or just anything that has to do with our favorite movies and TV shows.)
In this edition, a new video essay explores howRidley Scottcombined the thematic elements of classic film noir and mixed them into a sci-fi, dystopian future. Plus, watch a suspenseful horror short calledWhere Is Itas the Halloween month of October inches closer, and see what wackinessTim HeideckerandEric Wareheimare up to now onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
A new video essay fromLessons from the Screenplaylooks at howBlade Runnerdoesn’t insignificantly echo the tropes of film noir from decades passed, but rather uses them to express the complex morality at the heart of the dystopian sci-fi world in which the story unfolds. It’s the perfect primer beforeBlade Runner 2049hits theaters next week.
Since Halloween is just around the corner, why not spend a few minutes scaring yourself with this suspenseful horror shortWhere Is Itfrom directorsZak WhiteandTodd Spence. We’ve seen FaceTime used to create tension and suspense before, but this one is particularly impressive because it’s done with what appears to be only two cuts on the primary FaceTime camera, and only when the camera is flipped from front-facing mode to selfie mode.
Finally, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim stopped byThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertlast night to talk about a sensitive subject. Tim Heidecker has been going through a divorce, and the only thing that has helped him cope is clowning around with his pal Eric Wareheim. It’s all part of a new show that they plan to bring to Broadway, one that combines clowning around with warning children about the struggles of divorce.
