As the presitgious film festival takes over New York this week a bold little feature flies the flag for games along with Beyond: Two Souls.

With the annual Tribeca film festival now underway all eyes are on the competition schedules. Set to debut on the circuit later today, RPG OKC, from filmmaker and writer Emily Carmichael should be on the radar of any game enthusiast and is a reminder that games are slowly creeping onto the agenda at festivals like Tribeca – in 2011, LA Noire was the first videogame to make the official selection at the event.

An entry into the Shorts In Competition: Narrative competition, RPG OKC tells the tale of an NPC romance on the bright, bubbly canvas of a throwback JRPG landscape. Thetrailer, below, conveys a rather adorable slice of homage and meta-game musings on the blurred lines between reality and 16bit fantasy that’ll be familiar to anyone who grew up hooked on the likes of Earthbound.

It’s not the only game-related property to make the cut this year, of course, as we recently reported that a special panel and screening dedicated to Quantic Dream’s Beyond: Two Souls would take place on April, 27.

RPG film competes at Tribeca today.

by Brandon Harris

“Even more memorable was Emily Carmichael’s absolutely delightful RPG OKC which with arch humor and a style all its own ruminates on the internet-fueled romance between a pair of characters in separate electronic role-playing games. The film is animated in the style of 16-bit RPG games, but Carmichael’s writing is the real show here as it gives life to the anxieties of new infatuation and the passive aggressiveness implied therein between a Final Fantasy-esque knight and some kind of desert-dwelling cat. Worthy of repeated viewings, it grows more entertaining and relevant as its 10-minute running time wears on. Seek it, OK Cupid users and Facebook stalkers, I implore you.”

via Tribeca 2013 Critic’s Notebook #3: On The Margins | Filmmaker Magazine.

The film is witty and filled with sharp dialogue that plays on pop culture, and although only 9-minutes in length, RPG OKC entertains from beginning to end.

Director Emily Carmichael‘s latest short has more heart & depth in its 9-minutes than most features and her latest triumph ”RPG OKC” reveals this. The short, which is animated and in 8-bit style of the retro games of the 90′s (ala Zelda, Transylvania, Mario) showcases the romantic story of Paul & Paquine, two characters set in different worlds, who fall in love via an internet dating site. What makes the story stand out from the pack, is the benevolence that is built between the couple and as the audience, you grow fond of the two and ultimately root for love to be triumphant over all.

There are many funny and enduring moments in the short, and one of my favorites occurs when Paul cognizes on the fact that as long as he’s been chatting with Paquine he has absolutely no clue what she looks like. When he decides to go to his brother for advice, in true brother fashion, informs him he’s probably talking to a dude. The film is witty and filled with sharp dialogue that plays on pop culture, and although only 9-minutes in length, RPG OKC entertains from beginning to end.

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Well, except for the accusation of “thinness,” (which really, who can truly object to), I’d say this is a pretty good review.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012

The Ghost and Us: Showing, Not Telling

Emily Carmichael’s horror comedy short film, The Ghost and Us, provides an excellent working example of the old screenwriting rule, Show, Don’t Tell.

In the film, Laura (Maria Dizzia), is newly married to a man she loves. Ben (Geordie Broadwater) loves her back. The problem is that Ben’s ex-wife, Sena (Moira Dennis), won’t let go. She keeps dropping by unannounced. Laura even finds Sena in the newlyweds’ bedroom, whispering sweet nothings into Ben’s ear.

Laura can’t even get a restraining order against Sena, because … Sena is dead. The woman isn’t just a stalker, she is a spiritual stalker.

(Yes, The Ghost and Us evokes Blithe Spirit.)

Despite its short length (11 minutes), The Ghost and Us provides story arcs for all three of its characters (wife, husband, dead wife). All three characters change in some small way by film’s end.

Especially admirable is the film’s mid-point scene. As Syd Field teaches, the mid-point is where one should normally place a film’s key turning point/incident — an incident that affects the main characters’ story arcs. The Ghost and Us not only achieves this, but it does so by showing, not telling.

Prior to this mid-point scene, Laura and Sena have battled and bickered over Ben’s affections. The mid-point scene begins after Laura and Sena have engaged in a temporary truce. Together, they share a snack in the kitchen. Girl stuff of the sort that bonds women.

Then it becomes apparent that Sena cannot eat. She’s a ghost.

Laura’s attempt to help Sena eat, and the latter’s realization that she’s no longer of this world, both strengthens their bond, and conveys a poignancy that lifts The Ghost and Us above a mere spook tale. Adding to the scene’s strength is that:

1. It’s conveyed visually. Rather than having the two women say nice things about each other, Carmichael shows Sena’s inability to eat, and Laura’s futile attempt to help her rival.

2. It’s not overdone or overlong. The incident occurs. It’s over. The women return to battle. (Albeit with a greater understanding of their situation, and of each other, hence, their emotional story arcs are advanced.) By not belaboring this scene, The Ghost and Us avoids the trap of cheap sentimentality.

Actually, The Ghost and Us is admirable for just having a story and characters. All too many horror films these days are just an unmotivated succession of scenes which contain nothing but gore effects.

Emily Carmichael is an NYU film school graduate whose work has screened at the Sundance Film Festival. She may be contacted at Kid Can Drive.

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More from Horror Film Aesthetics…..

Feature: PATV, Convergence and Comics

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Posted February 3, 2011 10:17 am

Penny Arcade’s humble beginnings as a web comic seem so long ago. The “brand” that is Penny Arcade is a perfect example of how something can really explode through grassroots efforts and viral marketing. Penny Arcade now includes two large expos (PAX), a charity organization for sick kids (Child’s Play) and a series of web videos (PATV).PATV is the newest of the initiatives, but it’s coming on strong with its new series Ledo and Ix. Penny Arcade President Robert Khoo (who preferred the title “Business Guy”) gave a frank and engaging interview, which included thoughts on the quality of the Green Hornet movie that sadly did not fit the scope of this interview. He did cheerfully give details about the process behind PATV’s evolution.

Emily Carmichael Creates 8-bit RPG OKC Short Film | AWN | Animation World Network.

by Patrick Hickey Jr.

The Nintendo Entertainment System meets MTV’s “Catfish,” Emily Carmichael’s “RPG OKC” is an epic love story that steals your heart. Fueled by 25-year-old gaming technology, the pop culture and nostalgia is too cool to ignore. A genuine ability at storytelling and tight editing however seal the deal. It’s one of the best short films at Tribeca this year.

Simply designed and equally as approachable, this film quickly captures your attention and holds you tight throughout. One of those “sad it has to end” shorts, Carmichael deserves a much larger canvas to play with.

At its heart, “RPG OKC” is what you get when you combine legendary video games the likes of “Dragon Warrior” and “Final Fantasy” with animated sitcoms “Adventure Time” and “Code Monkeys.” Silly, yet smart and fun, it’s a nine-minute short with plenty of staying power. When it’s over, you won’t want to leave this world. Lush, yet simple, it’s beauty without the drama, no fuss.

The aesthetics of the film are all about hiding weaknesses and showing strength. While the characters don’t speak, the audience is connected to them via solid storytelling and a hilarious script. The visuals are dated, but the sound is tight. The music hits at all the right times and when needed, the characters show just the right amount of emotion, even if it’s a blink of the eye or an attempt at sneaking past enemies. While the presentation may be inarticulate and even childish to some, Carmichael is a master at work here. She is able to get you to fall in love with this world in minutes. It’s what the Uwe Boll’s of the world dream about doing  and can’t, even with million dollar budgets. She doesn’t need any of that.

A “medieval” love story, the film introduces us to an unlikely couple, Paquine and Paul, who meet online and literally has to travel to the end of their worlds to meet up. The conversations they have with friends and family before their encounter are easily relatable. the same thing goes for their relationship. Scared to take the next step, they delete their instant messages and try to slow things down. It’s adorable, even in eight-bits. Although the visuals are animated and the story fiction, everyone will laugh. There will be a few romantic “awws” as well. Everyone has been here before. Just never quite like this.

A partial escape from reality, accompanied by a series of pop culture references and endearing characters, “RPG OKC” is a gamer geeks kind of love story, but it’ll still be a retreat for any fan of film looking for ingenuity, honesty and heart.

via Review Fix