• WRITTEN, ANIMATED & DIRECTED BY:

      Austin Kimmell​

• PRODUCED AT:

     Massachusetts College of Art &                   Design

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Although I had made some minor things before it, I would consider Critiqué to be my very first film - the first film of mine that had a narrative and tone and vision behind it. A distorted and muddled vision, yes, but a vision nonetheless.

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The very first iteration of the film was in a little comic strip I made around late 2015. In the original ending, you saw the artist create his final work to a much more divisive response. In my original storyboard, that original ending proved funny in the comic, but lacking severely on film. I learned a real hard lesson in discretion that day, and the further animatics got a better response. I also learned comedies tend to be funnier when they have more than one joke, and if they only have one, it better be good. Critiqué's punchline has gotten a mixed reception over the years, but I'm glad to have tried to swing for the fences on day one.

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The use of cut-out was mandated by the teacher, Jake Fried, but I feel the film wouldn't be the same without it. It adds this gangly, DIY grit to this tale of arthouse snobbery. I'd honestly like to revisit it in the future.

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For a freshman year film, Critiqué feels sophomoric to me - especially in the callousness of its content. Most folks aren't sure what to think of it, which makes me either a genius or a hack and I'm inclined to lean towards the latter. Dark comedies are things I enjoy to make, but I'm glad my films have gained more humanity as time has gone on. Critiqué set me off on the path of making break-neck, comedic animation with a distinct point of view, and while it's hard to connect with now, I'm grateful for what its production had taught me about myself.

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