The Last 3 Minutes, a DSLR short from director Po Chang, reminds me a bit too strongly of a video released a year ago by director Chris Milk, entitled Last Day Dream. Even the titles are similar! Both videos are shot in their entirety from a first-person perspective, enabled by the small size and maneuverability of the DSLR du jour, the 5d Mark II. Here they are in chronological order (Last Day Dream was released a year before The Last 3 Minutes). NSFW language in the former:
Last Day Dream by Chris Milk
The Last 3 Minutes by Po Chang
What do you think? Is The Last 3 Minutes a blatant rip-off of Last Day Dream, or is it just coincidence? Could this be an instance of cryptomnesia? Which video do you like more?
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6 Comments
I wouldnt say a blatant ripoff. But no denying that The Last 3 Minutes was inspired by it. Lol but whose to say these guys weren't inspired by a FPS?
May 18, 2010 at 4:13PM, Edited September 4, 7:26AM
Exactly what I thought when I first saw Last 3 Minutes. L3M simply reminded me of how much I liked Last Day Dream. While one takes us from birth to death and the other from death to birth, the idea is too similar for L3M to be considered unique. Definitely inspired-by, but not a blatant rip-off.
May 18, 2010 at 4:46PM, Edited September 4, 7:26AM
I don't think its a rip off but each has their own style. I think visually The Last 3 Minutes is put together better its just that the acting is awful. The Last Day Dream seems a little better but it goes by so fast its hard to soak up all the information. If the acting in TL3M was better it would of been an amazing short. But the corny lines ruined it for me. "I love you baby, and "I want to go home". Just because you make something look amazing does not mean you should slack on getting great performances from your actors. I feel that performances are suffering lately with the new rush in HD Cameras because everyone is so obsessed with image quality and lenses etc. that they forget that you need believable performances to sell your story. I see so many god awful shorts that have been shot on the Canon 5d and 7d. They all looked beautifully amazing but I was never engaged by the story because of poor writing and terrible acting performances. As much time as we spend messing around with cameras the same amount of time should be spent structuring your script and rehearsing with your actors.
May 18, 2010 at 6:47PM, Edited September 4, 7:26AM
I definitely prefer Last Day Dream for its deft direction and economy of storytelling (as well as its effective use of music). Rob, I think you're absolutely right about HD camerawork being put above acting and directing -- The Last 3 Minutes feels like the camera angles were chosen for their beauty on a shot-by-shot basis, instead of whether they would cut together naturally and serve the story. Not to blame Shane -- he was doing (more than) his job on the short -- but the directing (and originality) leaves something to be desired.
May 18, 2010 at 8:13PM, Edited September 4, 7:26AM
Chris Milk wins hands-down. With a shorter amount of time, Chris could say it much more beautifully. Also, the music is so gripping and haunting, that you actually felt like ur watching a lifetime. And the feeling stays with you long after watching the short. I too agree with Rob. We shouldn't forget that the most imporatnt part of the movie is story and acting. If sometimes, you compromise on the rest of things, the audience might not notice, but you cannot compromise on your story and talent. Its the skeleton.
June 2, 2010 at 5:04AM, Edited September 4, 7:26AM
I prefer "The Last 3 Minutes". Although "Last Day Dream" is thought provoking, "The Last 3 Minutes" is more nostalgic and more of a "feel good" short.
May 2, 2012 at 10:47PM, Edited September 4, 7:54AM