'Short of Perfection' is July 2020's Film of the Month winner

We are very pleased to announce that the July 2020 winner of our Film of the Month competition is Short of Perfection, from filmmaker Max in Havering, East London. See the winning film above!

Short of Perfection (Engaging for 14+) is a thought-provoking short film about whether you can ever really know someone's intentions.

We got in touch with Max to find out more about his film.

How did you get started making films?

I have been making films for about three years now. I first started doing comedy skits on my YouTube channel with my friends.

What inspired you to make Short of Perfection?

Short of Perfection was made with leftover footage from a media project, as due to the lockdown, we couldn't finish the module. As we spent ages on the production and pre-production we didn't want the hard work to go to waste. So I decided to write a short monologue that contradicted the footage we filmed and we thought it worked well with it.

We love the ambiguity of your film - how would you like an audience to understand Short of Perfection?

We really wanted the film to be ambiguous for an audience member and let them decide their reading on where the story goes. The piece is based on the idea that people can hide their true feelings behind a smile and no one can truly understand another person just based upon their exteriors and how they appear to be.

Can you tell us a little about the wider team who help with your films?

We had a very small team for this production, Joe worked on production design as well as having a massive creative impact on the piece. Archie performed brilliantly as the masked boy. I have worked with Joe and Archie on most of my productions, and as with all of them, it wouldn't be possible without their support and hard work. The narration is performed by Finley. This is the third time working with Finley and with every time he gives an equally incredible performance.

If you could make Short of Perfection again what would you do differently, and why?

If we made Short Of Perfection again we would give ourselves more time. This was filmed on the last day of college before lockdown, and as we didn't know this was the case at the time, certain ideas and shots had to be cut. Looking back, I would also love to work on the way we incorporated sound into the piece, as I thought that it could've been more effective for the final product.

Are there are any films or filmmakers who influenced Short of Perfection?

The works of Alfred Hitchcock and Martin Scorsese really influenced us; the trope of the twisted protagonist really interested us and we wanted to give it a shot. During this time films such as Joker were popular so we fused the work from our influences with our own signature to create something that feels personal to us.

What three tips would you give a young filmmaker about to make their first short film?

1. Work with what you got. Trying to make a film using the locations, crew, equipment around you can be a brilliant way to learn about films. It's like being chucked in the deep end; giving yourself a challenge can help you appreciate the hard work and dedication that is needed.

2. Have fun! When making your first film it's important to have fun. Making films and movies is one of the most rewarding experiences, and having fun while doing it can make for some brilliant memories - and make you want to create more and more. 

3. Don't be afraid to fail. Your first film isn't always your best - that's the beauty of your first one. The first is something to look fondly back on. You'll learn so much more for not being afraid to get it wrong as well as having a blast at the same time. Be inspired to make your second film, rather than just being satisfied by your first.

Max's film will now be showcased to over 300,000 film club members online and all of our Film of the Month films are now on the Into Film YouTube channel, and he has also secured a £100 Amazon voucher to help further develop their future films. Think you could win Film of the Month? Find out more about how you can enter our ongoing Film of the Month competition.

If you've been inspired by Short of Perfection then make sure to check out the following films:

• Knives Out (2019, 12, 130 mins) Engaging for ages 14+
  The classic whodunit gets a twist in this tongue in cheek crime drama that sees a wealthy family fall into chaos when the patriarch is found dead n his 85th birthday.

• Rear Window (1954, PG, 109 mins) Engaging for ages 11+
  Alfred Hitchcock thriller that sees a reporter stuck in his apartment with a broken leg, and sees suspicious activity out his window.

• Whiplash (2014, 15, 102 mins) Engaging for ages 14+
  Riveting psychological drama about a young jazz drummer and his demanding tutor.

• Shutter Island (2010, 15, 132 mins) Engaging for ages 14+
  Set in the 1950s, this thriller sees a US Marshal investigating a disappearance at an isolated asylum.