By Omeleto
.
.
Frederick is an artist, gallery owner and art world scion struggling with inspiration and fresh ideas. His work isn’t resonating or gaining any attention, and critics mock his paintings as derivative.
But after a period of agitation, he comes across a new set of ideas that pulls him into a more sinister direction in his work. His own life and self also seem to darken — something that doesn’t escape the notice of a detective investigating a series of local murders.
Directed by Traci Hays and written by Josh Mann (who also plays the lead role of Frederick), this short dramatic thriller is a cerebral exploration of how far one artist will go for inspiration, and just how far he will go to achieve it. Told with a stylized panache that suits its main character, it moves quickly and builds up a central mystery about the blurred lines between life and art.
The storytelling quickly immerses viewers into a stylish but cloistered milieu, a pocket of the art world in its mix of grit and glamour. Accompanied by a foreboding, rich musical score, the film quickly lays its intriguing building blocks in place, almost like a Cubist painting. Each piece of the story offers a slightly different angle on Frederick, from his ravenous need to make his mark to his contempt for the uncultured around him.
Frederick is the namesake and central character of the film, and his decisions and perspectives drive the momentum forward. With terrifically stylized dialogue, Frederick is played by Mann with commitment and intensity. Frederick is erudite, embittered, cold and driven, with an unmistakable dark side. He’s compelling to watch because he simply doesn’t care about the people around him, and he’s willing to pursue his creative vision to its extreme ends.
The dramatic question becomes how far he will go to succeed, and just how blurred the lines are between his dark art and his real life. When a detective enters the picture pursuing a series of murders, the pace intensifies — sweeping into a thrilling, surprising conclusion that’s richly ironic.
What makes “Frederick” so compelling and resonant is how the film’s surprises dovetail with the apex of Frederick’s vision, implicating both his gallery audience and even viewers themselves. Through deft storytelling and moody stylishness, the short tantalizes with its possibilities of violence and sensationalism. It fulfills them, with a twist — one that provokes questions of why we want to delve into the darkness, what we hope to find there, and what that says about us.
Transcript provided by YouTube:
[Music]
so
[Music]
so
what do you think
are you affiliated with the gallery
no
it’s a wannabe rothko
the painting is not about an experience
it is an experience
what rothko
all artists are willing to suffer for
their work
but why are so few prepared to learn how
to draw
banksy
i mean who needs art school
you inherit your father’s empire right
the fact that people call this art
so what’s wrong with our society even
the name of the show art is art
so pretentious
rothko had feeling
this has nothing
tell me how you really feel
so why are you here
i’m an artist
have you done anything i might have seen
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
flashback to new york’s fashion week and
while those models showing off the
latest designs are impossibly thin and
beautiful several models police are in
high pursuit of a murder suspect in a
downtown shooting after a series of
shootings earlier this year police are
unclear how many victims there actually
are that’s right linda at least one
woman was in fact killed but her
identity has not been released
the shooting began
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
so
[Music]
[Music]
come in you know that anonymous phone
call we got about the girl in the field
you don’t really miss somebody well one
of our guys found a knife down there at
the scene
now forensic said that it was crafted
out of a paintbrush
paintbrush yeah
i’m having some doubts about this
keep smiling
better
[Music]
you’re the most beautiful girl who’s
ever sat in that chair
your skin it’s
very sexy
what i’m trying to say is
you don’t need
photoshop thanks
so what’s this all about
every man is a creature of the age in
which he lives very few are able to
raise themselves above the ideas of
their time
huh voltaire
what do you want
to be remembered
totally
[Music]
but when do i get paid
that’s odd
brooker joe
how’d you get past the doorman
nypd
detective marx i need to talk to you
about your i’m in the middle of a
session won’t take long just a couple of
questions
i heard about you
inheriting all those galleries
oh
you’re an art connoisseur
i look like somebody who gives a [ __ ]
about art
not really
don’t have the time and patience for it
besides
some of us have to work for a living
so tell me
what made you do it
do what
you know
no i don’t know
would you mind waiting in the other room
please
thank you
who’s a girl
she’s a professional model and i’m
painting her
bro
[Music]
so you have any idea why i’m here
where’s your smile
it’s what’s called a glasgow smile
it’s a wound
caused by making small cuts on the
corners of her mouth
then
beating her until the muscles in the
face contract
causing the cuts to extend up the cheeks
to the victim’s ears
this leaves a scar in the shape of a
smile
which leaves the victim appearing
smiling
when she’s dying
riveting
so this piece based on something in
particular
what you see is what you see
you got a fascination with blood
it just reflects the violence in our
culture
it’s a shiv
the blade is a human bone a finger
actually
a serial killer in prison bit it off and
used it as a weapon
inspiring
you ever make a shield frederick
you all right miss
her name’s victoria
she’s fine
victoria if you’re uncomfortable you’re
free to go anytime
it’s fine i thought i had another
appointment
but i don’t
well i do appreciate the conversation
but my time is very limited i got this
big show coming up at the end of the
week you never answered my question i
don’t need to what’s in here
storage
okay
never seen this girl
afraid not how about you
no never
where were you on october 15th about 10
30 p.m here painting anyone confirmed
that yeah this girl i was dating olivia
schneider google her don’t leave town
why would i ever leave this is new york
here’s my card
you took care of yourself
let’s face it at least it wasn’t a
picasso
in the 1940s
a nazi officer visited picasso’s studio
in paris
while standing in front of the painting
guernica
he said oh it was you who did this
and picasso said no
it was you
have a lovely day
cry
cry for me
in the eyes
it’s
piercing welcome to the gallery
yes
thank you for coming
it’s an honor
if you’ve been following the news you
might have heard about the three models
recently gone missing unfortunately the
police have not been able to solve this
case
i believe art is the solution to
problems like this
people have often criticized my work but
after tonight the public’s opinion of me
will change
after all there’s nothing more dangerous
than someone who wants to make the world
a better place
it all started with an image
and a painting
then this
[Music]
on the floor hands on your head now
now
uh
now they’re gonna see you
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
you
—
This post was previously published on YouTube.
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