Overview

During the pandemic, many find themselves feeling restrained or hopeless. The student short film “Happy” was about the lives of the film makers, who are just trying to enjoy themselves, undercut with a serene set of acoustic guitars for it’s soundtrack and a lack of dialouge to puncuate the strong camera work.

The film was a part of the Oswego Film Clubs “Fresh Fest,” where students are arranged into random groups and a simple prompt that they must then make a movie out of. “Happy Won” three awards for it’s submission. Including “Best Editing,” “Best Cinematogrophy,” and “Audience Choice.” 

The film eschews an over arching plotline, instead opting to showcase the smaller moments of it’s characters. People building rock cairns, watching sports with their friends and enjoying the outdoors. Often the shorts best moments are in it’s still and quiet shots of nature, where the camera is able to focus in on individual details, like dew on tree leaves or green fields.

There is some hint of relationship between the characters, without anyone speaking. While everything appears platonic, there are some hints of a deeper care as characters hold each others hands.

One of the cast members said “For me I’d say like it was a collective effort to show everything that makes us happy individually.” 

The diversity between their methods of keeping themselves entertained was the focal point of each shot. Scenes keep themselves brief. Often going no longer than a few seconds. It’s clear the film makers went to great lengths to film multiple places around the Oswego campus. From the lake, to The Village, fields outside of town, rolling hills, dorm rooms, and parks.

The film stands up as a good model of simplicity done well. While it does not have much in the ways of story telling or dialouge, it achieves what it’s after. It sets a mood and consistently holds it for its short duration.

Film Club Awards Won

• Best Editing
• Best Cinematography
• Audience Choice

From the Director

“This film was about trying to relax during these uncertain times, showing what makes all of us happy so that we can express that there are things that are still here and still good.”

-Hannah Mogavero

Image from Happy via YouTube