ELECTION NIGHT
Written & Directed by Peter Zerzan
We have a rule in our house: you can make fun of anyone, but it must be funny. If it’s not, you will be the subject of ridicule. Essentially, I want my children to respect the art form of comedy (while growing a thick skin). You can’t just make jokes, they have to be good jokes.
I believe filmmakers need to apply this same scrutiny to what they create. The craft must be respected. Not just for comedies, but for all genres. The worst cinema sin is to be boring.
Peter Zerzan’s ELECTION NIGHT has a great premise: two campaign volunteers have an opportunity to discuss the toll of grueling dedication during the November 2018 midterms.
The opening shot does a superb job of telling the tale of a long day with greenhorn Mahoney (Brennan Pickman-Thoon) cleaning up abandoned cups and bottles - with the obligatory pizza box in the background (which I was specifically looking for!). Campaign posters on the walls add a great authenticity to the production design.
We’re introduced to Barbara (Sam Jackson), a veteran volunteer, and thus begins a conversation - a conversation with promise that essentially spirals into an ideological pulpit.
Let me first say this: Jackson and Pickman-Thoon work wonders with what they were given. Each show great charisma and completely own their roles. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them again in bigger projects. Karen Kahn (as Susan) also delivers a pitch-perfect scene.
Director of Photography Luis Montoya nails most of the close-ups and everything is well lit. There are some focus issues throughout and my sense is that production was likely rushed more than anticipated.
In short, Zerzan was given excellent tools to make a compelling short film. However, in this writer’s opinion, the opportunity was lost due to a compulsion to insert ideology. I mean, filmmaking is art and I fully believe you should shout any message your heart desires - but an artist might look for ways to be subtle and paint with subtext.
If CNN were holding a short film competition, ELECTION NIGHT is an excellent contender. In the world of indie filmmaking, however, it is simply a vacant exchange between actors. There is no story to be found. No conflict. No real stakes. It finds a way to use the bullet list of left-wing talking points disguised as dialogue. I’d say Zerzan cared more about his political views than the craft of filmmaking or storytelling.
What would make this film much more compelling is if the ideology was ambiguous - and instead, as promised, make the audience feel the exhaustion and passion of campaign volunteers. The main characters appear unnaturally fresh and rested for election night reality. I would have loved more visceral exchanges about their sacrifice. I think if Zerzan took another couple passes at the screenplay with a “how do I say this without saying this?” approach, he would have raised the bar much higher.
It’s clear that the team behind ELECTION NIGHT care about what they’re doing, I just hope next time they dig deeper into their story.
-Matt Cassidy