'Unbearable' by Atlas Films

First Edit

Nick is an up-and-coming writer with several shorts, TV series and features in development. He has recently gained agent representation with Jack Thomas at Independent Talent.  UNBEARABLE is his first foray into Directing.  
Emma works in Production on feature films such as TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, ANNA KARENINA, RUSH, TWO FACES OF JANUARY and PADDINGTON. This is her second film as a Producer and she is currently building a slate of shorts and features to take into Production. Shot on the Arri Alexa.

Read 'Unbearable' HERE

First cut: Producers notes for the filmmakers

  • Given you emailed us for feedback and started with ‘We know we need to trim it quite a bit, particularly the beginning but would love your input’ You know what we are going to say.
  • The opening could be 30 seconds – cut HARD HARD HARD – we are at 2:48 before the story actually begins.
  • Every shot in the first half feels like it could be tighter
  • It feels like you have cut the music which has forced a laid back pace in the first half?
  • The final beat is missing. This could be a music thing, or just one more shot of the car leaving. Maybe the sound of the girl crying? Just that last beat is missing.
  • Technically excellent – really well done

First Cut Comments... have YOUR say!

Write a comment

Comments: 18
  • #1

    Mark (Thursday, 01 November 2012 16:45)

    I would end it at 2.45 After that it's initial charm begins to wane. I was rooting for the teddies and the hook was answered by 2.45 its the right place to make it a sweet charming warm film in my opinion.

  • #2

    Adolf El Assal (Sunday, 04 November 2012 14:37)

    beautiful and sweet. the cinematography and music are amazing. I agree with Mark, I'd cut it at 2:45 too.

  • #3

    Michael P. Spencer (Sunday, 04 November 2012 16:17)

    This is a beautiful piece guys. Very well done. Your talents have shone. I think it's just my personal taste but I would have liked it to end at the first kiss in the car.

  • #4

    Glyn Carter (Sunday, 04 November 2012 16:47)

    Only at the end did I realise Nick directed and wrote. Surprised, then, to see it at 5mins+ - it's almost 2 minutes in before the story starts! Nice touches - I love the bit where they laugh at what they do with the bears. Would the 2-min version lose much?

  • #5

    Evan (Monday, 05 November 2012 02:22)

    As much as I hate seeing those bears get pulled apart at the end I still find it too powerful to edit out. I love that mournful gaze girl bear gives while boy bear is on the floor. Beautifully conceived and executed. I appreciate the long takes but think they can be shortened to better effect.

  • #6

    Simon (Monday, 05 November 2012 10:14)

    This is just wonderful! Great changes of pace, very simple but effective editing, a full feature film in 5 mins, excellent.

  • #7

    Catherine (Monday, 05 November 2012 12:58)

    Really like this version. Great production design and cinematography. Beautiful bears too! Agree it could be tighter - especially the beginning. Not sure I agree with cutting it at 2.45 - that takes away the story completely!

  • #8

    Vicky (Monday, 05 November 2012 14:23)

    Particularly admired the music and the set design on this one. The long shots allowed the bears to develop character. Totally involving. Don't cut it!

  • #9

    Tom (Monday, 05 November 2012 14:59)

    Fantastic short! I particularly like the visuals - the lighting/camerawork and the design are very strong.

    I do think that the 'shop' sequence might take up a little too much running time, but this does lead nicely in the 'domestic' scenes. Great pacing otherwise.

    Overall its very impressive.

  • #10

    Jade (Monday, 05 November 2012 18:22)

    Oh my gosh - I have watched this a few times now as I am so amazed by the level of emotion that is conveyed with this piece. I need to tell the film-makers that I had tears in my eyes!

    Something I really commend is the choice to keep the bears consistent throughout in terms of their actual physicality, because it takes this short into being a fantastic example of the power of projection - to me, their facial expressions change so dramatically throughout the story, and that is a real accomplishment!

    Also very impressed with the score and attention to detail in some of the shots. Congratulations to this team!

  • #11

    Stephen Cooper (Monday, 05 November 2012 21:55)

    Beautifully made but way to long. Looking forward to seeing what you do with a shorter version. Hope you can keep all the emotion in there because at the moment its great.

  • #12

    Emily Grey (Wednesday, 07 November 2012 15:03)

    LOVED IT!! Great work! The quality is amazing and the story telling is fantastic. The only negative comment that I can think of is that the length of the film is far to long. The opening sequence is far to long, even though I do like the shot of the little girl it doesn't develop the narrative. Overall brilliant!

  • #13

    Trudi Grant (Thursday, 08 November 2012 18:19)

    Lovely film which is well shot.- but needs some drastic editing. I loved the shot with the candle light flickering in the bears eyes. A lovely story but far to long. Well done. Look forward to seeing the re-edited version.

  • #14

    Adam (Thursday, 08 November 2012 18:39)

    Lovely. The immovable bear faces provide an object lesson in the use of rhythm, camera work and music to express and elicit different emotions.
    Admirable, the pathos in yoking together the bears' imagined inner life - thanks to the music, etc. - and their utter powerlessness ('locked-in syndrome').
    Need to make big cuts in the shop sequence (the balloon girl in particular is irrelevant showing off), not only for itself but also because it makes chapters two and especially three seem too short.
    In 'chapter three', film and music 'finissent en queue de poisson' - come to an abrupt end, the rhythmical line and emotional intensity fizzling out, rather (in the music, too).

  • #15

    Ulysse (Saturday, 10 November 2012 10:43)

    Can't you change the awful, literally unbearable, name? Not funny and not relevant, it detracts from the quality of your work. (Though suggesting a new activity: 'bearing one's emotions' = representing them by means of bears; in the last shot the passions - or is it the film? - are 'unbeared', etc.

  • #16

    Michael Bierman (Monday, 12 November 2012)

    LOVELY to 2:45 THAT is the end of you beautiful film. To hell with the script variation--this works.

  • #17

    JJ (Friday, 23 November 2012 23:18)

    This is a very very well made short, with great art direction. Maybe the beginning could be a little shorter but keep the balloon girl in just adds to the beauty of the piece, overall it's brilliant!!

  • #18

    Staré (Sunday, 02 December 2012 22:52)

    I simply loved it. However to me, the film ends once they buy the bears.