Split Costs

I was given the honor of viewing Jeffrey Palmer's and Flicker Pictures "Split Costs". I am normally of two minds when taking time out to watch short films.

In this case I am so happy I did. I could tell from the start it was going to be a heavy dialogue drama. It was so well written it just sucked me into to the journey of Emma and Judy as they set out on their trip together.

I will not say anymore about the story, so not to spoil it for those yet to watch. What I will say is, that Jeffrey Palmer did an excellent job on writing, directing and producing.

He also did the cinematography, which was intimate in your face and very artistic, which just added to the overall atmosphere of this excellent drama.

Split Costs so far has won 5 awards, been a finalist and had official selection between multiple film festival's. After viewing the film, this is fully deserved and understandable why it is doing so well.

The characters of Emma and Judy were brought to life so well by Mela Hudson and Tori Hall. They did the art of acting human connection through drama - PROUD!

The rest of the supporting cast did an excellent job too. If Palmer can knock out a short film like this, I will be very excited to see what he does with a feature length film.

What starts a simple car sharing adventure for Emma (Mela Hudson) and Judy (Tori Hall), transforms into an unexpected relationship that is fueled by grief and hardship.

After connecting over a long road trip, Emma and Tori's worlds are torn away unexpectedly and they are left with only each other to confide in.

Expertly crafted and superbly acted by Mela and Tori, Split Costs will take you on a journey of raw emotion set against the blistery cold New England countryside.

Strong performances, great cinematography with great narrative pacing that lingered on the emotional moments.

Split Costs stars two female leads pushing through certain struggles in their current lives. The film balances the heavy-hearted parts with more light-hearted banter and touching moments with finesse.

Overall the film is technically solid, which is saying a lot considering the majority of the movie takes place in a moving car! The sound is clear and shows no obvious hiccups, which is good because we want to hear what the girls are talking about.

Both performances by the leads were strong. The girls do particularly well when they're playing off one another, lending to a believable back & forth.

One of my favorite aspects of the film is that it's entirely a women-driven film. You kind of forget, but there don't seem to be any men in the film at all (aside from the guy in the background at the restaurant).

It's worth checking this film out if you get a chance. Particularly if you're fond of dramatic films, this one plays through with a feeling of great realism.

I am very impressed with the excellent use of zero-finance, that was put into Spit Costs to achieve it. It shows the ingenuity of the artists and the filmmakers in creating a story out of a no-budget situation. Such achievements can provide younger filmmaker with the process or thought pattern needed to achieve such a film.

The story is written around two characters, who influence each other greatly. They journey through a car ride, and the eventual catharsis of the film shows a strong character arc for each character who experiences a huge change. I like the way they play off each other, it is an performance worthy of applause.

I will love to see film over and over again. I also recommend it to anyone who loves to see a great short film.