Roller Coaster

Great short! Fun to watch! It's a cute little story that is relatable to us all, but should really connect with actors and actresses and the gut-wrenching anticipation of an audition. In this case, complicated by a stream of frustrating events.

You could feel the frustration in Emily as one thing after another goes wrong. How many of us haven't pounded the steering wheel in frustration? This reinforces that it's much easier to chuckle when it's happening to some else.

Roller Coaster was an enjoyable ride - well acted, well edited and well directed. It's easy to see why this is already an award winner. Should be interesting to see what else comes their way.

Looking forward to more from this director. Perhaps something feature length with this level of excellence.

The exceptional comedy short, Roller Coaster, written and directed by Bradley Hawkins, revolves around "Emily," a young actress who encounters various obstacles while trying to make her way to an audition. Through the music and acting, the short film takes a hurried and frustrating ride through Los Angeles that hooks you from the very beginning. Using a point-of-view shot ascending the tracks of a roller coaster combined with music reminiscent of a horror film, a feeling of dread abounds, alluding that something is bound to go terribly wrong. One of the most noteworthy aspects of the film is the way that the maddening journey "Emily" (Sarah Hawkins) takes through LA is juxtaposed with quick shots of a younger version of herself screaming her way through a roller coaster ride, giving an inside look into the feelings of the young actress. Another fascinating aspect of the film is the way the writer/director, Bradley Hawkins, is able to say so much with so little dialogue. The audience cannot help but laugh at the relatable reactions "Emily" has to the troubles that she faces. Roller Coaster is not to be missed, and I am looking forward to seeing what Hawkins creates next.

I loved watching Bradley Hawkins' comedy short film Roller Coaster! The film is a hilarious take on the everything-goes-wrong Murphy's Law sort of day that can get the best of us all sometimes. Playing Emily, a character based largely on her own life experiences, Hawkins' daughter Sarah absolutely slays with her visual humor in a film nearly devoid of dialogue as she races around LA trying desperately not to let life's unexpected loops, hills and corkscrews get in the way of her dreams!

It really is such an impressively sharp, crisp, entertaining and believable film that it's hard to believe this is Hawkins' directorial debut! If you're at all a fan of cinema (which I would assume you are if you are reading this review) then this coaster ride is definitely worth taking!

I love a film that is tight...and this one is. The story moves with a perfect pace that keeps the viewer constantly wondering what will happen next. The cinematography is executed at an extremely high level. The evoking of a Chaplin/Hitchcock-esque style is fascinating. "Show me...don't tell me" is at the heart of the film. Young Sarah Hawkins is prefect for the role and brings an effervescence to the character that has you fully empathizing and rooting for her all the way. Obviously Bradley Hawkins is a directorial force to be reckoned with! I especially loved the juxtaposition of two very different clips that guide the film along while creating some added dynamic tension to the feel of the film. And the maraschino cherry on the sundae? A certain domestic animal eating your favorite fast food. I laughed my butt off! Congratulations to the entire cast and crew...well done.

Short films are tough. Most viewers have far less experience watching short films than feature length ones, and so are less fluent in the language of the genre they're viewing. Additionally, most directors have a harder time creating the "magic of the movies" when given only a fraction of the time - and often times a fraction of the money - they would have when working on a feature length film. Yet the challenges of short films, both for viewers and creators, can sometimes lead to truly wonderful films, and such is the case with Bradley Hawkin's Roller Coaster. It is an excellent film that manages to balance the timing, whit, and relatable characters needed to make a great short. As the lead, Sarah Hawkins demonstrates her versatility as an actress by managing to make you laugh all while being knocked around by a worst-day-of-the- year type situation. I highly recommend this movie to both new comers and seasoned veterans of the short film genre.