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We are delighted to reveal our latest Film of the Month winner Revenge of the Avocado. After the untimely demise of their friend, an avocado goes on the hunt for revenge, from filmmaking trio Katharina, Seren, and Misty, in Cambridge. Plus a special mention to The Solar System by students at St John's RC School, in Essex.
Revenge of the Avocado (engaging for 12+) is a suspenseful and brilliantly crafted film, that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last moment.
Brilliant and varied use of visual storytelling to reveal the plot through camera.
Film of the Month Judge on 'Revenge of the Avocado'
We caught up with filmmaker Katharina to find out about the making of Revenge of the Avocado.
How did you come to make Revenge of the Avocado?
I had been wanting to make a short film for as long as I can remember; performing's been my lifelong passion, and so I decided to make a YouTube channel as another creative outlet. (So that I could make my own little films!)
However alongside my love of acting, I'm also slightly obsessed with avocados, so much so that I decided to dress up as a "Killer Avocado" for Halloween.
From this, the idea was born. But I knew I'd need help to fulfil my avocado-y vision, so I reached out to my soul sisters, Seren and Misty, who helped me refine the idea!
What was it like to work together on this film?
The three of us worked together so well; we were just popcorning ideas off of each other non-stop, eager to try new shots or direct each other in scenes. Seren FABULOUSLY played our protagonist, Misty was our BRILLIANT camera woman for most shots, and alongside directing, I played The Murderous Avocado and did all the editing.
What equipment did you use to make this film?
We used an iPhone 11 to film all our shots, and I used iMovie to edit the footage together. YouTube has a great copyright free audio library which is where I sourced the music, but I also made many of the ad-lib sound effects myself (such as the opening of the jam jar), and recorded them with my mini microphone.
It definitely proves that making your own film is more accessible than you might think; we didn't have any fancy equipment, we just had a will, and we found a way!
The film is both suspenseful and humorous, how did you achieve this tone?
The choice to NOT use speech was certainly a huge factor in building suspense, (silence is powerful!), and the way the film is structured following the protagonist over the course of two seemingly identical days, where the viewer is forced to search out what's not quite right, definitely keeps them on the edge of their seats.
The addition of comedy elements came pretty naturally, seeing as the whole idea of a "Killer Avocado" is already quite obscure and unexpected in itself!
We loved the inventive use of camera shots, particularly the infamous 'bin shot'! How did you go about planning your film visually?
We had a little brainstorming session before starting the filming process, and I knew roughly what I wanted for the opening and closing shots, so all that was left to do was to go through our film's timeline and fill in the blanks!
Misty had lots of great ideas in terms of the camera angles, and Seren suggested placing my phone INSIDE the bin to get the infamous 'bin shot'.
My personal favourite is where we see the killer avocado reflected in the glass table; when the girls showed me around their house I KNEW we had to do lots of mirror shots, and I think this one was particularly effective.
It's all about knowing roughly what you want visually, seeing what locations you've got available, and giving things a try!
Who were your main influences when making your film?
Honestly I don't really think we had any influences aside from each other; I knew I wanted it to be a film in the comedy-horror genre, focused mainly on conveying a story through suspense, visuals, and the subtle use of sound.
When editing the film however, I definitely took inspiration from movies such as Jaws or Psycho, where the use of non-diegetic sound in the form of music plays an integral part in raising the audiences' alertness to the danger whilst the protagonist remains entirely unaware of the trouble still to come. This can be seen with the ethereal hum motif each time the killer avocado comes near!!
What would be your advice for someone thinking about making their first film?
For anyone considering making their first short film, my top tip would just be to go for it! Don't worry about not having the most expensive equipment or about making it perfect; work with what you've got, enjoy the process, and learn as you go.
It's definitely important to have a solid vision of what you want before you start filming, but don't be afraid to try out new ideas when they come to you, they may even work out better than your original ones!
Don't let the fear of "failing" stop you from trying, because there IS no failing in filmmaking, all art is unique and meaningful in its own way!
What are you working on next?
I'd personally love to continue making little comedy shorts in the avocado saga, (we've been discussing making a perfume commercial parody!), but I'd also like to create something surrounding mental health, as it's something I struggle with daily, and there can never be enough awareness brought to issues like that.
I'm definitely eager to keep making short films, especially with my girlies, Seren and Misty, so keep an eye out for what we do next!
Revenge of the Avocado will now be showcased to over 300,000 film club members online and all of our Film of the Month films are now on the Into Film YouTube channel. The filmmakers have also secured a £100 Amazon voucher to help further develop their filmmaking. Think you could win Film of the Month? Find out more about how you can enter our ongoing Film of the Month competition.
If you've been inspired by Revenge of the Avocado then make sure to check out the following films:
- Rear Window (PG, 1954, 109 mins) engaging for 11+
LB thinks he's seen a murder. When he joins forces with his girlfriend Lisa, the two discover to their horror that they may now be in danger, too. - Phantom Boy (PG, 2006, 104 mins) engaging for 7-14
Leo is a boy suffering from a serious illness in hospital. One of its side-effects, however, gives him the ability to float through space unseen, a power which comes in very useful when supervillain The Face threatens to destroy New York City. - North By Northwest (PG, 1959, 130 mins) engaging for 11+
A classic chase movie, the film stars Cary Grant as a suave executive who is mistaken for a spy and tirelessly pursued by enemy agents. - Ratatouille (PG, 2007, 106 mins) engaging for 7+
Animated with style, this Pixar classic shows audiences that prejudice can often be a barrier to discovering talent.
Special Mention
Each month we highlight one runner up that we think deserves special recognition for their filmmaking achievement. This month we are excited to feature The Solar System, an inventive and joyful exploration of our nearest planets and the space between them, from students at St John's RC School, in Essex.
I loved the use of physical space to convey meaning, and all the young people were clearly enjoying the topic.
Film of the Month Judge on 'The Solar System'
