I found these on my computer while doing MIFF stuff and thought I had already put them online! Obviously not or I would have seen them! As it turns out I had posted each of these to one of the defunct Cave Clan forums.

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Introduction

Director: iD

Tagline: It’s the intro!

Doug waits for a car to go past, then stickers a give-way sign to introduce the first Cave Clan Short Film Festival. Nice font for the titles.

What more can I write? It’s the intro! It was the only film to show stickering also.

Rating: 8/10

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A Tribute to Predator

Director: Drac

Tagline: Sharing the memory

I can’t really rate this film as it was a personal tribute from the person who made it.

It starts off as a photo-essay set to TISM’s “Whatareya?” (One of Predators favourite bands?) and continues with a few brief video clips ending with footage of the memorial plaque being installed in the Fortress in Sydney.

I do remember seeing some other footage of Predator on other Cave Clan videos, but unfortunately I never got to meet him. Seeing the film at least shows what high regard other people had for him.

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A Christmas Adventure

Director: Curly & Rogue

Tagline: Do more filming Curly!

I had been hanging out to see some cinematography from Curly given her skills in still photography.

I thought this short was great as the light looked very cold and steely. Even though not much happened, it was a good pointer to future work.

Rating: 7/10

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Bits & Pieces

Director: Doug

Tagline: Bit ‘o this ‘n’ that!

This great collection of odds and ends includes stuff that wouldn’t really fit into the other shorts.

I can see why people look forward to Murchison as it looks very relaxing (even with the little girl yelling.)

There are some japes with  the “helicopter and a rope” and the infamous Jamieson to Licola “shortcut” (I thought only Pommie backpackers fell for that one!)

It is wrapped up with a great horror movie style establishing shot visit to a remote petrol station.

Rating: 8/10

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Cave Clan Takes Byaduk

Director: Doug

Tagline: “We’re doing the ‘nother tunnel”

A short clip exploring a tunnel cave somewhere in the bush where a young boy makes a memorable comment. I did like the karaoke section and it would be more fun to watch when you are pissed.

Rating: 8/10

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Cave Clan Takes Cape Patto

Director: Doug

Starring: Beanz, Dirge, Flert, Bong Arse & Doug

Tagline: Hey, hey! We’re the Cave Clan!

Shot on location in Cape Patterson we explore various locations with Doug and co in scenes, which at times resemble the 60’s TV show the Monkees.

I liked the cat in the mine (it must live on the rats which eat the mushrooms) and the frog on the window pane. Also seeing that big block of mudstone that could have fallen on Doug’s head was good for japes.

I have been to the area, but it was good to see some of the places again.

Once again proves his experience in putting together all the Cave Clan videos pays off.

Rating: 8/10

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Forbidden Feasts

Director: SlyV

Tagline: The best of the forbidden

This short is a compilation of various photos/videos from the Forbidden Places website (I recognised some of them.) I enjoyed the music it was set to and the pans and transitions used for the photos.

Something that was interesting was that there were almost no faces shown in this video for obvious reasons.

I liked the different themed sections and also the old/new comparison photos of the same location.

A similar video set in Australia would make a great project for photo nerds if they had the inclination.

Rating: 8/10

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Ghost Town

Director: Doug

Tagline: They should film a zombie movie in Morwell…

A drive-by of various abandoned locations in the Latrobe Valley turns spooky when a strange figure starts appearing on-screen and even turns up in other locations. I liked the Ring-style japes at the end also.

Having attended Monash Churchill for four years in the mid-1990s I know that Morwell is post-apocalyptic at the best of times (at least it’s not Yallourn North!)

So it was a perfect location for this film.

Further locations would be most welcome like the old Fun Factory near Maccas and the Woorabinda school camp (the obstacle course was rad in primary school!)

Rating: 8/10

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“High on V”

Director: Drac and Millsy

Tagline: la la la…

In what Andrew Bolt would call an “irresponsible drunken rampage”, Drac and Milsy get up to some Japes in a public toilet.

The whole thing looks to have been recorded on a security camera that they somehow managed to get a tape of later which looks good.

I liked the sing-along at the end and it was a great example of a japes film.

Rating: 8/10

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Launceston Hospital

Director: Drac & Millsy

Tagline: Luckily, no doctors and nurses!

Drac and Milsy explore the now abandoned Launceston Hospital. The usual stuff happens and no one gets hurt. It is difficult to say much more about it, but I did like the japes on the gurney.

Rating: 7/10

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Mawson Lake Uni Tunnels

Director: Mr India

Tagline: Pipey!

A seemingly endless series of pipe-filled corridors is explored, leading to a forbidding red door, which in turn leads to a very similar corridor. Nice ironic exit near the NO EXIT sign.

If you like tunnels and pipes, then this is the short for you.

Rating: 6/10

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Prowler’s 42nd Birthday Surprise Party

Director: Doug & iD

Tagline: Drunken words and true on togetherness

I had downloaded this video from the forums like the good net-nerd I am, but it was great to see again.

It also proves that you don’t need to move the camera around to show what is going on. There is no excuse for jerky hand-held scenes now unless you…that joke is too obvious!

Prowler’s words on togetherness were very touching and seeing him on the piss rates highly on the japes scale.

Rating: 8/10

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Stunspo

Director: Onyx

Tagline: The Cave Clan goes Jackass

On what looks like to have been the same expo, some members of the Cave Clan get up to some japes.

In one scene we see how sliding down the drain on your arse can lead to a nasty crack and why you shouldn’t take a dog down the drain.

Another scene has many shenanigans with a bmx, scooter and shopping trolley.

The final scenes are a tribute to Ninjalicous and have various people jumping into fountains around the Sydney CBD.

I thought this short was OK, but needed to be tidied up a bit as some scenes went a bit long. Couldn’t it have had a proper stack also? Some members would gladly do it for enough beer.

Rating: 7/10

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The Horror

Director: Doug

Tagline: You don’t know what you’ve got ‘till its gone

The famous Four Corners introduction fades to show Doug on location having just found his beloved KLP torn from the ground.

What acting! What pathos! What the hell is that? Doug rooting the drain? Pah!

It was still good to keep up with current events and at least saw what happened to the drain.

Rating: 7/10

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The Phone Call

Director: Black Duck

Tagline: Drain conversations

Two explorers are trying to arrange a meeting while doing drains. They never manage to meet up, but they do a lot of drains in the process.

Using footage shot in dozens of drains, this film does a good job of putting them all together. There is also footage of a fireworks gun in use and also someone being hit by a flour bomb.

I also enjoyed them hanging shit on photo nerds and taggers in the Cave Clan style.

Another good first effort and well worth your time.

Rating: 7/10

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The Tatty Tales I

Submitted by: SlyV

Tagline: Who understands this Frenchy stuff?

A hot woman in a strange dress makes a curtain call, only to find herself in an abandoned theatre. A moral is stuck on the end which doesn’t really make any sense.

I see a lot of these kind of shorts in my official capacity as a reviewer for Fitzroy Shorts, so I can take it or leave it.

Rating: 6/10

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The Tatty Tales II

Submitted by: SlvV

Tagline: More French arty stuff

A beautiful woman turns gauges in an abandoned factory and the machinery comes to life. I could make a joke about wanting her to play with knobs, but that would be in poor taste. If only this could happen in real life!

Rating: 6/10

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The Tatty Tales III

Submitted by: SlyV

Tagline: I wish I had a French hottie!

A French hottie towing a sewing machine boards an abandoned train. Weird stuff happens. Considering art films are a major part of the GDP of France there are quite a lot of them. I know a few burlesque performers in Melbourne who I could ask if anyone is interested in trying something similar…

Rating: 6/10

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The V Video

Director: Rouge & Curly

Tagline: V is for VROOM!

In what comes across as a parody of a V ad, Rouge and Curly show exactly what you can do with a few seconds of footage, some snappy editing and the appropriate music.

I always enjoy seeing shorts set in the one location as it gives you the chance to see how the film maker deals with the space. Also see the Goodies episodes Earthanasia and The End for further reference.

Normally it produces drama, but in this case japes are the result.

Rating: 8/10