Ivan Kander
Since Writer’s Workshop from director Ryan Francis Johnson is about the punishing experience of critical peer review, let me get my criticism of this film out of the way first… So, it’s pretty much a comedy sketch. It probably goes on a bit too long and reveals its central joke too early. I wish there was more character development…
Ah…I can’t do this. Screw it. Writer’s Workshop is funny. It’s really funny. For anyone who has ever created something only to watch others tear it down (I’ve been on both sides of this equation), this short is a biting comedy sketch that perfectly nails the emotional vulnerability of sharing your creative work (albeit with an absurd twist). The film’s central joke is a good one—as the feedback gets more and more ridiculous, the protagonist reacts with remarkable normalcy. So, as things progress further into madness, we watch with mad delight as our hero—Jeremy—tries to react like the world isn’t burning down around him. You can take the resulting craziness on a figurative level (i.e this is what it feels like when people provide “notes” on your work), or on a literal one. Either way, it’s hilarious.
We often debate at Short of the Week if more “sketch-like” comedic material such as this is a good fit for the site. But, despite the obvious jokiness of the premise, the film does hit a real nerve. After all, creating something is an intensely personal experience. So, trying to keep a happy face while others rip it apart can be emotionally devastating. Workshop captures the rawness of that feeling, but does it in way that’s just so broadly funny. It’s impressive how Johnson is able to escalate the absurdity of the feedback continuously throughout the piece. What starts as simple verbal bashing eventually intensfies to full scale murder, and even, a supernatural twist. Good stuff.
As Johnson relates to Short of the Week:
“Being a writer/director, I’ve found myself in many situations similar to the one shown in this film. Those kinds of feedback sessions are really weird and vulnerable situations to be in and I felt it would be fertile ground for making something that was (hopefully) funny and relatable. I also don’t think it’s just for writers/artist types. Anybody that has ever been in a position where they have to share their work and ideas to a group of people — this is for them.”
Johnson is currently in post production on two more short films and is working a few feature screenplays. You can also check out his other short films on his Vimeo page. Just, you know… be sure to not judge them too harshly…