By Doug Kim
Seattle Times A&E editor
 

	Squatch on the Rocks

In the end, it was the story of a lovable, unemployed Bigfoot that won us over.

We've finished judging our second annual "Three-Minute Masterpiece" digital-movie contest, and the winner is "Squatch on the Rocks," a hilarious tale of what happens when government budget cuts force "Squatch" to leave the forest and look for another job.

We also selected nine other finalists for the contest, which was co-presented by the Seattle International Film Festival. Frankly, picking those finalists wasn't easy. We were deluged with a couple hundred entries (all at the last minute, naturally). We did not specify subject matter, only that the films be less than three minutes, and that no professionals need apply.
 

	3 Minute Movie Cherry Sorbet Good Morning Paid Deerly Great Guy Revenant Shelf Life The Sketch Used Auto

The range of films we got was truly impressive: spy stories, horror, a few period pieces, animation, lots of comedy, some rather bizarre films featuring pets. We got tons of very good entries from kids and teenagers, who clearly understand the technology much better than their parents do.

Judging was done by me, SIFF director Darryl Macdonald, and Seattletimes.com staffers Paige Bills and Holly Henke. View the films online or come to the special festival screening at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Broadway Performance Hall. It's free, open to the public, and all the films are suitable for kids.

What impressed us most was the creative energy of our readers. You have a lot of stories to tell, and are willing to work hard to tell them. If you're not among the winners here, keep trying. We hope to have you back for next year's edition.

This year's winners:

"Squatch on the Rocks"
Director: Joe Koenen, Seattle
Koenen is a waiter and aspiring actor. A native Northwesterner, Koenen felt he needed to help the legendary creature's image. "Bigfoot's cool, but he's not really cool enough," he said. "Bigfoot is just a loner guy in the woods, at best."

Apparently the Squatch costume was made by spray-painting an old Cookie Monster outfit and adding some key accessories from Archie McPhee. "They have vital Squatch head parts," Koenen said.

Koenen will receive a full series pass to next year's SIFF, along with the undying gratitude of Bigfoots everywhere. Or is that Bigfeet?

We also picked nine finalists, who appear here in alphabetical order:

"3 Minute Movie"
Director: Cristen Frieszell, Federal Way
Frieszell, who does office work for her dad's prosthetics and orthotics company, got inspired by our contest's title. Her film is about a woman who literally tries to make a movie in three minutes, and manages to upset an entire block's worth of kids in the process. We loved its goofy and endearing sense of fun.

"Cherry Sorbet"
Director: Eric Colley and Hallie Shepherd, Tenino
Colley, a computer network specialist, is an aspiring filmmaker. He runs a networking resource site for independent filmmakers called indieclub.com, although this is his first movie. "Sorbet" follows a distracted young man as he attempts to finish his ice cream. Watch for the clever ending.

"Good Morning"
Director: Taylor Guterson, Seattle
Guterson is a film student at the University of Washington whose family is based on Bainbridge Island (yes, his dad is author David Guterson). His film is a wordless, yet evocative depiction of the commute on the Bainbridge Island ferry.

"Paid Deerly"
Director: Beau Obremski, Kirkland
This film, about a pair of argumentative hunters who get more than they bargained for, features some pretty astonishing computer-animated special effects. The dialogue is hysterical, and we gave extra points for the mullet. Obremski just graduated from Bellevue Community College's graphics and animation program, and he's looking for a job. Hire this man!

"The Return of Great Guy"
Director: Michael Sanchez, Seattle
Sanchez sells computer books at the University Book Store. His film, another one about a legend in the dumps (is this a theme?), stars a washed-up superhero reduced to panhandling and drinking straight from the bottle.

"The Revenant"
Director: Justin Rima, Lynnwood
Rima is just 17, but don't let that fool you. This is a polished, moving film about a boy who wants to be understood by his parents.

"Shelf Life"
Director: Terran Gregory, Mill Creek
Gregory does technical support for Atari video games. This is by far, and I mean by far, the best film about the life of a slice of cheese we've ever seen. Watch for the poignant ending.

"Sketch"
Director: Jesse Ferguson, Auburn
Ferguson is a student at Highline Community College. Just half a minute long, this combination of animation and stop-motion photography is nonetheless clever and well done. We'd tell you more, but that would blow it, so to speak.

"Used Auto"
Director: Pat Regnart, Seattle
Regnart is on the Kent School District's instructional technology staff, where he does things like produce Kent's VisFest student film competition.

"Used Auto" is a music video for the Spils brothers, Daniel and Greg. (Seattle music fans might recognize Daniel Spils as the keyboard player for Maktub). "Used Auto" is funny and entertaining, in a deliberately dorky way. "Those of us involved are pretty proud and yet somehow ashamed at the same time," Regnart said.