With the Media That Matters lineup nearly finalized, Arts Engine has been abuzz with talk of what makes a good short film. This was my first year taking part in the Media That Matters selection process and that experience has definitely drawn me into the world of the short documentary. On my way down the rabbit hole, I’ve been thinking more and more about: What makes a good short doc? What kinds of subjects work for short pieces? And why aren’t the good ones celebrated more often and with more gusto?

Last night I felt that I was definitely at some kind of celebration when Thom Powers took the stage at the IFC Center for a sold-out Stranger Than Fiction screening (on a snowy night!) that showcased documentary shorts from Wholphin. Captains of the clever and the quirky, the crew at McSweeney’s puts out the quarterly DVD magazine Wholphin as a tribute to “unique and ponderable films designed to make you feel the way we felt when we learned that dolphins and whales sometimes, you know, do it.”

In between last night’s films, Thom and Wholphin editor/head curator Brent Hoff exchanged some punchy interstitial banter along with updates on the films and their subjects. It was great to have the folks from Wholphin there—it added to the celebratory vibe I mentioned earlier.

I’d like to highlight a few of my favorites from last night’s event, films that inched me closer to an understanding of what makes a good short doc like a perfect haiku:

Heavy Metal Jr.
This fantastic film portrays the Scottish pre-teen heavy metal band, Hatred, as they prepare for their first live performance (complete with songs they actually wrote in lieu of their usual routine of just singing covers). Down a bass player and struggling to turn some new death metal phrases, Hatred is a pint-sized version of the turmoil we’re so used to seeing in Behind the Music, but it’s ten times more interesting to see these creative obstacles through the eyes of eleven- and twelve-year-olds. Trust me.

There are two aspects of this film that show its mastery of the short genre. First, it uses the momentum of the big gig to really keep us going. Second, the director Chris Waitt really knows which moments are true gems and he’s buffed them up for maximum shine. Case in point: While trying to coach the skeptical boys, the father of one Hatred member launches into a spirited rendition of one of their songs (the title escapes me…might have been “Satan Rocks”), complete with some pretty incredible vocal flourishes (he’s studied the craft of David Hasselhoff, for sure). If you missed Heavy Metal Jr. on the festival circuit and its broadcast on the Sundance Channel, you can catch it on Issue 4 of Wholphin.

American Outrage
Some of the scenes from this film were the most striking and disturbing documentary moments I’ve witnessed on screen in awhile. Two Shoshone grandmothers, Mary and Carrie Dann, fight against the U.S. government’s unlawful attempts to take over Shoshone land in Nevada. During their thirty-year struggle, the Dann sisters face steady harassment from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and seizures of their horses and livestock. In one scene, Carrie Dann gets into a physical showdown with one BLM officer when he tried to seize her horses, during which she repeats, “You’re hurting me. You’re hurting me”; it’s a haunting mantra that won’t let you forget the injustices the U.S. government continues to commit against Native Americans. You can watch this clip from American Outrage here.

I’m not done contemplating the short doc and it’s potential for glory. For now, I’m just happy that Wholphin is encouraging filmmakers to make shorts and giving them a platform to get their work out into the world.

And stay tuned for news on the Eighth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival, another vehicle for quality short documentaries!