Simply put? "Where Are We" was really fun to watch and really got me thinking about the entire indie, low budget movie scene in general. There was a time, not so long ago, when having little to no budget meant you really had to dig the production you were creating or working on. This meant friends, creativity, and usually lots of fun on the set. The absolute best you could hope for, especially when producing a comedy, was that the "fun" everyone was having translated to the screen. Now-days, even being an indie production is a serious affair. Aside from the occasional breakdown, and the never ending laughs that follow... uncontrollable usually... it's all down to business. Somber and legit. Those "fun times" to be added as a special feature are getting less and less acceptance. This is serious business folks. Even for the independent producer. Yet... something is being lost. That magic that "can" make for a great independent film is vanishing. Without a massive budget, and having such a serious production, is making for plenty of movies without feeling. Without heart. That is of course, until you watch something like "Where Are We?" from writers Luke Ostermiller and Adrian Eledge. That "by the books" feeling is nowhere to be felt, and this short film is not scared to let it's hair down, and not be taken so seriously. It's about fun, parody and simplistic entertainment. When it's all said and done the combination fits quite well. There really is something here for younger and older viewers alike. Something fun and ridiculous. It's all right here. Let me cut to the chase. This is a Scooby-Doo parody. As if you didn't know that just by looking at the poster. Right? The premise is simple and uncomplicated. The gang is looking to snap a picture of a ghost. They get high and... well... why not see for yourself? It's only a few minutes. What I truly loved about this short film is the character portrayals themselves. Now... I know some live action films have come out, featuring the ghost hunting gang most of us grew up with but... in many ways it was like this short film captured these characters better than the highly budgeted versions. Hell, "Where Are We?" has made the gang more like what I "know" they'd be like, if the original wasn't kid oriented. The parodied characters simply feel to me, more in-line with what the creators probably had in mind... before converting to a kids cartoon. It's almost as if a big "I knew it" sign was flashing in my head, and it was really fun. That's what we got here ladies and gents. A short film that finally gives you the satisfaction of knowing these characters, if the kiddies weren't around. It's a great feeling and an excellent writing idea. The gang the was they should have been. And yes... it's funny. What about production quality you ask? Honestly... not bad at all. Luke Ostermiller clearly knew what he was going for when directing. That vision, mixed with a cast that feel just perfect... has paid off in spades. It would have been cool to see "Doobie" minus the dog nose. As just a normal guy. The dog aspect, without actually seeing a dog... felt weird. Maybe at some point in the short film, Doobie could have found the dog nose and put it on as a stoned out joke. That would have been funny. In all honesty however, it didn't really matter. The point was made and general the quality of the production was quite good - and everything felt spot-on. Except maybe the over use of the zany sound effects. That's another story. In the end, this was a fun little film to watch. More importantly, it felt like it was fun to make. Doesn't matter if it actually was or not, it "felt" like it was. The good time has translated to the small screen nicely. As of this writing, "Where Are We?" is now free to watch so why not give a few minutes of your time? It's time well spent. To the cast and crew... nice work.
