Filmmaker Spotlight: “There’s Always Next Year” by Adam Kurtz
Hey readers! This month’s filmmaker spotlight is comedy short by a filmmaker from the Akron area who served as the director of photography for two previous spotlight shorts.
“There’s Always Next Year” is a 17 and a half minute fantasy comedy short written and directed by Adam Kurtz. The short stars Kurtz as a fictionalized version of himself and co-stars Richard Ashline, Michael Kurtz, and Owen Kurtz, Brian Kurtz, Emily Pancoe, & Eric Phillips.
In this live action/animated hybrid short, Kurtz is a Cleveland Browns fan who, after making a solemn vow to give up his fandom of the team, goes through a magical, Christmas Carol-esque journey where he discovers more about the team’s history and why he should keep the faith in his beloved Brownies!
As many of you probably know, the Browns are arguably the worst sports team in the world right now, and they have been for a while. They’ve replaced the Chicago Cubs as the biggest lovable losers. And many of you are likely wondering why we as Clevelanders continue to stick with a team that, like Cleveland’s other two major sports teams, never fails to disappoint us each and every season. It’s extremely hard, but here’s how we get through it:
- Alcohol
- Stupidity
- More alcohol
Just kidding. Beneath this short’s slapstick comedy and quirky & colorful characters lies a great message about why one should never give up on one’s team, no matter how many times they disappoint you. Each. And every. Season. Furthermore, I commend Adam for his ability to blend the animated characters seamlessly into the live action environment. Overall, this is definitely a great watch for any sports fans or anyone who wants to see a fun parody of Charles Dickens’ literary classic!
Anyway, if you like the short, free to check out Adam’s YouTube channel for more of his work. I’ll be back next month with another spotlight. But for now…
