Raw Footage (NakedSword Film Works) Review

Distributor: NakedSword Film Works Edition Details: Standard Streaming Movie Specs: Genres: Short Film, Gay Run Time: 11 minutes Rated: not Release Year: 2015 Director: J.R. Reid (as Jr Vision) Written by: J.R. Reid (as Jr Vision) Cast: Michael DeBartolo, Christopher Poeschl Release Specs: Audio: English Stereo Subtitles: none Video: Widescreen, 1.85:1 (anamorphic) Video Format: NTSC Format: Streaming Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): N/A Number of discs: N/A

Raw Footage is a short film from writer-director J.R. Reid that shows a snapshot of a moment in the relationship of Dustin (Michael DeBartolo) and Colby (Christopher Poeschl). Nothing before the time frame of the short film nor nothing from beyond the time frame of the short film made known to the viewer. Nothing is ever resolved either. All we get is this one, brief snapshot of Dustin and Colby.

We are introduced to Dustin and Colby on their third anniversary. Dustin wants to film their anniversary sex; however, Colby is unable to perform because he is drunk. The next night Dustin finds out that Colby had sex with someone else on their anniversary night. This causes Dustin to want to talk about an issue he has been having with their open relationship.

J.R. Reid has done a great job of taking one moment and creating an entire short film around it. The viewer gets drawn into Dustin and Colby and their lives, even though we don't know anything about the two of them. Michael DeBartolo and Christopher Poeschl do a fantastic job of bringing Dustin and Colby to life in such a short time frame.

We, the viewer, never get to find out how Dustin and Colby end up or whether they ever see their fourth anniversary together. Dustin never got to film his anniversary sex either. Raw Footage is a well-done drama and worth seeing.

The edition of Raw Footage screened is the streaming-only edition available on NakedSword.com. Raw Footage was shot digitally and is presented in the anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 letterboxed to 1.78:1 in 1080p. There aren't any noticeable issues with the image quality and the colors in the short film look great.

Raw Footage is presented with an English Stereo audio track. There aren't any noticeable issues with the sound quality for the short film, and the dialog is clear and easy to understand at all times.

NakedSword hasn't included any extras with their streaming-only edition of Raw Footage.

NakedSword has released Raw Footage through their NakedSword Film Works (NSFW) division that was launched in 2016 to exhibit independent gay movies that aren't precisely pornographic yet aren't exactly mainstream. Raw Footage shows a snapshot of a moment in the relationship of Dustin and Colby. Writer-director J.R. Reid has done a great job of making Dustin and Colby interesting and quickly pulling the viewer into their relationship. Raw Footage is well-worth watching and NakedSword has done an excellent job with their streaming-only edition on NakedSword.com with excellent audio and video quality.

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