Maddrim Media (An endless stream of imagination)

It is unusual to talk about a YouTube channel as a source of fantastic short films but this is a very unique channel. Unusually incorporating an ensemble cast and crew present in nearly every video, Maddrim are full of enthusiastic youths with ambitious ideas. With their small scale abilities, naturally these don't all work and their more quirky attempts border on irritating and cringe worthy. 

Their best work is when, as the best creative minds do, they use their lack of resources to the best possible advantage. Simple shots of images tell a very powerful story, best seen in 'The Note'. It's best if you go in knowing nothing, but you can perhaps guess the subject from the title. Interestingly enough, these attempts are when their work is their most serious. 'Masks' is their calling card video, recommended by notable film critic Mark Kermode, after the company showed some of their films at the Shetland Film Festival he runs. An incredibly powerful piece of work, masks are used in the most alienating possible way that leaves you breathless. Yet their creativity does come through in their comedy also. Pork n Beans is innocuous fare but with a brilliant use of live-stop-motion.

They are also spot on in their parodies, whether it is superheroes (Stallion Head), soap operas (Autumn Leaves) or documentaries (Crystal Math) While the videos are obviously amateurish, there is enough enthusiasm and energy from everyone to keep you interested and faithful. Every video is entertaining in their own way, and their ideas are always imaginative and take basic premises to creative conclusions.

While I want them to be more artistic and exploit their creativity with their limitations, every time I see a video that is more obviously amateurish, I appreciate their other works all the more. Furthermore I'm become more reassured that in the future they will be fantastic film makers - I for one can't wait.

Personal favourites:

• Masks - first film and by far one of their very best
• Pork n Beans - a lot of fun crammed into a very short running time
• The Note - simple but extraordinary
• The Doomsday Device - extremely powerful on a subject often mocked
• Sugar Bricks - artistic but no showing-off anywhere, very emotive
• Saw: The Franchise Edition - If you can't stand even thinking about watching the Saw films, you'll love this
• Tea and Jaffacakes - very moving piece 
• Under the Moon of Love - very funny twist with some entertaining literal street dancing
• Crystal Math
• Maddrim: Behind the Headlines - these last two are brilliant parodies of two different types of documentary
• Picture Perfect - fantastic images and a shocking ending