The Bus Boy

This short film looks at the trial of being a bus-boy; harangued by the boss for not being quick enough, having to deal with leftovers all the time, seen as inferior by the waiting staff and generally earning less. There isn't really a plot beyond this and unfortunately the way it portrays this hard work is really very basic.

OK, this is a student film made for absolutely no money, but it does feel like the work of someone working out their understanding of the camera and the process – which in fairness is what it is! The selection of shots is straightforward and mostly we have one static camera move to another static camera, with some very obvious editing which stands out as clunky. The dialogue and the performances match the framing of the film because this is also obvious and lacking a good touch or realism. Our bus-boy's frustration is evident, as is his tiredness but yet this doesn't come over in a realistic way. Instead it comes over as exaggerated and prone to over-playing in a way that doesn't work. The intention is good here and I'm sure those that have to do this job will get something from the film, but as a short film it offers very little.

It is a student film though and I would be interested to see what Seibel went on to do, but this film didn't do anything for me watching it. Shots, content, performances and editing is all very basic and obvious and there is no suggestion of personal flair or invention. Workmanlike in its construction but even as a student film it leaves a lot to be desired.