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Parent Teacher is a 17 minute short from Jim Cummings and Dustin Hahn. It follows a parent/teacher meeting at a school classroom led by Mr. Zahn (Hahn). As he tries to go through the different topics of the meeting, he realizes that the parents aren't really much different than their kids.
"Growing up is not easy", says Mr. Zahn at one point. But then, again, neither is parenting or being a teacher; and if neither of the three are working together, the work can't be done. The short beautifully illustrates the struggle of teachers in trying to create "critical thinkers", as opposed to "memorizers", as Zahn puts it at one point.
Cummings and Hahn do a great job transmitting the seriousness of the situation in a way that feels real, without losing the funny edge. But as great as the dialogue, script, and performances are, the quality of the short is elevated by their decision of doing it all in one continuous shot, something that has become some sort of a trademark from Cummings. 18 takes, Cummings told me via Twitter. It is quite an impressive feat.
I worked as a teacher for close to 15 years, but I'm also a parent, so I know it's not an easy task on either side. It's up to both sides to really talk, collaborate, and make this work... and not ask stupid questions, check the cell phones, bully the teacher, or steal mugs from him.
Grade:
PARENT TEACHER
(2018, Cummings & Hahn)
(2018, Cummings & Hahn)
"Hi! My name is Mr. Zahn, and my job is to make this work. And you're job – apparently – is to *not* make this work."
Parent Teacher is a 17 minute short from Jim Cummings and Dustin Hahn. It follows a parent/teacher meeting at a school classroom led by Mr. Zahn (Hahn). As he tries to go through the different topics of the meeting, he realizes that the parents aren't really much different than their kids.
"Growing up is not easy", says Mr. Zahn at one point. But then, again, neither is parenting or being a teacher; and if neither of the three are working together, the work can't be done. The short beautifully illustrates the struggle of teachers in trying to create "critical thinkers", as opposed to "memorizers", as Zahn puts it at one point.
Cummings and Hahn do a great job transmitting the seriousness of the situation in a way that feels real, without losing the funny edge. But as great as the dialogue, script, and performances are, the quality of the short is elevated by their decision of doing it all in one continuous shot, something that has become some sort of a trademark from Cummings. 18 takes, Cummings told me via Twitter. It is quite an impressive feat.
I worked as a teacher for close to 15 years, but I'm also a parent, so I know it's not an easy task on either side. It's up to both sides to really talk, collaborate, and make this work... and not ask stupid questions, check the cell phones, bully the teacher, or steal mugs from him.
Grade: