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★★★★★
Directed by: #ChasePearson
Written by: #ChasePearson
The Jungle of Accounting is a witty, documentary-esque short film directed and written by Chase Pearson. He recently made his directing/writing debut with Cash Only (2019) and this short film will leave you (and certainly me) excited to see more from him. The film follows a couple (Charles and Maryanne Bailey) who take a trip down memory lane to discuss past accounting employees. At only 11 minutes, The Jungle of Accounting packs a lot in, with quick edits and a voiceover guiding you through, it feels too short!
The dynamic is great between Charles and Maryanne Bailey, played by Ray Bergen (older Charles), Timothy J. Cox (younger Charles), and Kathy McCort (older Maryanne) and Colleen Sproull (younger Maryanne) respectively. The four actors have gained numerous acting credits, all making their debuts over the last 20 years with Cox having over 130 acting credits to his name. The characters are presented well and are convincing of a married couple, something which can be hard to achieve, especially in a short, with limited time to do so. The other characters in the film are also well portrayed, they are constructed sufficiently despite being in short bursts and within quick succession of each other, they leave a lasting impact.
The Jungle of Accounting almost feels like an extended very 80s advert, with the use of voiceover (Mike Drew), dramatic music, and matching edits it presents this funny and exaggerated short’s tone perfectly. It feels very reminiscent of The Office (both US/UK versions) with small mundane issues presented as hyperbolic and interviews matched with complimentary footage homes in on the experience of office life.
The aesthetic is joyous, with a faded colour palette of yellow and blue hues, the costume and the décor really capture the feel of the 80s. It brings a delightful nostalgic feel, even for those not around in the 80s, watching this, you will feel like you were a part of it. Cole Raser provides an excellent assortment of sound here, adding great timed instrumental beats to match with the comical dialogue, as well as few well-placed, well-known tracks.
Pearson benefits from using dates on screen to highlight time period and add bonus context to the scenes. The film meshes together a droll voiceover from Mike Drew, well-timed edits, and past and present set footage to tie this film nicely in a concise yet wonderful way. The flow of the film is exceptional, and drama is built up until the very end, with the final title card packing a comedic punch before the credits roll you will be left wanting more. The entirety of this film is delightful and brings Pearson’s script to life in a very highly entertaining short film.
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