Director; Michelle Bransford. Starring; Marissa Martin, Janessa Cazares, Karl Martin. Written & Produced by Kelly Bransford. Moonstreet Pictures production.
The old adage goes that there are momma’s boys and daddy’s girls. Many people unfortunately do not get the benefit of having a true parental figure who are excellent role models. But those of us that do get lucky to have that must treasure it as Father Time has never lost. The up and coming Kelly Bransford wrote and produced “On Borrowed Time”, a video about having to face the realization of letting go.
We open with a young girl (Marissa Martin) entering a home as the music begins. It becomes clear this is the place she grew up. Flashbacks of the girl show what can only be assumed is a child being raised by a loving father. You have images of a small girl on a tire swing mixed with a young lady having coffee with her now old man pops. It is a look at how one realizes all the cherished moments can be gone faster than we believe.
In the closing pieces our main character has to face her aged father (Karl Martin) on his death bed. Anyone that has had to confront that situation knows it isn’t easy no matter your age. Fortunately, the memories at least help with the sadness.
Many things to like about “On Borrowed Time”. Director Michelle Bransford and Cinematographer Isaac J. E. Garcia create a visual sense of poetry out of dealing with a painful situation. This is also not perfect. The opening is promising but the dude playing guitar (Kelly Bransford) on the balcony is the ultimate example of cheesy. Throw that out the window. Still, “On Borrowed Time” is a solid piece for what it is. Yes this is “Hallmark Channel” level stuff. But I always call everything straight no matter what level or style of movie making when critiquing. This is a damn good video in my book, and one that showcases a great deal of skill from everyone involved.
Greg Squared Films 