Imitation is Suicide (Award Winning Short Film) 

I gotta start chilling on park benches. People find love on them all the time in short films.

So, it’s war between the red shirts and the black umbrellas

You have good taste in literature

Irony at its highest: Watching this in smartphone.

Staring at your phone or a book amounts to the same thing. In fact, you have more access to books via electronic devices. Also, same as staring at anything else, be it television, newspaper, trees, or anything really. You get out what you put in. People always think each new development that society embraces will be its downfall, be it rock and roll, Dungeons & Dragons, long hair, lip piercings or anything else.

A question that I would like to have answered: how did this video get as many likes and views as it did when other significantly more refined, higher quality short films are practically unknown.

This is the most non subtle short film. It’s a simple concept to understand, so the audience understands it in one second, you don’t need five minutes of explanation. It’s an insult to our intelligence

First commandment for those who are going to make a short movie: start with someone sitting on a bench

Personally, they way I interpret this short film, neither him or the people around him are any better. Both chose to engross themselves with the common things they can connect with others. Both sides couldn't find ways to connect with each other despite their differences. Each party had a weakness, that they were comfortable with the familiar and chose people who imitated them rather than breaking the habit once in a while. We also have to understand that this story was told from this avid reader's perspective. So the way I see it, the only person who can bring some colour in his life is someone who is similar to him. If we think outside the perspective of this main character, maybe turn inward to ourselves, we'd do just the same. Imitation is suicide.

The film's message is very powerful: It's morally superior to have your attention transfixed by words on a paper rather than by words on a screen.

The only reason we can watch this movie, is due the existence of laptops, tablets and smartphones. Funny, Isn't it?

Just read the f book and quit looking around for some skirt to chase 😂

Phone bad book good

the plot twist is that theyre all reading ebooks on their phones.

Moral lesson of this short: We all are destined to find our match.

Actually there are a lot of great classical music pieces which is not Moonlight Sonata. Not saying it is bad, but its been used way too many times tho.

Well-done! Loved it! Throughout my life, I have played acoustic guitar. I take it everywhere I go, and play for myself and others. While I play, I watch people, and this is what I see more and more, people connected through devices. Granted, I enjoy the technology too, but I grew up during a time there were no cell phones and laptops and internet. Times were simpler and people connected directly to one another, and had actual conversations. I like it when others stop to listen and talk when I go different places to play. The music brings me closer to others in a world that can be lonely. Being different in this way makes me feel like I stand out. I guess I like to be noticed and appreciated for what I do. It is a win win situation where I can give something to the world, and people give back to me. Not only do I feel less lonely, but it makes me feel a sense of purpose. I don’t know, this short film conjures up much more than what I mentioned, but this was just one of the thoughts I had after watching it. It is just that I have spent a great deal of my life doing this, sitting alone practicing and playing while watching people. Being good at something often requires spending lots of time alone. Sometimes one can feel very lonely while surrounded by lots of people. There are already inherent barriers that separate people from one another, and electronic devices add another layer of separation. Thanks!

Yeah I can read I'm not like other girls

this film could be done by a guy in 4th grade that feels so unique and edgy

To me the interpretation of this short film is a boy who went through a traumatic experience with social media. He then seeks to find his only escape from everyone else, reading. As he reads he sees that everyone is on their phone and tries to escape but it seems to be in the back of his head even contemplating about going back to his phone but shortly putting it back. I think the lesson here is that everyone is stuck following one another, imitating each other thinking that its a social norm to be stuck to our phones, and engulfed in social media. Imitation is the action of using someone or something as a model. Imitation is suicide because it deteriorates our values, principles, personal philosophy and beliefs, how can we continue to be ourselves when we are stuck trying to be like others. The boy feels alienated because of the lack of imitation making him feel out of place, until he meets someone who isnt imitating society. Thus creating a conclusion that we often can find treasures in life if dont follow others because if many people follow someone to treasure then there will be nothing left for those followers.

According to me.... The boy likes reading books but people around him are into social media. He doesn't want to be like them ,he can't talk to anybody because they don't share same interests . Later he meets someone who reads book too and feels that he is not alone . If he had given up and stared imitating people around him only to get accepted in the society then he would have committed suicide (killing his own personality). I think the moral of this video was not related to electronic gadgets or books. It's just that we shouldn't try to be like others . (Sorry for my bad english)

This movie has a powerful meaning. Just one word: wow...

This is a student's movie right? Please tell me it is.

Our irony is we are praising this boy for not having addicted to smartphone on a smartphone

There's alot of hate on this video and i have to disagree. Who I don't agree with the message it's beautifully shot, well edited, paced, and directed. It's a pleasure on the eyes and ears. I don't have to agree to appreciate something. Good job Julian. Keep fucking directing man.

Wonderful film. Definitely of the best I’ve seen in RU-vid.

Excellent message. Many people still don't understand it, and it's necessary to raise awareness. We're losing our spark, let's change before it's too late.

Awesome. Finally someone gets it. Thank you

Excellent and frighteningly real depiction of modern day existence

BRAVO JULIAN DAVIS for a beautiful and provocative film!!!!!

Good job Julian! This was a great short. Love the message behind it. Its getting worst everyday out there

I can actually relate. Among my friends, family, and colleagues, I'm the only one who shuts off my phone during meals, at night, and on most weekends. Pisses them all off, but I refuse to be Pavlov's dog.

Excellent. Well done and very effective. Kudos to Dalton Cyr. Moonlight Sonata was the perfect music for this film.

What the title has to do with the message is a complete mystery.

I loved the theme - so relevant - and beautifully presented here. Well done!

Your message gets across in the first thirty seconds of this film, with the rest of the 5 minutes beating the dead horse that you didn't even kill. Yeah, we get it-- social media and technology has absorbed our lives. I hear it on the news almost every fucking day. Everything that is wrong with social media can be explained in a 2 minute segment on Good Morning America. But I'll humor you, because you humored me with your set transitions (seriously? You sit down to read a book (ooh, Catcher in the Rye, you're such an intellectual! How fitting that you read about angst and teenage rebellion while rebelling quietly in your angst. Bravo to beating a dead horse with yet another dead horse!), then become disillusioned with everyone's detachment from reality, and then leave to go rinse and repeat in a different location? I get that this detachment from reality is inescapable in your mind, but you couldn't figure out a more dynamic way to present such a concept?). It is a problem, being disconnected from the outside world, but it's a problem you don't even present a viable solution to. The conclusion to this short film solves the problem as thus: read a book in the park until you find a potential partner doing the exact same act in the exact same clothes. This is where I draw the most issue, for your message screams, "escape the conformity of social media through the conformity of old media!" The hypocrisy of such a message would be funny if you had made it obvious that this is satire on the conceptual struggle of self v. society, but it is obvious, to me, that this isn't satire. The conclusion is not only hypocritical, but ultimately unrealistic. Sure, the conclusion is good for fiction, which is a reflection of reality, but you're trying to criticize reality directly. It would be fine as a plot device for two self-proclaimed outcasts in a narrative to find common ground for a relationship together, but as the conclusion for a social commentary? That's weak. I just feel like you wanted to prove to everybody that, "Hey! Look at me! I'm a youth, and breaking the stereotype you old folk perpetuate about us youths!" Honestly, your film could have served better as a blog post, which would have the same effect with a much smaller budget. But I digress, you tried. You wrote, directed, and produced what I can only call a laughably boring PSA commercial. I can see that you put a lot of heart into this piece. But ultimately, I don't think you looked deep enough into this subject. Personally, I would have tried something personal. Like what about Madison? She told your character over text that things weren't working out. I want to believe that was why your character got mad and smashed his phone, but no-- it was simply getting text messages that angered your character. If it was indeed her message that angered your character, the protagonist, you would have made it extremely clear to the audience. To have a romantic partner end a relationship with the protagonist over text seems to be a much better motivator to smashing the connection with the online world, not a sudden and trivial disillusionment with everything. Instead of having a montage of the protagonist feeling lost after disconnecting from social media, why not have the protagonist endure an onslaught of small traumas that show the ugliness of social media that ultimately culminate in the protagonist leaving it all behind? Imagine that this character is in the throws of social media-- that is to say, constantly on his phone and worrying about what everyone is saying and what is the current gossip of his community. He makes it his mission to help the ones he loves. But after attempting time and time again to be the hero for his friends and family through social media, he discovers that nobody cares about what he has to say about their problems. Especially Madison, whom he loves more than life itself. But he is constantly trying to solve her problems, to such an extent that she feels he's controlling her. It's not her fault that she's depressed, like most people, and he shouldn't feel the need to try and save her from her grief. So she breaks it off with him after he went too far one day. This break-up, combined with all of his failures to please his friends and family, drives him to the edge-- maybe a literal edge, as he is done with this imitation of reality and is ready to commit suicide. The cold night throws a slight breeze at him as he hovers a foot above the void... he remembers all of his shortcomings, all of his mistakes, and the pain that everyone he thought loved him has caused... they don't know he's up here, and no one will know where he is until he hits the ground far, far below... he's ready... until his phone buzzes. It's Madison. She says she made a mistake... she wants him back. She realizes that he had the best intentions, and that she should have been more understanding. For a second, the hero considers this second chance at what he thought was happiness. But then he thinks back to all the people who rejected him, and how trivial their problems are compared to the choice he nearly made. He is thankful that Madison was willing to try again, but would that be enough to make him change his ways? Wouldn't she just get fed up over the same reasons again, leaving him in anguish? So he decides to make a change himself. A change that will start his life in a new direction. He drops his phone over the edge, into the void, after the unknown. He's done with this imitation of reality. To perpetuate in such an illusion is to complacently exist until death, which is almost as bad as suicide. He wants to live for real now, and it starts with one decision at a time. His life begins as this story ends. TL;DR: This film attempts to tackle a monster of a subject with a toothpick-sized method of film. If you want to create a social commentary in film that does more than simply poke the beast, try introspection. In order to solve the problems of the world around you, first solve the problems inside yourself. Such problems are often one and the same. The Man v. Society conflict, especially nowadays, is not black and white, and should not be treated as such. Also don't find love in strangers who just so happen to be wearing the same outfit as you. Most likely they're a stalker, and want to slowly take over your life until they murder you and take your place while wearing your face. And yes, I meant to rhyme.

Says a lot regarding today's society.

I gave this video a thumbs down because to me the message here is "don't get hooked on the latest technology". So I guess when the "latest" technology was the printing press, people shouldn't have gotten hooked on reading. Before the printing press reading material was very rare because it was so expensive. After the printing press reading material became much more available and much more affordable, so more and more people took the effort to learn how to read. The need for eyeglasses skyrocketed when the printing press was invented. Job opportunities skyrocketed in the building of printing presses, creating printing materials, printing and disseminating documents and books and everything that goes into creating and fitting people with eyeglasses. The entire world benefitted immensely. The same can be said for radio and television and every other technology that the public has fallen in love with.

Why am I now seeing this... loved it!

I’m not like other girls: the movie

Story is not a new one...but question is...who is imitating...everyone is living in one's own life...no humanly connection...this boy was disconnected...ok, i got it...and i also got it that at the end there were like minded people (wearing the same colored dress)...but who is imitating who? the Title is something confusion...

It's right! You took my 5 minutes and gave me big message.

Beethoven Moonlight Sonata! So Beautiful Short Film.

finally a watchable short film

I like that the boy was reading Catcher in the Rye. Nice touch

Love the film and its story. Powerful way to show how technology has influence our everyday lives.

Good Film with a good concept. This is the reality now a days.

I am blown away..great film. M.akes one think very deeply.

Whys everyone got a umbrella

Hii , anyone explain this film, as soon as possible......

Great film! Love the directing a lot!

I’m destroying my phone right now

Imitation Is Suicide is both damning and uplifting. Feels like the CU campus, where kids are walking around glued to cells

Great film bro , alao great acting , the cinematography is very very good

"The revolutionary of the future will be the person who thinks." -John Trudell "It was morning, and the new sun sparkled gold across the ripples of a gentle sea. A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed the water, and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air, till a crowd of a thousand seagulls came to dodge and fight for bits of food. It was another busy day beginning. But way off alone, out by himself beyond boat and shore, Jonathan Livingston Seagull was practicing . . . -Richard Bach

I enjoyed this film, but if I may, I'm thinking you should have left out the fact that he had a phone at one time to begin with. Because to me, it kind of felt like he was more upset that he couldn't be on his phone like everybody else. The way he goes and looks at his shattered phone reliving the horrible day he broke it, with it only becoming tolerable after meeting a beautiful girl who is reading a book with no phone in sight. Just a thought, anyway, great job!!!

What's with the black umbrellas

Wondering what the colors of their clothes represent. Also the clock scene i believe was to show how much time they gave their son before indulging back into their electronics.

Well done brother 👍👍 I really liked your film. 😊

Which camera and objectives are you used ? How big was your budget for this great short film ?

Very interesting. I love the color contrast. I have some critiques, if you will, but no need to say them. You got your message across, and I agree with it. And I love the ending. Well done.

Nice cinematography, bad story that has ironically already been done to death

Thank you so much

Well done Julian Davis! Conveys a very powerful message people need to see.

This isnt deep at all ... only the music

Me? In private, I'm a landline, desk-top computer person and only use a cell phone if I'm traveling. When I'm with people, I want to BE with people.

my boy jill killing it keep going !!!

"Imitation is Suicide" is of a piece: everything about it feels right. The cinematography, the acting, the editing...all works in concert. I'll never hear "Moonlight Sonata" nor think of "Catcher in the Rye" without remembering this film.

Inspiring! Nice job pal..nice job..!

Beautifully done!!!

Such an AWESOME short film, with a powerful meaning - it says so much, but actual words are not spoken. A must watch! Please share with all your friends .

Liked it. Some really cool camera shots.

This is amazing!!

It gets boring after a while and it's kind of cliche. But I'll give it a like because you were only fifteen, which is impressive, and it was well done.

So did it bother anyone else he's reading the same book that Mark David Chapman was obsessed with when he killed John Lennon??

Sad reality.. when i travel by metro i be the only one looking out the window and others are always on their phone

Did you submit to sundance, tribeca or slamdance?

Enjoyed it. For me had sort of a Ray Bradbury feel to it.

She is his soulmate. Even their clothes are the same

I thought imitation was the most sincerest form of flattery. When did it change?

Thanks everyone for letting us reach 20,000 views! Your support is greatly appreciated on behalf of the entire cast and crew of this amazing short film!

angsty, misunderstood, and independent teenager resists the urge to "be like everyone else" and finally wins himself a nice hot blonde for his efforts who looks exactly like himself. how do i get my 6 minutes back?

Am I the only one who recognized that they are taking an umbrella with them

What's the reason for those umbrellas?

That dude is also chilling sitting behind the boy and the girl a couple yards across at 4:43

Great short film!

Message in this case is spread by using tech not books.

What a beautifuly u made this bro hats off buddy as filmmaker I learn a lot with you

Very good job kid !!! I will follow you from now and so on... Some people seem to ignore how difficult it could be to make a silent movie overall one which inspires others... Be pride and dont listen all this BS...just jealous people ;)

I think a short film should be so good, it makes you want to watch it again and again, and tell your friends about it. I'm disappointed by a lot of these short films. They often seem pointless and could have been written by a child. Surely as an adult, we should have much better ideas than this and many of the others which are out there.

very well made, good lead actor and very well chosen musical score, keep up the great work!

this was an amazing film. cant wait for you to grow and become even better

Powerful. Very well done to make the point.

brilliant thinking nice filming really love it.

AMAZING SHOTS

Brilliant!

so the girl imitates the guy?

Do you mind if I copy this ide....I died.

How to contact you ( director) .?