Created by Marq Williams, ‘Don’t Eat the Rich’ is an experimental fantasy film with an assortment of messaging – ranging from fake news, religion and romantic relationships. Starring Kiy, Marq Williams and Theo White, the short utilizes third-party TV/Film clips in an attempt to convey its overall narrative – which viewers may find puzzling. The film showcases themes of society, corruption, poverty, politics and relationships – amongst many, many more.
The 16-minute short, which is divided into 2 chapters, opens with Act 1 – titled ‘God’s Will’. After showcasing indistinguishable news reports from various TV news networks, regarding the fake news culture, the film swiftly moves into the religious-based teachings of wealth and poverty. Act 2, titled ‘Then Comes Marriage’, runs the idea of movie-based romanticism and the unconnected reality of love, relationships, trust and jealousy.
With a promising logline, Marq Williams’ ‘Don’t Eat the Rich’ had a lot going for it, but post-production and it’s discombobulating messaging may thwart audience engagement and understanding. However, after several replays the overall essence begins to surface. Unfortunately, the 15-minute runtime may be too long and tedious to allow for such patience and attention. Removing the third-party footage, the produced content is crafted with low-production value and mundane performances.
