I’ve got a confession: I used to scoff at short films. I never even watched the Oscar-nominated ones. But writer/director Emily Everhard has shown me how wrong I was. Shorts aren’t just stepping stones, they’re vital training grounds for fresh voices and bold ideas. Whiplash, The Babadook, and Napoleon Dynamite all started as shorts. In a world where every seemingly every movie costs $150 million, short films are where creativity thrives. And thanks to Emily, I’m officially done sleeping on them.

You might remember Emily from my previous review of Special Delivery, an incredibly funny short film about a foley artist that falls for porn star during an ADR session. I absolutely loved it and when I was given the chance to review No Experience Necessary, Everhard’s latest short, I couldn’t say no. 

No Experience Necessary premiered at the 35th Aspen Shortsfest, an Oscar-qualifying film festival recognized as one of the premier short film festivals in North America, and received the Jury Special Mention in Comedy!

Does it reaffirm my newfound love for short films though, or was it a short-lived affair?

My Thoughts

No Experience Necessary, stars Brenda Wehle as Agatha, an elderly widow with two left feet (literally) who rediscovers joy when she enrolls in a dance class. 

There’s two things that stick out to me most in Emily’s work: how funny they are but also how sincere they feel. The humour in this is a bit more understated than in Special Delivery, coming mostly from the radio or her answering machine in this one, but what it lacks in big laughs, it more than makes up for with genuine heart. 

Brenda Wehle is excellent as Agatha who can convey so much emotion with just a look. Despite being a certified grandma’s boy, the fact I was so bought in was all due to the performance and the perfectly crafted moments in this short.

Speaking of the craft, this looks top notch. Some shorts can lack visual polish just by their nature, but this just looks so clean. Emily’s confidence behind the camera is evident and it allowed me to quickly jump into the story without being distracted by any technical issues or imperfections. 

I’m also impressed with the writing here. It’s not super flashy or anything, but my god is it clever and effective. It’s crazy how effortlessly I can completely fall into the wavelength of both of Emily’s shorts. It avoids feeling too melodramatic, which is often something that short’s rely on to try and draw out some feelings from the viewer, but in No Experience Necessary, the sincerity and authenticity shines through. It also manages to perfectly balance the sincere moments with the humour, so you don’t experience any tonal whiplash, which is all the more impressive when you remember this is a story where the main character has two left feet and signs up for a dance class.

More than anything else though, I’m just so glad to watch something so genuine, optimistic, and uplifting. 

Verdict

Someone give Emily Everhard some money and let her COOK! I’ve seen two of her shorts now, and both blew me away. As someone who watches hundreds of movies a year, I’m constantly craving something that feels fresh, and Emily delivers it like it’s effortless. 

I’ve talked a lot, both in reviews and on Talkies, about movies that give us a flash of boldness but fall back on clichés and manufactured emotion that create something that ultimately feels disjointed. Emily’s work avoids these issues completely though. She seamlessly weaves absurdity, comedy, and heart with a confidence that feels rare, even amongst big budget features.

No Experience Necessary isn’t just a strong short, it’s proof that Emily Everhard is ready to take the next step into features. And when she does, I’ll be the first in line to watch it!