Validation (2007)

A fable about a parking attendant who gives his customers REAL validation -- dispensing both free parking and free compliments.

Director:

Kurt Kuenne

Writer:

Kurt Kuenne

Stars:

T.J. Thyne, Vicki Davis, Dave Kuhr

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
T.J. Thyne	...	Hugh Newman (as TJ Thyne)
Vicki Davis	...	Victoria Donner
Dave Kuhr	...	Depressed Man
Pam Cook	...	Depressed Woman
Ron Oden	...	Mall Cop
Manolo Travieso	...	Head Suit
Michael Hatch	...	Second Suit
Richard Beanan	...	Third Suit
Jackie Walters	...	Experienced Woman / Dental Assistant / Dental Receptionist / Line Waiter
Ralph Diner	...	Workout Man
Cameron Young	...	Boss Man (as Cameron B. Young)
Jef McClure	...	Bodyguard
Raymond Parker	...	Bodyguard / Photo Subject
Shelby Lee Jenkins	...	Dental Assistant / DMV Line Waiter
K.C. White	...	Dental Assistant (as Carol White)

Storyline

A cheerful parking attendant considers it his job to do more than validate parking. He wants to validate the customers themselves, delivering compliments about their appearances and the inner qualities behind them. Everyone who comes up to him with a ticket walks away validated as a worthwhile human being. Soon, the parking attendant becomes so popular that people line up for validation. He appears on news broadcasts and even ends up validating George W. Bush and Saddam Hussein. His life hits a roadblock when he goes to the DMV to get his driver's license photo taken and is met with a beautiful photographer whom he can't get to smile.

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Plot Keywords:

parking attendant | compliment | photographer | camera | woman in a wheelchair | 

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Taglines:

A fable about the magic of free parking.

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Genres:

Short | Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 2007 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Theatre Junkies

Technical Specs

Runtime:

16 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Hugh Newman: You paid for parking - for me?

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Connections

Features Rent-a-Person (2004)

User Reviews

Doesn't Outstay Its Welcome

This short film revolves around parking attendant Hugh Newman who not only gives people tickets but compliments that changes their whole outlook on life . Within a short period of time Hugh has become something of a celebrity but finds his life unfulfilled when he meets a photographer who is incapable of smiling . What can he do to make her smile just once ?

On paper there might have been great potential turning this short in to a feature length movie but the more I thought about it the more I started to realise quirky shorts probably don't make good features . One the problems might have been the character Hugh himself and the way he's played by TJ Thyne .Try and imagine a young Gene Wilder on ecstasy and you have some idea of how irritating an initially happy clappy character can quickly become

This probably sums up VALIDATION - it's length compliments its quirky nature and feel good factor . It's well shot by director Kurt Kuenne and is a feel good fable that comes to a stop just around about the time when cynical embittered nihilists feel their patience might just end