When salesmen and their employers are struggling to make sales they reach out to one person, Seth Fealchman (Dan Conrad). Seth has a sales technique called Wintimidation, and has seemingly proven himself over the course of his career. By way of an infomercial Seth will motivate the struggling employees of Potty Time Plumbing Supplies. Does the motivational speaker have what it takes to right the sinking ship, or are his words and gestures empty? Tune into this infomercial to find out.
Who doesn’t love a good infomercial? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I fondly remember sitting up in the middle of the night or during a sick day from school and watching the most absurd infomercials. They were fun, cheesy, and ultimately (and ironically) entertaining. However, the infomercial that Conrad, Greg Vorob, and director Abi Varghese create in Wintimidation may just be the best of any I’ve seen before. Wintimidation is witty, funny, and inappropriate; it catches viewers off guard, and it entertains from beginning to end.
Conrad is the star of the show. As Seth boasts about all that he possesses, belittles all that interact with him, and bullshits everyone involved, I couldn’t help but to laugh out loud on numerous occasions. Conrad is charismatic, interestingly inviting, and full of life, making him the perfect person to play this role. Wintimidation has the perfect lead to deliver both its comedy and the more serious tones present.
Through Conrad’s incredible delivery there exists a veritable kick in the pants that some viewers may need. Sure, the film is full of nonsense, and the primary existence of Wintimidation is for entertainment purposes. However, there is somewhat of a lesson to be learned here as well. For those viewers who are able to read between the lines there’s a message present that speaks volumes. Fake it til’ you make it was the battle cry of some of my former students in Philadelphia, and that saying is relevant here. Now, while faking who and what you are in order to find success isn’t necessarily the best practice, doing whatever it takes to find success and be happy in life is sound advice, and that’s what Conrad, as well as the rest of the cast and crew, conveys throughout Wintimidation.
I love that in a film devoted almost entirely to silliness and menial entertainment, there is a level of intensity and relevance that exists. Wintimidation is brilliant in its approach toward coupling comedy and real-world content into a short film. The writing during the comical aspects of the film borders stupidity, and while that may seem harsh, its simplicity is refreshing. And, again, the juxtaposition of stupid humor and relevance that exists throughout Wintimidation finds the film success as a result.
All involved should be proud of this finished product, as Wintimidation does nothing but entertain and educate. At its core, Wintimidation, even through the crude humor, is pure entertainment, entertainment for the sake of entertainment. But through the many levels of dialogue and overall production, something even more pure exists, the importance of never giving up. I instantly fell in love with what Wintimidation had to offer me, and as far as I’m concerned the film is damn near perfect.
Directed by Abi Varghese.
Written by Dan Conrad & Greg Vorob.
Starring Dan Conrad, Greg Vorob, Jeanine Marie Conrad, Jon Crefield, Jono Crefeld, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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