A Double Feature Post

I am a bit late in responding to last weeks viewing (Hamilton) and early in responding to this weeks...so I am grouping responses to them together in an effort to save 15 seconds of my time.

Hamilton. In discussion last week it didn't get favorable reviews from the other students. I was a bit surprised by this as I enjoyed it quite a bit. It wasn't the greatest thing I have seen so far this year, but some of the shot were rather striking when combined with the action (or rather inaction) that was taking place on screen. One that comes to mind is the church scene where the baby starts screaming and the teenage mother exits. The father doesn't even bat an eye at this or even respond (physically or verbally). The sparse dialogue and minimal interaction between the two main characters really worked in showing there disconnection to one another and the situation that they now have to face (being parents) and clearly the boy/father is not up to it. The film didn't work for me when there was dialogue, for instance when the three girls were out by the pool talking. I think the reason for this was that a) the acting and script was amateurish and b) it appeared to only serve the purpose of dialogue in itself (versus dialogue that would present conflict, continue the story). All in all I thought it was a noble attempt at a narrative with unconventional means and it touches previous post in which I stated that I would like to see more common ground made between experimental and conventional film.

Sharon Lockhart's Gym Film. This one is tough. Sharon stated that her background was originally in photography and I think that comes through in the film we viewed today. the film is one angle unfolds in half a dozen scenes. I believe she was trying to capture all the action and forward motion that appears in film and stuff it into a single frame, like a photograph. I said that it was tough because...well it was very difficult to sit through. I have quite a bit of trouble watching movies, I can rarely sit through more than ten minutes without fighting every muscle in my body and every impulse in my brain. With all the physical activity that was taking on place on screen I just wanted to get up and run a mile. That may be a bit of a cop out, but it is what I was feeling. Outside of that, the film really didn't hold my attention. It was visually stimulating with the near synchronized exercises, but that just isn't enough to sustain my attention for 60 full minutes. And I admit that I walked out about 10 minutes early. In another format I think this idea (film/photo relationship) could be very exciting, like in an installation format with separate screens for each scene or possibly each scene chopped up and combined in one frame in a grid formation and then played. But in its native state I must admit that this was by far one of the few films that I have considered a waste of time. I hope to read some of the other responses to this piece, maybe there is something I haven't considered.

Jennifer Montgomery

This week was one of the more interesting weeks within this class, not just the presentation and videos by JM, but also in discussion. In comparison to all the other films we have viewed its no wonder why, they possess a shock value that we haven't witnessed in this class yet. I posed the question in discussion today "what if a man had made this video? (Love with a Little L)" What I meant by this was what if every aspect of the film was the same, same narration, same actors, same objective/idea, but a man had been behind the camera instead. I was getting at the idea that the only way that film could succeed as a pseudo-feminist statement was if a woman had made it. I am not trying to take away anything from that film, I like it, but if a man had made I think the criticism would be drastically different. We would likely hear comments made that this man failed at it because he couldn't grasp the concept (since he is a man, and a man could never truly relate to feminism or female sexuality) or we might hear that the film was degrading towards women, in fact we probably would never had viewed it. Another thing that was discussed was the specific shock scenes and whether they were to0 vulgar/pornographic and if/when did you tune out? I personally wasn't really shocked by any of what was viewed. I grew up as the only man in a house with three women. My mother is also a behavioral analyst so my sexual education didn't come from concerned parents but rather Masters and Johnson. I rather enjoyed "Notes on the Death of Kodachrome". It had an earnestness and unpretentious quality to it that I have yet see in any of the films we have watched, and the film that was shown at the end of it (the one made with the camera she was after) was quite funny in a dry/lo-fi sense (whether that was intended or not).

Stupid Entry #50332401

While scrolling through ThisLife.org I came across a radio show titled What I learned from TV. During the course of this show the host said that due to competing outlets (cable, internet, dvd) Television in the past few years has moved away from the tired and true format and in the process we have seen TV shows that never would have aired 20 years ago. I think that this is very true, but really only applies to the other markets (not broadcast TV). Most of the non conventional shows that have thrived have been on cable, and while others have found new life in DVD after they have died and been canceled. This got me thinking (albeit briefly) about the future of experimental film. I know nothing of the experimental film scene and couldn't care less about it, but where does it go from here? I struggle some to grasp and enjoy some of the work we have seen, 'cause for me film has always and will always be rooted in character and story; furthermore I tend to get this feeling from the film department here at UWM that there is a clear line between experimental and traditional film, and that there HAS to be a clear line between the two. This line I find rather funny because if you scan the extremes of both traditional and experimental film you will find that both tend to shun character and story and that both tend to focus on the spectacle (whether that spectacle be cgi effects, or an abstract idea). We have seen what can be possible if an artist decides to take it in the opposite direction (the viewmaster thing...though I don't consider this film) .So, as I asked earlier about the direction of experimental film, I think that its future shouldn't be in opposite direction of traditional film, but in the same direction, possibly the two could discover a happy medium.

An upside down view of the world

...Finally I am posting on the trip to view the camera obscura. I really don't have much to say other than I was rather surprised by it. I had never seen a camera obscura before, other than simple pictures found on the internet and in various classes. I was rather stunned by how clear the picture/image was, I was expecting something nowhere near as clear or vivid, I was also expecting something a little bigger, but I assume there are limitations to this art form that I hadn't thought of at first. I thought that the other images/video that were presented in his (I forget his name at the moment) presentation were even more captivating. The idea of projecting the images onto the inside ceiling of a structure is pretty cool, and if I think it would be a cool idea for a permanent installation. My only question that came to mind during the visit (which he kind of addresses and answered) is "why camera obscuras?" Of all the possible forms of expression, why would one go through the trouble to mess with an ancient form of projection? I am not criticizing his choice, but it must be a very difficult form to utilize, there are so many external factors and forces that are out of your control (weather, lenses, position/ location), not to mention that this must be a bit of an under appreciated art form, it must be frustrating. But then again it also must be rather satisfying when all those factors come together to create a beautiful image. All in all it was cool, for awhile.

Look Ma, a leaf! No son, thats found art!

We weren't given any real topics to discuss in our blogs this week so I am just making one up as I go. I sometimes feel cheated when we view films/pieces in class, not just in Film 201, but also in other classes and in the real world. I may just be expecting more from something which I cannot grasp, but sometimes the films feel weak...thats the best word I can come up with. They feel as if the artist decided to do a few shots of this and that and then string them together. Added to my frustration is the fact that I am told by others (instructors/student/media) that this piece is great/grand/genius and I am left gnawing on my tongue trying to understand and hold in my thoughts for humilities sake. I am mainly focusing on films like Available Light Shift, Clear Blue Sky, and Data Diaries. While these are more than acceptable pieces and I did enjoy some of them quite a bit, they seem to lack a personal touch or possibly some sort of goal. They all seem to deal more with experimenting with film/video rather than the film/video experience and that can be why I have problems with them. Carl said in class last Monday about an artist who does a piece where he projects film and sprays Windex on the projection booth window in order to create imagery on the screen. That could very well be a most enjoyable experience, but it also seems cheap, a cop out to the medium itself. Maybe I am just not pretentious enough, or have been brainwashed by modern entertainment. I am not proposing by saying this that we should travel back 500 years and let a select few be responsible for the creation of art, and I am not proposing that every artist should be forced to create within some sort of philosophical boundary, but I would like to know why the hell do they think its good and worthy of my viewing. It might be small of me to ask for something so large.
On a side not, I gotta say that The Dark Room left me a bit sick after seeing it. I was quite good, a feast for the eyes, but a bit nausea inducing. Also I want to say that Night Flight, by UWM's very own Brent Cougenhour (I have no clue how you spell his last name) was by far one of the better films I have seen this entire semester. While it was stated that it was intended to be viewed on two separate monitors and in color, I think that I prefer the format/presentation of it we got on Monday. The juxtaposition of the two screens, the haunting audio, and the simplicity of the black/white film made it stick out more as a whole. I can't compare it to its original installation format, but I doubt I would have given it much thought or time...hell, I might be ranting about it rather than raving.

Even if I act and look real crazy...

What images do I have of Beirut? Thats a good question, I doubt I have ever really thought of the place outside of hearing about it in the news (especially as of late) and if any images came to mind they would be of your stereotypical third world country landscape filled with violence and strife. I certainly never took it in as a place where film could thrive, let alone in an experimental form...so I was a pleasantly surprised when I viewed the films this past Monday and read Laura Marks "Letters from Beirut". It was nice to see and experience something wholly different that what is displayed on TV. I feel a bit like a fish out of water when trying to relate to what was said and expressed in the films (or at least what I think was being said). Its not that I can't relate on some level, everyone from all walks of life deal with similar situations, but I have never had to live in a war zone, never had to deal with being surrounded by physical conflict, religious conflict, etc. I have on possibly some level but nothing compared to what these filmmakers have had to endure so I can only sit from the sidelines and comment. I am not sure what I am getting at...maybe its that I feel as if I can't really appreciate these films due to this fact. I do want to comment on the form and presentation of In "This House". The idea of dividing the screen into sections, the speech tones, etc is what made this film for me. It took the moving, yet uneventful and slow story and made it into a exciting almost interactive piece that managed to hold my attention, which is a major feat when you suffer horribly from Adult Inattentive ADD (I have this of all things and being forced to sit in a theater chair and watch experimental films for 2 hours is the closet to hell I have yet to experience).
On a side note, I must say that after reading "Letters from Beirut" I was a bit put off by Laura Marks. While I agree with a majority of her political/personal views I thought that it was completely asinine of her to turn down the plane ride that the US had offered to foreigners wanting to leave Lebanon during the conflict. At this point she wasn't sure how she would leave the country (since Canada had yet to do anything with regard to evacuating its citizens). Her excuse for rejecting the plane ride that the US was offering was that they were backing/supporting/supplying Israel (something along those lines). Luckily it all worked out in the end, but my advice to her would be that the next time someone offers her a ride out of a war zone that she take it. Silly Idealist.

Consecutive Post 5

If asked what is the best film I have seen so far this semester, I would answer without a doubt All My Life. This is by far one of the least experimental films that we have viewed. It consists of a single pan with an old song providing the soundtrack and its simplicity is probably why I like it so much. It leaves a lot of room for the viewer to add to it. By that I mean it is not filled with seemingly random shots and puzzling visuals, I feel like there is freedom for me to add a narrative story to it if I please, or I can disregard any deep thinking and just enjoy it as is. I did some digging on the web and found this page with some other videos by Baillie, check it out. He ain't half bad in my opinion.

http://www.ubu.com/film/baillie.html

Consecutive Post 4

Since this class is centering on experimental film, I thought that I would share one of my favorite songs and its accompanying music video, Cherub Rock by The Smashing Pumpkins. I think its safe to say that its an experimental video, especially when compared to 99.9% of music videos out there these days (it wasn't quite liked at the time it was released). On their Greatest Hits DVD, the director talks about how he made it, purposely switching and mixing the film exposure process in order to create the psychedelic visuals. Don't forget listen to the guitar solo...one of the best ever...Billy Corgan is my Guitar God.

Consecutive Post 3

This is another video that I made for another class this past year. To put it simply I was trying to create the craziness that we see but never really experience due to our brains computing power.

Click pic to play

Consecutive Post 2

I thought I would share some videos that I have created this year for classes. This first one is called Roller Coaster. I was trying to creating a visual representation of a roller coaster like experience, filled with suspense, nausea, and excitement. Read more on this video and some others here http://williamshay0611603.blogspot.com/

Click the pic to play

Consecutive Post 1

Due to recent events I am forced to try and fit my consecutive post all in a couple of days. To start with my first (and belated) post I want to discuss the film Data Diaries. This film is not really that interesting, rather it is nauseating, but the technical aspects fascinate me tremendously. I am not gonna debate what is and what isn't art, but the idea of taking all of your computers actions and then converting it into a visual representation is, to say the least, original. I have never seen anything like that before and I am sure there have been some variations of this type of art making before, but I think that this could be a unique way of creation (for me) in the future. It reminds me of found art, but instead of artifacts found in the real world it relies on the digital. I would also love to find out how he accomplished this and where he plans to take it in the future. The industrious digital revolution is in full swing and will never stop...at least not until the oblivion of the human race and.............I am not sure what to say next other than that there certainly is a wealth of data to be inspired by at this time.