Tagged: film

Sofia Coppola

Since watching The Virgin Suicides in high school I’ve been a total sucker for Sofia Coppola movies – she’s one of those would-follow-to-the-ends-of-the-earth, can-do-no-wrong people for me. I’ve had a mini-marathon today under the breeze of the air con as Valencia is a stifling 35 degrees even at 9pm.

Some of my favourite things:

Music – where on earth does she uncover these perfect matches? (Sidenote: just found an interview with her music supervisor Brian Reitzell here)

This single shot:

… that theme of wanting to get in without ever actually getting in (figuratively speaking) is translated to the visual style of the movie as well. Blauvelt and Savides never really pull the camera close to the actors, and even in the occasional close-up, the framing looks very stylized. … We, as an audience, are constantly gazing at the action from a non-participatory position, in a sense becoming voyeurs of the voyeurs (the kids). We gaze at them with a slow, deliberate stare, as they gaze slow and deliberately at the lifestyle of the celebrities. It’s a nice droste-effect that elevates the movie and turns it into a sort of mirror for the audience. … [In this long shot, the] camera remains outside at a distance, completely stationary, save for a slow zoom-in. The shot lasts close to 2 minutes and is almost completely silent.

Light:

Label jars not films?

According to Giannetti, for instance, “an essay is neither fiction nor fact, but a personal investigation involving both the passion and intellect of the author.”
Reading the Rascaroli reading this week, I found myself asking again if it is really that imperative to define terms such as ‘film essay’. The more we look at this type of writing, the more I think it’s completely useless and we should instead just make what we want to make and try to put the meaning we want into it – how it is received and judged and defined… I don’t really care for.
I think its essential for filmmakers to study film history in order to learn and be inspired and aspire to be, etc, but I’m getting more and more inclined to ignore labels altogether. If someone makes a great work that straddles fiction and non-fiction, I’m not going to sit here and write five pages about the “in-betweenness”. I really think it is more important what the work does than what the work quote unquote is.
Besides, didn’t we spend a whole semester unlearning what an essay or lecture is? This reading seems to argue the definition of a film essay and then gives a litany of others’ interpretations –> I’m confused what the relevance is, stating that there is a typology and then giving a number of definitions insinuating we can make our own definition? I don’t understand the exercise and I don’t understand the relevance of labels!

Patch up those sails, we’re back on the water!

Alternatively titled “Huge Blog Post To Catch Up On Everything Because Of Computer Problems / Why Do We Have A Long Weekend So Early In Semester So I Think It Is Still Holidays And Do No Work”

Lecture One:

  • Systems + better flow: The following system flow chart is for a border/coastal surveillance system, but demonstrates the benefits of a network system and how different sections contribute to good ‘flow’ of ideas and action. I want to work on adding more systems to my day-to-day life because I think they contribute to good practice and habits – maybe even just a morning routine?
  • Autism spectrum: Adrian mentioned this in regards to his own life experiences and what he has learnt about himself, particularly regarding messing with structure (and this link to networks). I’ve read a few articles surrounding the idea that everyone is on the Autism spectrum, including this article from New York Magazine, and it’s an interesting idea. Clearly not everyone who is a bit quiet, or has obsessive interests, or is socially awkward, or is an abrasive jerk, suddenly “has Autism” but these individual’s may be present on some far end of the scale. (Apologies for my incorrect use of commas, I just finished The Catcher in the Rye) I’m still unsure how I feel about this – could it also just be those traits and character flaws and curves and edges that make us human?
  • Assumptions: about what we think others know. This reminded me of two quotes:

    To assume makes an ass out of you and me

    and

    Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.

  • Essays: as modes of thought to follow an idea, as we discussed last semester. The fact that this concept still resonates and seems so novel and foreign to me is a testament to how strongly this previous strict practice about what an essay does has been taught and ingrained in us throughout our schooling.
  • Korsakow
  • Film as disposable and trivial: Adrian mentioned that what you are going to say and what you are going to do with it are more important than creating something confusing with “bells and whistles”. He made the point that great writers can make great writing using a biro and the back on envelope; they don’t need the best pen or their MacBook. Similarly we don’t need the best filming equipment to brainstorm ideas and try out techniques – our smartphone cameras are more than adequate. What we write with doesn’t affect the quality of what we write. I like this idea, and I think it’s important to realise this in order to let go of any preconceived notions when approaching film. It’s often been off limits in my mind simply because I’m not good at achieving depth of focus and pretty compositions. But it doesn’t have to be perfect – I touched on this in a few posts last year and this is definitely something I want to work on this semester: it doesn’t have to be perfect. Just try.
  • Personal documentary: what is/isn’t this? Specific apps sure, but what about any storytelling we do?

Notes I wrote on the first page of Catalyst (speaking of biros and envelopes)

  • Themes and ideas to consider and explore:
  1. playfulness, temporality and memory
  2. interactive documentary
  3. noticing
  4. reflection, practice, process
  5. explicit and tacit knowledge

An exercise in Noticing: ZOZOVISION#1 – My room in 60 seconds