I spent this past week completely immersed in Cucalorus 22. I spent half of my time at Cucalorus filming Cucalorus Connect events (that's how I earned my pass) and the other half viewing films. The following are my thoughts on those films.
Dance-a-lorus
This was my third year in a row going to Dance-a-lorus. As always, it was an extremely unique experience. While almost all of the dancing was impressive, I found the film elements to be underwhelming overall. In certain pieces the film made little to no sense while in others it felt mostly redundant, simply showing the same dancers who were appearing on stage.
The highlight, to me, was the piece in which a live cellist performed as four women danced around sails. This performance stood out to me because it was less narrative focused and more about the feeling/texture of the entire piece (both the dancing and the projection).
Overall a great show, and I'm glad I made it for the 3rd consecutive year!
Fangtooth Shorts
These shorts were a mixed bag, some of them were interesting/disturbing but none of them really grabbed me except for the 30 minute documentary at the end of the block. The documentary followed an artist who did elaborate pencil drawings and her personality/work alone were enough to carry the film.
The Arbalest
The Arbalest follows a fraud toy inventor who invents a gun in an act of vengeance against the man who stole the woman of his obsession.
This film was certainly interesting, but i'm not entirely sure what I think about it. The visual style was definitely distinctive, and I adored the costuming/set design, but i'm not sure the story really clicked with me. Definitely was interesting, though.
Buster's Mal Heart
Buster's Mal Heart follows the story of a mentally disturbed man who becomes a hermit after he murders his family and becomes obsessed with the apocolypse. It's a cross between Donnie Darko, The Shining and I don't even know what.
This film was FANTASTIC! I really enjoyed the story structure, the acting and the cinematography. And the soundtrack. The title is the only thing that I get stuck on.
I really enjoyed speaking with the director of the film as well -- she was a definite inspiration.
We Are the Flesh
This film was utterly disturbing. It was basically one long violent, sexual, surreal, post-apocolyptic poem. It featured a prolonged scene of incestual blowjob followed by a sex scene filmed in thermal camera followed by orgies and sex with corpses.
It honestly wasn't great, and after a long day of working and watching films my brain was not prepared for this film.
Over all it was a great festival, I saw a lot of strange and inspiring films and got to network a bit a Jengo's and around the festival.
And I got to try using an HTC VIVE! Finally!
Friday, December 2, 2016
Friday, November 4, 2016
What is Optika?
I've been struggling with the question recently: What is Optika?
Of course I know, and have known since the beginning of the semester that it is a collection of six animated mini-films about life, death, color and art of six different planets, utilizing 6 different animation techniques.
But how do I classify Optika? In the beginning I felt like it was a visual poem -- something meant to be experienced, not intellectually consumed. I've felt a tug since the beginning, between making a film which is intelligent and making a film which is beautiful. Is one inherently better than the other? Is one more important?
Andre seems to believe that the film must be intelligent before it should be beautiful, but do I agree with that?
I've pondered with the idea of taking these abstract films and diving intellectually into them and into my own psyche, but does that betray the original concept? The purity of the animated sequences? What if I made the film a novel, a research paper, a work of prose? Is that pretentious? Is that pointless?
Where I've arrived is that I want for it to be a collection of miniature films to be appreciated together (as a set) with a soundtrack evoking their contents. Is there an order to the films? Should there be an order to the films?
What if I made a program, which would randomly generate any of 30 different orders for the film to be played in? Random quotes?
What if the film was an installation? A dark closet with 6 screens mounted on walls and quotes being projected from the ceiling down on you. The music plays as the films play (in sync) on an endless loop.
The film can be any of these things, but it can also be a lot more. It could be a beautifully choreographed symphony or an improvisational back-and-forth.
What would be best for the film? Is it all of these films? Is it none of them?
Of course I know, and have known since the beginning of the semester that it is a collection of six animated mini-films about life, death, color and art of six different planets, utilizing 6 different animation techniques.
But how do I classify Optika? In the beginning I felt like it was a visual poem -- something meant to be experienced, not intellectually consumed. I've felt a tug since the beginning, between making a film which is intelligent and making a film which is beautiful. Is one inherently better than the other? Is one more important?
Andre seems to believe that the film must be intelligent before it should be beautiful, but do I agree with that?
I've pondered with the idea of taking these abstract films and diving intellectually into them and into my own psyche, but does that betray the original concept? The purity of the animated sequences? What if I made the film a novel, a research paper, a work of prose? Is that pretentious? Is that pointless?
Where I've arrived is that I want for it to be a collection of miniature films to be appreciated together (as a set) with a soundtrack evoking their contents. Is there an order to the films? Should there be an order to the films?
What if I made a program, which would randomly generate any of 30 different orders for the film to be played in? Random quotes?
What if the film was an installation? A dark closet with 6 screens mounted on walls and quotes being projected from the ceiling down on you. The music plays as the films play (in sync) on an endless loop.
The film can be any of these things, but it can also be a lot more. It could be a beautifully choreographed symphony or an improvisational back-and-forth.
What would be best for the film? Is it all of these films? Is it none of them?
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Film Outline
Optika XIX Outline
Beginning, Darkness, slowly focusing into planet #1
The first planet we see is a simple white circle (paper) against a black background (cloth) speckled with stars (chalk). Slowly, black lines/shapes (ink) form on the surface of the white circle, moving across it horizontally.
The speed of the shapes increases and grows more intense, darkening the color of the circle as they move. Eventually, the entire planet is dark, and it fades into the background.
Cut to planet #2
The second planet is a completely smooth sphere (wood). Little shaded areas (stains) appear and grow, swirling and blowing around their respective cores. Small dark lines (burns) appear on the surface of the planet, scattering around in every direction. Some of the lines become thicker as the dark lines expand in width. The lighter areas begin to dip down, forming valleys (carvings) around the darker lines. Overtime, the valleys form a hilly terrain. More and more complex features appear. Subtractive. Dust clouds (sawdust) appear around the planet as the towers and valleys are falling (sanding away) until the surface is deformed and blank. The planet has shrunk considerably in size.
Cut to planet #3
The third planet is a vibrantly-colored oil-pastel circle overlaid on black paper handed painted with a galactic backdrop. The planet begins as a yellow/brown swirl, before glowing red/orange and settling into cool blue, with green (plants) slowly overtaking the brown land on the planet (with white clouds swirling overhead). Then, in a violent flash of light, the green turns to red and then to black. The black ash turns back into brown.
Cut to planet #4
The fourth planet begins as a purple clay sphere placed against a black backdrop with flickering LED lights as stars. A wire belt adorned with pieces of asteroid (grey clay) surrounds the planet. As time goes on, pieces of different colored clay are placed on top of the sphere, creating raises in its texture. A mound of clay forms into a volcano, spouting fog from its center.
Cut to planet #5
The fifth planet is a 2D model, pale blue with grey clouds. Lights appear over the body of the planet, hinting at civilization. A satellite eventually begins to orbit the planet. After a while, explosions move across the surface of the planet. A ship leaves orbit, leaving the planet a barren wasteland.
Cut to planet #6
A 3D rendered planet, covered in uniform, dark clay ground and red “water” -- with pink clouds and 2 moons orbiting it. Lightning bounces around the atmosphere of the planet and the water begins to change color. Soon, the planet is taken over by blue flora. Then, lights begin to glow from the planet’s surface at night. The blue of the planet becomes grey, industrial colors. As soon as the world becomes taken over by industrialization nature reclaims it. It goes out not with a boom but a whimper.
Slow fade to black.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Crew Bios: Megan
Megan McCaw is working on the sound design for Optika XIX. Although she's experimented with sound for years, this is her first time putting it to use in a film.
Her main focus is in editing and writing. As a Communication studies double major, she's experienced in digital audio and field video production, but her real interest is in experimental film.
Transplanted from Fayetteville, NC to Wilmington, Megan graduates in the spring and is planning on staying in town to work on her internship at Neatly Chiseled Features and begin some projects of her own.
Her main focus is in editing and writing. As a Communication studies double major, she's experienced in digital audio and field video production, but her real interest is in experimental film.Transplanted from Fayetteville, NC to Wilmington, Megan graduates in the spring and is planning on staying in town to work on her internship at Neatly Chiseled Features and begin some projects of her own.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Crew Bios: Joey
His current predicament is a result of his background in producing, assistant directing, editing, whittling, and philosophizing.
He is a Film Studies major with a double minor in Psychology and Entrepreneurship, so yeah I guess he's qualified.
Hailing from High Point, North Carolina, Joey has moved on to Wilmington where he eventually co-founds his own production company, Goodbye Productions.
He's graduating this semester!
Hopefully, this project will change his life.
Crew Bios: Carson
 |
| Carson, in his natural habitat. |
He has a background in editing, directing, writing and generally messing with camera for years and years.
He just finished his first major short film -- Deadbeat! Hopefully you all will see it in a festival near you soon.
He is from Cary, North Carolina and is one of the co-founders of Goodbye Productions, along Joseph "Mr. Producer" Bye.
He's graduating this semester!
This project will change his life (hopefully).
Inaugural Post
Hello World!
This is Carson Roach-Howell, here to teach you about my new film "Optika XIX"
In the last week, this film has gone from a spark to a small kindling flame. We have narrowed down our scope, refined our ideas, and set out on a majestic course for Productionland.
If you don't know anything about our film, you can check out this online presentation to get briefed on our progress so far!
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