Just coming out of my end of the year review with my department faculty, I'm feeling very good about this past year and how much I've grown. Even more so, I'm extremely overjoyed for the summer to be here and developing a plan on how to keep up my momentum.
I'm going to be doing collaborative experiments and pieces with Erin Doubenmier (who wrote the original soundtrack for dirt.) I think we'll be doing music and videos back and forth without any rules and see if something develops.
....I'm also writing a pitch for a musical idea to try and give to Alice Cooper next Sunday at a concert. I've suddenly felt this drive to make a satire about the massive meth issue in my hometown and I have a great place to film. So I'm also going to be researching meth in depth and all of the issues that have surrounded it. It's crazy enough, it just might work.
Like Diana said, dancing is always an option.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
New spin on dirt.
I'm not sure if this is the right turn my documentary is supposed to take, but we'll see.
As I was editing a few days ago, it felt like all I was putting together was an exhausting, extended version of a talking head film. The editing itself was seemed to be exhausting and extended, more than usual anyway. Then when I went out to take Winnie for a run in the park, the way I wanted to organize this piece became clearer to me and I went for it.
Instead of chopping up all of the interviews and mixing them all together by topic and make the narrative flow that way, I would do it chronologically and follow my process through making this piece. Each piece is sort of introduced by a title/chapter, a lot like the way Tarantino does it. We'll see if it really goes somewhere tonight. But I do feel much better about it.
As I was editing a few days ago, it felt like all I was putting together was an exhausting, extended version of a talking head film. The editing itself was seemed to be exhausting and extended, more than usual anyway. Then when I went out to take Winnie for a run in the park, the way I wanted to organize this piece became clearer to me and I went for it.
Instead of chopping up all of the interviews and mixing them all together by topic and make the narrative flow that way, I would do it chronologically and follow my process through making this piece. Each piece is sort of introduced by a title/chapter, a lot like the way Tarantino does it. We'll see if it really goes somewhere tonight. But I do feel much better about it.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
New Media? New to me.
The assigned readings were kind of hard to get into, for me, but nonetheless educating and interesting. I am continually blown away by what I don't know and the fact that I haven't been able to grasp the concept of the information age that we live in. The hardest thought is that I can't know everything.
Part of this struggle started in foundations last year when I suddenly found myself wake up and I wanted to re-read and re-watch and re-think and re-discuss everything I'd ever done in my 18 years of life. I told this to my teacher, Carl, after he'd given me a reading list for Christmas break. I asked him if he'd ever felt this way. Carl looked me so seriously. He said, "Everyday, and I hope it never stops."
I again ran into this brick wall of a concept when talking to my teacher, Cyan. I was, and am, so frustrated that I couldn't simultaneously know everything about the world and talk about it coherently. She told me I could sit on Google everyday for the rest of my life and still not know near as much as I'd hope to. So obvious, I know that. I hope that I'm allowed in my youth a little leeway, I just can't get past it easily.
So, New Media.
One of the most interesting thoughts in the reading was that America has been more behind in the new media art scene because it's out of breath pace. I can totally believe this, we have been moving so fast it has no time or real chance to trickle down into society and digest. Most of the rest was kind of wordy and overwhelming to think about, and decided to wait until we'd discussed a little in class before I'd go and waste some online paper. I love the fact that the web spawned most of this discussion and the readings, and the fact that we are posting out thoughts and responses exclusively on it. Yeah, the internet is pretty amazing.
As far as the titling and rules of this art genre go, it seems to be as slippery as post modernism.
Invention always becomes convention. Always. One fact that I have been able to except (with help from Cromwell).
This probably definitely is a naive proposition, but why does there need to be a title or genre? People are going to create, write, think, theorize, and do whether there is a category or not, right? Maybe, maybe not. But I've always been one for not placing so much weight on titles in art, not titles of individual works, but the types of art. I don't know. No cop-out intended, I promise.
It also may take another day to digest the documentary we watched, I found as it unfolded that I can genuinely appreciate all of these forms of technology and how truly amazing it is what we can do, even in the late 90's.
But it terrified me.
I think most all of those ideas for pushing the limitations of society and nature through new technologies are made possible by pushing morality and religion, almost completely pushing them aside.
This, I cannot do. Like I said, I am completely hats off to the people that develop cryogenics, drugs, virtual reality, robots, so many things! But I don't want to be much a part of it. There is too much reality, too much existing nature, so many raw things that I don't know about. Like I've been doing with my work on dirt. I want to go back and understand where I came from before I run ahead into a new place. So I'd like to be aware of the new stuff, but take part in the old stuff first, and I have a feeling it will take a lifetime to see and appreciate the old stuff, the raw stuff.
And I don't mind that.
Part of this struggle started in foundations last year when I suddenly found myself wake up and I wanted to re-read and re-watch and re-think and re-discuss everything I'd ever done in my 18 years of life. I told this to my teacher, Carl, after he'd given me a reading list for Christmas break. I asked him if he'd ever felt this way. Carl looked me so seriously. He said, "Everyday, and I hope it never stops."
I again ran into this brick wall of a concept when talking to my teacher, Cyan. I was, and am, so frustrated that I couldn't simultaneously know everything about the world and talk about it coherently. She told me I could sit on Google everyday for the rest of my life and still not know near as much as I'd hope to. So obvious, I know that. I hope that I'm allowed in my youth a little leeway, I just can't get past it easily.
So, New Media.
One of the most interesting thoughts in the reading was that America has been more behind in the new media art scene because it's out of breath pace. I can totally believe this, we have been moving so fast it has no time or real chance to trickle down into society and digest. Most of the rest was kind of wordy and overwhelming to think about, and decided to wait until we'd discussed a little in class before I'd go and waste some online paper. I love the fact that the web spawned most of this discussion and the readings, and the fact that we are posting out thoughts and responses exclusively on it. Yeah, the internet is pretty amazing.
As far as the titling and rules of this art genre go, it seems to be as slippery as post modernism.
Invention always becomes convention. Always. One fact that I have been able to except (with help from Cromwell).
This probably definitely is a naive proposition, but why does there need to be a title or genre? People are going to create, write, think, theorize, and do whether there is a category or not, right? Maybe, maybe not. But I've always been one for not placing so much weight on titles in art, not titles of individual works, but the types of art. I don't know. No cop-out intended, I promise.
It also may take another day to digest the documentary we watched, I found as it unfolded that I can genuinely appreciate all of these forms of technology and how truly amazing it is what we can do, even in the late 90's.
But it terrified me.
I think most all of those ideas for pushing the limitations of society and nature through new technologies are made possible by pushing morality and religion, almost completely pushing them aside.
This, I cannot do. Like I said, I am completely hats off to the people that develop cryogenics, drugs, virtual reality, robots, so many things! But I don't want to be much a part of it. There is too much reality, too much existing nature, so many raw things that I don't know about. Like I've been doing with my work on dirt. I want to go back and understand where I came from before I run ahead into a new place. So I'd like to be aware of the new stuff, but take part in the old stuff first, and I have a feeling it will take a lifetime to see and appreciate the old stuff, the raw stuff.
And I don't mind that.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Back from Brazil
I just got back from spring break in Lucas, Brazil yesterday morning and have not yet felt back to normal; nor will I for a few days I'm sure.
It was my first time leaving the country, so that in itself is a hard thing to digest for me. It was a week full of more education than vacation. I learned so much about the growing agriculture industry in the heart of Brazil and mind-blown by it's direct connection to Iowa. But one thing that was also startling were the thoughts I've been having about what it means to be an American. It seems no matter where we went, the US had so much of an influence and people who favored American things. In a way the pop culture and consumerism of our country is some sort of infection spreading. There are many Brazilian businesses and brands of goods in stores, but there are almost more American companies present. I was kind of disappointed to see a Nestle factory on the drive north from Cuiaba to Lucas, and how monstrous Coca Cola has become (it has purchases multiple kinds of Brazilian made raw sugar cane sodas and re-made them into high fructose and are now sold in their place).
I'm not sure what to think of all of this yet, but it was interesting to find out that a Brazilian beer company, Brahma, has just bought Budweiser. I'll have to look more into that, Brahma Chopp's is great beer.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
After the first weekend
I had a very productive, very exhausting weekend. Shooting 8 interviews in two days, I've found a familiarity with the equipment I was first intimidated by, and the beginnings of understanding the way I work best.
I put together a reel of clips from some of the interviews for my friend who is composing a soundtrack to see.
This has unexpectedly also aided my overall idea for this piece, knowing that I have over 6 hours of footage and 12 minutes to communicate to my audience. I think I now have a clearer outline and am excited to get to more editing as well as another weekend of shooting coming up.
If only I could just edit. Edit with no exams, no hunger, and no life.
My sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgG6irbsErU
I put together a reel of clips from some of the interviews for my friend who is composing a soundtrack to see.
This has unexpectedly also aided my overall idea for this piece, knowing that I have over 6 hours of footage and 12 minutes to communicate to my audience. I think I now have a clearer outline and am excited to get to more editing as well as another weekend of shooting coming up.
If only I could just edit. Edit with no exams, no hunger, and no life.
My sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgG6irbsErU
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Developments
Documentary has definitely proven to be more persuasive to me in these past couple of weeks, more so than fictional narratives. It's depressing to watch films day in and day out about corruption in our government, corporations, and all leading back to corruption of man.
I'm excited to start chipping away at our first major documentary assignment this week. I've made an insane amount of lists of equipment to take, supplies, interviewees, locations, and interview questions. I want to investigate the sticky situations involved with farmland. It's also an attempt to learn more about the place that I've come to know very little about, my hometown.
Locations:
I'm also really excited because the weekend of the 26th because there will be a small conference discussing important ag issues with area representatives. We'll see how I fare under pressure.
I'm excited to start chipping away at our first major documentary assignment this week. I've made an insane amount of lists of equipment to take, supplies, interviewees, locations, and interview questions. I want to investigate the sticky situations involved with farmland. It's also an attempt to learn more about the place that I've come to know very little about, my hometown.
Conceptual Questions for myself:
What does it take to claim your origin?
Do you have to conform to its tradition?
Has leaving home caused me to lose my identity?
Did I even understand my identity?
What does it take to earn a voice?
Respect?
How do you have to look or how old do you have to be?
Will I dread coming home, being different.
Format:
12 minutes
16:9
Occasionally multi-channel
Locations:
FC, Lundgren Elevator
Horizons along Samson Ave, Hwy 50
Single Tree on gravel road
Nifty Fifties
Dad working
Our Cattle
Municipal Building
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Burnside
Schwendemann’s House
Gowrie Sale Barn
I'm also really excited because the weekend of the 26th because there will be a small conference discussing important ag issues with area representatives. We'll see how I fare under pressure.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Response to Fast, Cheap...and Food, Inc.
Two very different views on life. But man, they were really heavy. I'm still not over Food, Inc. Cyan was right, it was truly devastating.
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control was a very playful and experimental prod at four people of fairly unrelated paths of life. It unfolds to us that they are very much connected through the overlap of b-roll and amazing music. By the last 20 minutes, I found each of these men very connected in the beauty and wonder they see in their own worlds. I loved how the editing let us breathe and think, connect for ourselves, and reflect on our own lives. I also really liked Errol's technique to bring back the eye contact with these people. I will definitely have to watch this again.
This morning I went of a small documentary binge on my Netflix instant play and watched Spirit of the Marathon and Food, Inc. Both caused deep emotional responses and I felt like this has been a very important day in the development of my life as an artist.
Spirit of the Marathon was a traditional style documentary that discussed the history of the marathon and also followed the experiences of a diverse group of marathon runners. Among them was a first timer single mom, a seasoned running couple, an Olympic bronze medalist, a marathon almost winner from Kenya, and a 70-some year old man.
On a small level I can relate to them while they train for the Chicago Marathon, having run 2 half-marathons myself. I know how emotionally involved runners get and how devastating it can be to get injured in an important race after months of training. Near the end as they show footage of all of these people on their journeys in Chicago I felt myself get caught up and actually did cry when they finished the race. It's this unexplainable emotional roller coaster during a 12.6 mile or 26 mile and 300 yard race. But anyway, I move on.
After that I decided to watch Food, Inc. I was hesitant and kind of scared to hear about yet another dimension of corruption in our world.
During the whole film I was heartbroken, disturbed. Absolutely devastated.
The majority of the topics they addressed not only effected every consumer in the country, but my own family's way of life.
Coming from almost carbon copies of the farming communities they shot, I was knocked over. I knew there was a lot of controversy in land, hogs, and seed. But My God, I have friends that have worked for Monsanto, I had no clue that was why most people call Monsanto; Monsatan. I just can't fucking believe it.
I'll get to the point. These were topics I had already started developing and discussing for my independent works later this semester. But after seeing this documentary I know this is my struggle, my personal cause as an artist, the unveiling of these injustices close to home is what I want to give all my energy to.
These documentaries have shown the humor and beauty of life, and the ugliness of what man will do to man. It's hard for me to grasp that they both exist.
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control was a very playful and experimental prod at four people of fairly unrelated paths of life. It unfolds to us that they are very much connected through the overlap of b-roll and amazing music. By the last 20 minutes, I found each of these men very connected in the beauty and wonder they see in their own worlds. I loved how the editing let us breathe and think, connect for ourselves, and reflect on our own lives. I also really liked Errol's technique to bring back the eye contact with these people. I will definitely have to watch this again.
This morning I went of a small documentary binge on my Netflix instant play and watched Spirit of the Marathon and Food, Inc. Both caused deep emotional responses and I felt like this has been a very important day in the development of my life as an artist.
Spirit of the Marathon was a traditional style documentary that discussed the history of the marathon and also followed the experiences of a diverse group of marathon runners. Among them was a first timer single mom, a seasoned running couple, an Olympic bronze medalist, a marathon almost winner from Kenya, and a 70-some year old man.
On a small level I can relate to them while they train for the Chicago Marathon, having run 2 half-marathons myself. I know how emotionally involved runners get and how devastating it can be to get injured in an important race after months of training. Near the end as they show footage of all of these people on their journeys in Chicago I felt myself get caught up and actually did cry when they finished the race. It's this unexplainable emotional roller coaster during a 12.6 mile or 26 mile and 300 yard race. But anyway, I move on.
After that I decided to watch Food, Inc. I was hesitant and kind of scared to hear about yet another dimension of corruption in our world.
During the whole film I was heartbroken, disturbed. Absolutely devastated.
The majority of the topics they addressed not only effected every consumer in the country, but my own family's way of life.
Coming from almost carbon copies of the farming communities they shot, I was knocked over. I knew there was a lot of controversy in land, hogs, and seed. But My God, I have friends that have worked for Monsanto, I had no clue that was why most people call Monsanto; Monsatan. I just can't fucking believe it.
I'll get to the point. These were topics I had already started developing and discussing for my independent works later this semester. But after seeing this documentary I know this is my struggle, my personal cause as an artist, the unveiling of these injustices close to home is what I want to give all my energy to.
These documentaries have shown the humor and beauty of life, and the ugliness of what man will do to man. It's hard for me to grasp that they both exist.
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