20 May 2005

a film about suffering (won't that be fun)

first of all, this was not actually my idea (that is, to do a film about suffering), as much as it may seem like it would be. anyway, joanna lowe has asked myself and 2 other filmmakers to make 10-20 minute short films that deal w/ the theme of suffering to be shown before her play 'Life. And Other One-Man Shows' that i'm told opens in Oct. i want to avoid a situation where everyone does the same type of film, so i'm thinking of working w/ mixed medias (i.e. photos and archival footage) and using real people instead of actors (or a script). so far i've come up w/ 2 potential ideas:

1. filming people society has failed, be it homeless or alcoholic or whatever and construct an image of suffering in modern-day America. Potential problems: clearances and chances of getting mugged.

2. taking my camera to Maine w/ me this summer when i go for my best Maine friend's wedding and sort of exploring how everything i know from my childhood is pretty much gone or changed beyond recognition.

thoughts?

2 comments:

Jo Custer said...

which idea will make you happier, i.e., which will lend itself more to your growth as an artist or a human? i'd go with that one, if you must do a film about suffering (or, in another light, a project that helps leach suffering away) i know, i know: crazy hippie talk

Illuminated Script said...

One is much safer and honestly more desirable to watch, but surely you can work in two metaphorically (that's my language, but you know, show a homeless person, then a rundown home, car, neighborhood, etc.)