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For the record, I am aware of the two ironies in today's MINICONCEPTDOC.
The first is that the random word: FIFTY, came up on the 49th MCD. To be honest, I kind of prefer it that way. I like the 49, 50 "sequence" happening over the FIFTY on #50 coincidence. That's just too obvious!
The other irony that occurs, which is done with complete purpose, is we see a film about an instrument that we never actually hear in the film. That seemed too obvious. Instead, I went to my friend, actor, performer, artist, musician, Kyle Jakubowski, and he graciously provided a haunting and perfectly appropriate track.
In the film, you will also see a close-up of the fantastic artist, musician, and Renaissance man Brian Biggs. If you want to be blown away and feel insignificant about what you can do (Illustration at left), see all that he can do here: http://mrbiggs.com/.
The cause for the footage, shot eight years ago, was as part of a documentary I was making on the accordion in America. A major part of the film was the Acme Accordion School.
You can see a sample of the film, SQUEEZE here:
My favorite part of the day, was the group picture in front of the school celebrating it's anniversary of FIFTY years. It was chaotic and exciting. The film footage from that day, and it was ACTUAL film, you know, the celluloid stuff, it has an "out of time" film to it that I love. The grain, the scratches, the jumpiness. Its aesthetic qualities match that of the instrument it is filming. There's something lost, nostalgic, mysterious about it.
LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE
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In my mission to compile a complete MINICONCEPTDOC alphabet, Dave Damm (Pictured right) stepped up to provide today's word: Kaleidoscope.
Thank you!
At first, I thought I would make something completely poetical. I thought this would be a good opportunity to be experimental, non-narrative. Instead, today's doc is a short history that turned into a small polemic.
As I approach the final MCD's, I am becoming more and more nostalgic and reflective. I think, subconsciously, the kernel for this film came from a favorite place to play as a kid.
Close to my home in Woodlynne there was a small strip of wooded land behind a roofing company and adjacent to the baseball field. We called them, the Manachi Woods. I have absolutely no clue where the name came from. I'm not sure if that's how it's even spelled...
It always felt right to make it a possesive, as if it were someone named Manachi's woods, so we often did.
Example: "Hey! Wanna hang out in the Manachi's, build a fort?"
I don't remember where I even learned the name, or who told it to me. They were just always the Manachi's.
We would climb trees back there, build forts, hang out. I saw Pat's head get split open by a flying roof shingle back there once. I kissed a girl in there. I hid from my mom. I got hurt in there. I revealed secrets. I fought with friends, bonded, and conjured up possible futures in those small woods.
There was a massive boulder at the entrance. It was a favorite to sit on.
I'm sure now it would all seem so much smaller, insignificant. I don't want to go back to them and have the image in my mind changed by the what they may "actually" be, so I have visited them in a long time.
Though, I wouldn't be surprised if they've been razed since then.
Anyway... sometimes, people would pollute those woods. They would come, secretly in the night, and dump their garbage, spoiling our refuge. It was infuriating.
I'm not sure how or why, but as far back as I can remember, I always knew that throwing one's trash on the ground, from a candy wrapper to old tires, was despicable. I just didn't do it. I wouldn't let friends do, and when I saw it, it made me nauseous. LITTERING IS BAD. I still see people do it all the time.
Flashback:
I distinctly recall seeing two boys walking through the Ferry Ave. Speedline Station parking lot, eating from the old Styrofoam McDonald's containers. They passed the old Fotomat Booth (much like the one pictured {which isn't the actual booth, but used to set the mood}) which had a trashcan right outside of it, and threw the empty containers on the ground. It made me feel sick to my stomach. Not figuratively sick, but literally, nauseous in my gut.
I was too scared to say anything for fear they might beat me up. I got so scared I just ran away. Why I didn't wait until they got far away and then threw out the containers myself, I don't know. When you're a kid you do weird things.
A very special thanks this week goes to Kyle Costill (Pictured left). When I was in need of a specific piece of music I could hear in my head, I knew Kyle was the perfect person for the job. I called him and in an instant he was over, ready to record. In fifteen minutes we had a finished track. Thanks!
Getting back to the Manachi's... This MCD is dedicated to them and all the memories they gave to the kids in the neighborhood.
LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE
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I am exhausted. It's late and I've labored over this film. This MINICONCEPTDOC was taxing, twofold.
One, I feel a little vulnerable revealing this part of my past.
Two, every time I watch the SS Morro Castle footage it makes me cry.
It's tragic, heartbreaking, frightening. I guess it compares to my dream in that, for me, as for them, we had no control of the circumstances. We were all at the mercy of something much larger than us. And that's terrifying.
The music you hear is quite special. It's been my goal to use music made by friends and not music out there already... But 3 out of 52 isn't bad, right? Today's music is by Rachel's. They've made some of the saddest music I have ever heard. I own all their albums on vinyl. For some reason I have always preferred to listen to them that way. The format just suits their music. They share an aesthetic.
Quite a few documentaries have used their evocative sounds. Most recently the quite good HBO documentary GASLAND has featured their music.
As a band, they haven't made an album for about half a decade. But the band's namesake, Rachel Grimes, made a record recently called Book of Leaves. Read more about that.
Their first album came out when I was in college and because of that it has always represented a particular part of my life. The songs in today's MCD were also used in the very first film I ever made in college. It was shot on 16MM B&W film. It was heavy-handed, over-dramatic, and pretentious. I'm still proud of it.
From then, to now, I give you NAUTICAL:
LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE
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Ever since I realized I was close to completing an alphabet's worth of MINICONCEPTDOCS, I've become driven to complete that.
There have been four letters that have consistently eluded the random word generator: K, Q, X, and Y. Criminals!
To keep this as challenging as possible, I ask you to provide the final words for the MCD alphabet. Come on. I need you. Justin? Kyle? Who reads this thing? Who knows??
Whew.... I'm getting worked up over this. Let me calm down... Let's just get back to the mission at hand: MCD ALPHABET.
Actually, X can now be removed, as Allen Woll so graciously provided that challenge, which you can watch here today.
So please... suggestions! K, Q, Y we're coming for you!
On to today's film.
I won't reveal too much about this little documentary. It's a little historical injustice, it's a little tale on reputation, it's a lesson in bad press.
Execution wise, I think it could be tighter. That's on me though. I think it could be written better. But you know, the time constraints are tough!
A lot of people came through in the11th hour and gave their time so I could make this. I want to give extra thanks to those last minute collaborators: Anna Mathews, Pete Gambino, Jeff Blatcher, & Kent Turtz.
And thanks to Allen for the concept!
LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE
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Juni and I went on a short trip to get some eats, a JAUNT if you will. We drove via the scenic route to take in some fresh air. When I looked in the rear view mirror, I saw what I can only describe as the purest representation of youth. It was a spirit that fully captured "freeness" with nary a care in the world. It was coolness, examination, absent of worry and anxiety.
I wanted to be in that place. But, such is the adult world, there is no going back, no matter how hard we try. One may come close, but it is only a facsimile. Sometimes that's good enough, other times it's not even close.
You may think this clip is a bit long, self-indulgent... But I wanted to be in that moment every second I could. I wanted to be a kid again. During that original JAUNT, I didn't have my camera with me. Plus, I was driving, and that's just unsafe, man.
So the next day, when there was cause for the whole family to be in the car, I brought my camera in the hopes of capturing what it was I saw in Juni's face as she stared out the window and let the wind take her somewhere not on this earth. Upon review, I think I was able to capture that.
As I stared at her that first and second time, a song popped into my head. It seemed so perfect. The song was Bob Dylan's "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" from his 1968 album John Wesley Harding. You can listen to a clip of that here.
However, it wasn't Dylan's voice I heard. It was a recent cover by the Dirty Projectors. There's something about their version that is more dreamy, more airy than the original. With the song, the moment was complete. For me anyway...
Come ride with us:
LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE
We got films within films and themes within themes, people.
This week's MCD has a star. You will finally get to see and hear Theo Langason at work as he creates the music for this week's short.
The theme is NATURAL. I suppose I'm interested in how natural or arduous the art making process is, so it was a pleasure to hear Theo talk about what inspires, informs, and influences him and how a song comes to life.
THEN, I wanted to take the song from it's natural birth and apply it to a doc within a doc that captured the NATURAL theme. I struggled with what that content would be...
When that happens, I just drive, and think... I wander and lose myself.
I stumbled upon something I can only call sublime. The beauty of the scene was arresting. It was an experience both natural and unnatural, but I came away with nothing but completly inspired and wonderful thoughts. But... I'll let you decide.
It's only NATURAL:
LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE
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I actually had two MCD's ready to go for yesterday... And one of them is a pretty involved episode. But... you won't be seeing that today. You also won't be seeing a cool little number starring Miss Juni Ella. Those will come over the next week.
That's because I took the spirit of the holiday as a chance to use TRADITION. Forgive me for posting a day late, but since today is a continuation of the Holiday, it's kind of like it's still Sunday. Plus, I needed the extra time to put something together for the good ol' U.S. of A.! You can allow me that much latitude, right? Raise your sparklers towards Old Glory people.
So... here we have some AMERICAN CHILDREN, AMERICAN MUMMERS, and AMERICAN EXPLOSIONS.
Independence Day!
Here are a few American TRADITIONS:
LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE
BTW - Only ten more MINICONCEPTDOCS to go! That's five weeks. Time flies when your bustin' your @$$ to make art.
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