sherryadams-blog

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Aka-chan Response

Aka-chan is an essay film by Jonny Madderson and Jono Stevens. The opening of the film quickly draws you in. The first image is of this little girl with the cutest pouting face, she then immediately goes into a karate routine of punches and screams that are actually intimidating. This is all done in front of a black wall, which I think adds to the understanding of how serious karate is. As the film continues I noticed how it was also mostly silent except for the breathing of the children as they punch and kick, which once again made me take the children seriously because they did not treat karate like a game. Furthermore the best image was of the girl screaming with no sound, it was so intense I almost screamed too!

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The Bridge Response

The Bridge is an essay film by Harrison Boyce. This film discusses the Brooklyn Bridge in a nostalgic way. The voice over sounds like that of a smooth story-teller, which brings a feeling of warmth when listening to the film. In adding to that, the film is also in black and white, this makes the Brooklyn Bridge seem like a significant, classic piece of history. The high angle shot of the bridge at the end was a good call by Boyce, it helps viewers to understand how big the wall is and how great an accomplishment it was to have built it. 

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A Guide to Indulgence Response

A Guide to Indulgence is an essay film by Nadia Lee Cohen. This film does an excellent job at pointing out the boundaries placed on women by society as well or  in other words the ridiculous roles that women must fulfill everyday. Metaphor is used extensively throughout the film, my favorite was “anxiety” being the best cleaning supplies that the women have to buy into often. Another great scene was the ending; the women are all dancing and are picked off slowly until one is left, this was slightly confusing at first. Then, Cohen lets you think that a woman finally achieved some praise, but the scene soon switches to all the other women waiting to tear one of their own apart because she stood out. 

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1000 Windows Response

1000 Windows is an essay film by Daniel Thissen. This is a very short film that focuses on on the different skyscrapers and apartment buildings in an area of Lima, Peru. All of the buildings look the same; tall, hard and a little dusty. However, Thissen highlights the beauty in the perfect symmetry of the structures. What stood out to me the most in this short film was how the music was light and started to build near the end, making the viewer think something surprising was about to happen, but the shots stayed similar and the buildings shown were still exactly the same. 

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Barista Response

Barista is a an essay film by Rock Baijnauth. Barista is definitely my favorite essay film so far. This film was funny, straight to the point, bright and it was about one of my favorite things, coffee. I like how fast paced the film is as well, because it goes with theme of a highly caffeinated drink.The best part was the old guy in a bolo tie narrating the film. It was great to see an old man, with a sense of humor, telling how coffee is a new craze and tattooed millennials are pushing that craze further. That visual paired with the adventurous western/country music made me feel like I was learning about one of America’s great past times.  

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Mole is Mexico Response

Mole is Mexico is an essay film by Babara Anastacio. This very short filmed packed a big punch. I was able to really understand the importance  of mole sauce and how important it is in Mexican culture. The film started off with some greatly framed shots and sharp images that were backed up with a voice over that expressed how serious mole sauce was to Mexican heritage. I loved how the film then progressed into happiness and freedom. The music got louder and the people started to lose themselves while mole sauce flew around and people covered themselves with it. Another factor that stood out to me was the use of vintage filters on some shots in the same setting. This gave the film a nostalgic vibe, it felt as if I was enjoying and old Mexican family video. 

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Portrait of a Tokyo Rockabilly Response

Johnny Jeana: Portrait of a Tokyo Rockabilly is an essay film by James Partridge. This film was well organized and it was easy to follow Jeana’s story. Watching Jeana perform on stage and how passionate his crew was dancing in the streets really made me believe he was born to be a rockstar. One part that stood out to me was the shop owner showing off the different hair gels (2:51). The scene was hilarious and Partridge did a good job of portraying the overall humor the shop owner brought to the story. The final scene of the film was very intriguing, Partridge captured great color and symmetry in this shot of Jeana staring directly and unapologetically into the camera. 

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The Sounds of Cooking Response

Massimo Bottura’s The Sounds of Cooking is an essay film by Yuri Ancarani. The film shows Italian chef Massimo Bottura cooking his favorite childhood meal. The main sounds throughout the film are those of something sizzling in a pan and water bubbling. The first thing I noticed was the ridiculous and intricate design of the wall they decided to film the video in front of. The wall is grey with sharp lines and protruding points, which compliments the futuristic sounds of the machines Bottura uses. 

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Skating in Cuba Response

Skating in Cuba is an essay film by Ivan Olita. The film follows the daily journey a skateboarder, Yojani Perez Rivera, takes to the skate park. Olita uses jump cuts to show the multiple different parts of Cuba that Rivera has to skate through. What stood out to me the most was the music and the colors in the film. There is a smooth and relaxing jazz track playing throughout the background that builds into smooth, yet live and happy melody. There is a pink shading throughout the film and it makes everything look vintage, I felt as if I was watching a 1920′s movie. Moreover, the pink also gave the film a romantic feel and I was able to connect with Rivera’s love for skating. Ultimately, Olita made it easy to understand why Rivera would take such a long journey everyday. 

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Water And Concrete Response

Water and Concrete by Sophie Littman gives a portrayal of Hong Kong through music and imagery. The images start off a dark gray color and the music is kind of somber with an unnerving tone. All of the skyscrapers and apartment buildings look similar and compacted. Color slowly fades into the images throughout the film and once all of the people packed onto the streets of Hong Kong are shown it is easy to identify with the lost and amazed expression of one of the girls in the film(1:58-2:05). The music then begins to brighten and the flowing, light melody paired with the images of fish swimming, in their man made aquariums, manages to provide a sense of ease. I think this video did a good job of portraying the effects of industrialization on Hong Kong while letting the audience know that natural beauty can be hidden, but still exists. 

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Atlanta from the Ashes Response

Atlanta from the Ashes is an essay film by Andrew Litten. This film closely resembles a documentary, however in the very beginning it briefly gave me a narrative feel.The film focuses on the southern culture of the town and the major historical events that took place there. I like how the film pinpointed certain things that are prominent in the south like soul food, barbershops and churches. The film also discusses gentrification taking place in Atlanta, residents are worried that all of the amazing history will be wiped away by new features and technology. 

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Silly Girl Response

Silly Girl is an essay film by Hope Dickson Leach. The film puts a spotlight on the teenage transgender mind. A teenage girl sees her future self, who has transitioned and questions if things will get better in life. What I like about the film is how they briefly touched on the topic of things getting better in the future. The film moves abruptly to her interaction with another girl who tells her she likes girls. Its fascinating to see how this can be frustrating to someone who is transgender, because they don not identify as homosexual. I like this film because it gave a very real and interesting perspective on what its like to be a transgender pubescent teenager. 

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Street Racers Response

Street Racers is an essay film by Aurelien Heilbronn. The film is about illegal motorbike racing in the Dominican Republic. Mostly young men, and a few older men race the bikes in the streets and afterwards they fellowship and drink in the streets. Some races are between gangs and there has been violence attributed to these races. Moreover, I thought this was a great film. I liked the darkness in the beginning of the film, especially the first interview with the green tent. The darkness then builds to show the racers genuinely enjoying each other’s company. The film ends with a calmness by the water and to me it shows how these young men maybe breaking the law but they are also vulnerable and trying to enjoy their lives like everyone else.

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Not Mommy Response

“Not Mommy” is an essay film by Reinaldo Marcus Green. The film focuses on Green and his relationship with his two year old son, Rio. Green discusses how his first experience taking care of small children was with his son and everyday he fights to keep his son safe and alive. Green also points out that having a child makes him feel like a child himself. That vulnerability derives from not wanting to fail at being a father. My favorite part of this film is how Rio is being shown happy and running around all while Green expresses the stress of fatherhood.