Queer: 1: questionable, suspicious2 a: differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal b (1): eccentric, unconventional (2): mildly insane: touched c: absorbed or interested to an extreme or unreasonable degree: obsessed d (1) often disparaging: homosexual (2) sometimes offensive: gay 4b3: not quite well -Websters Online Dictionary
I found “Queer Theory An Introduction” to be a great crash course lesson in queer history with many insightful looks into how the queer identity came to be and how gay has changed alongside our capitalist society over time.
“One of the ways in which the gay liberation movement of a decade ago differed from most of its predecessors was in its insistence that only radical change to society could bring about genuine acceptance of homosexuality. The thrust of the gay movement over the past decade has been away from this perception toward the idea that all that is involved is the granting of civil rights to a new minority.” –Altman.
As a queer person reading this I got to look at where this identity I chose for myself started and what were the steps leading up to its emergence from the gay and lesbian identity. I could reflect upon my own experience in Jan Clausen’s quote: “I do not want to become an identity junkie, hooked on the rush that comes with pinning down the essential characteristic that for that moment, seems to offer the ultimate definition of the self, the quintessence of oppression, the locust of personal value—only to be superseded by the next revelation.” I have often felt when reading Queer theory or talking with fellow queers about identity that it can become an obsession to see who is the most oppressed, the most original, the most “out there.”
I read this book in combination of watching “Before Stonewall.” The two together gave me a real sense of the foundations of identity politics in western culture. It was fun to read about the start of the Mattachine society and then watch the founders in a documentary. Annamarie Jagose lays out a clear path to understanding the steps to the making of this complex identity and in the process shares all angles on the debate beneath this controversial word “queer.”
“Instead of assuming that collective identities simply reflect differences among persons that exist prior to mobilization, ‘ writes Stein, ‘we need to look closely at the process by which movements remake identities.” I liked this perspective on how an identity is made by a group coming together. A lot of my reading in this book was referencing the community I belong to.
In the Production of Travel Queeries a few of our interviewees cited Queer theory when talking about what this word means to them. I believe this subject has given people a vocabulary to use when discussing their personal identity. At the same time it seems this “language” has alienated many people who live their lives in a queer way without labeling it as such. I have gained more perspective on this identity and on my own community.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Week 7 and 8 learning post production skills and DVD studio pro
-Finished reading Intro to Queer Theory
-Learned DVD studio pro and made a opening page for TQ DVD
-Sent off extended trailer to "Threat Level" film festival
-Kept in touch with animators and started to get ideas from them about the work they will produce for TQ.
-Watched "Before Stonewall" with group of queer folks and discussed the history of LGBTQ people afterward
-Went to Feminist video art at the Capital Theater learned about the history of feminist video art with all women production teams as well as different video techniques and artists.
-Put final touches on Soiree, getting donations for event and finalizing guest list
-Had a successful Soiree showing the extended trailer to donors and eating good food
-Logged footage of Serbian interviews and b-roll
-Had meeting with mediator on personal issues in the project
-Began research for Reverse Storyboard final project
-Learned DVD studio pro and made a opening page for TQ DVD
-Sent off extended trailer to "Threat Level" film festival
-Kept in touch with animators and started to get ideas from them about the work they will produce for TQ.
-Watched "Before Stonewall" with group of queer folks and discussed the history of LGBTQ people afterward
-Went to Feminist video art at the Capital Theater learned about the history of feminist video art with all women production teams as well as different video techniques and artists.
-Put final touches on Soiree, getting donations for event and finalizing guest list
-Had a successful Soiree showing the extended trailer to donors and eating good food
-Logged footage of Serbian interviews and b-roll
-Had meeting with mediator on personal issues in the project
-Began research for Reverse Storyboard final project
Friday, November 9, 2007
"Tongues Untied" film viewing notes
I really liked this film!
In the beginning, cool use of sound collage, using the spoken word rhythm element.
-Poetry, words, voices of characters over the b-roll used to introduce them.
-The sesame streetesque "snap lesson," this was a great way to show you black gay male culture in a light, funny way. Growing up watching Sesame Street I have a special fondness for this style of sharing information.
-Marlon Riggs chooses to follow the story of himself and his constituency in a very controlled/manufactured way, yet still making it a documentary. It has a different flavor to watch someone work in this model instead of the anthropological documentary I am used to seeing.
-I like Riggs' use of closeups on lips to show rhythm and make sound for the film. We are having a discussion with lips and body parts as much as people.
-I really liked the poetry of Essex Hemphill, this thread running through the film kept me engaged and told the story of these people in a beautiful as well as educational way. Through poetry I learned the different facets of oppression in the black gay male community.
and very "Silence is my cloak, it smothers, Silence is my sword, it stabs." In this poem the character is expressing how black gay men spend most of there lives in silence torn between there identities isolated.
"My body contains as much anger as water."
"Are you more black or gay? its like saying are you more your right testicle or you left?
"Part your eyelids, resounding refrain of two grown men making love"
-In the film there is an inside conversation and an outside conversation similar to TQ. I want to study this film more to get a sense of how they play this neutral ground.
- I learned that as a black gay man you learn many different cultures and to speak the language of all different groups. The white man language, the black man language, the gay language and the secret black gay man language.
This film was beautifully crafted and a cool experimental documentary to watch.
In the beginning, cool use of sound collage, using the spoken word rhythm element.
-Poetry, words, voices of characters over the b-roll used to introduce them.
-The sesame streetesque "snap lesson," this was a great way to show you black gay male culture in a light, funny way. Growing up watching Sesame Street I have a special fondness for this style of sharing information.
-Marlon Riggs chooses to follow the story of himself and his constituency in a very controlled/manufactured way, yet still making it a documentary. It has a different flavor to watch someone work in this model instead of the anthropological documentary I am used to seeing.
-I like Riggs' use of closeups on lips to show rhythm and make sound for the film. We are having a discussion with lips and body parts as much as people.
-I really liked the poetry of Essex Hemphill, this thread running through the film kept me engaged and told the story of these people in a beautiful as well as educational way. Through poetry I learned the different facets of oppression in the black gay male community.
and very "Silence is my cloak, it smothers, Silence is my sword, it stabs." In this poem the character is expressing how black gay men spend most of there lives in silence torn between there identities isolated.
"My body contains as much anger as water."
"Are you more black or gay? its like saying are you more your right testicle or you left?
"Part your eyelids, resounding refrain of two grown men making love"
-In the film there is an inside conversation and an outside conversation similar to TQ. I want to study this film more to get a sense of how they play this neutral ground.
- I learned that as a black gay man you learn many different cultures and to speak the language of all different groups. The white man language, the black man language, the gay language and the secret black gay man language.
This film was beautifully crafted and a cool experimental documentary to watch.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
"Outlaw" Film viewing notes
The film was conducted in a gym to show dignity and strength of trans people. Kate Bornstein is seen working out, something she does every week. She uses the gym to "Sweat out the bad energy inside her body from the negative messages of society."
I found this film to be a good ally training video. Some of the techniques used to express trans identity were interesting but there was not much complexity to the film.
There is a shot of Bornstein getting dressed in the "Obligatory tie scene." she puts on a suit, the quintessential male wear trade mark. I thought about how this is used in movies about gender, getting dressed is often a key feature in trans movies, the process of changing ones self on the outside to conform to how they want to be seen and how they feel on the inside. I have thought about whether I want a getting dressed scene in TQ. In some ways I think it limits the ideas of gender saying you dress as what you feel so that is what you are. I also see it as an easy way for allies to understand what Bornstein is talking about. This goes into the bigger question of how to weave TQ so that it speaks to a queer audience and a non-queer audience? I think I want to get a straight ally to be the editor to help with this discussion.
The final line I liked in the movie was "Where we go becomes dangerous, the places we are our not dangerous." I liked this point on seeing trans people as humans that are oppressed by society not freaks that are trying to hurt and convert people.
I found this film to be a good ally training video. Some of the techniques used to express trans identity were interesting but there was not much complexity to the film.
There is a shot of Bornstein getting dressed in the "Obligatory tie scene." she puts on a suit, the quintessential male wear trade mark. I thought about how this is used in movies about gender, getting dressed is often a key feature in trans movies, the process of changing ones self on the outside to conform to how they want to be seen and how they feel on the inside. I have thought about whether I want a getting dressed scene in TQ. In some ways I think it limits the ideas of gender saying you dress as what you feel so that is what you are. I also see it as an easy way for allies to understand what Bornstein is talking about. This goes into the bigger question of how to weave TQ so that it speaks to a queer audience and a non-queer audience? I think I want to get a straight ally to be the editor to help with this discussion.
The final line I liked in the movie was "Where we go becomes dangerous, the places we are our not dangerous." I liked this point on seeing trans people as humans that are oppressed by society not freaks that are trying to hurt and convert people.
Week1 through week6 weekly Schedules for Fall
Week 2 week schedule
Week 1, Beginning The Contract
Learning how to make a documentary film Post Production
Logged footage of summer 2007 interviews of Mijda, Scratch, Jenni and DebraKate for extended trailer footage
Read “In The Blink of an Eye” editing book where I learned about different techniques for editing. (See readings for longer description)
Finished syllabus
Talked to friend about tutoring on Final Cut pro
Had phone meeting with film team about interns and post- production schedule. Refined ideas for Interns and their roles in the project
Week 2, Learning final cut pro
Logged/captured/edited sequences for extended trailer with tutor and film team
Through doing this I learned the ins and outs of Final cut pro, this was a crash course in how to use this program.
Watched films of Sadie Benning with friends (See film viewing notes)
Transferred super 8 film in Seattle
Had alone date to log and capture footage for trailer, first time really working on program alone.
Continued to read “In The Blink Of An Eye” and started “Between the Sheets and in the Streets”(see readings)
Week 3, Learning final cut pro
Wrote a simple storyboard for extended trailer to use for editing
Made a skeleton of footage to edit for trailer
Helped in editing a 8 min. extended trailer for the Seattle Lesbian and Gay film festival which we finished on Thursday the 11th
Read “Between the Sheets and In the Streets” and “The Filmmaker’s Handbook” for technical and theory skills (see readings)
Watched “Paris is Burning” (see film viewing notes)
Week 4, Learning communication and post production film making skills
Started work on fall fundraiser, made invitation, contacted people to come and contacted people to help with event
Watched “Tongues Untied”
Finished “Between The Sheets and in the Streets” (see readings)
Had meeting with Film team to discuss fall fundraiser and interns
Week 5, Learning post production skills and editing skills
Made DVD of TQ extended trailer to watch at Fundraiser
Started to learn sound editing software and IDVD
Met with Julia to discuss progress of project and get feed back on Extended trailer
Watched Benjamin Smoke (See film viewing notes)
Started to read “Intro. To Queer Theory”
Week 6, Learning post production skills and editing skills
Met with Mediator for interpersonal work on the film with film team
Read “Intro to Queer Theory”
Logged/captured footage of Serbia, by region, for rough-cut.
Made new DVD with Julia corrections, learned how to compress film using Compressor software
Watched the films of Jem Cohen and “Outlaw”
Called Universities and posted Intern flyer electronically through out Seattle and Olympia
Had animation meeting with film team to discuss courting animators for our production, timeline for them to submit work and creative ideas for the kind of animation we want
Sent Pal tapes in for transfer to NTSC
Week 1, Beginning The Contract
Learning how to make a documentary film Post Production
Logged footage of summer 2007 interviews of Mijda, Scratch, Jenni and DebraKate for extended trailer footage
Read “In The Blink of an Eye” editing book where I learned about different techniques for editing. (See readings for longer description)
Finished syllabus
Talked to friend about tutoring on Final Cut pro
Had phone meeting with film team about interns and post- production schedule. Refined ideas for Interns and their roles in the project
Week 2, Learning final cut pro
Logged/captured/edited sequences for extended trailer with tutor and film team
Through doing this I learned the ins and outs of Final cut pro, this was a crash course in how to use this program.
Watched films of Sadie Benning with friends (See film viewing notes)
Transferred super 8 film in Seattle
Had alone date to log and capture footage for trailer, first time really working on program alone.
Continued to read “In The Blink Of An Eye” and started “Between the Sheets and in the Streets”(see readings)
Week 3, Learning final cut pro
Wrote a simple storyboard for extended trailer to use for editing
Made a skeleton of footage to edit for trailer
Helped in editing a 8 min. extended trailer for the Seattle Lesbian and Gay film festival which we finished on Thursday the 11th
Read “Between the Sheets and In the Streets” and “The Filmmaker’s Handbook” for technical and theory skills (see readings)
Watched “Paris is Burning” (see film viewing notes)
Week 4, Learning communication and post production film making skills
Started work on fall fundraiser, made invitation, contacted people to come and contacted people to help with event
Watched “Tongues Untied”
Finished “Between The Sheets and in the Streets” (see readings)
Had meeting with Film team to discuss fall fundraiser and interns
Week 5, Learning post production skills and editing skills
Made DVD of TQ extended trailer to watch at Fundraiser
Started to learn sound editing software and IDVD
Met with Julia to discuss progress of project and get feed back on Extended trailer
Watched Benjamin Smoke (See film viewing notes)
Started to read “Intro. To Queer Theory”
Week 6, Learning post production skills and editing skills
Met with Mediator for interpersonal work on the film with film team
Read “Intro to Queer Theory”
Logged/captured footage of Serbia, by region, for rough-cut.
Made new DVD with Julia corrections, learned how to compress film using Compressor software
Watched the films of Jem Cohen and “Outlaw”
Called Universities and posted Intern flyer electronically through out Seattle and Olympia
Had animation meeting with film team to discuss courting animators for our production, timeline for them to submit work and creative ideas for the kind of animation we want
Sent Pal tapes in for transfer to NTSC
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Revised Syllabus1
Syllabus for
“The Nature of Documentary, Editing and Theory of Travel Queeries”
By, Margaritte Knezek
Texts I will read:
Technical Skill:
“In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing” Murch, Walter.
“The Visual Story: Seeing the Structure of Film, TV and New Media” Block, Bruce
“The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age” Ascher and
Pincus.
“FinalCut6 Pro Guide”
Critical History, Theory:
“Intro to Queer Theory” By, Jagose, Annemarie
“Between the Sheets and in the Streets, Queer, Lesbian, and Gay Documentary” Holmlund, Chris
Documentaries I will watch:
“Trembling Before G-D”
“Wild Life”
“Me and Ruby Fruit” and other films by Sadie Benning
“Paris is Burning”
“Word is out”
“Before Stonewall”
“The Gleaners and I”
“Films of Jem Cohen”
“Benjamin Smoke”
“Boy I am”
“Tongues Untied”
“ Outlaw”
“Juggling Gender”
“Nomads and No Zones”
Week by week schedule
Logging/capturing/editing footage
Reading
Writing on blog which includes, a film viewing journal, notes on my readings and various treatments and plans for the final version of the film. Also a week by week schedule.
Meeting with film team
Watching films
Working on fund raisers
Week 1 September 25-28th
Find and meet with tutor on final cut pro
Find editor intern/ PR intern/ titles intern for winter and Spring Quarter
Meet with film team to begin editing short piece for Seattle lesbian and gay film festival
Start to read “In the Blink of an Eye”
Watch “Nomads and No-Zones” with film group
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning as well as Treatment for short piece
Meet with Julia to go over syllabus
Week 2 October 1-5th
Meet with tutor on final cut pro
Log/capture/edit footage for short
Continue looking for Interns
Read “In the Blink of an Eye” start “Between the sheets and in the streets”
Meet with film group to watch “Me and Ruby fruit” and other Sadie Benning movies
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 3 October 8-12th
Have short piece ready for the Seattle gay and Lesbian film festival on the 14th
Watch “Paris is burning”
Read “Between the sheets” Start to read excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s Handbook”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 4 October 15-19th
Start work on fundraiser party set for November 18th, make evite and start inviting people
Watch “Tongues Untied”
Read more excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s handbook” and start “ Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 5 October 22nd-26th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening set for spring 08, work with short we created and add on.
Work on fundraiser party by burning DVD and getting together food donations
Meet with Julia to discuss progress
Watch “Benjamin Smoke”
Read “Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 6 October 29th-November 2nd
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Do university research for Production and PR interns for Jan.08-June 08
Watch “Outlaw” and The Films of “Jem Cohen”
Start to read “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 7 November 5-9th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Work on fundraiser party
Watch “Word is out” and “Before Stonewall”
Finish reading “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 8 November 12-16th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Have Fundraiser Fall Soriee party in Seattle!
Start work on my reverse storyboard final project
Watch “Juggling Gender” and “Trembling before G-D” with film group
Write on academic blog about my learning and about the fundraiser
Week 9 November 26-30th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Watch “Wild Life” with film group
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Work on reverse storyboard
Send thank you notes to attendees of fundraiser
Start holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Write on academic blog about my readings, learning
Week 10 December 3rd-7th
Have final reverse storyboard done to show to Julia
Continue holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Watch “Boy I am” with film group
Write Self Evaluation
Evaluative blog on the quarter and my thought on the final project
Week 11 December 10-14th Eval Week
Faculty evaluation from Julia
“The Nature of Documentary, Editing and Theory of Travel Queeries”
By, Margaritte Knezek
Texts I will read:
Technical Skill:
“In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing” Murch, Walter.
“The Visual Story: Seeing the Structure of Film, TV and New Media” Block, Bruce
“The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age” Ascher and
Pincus.
“FinalCut6 Pro Guide”
Critical History, Theory:
“Intro to Queer Theory” By, Jagose, Annemarie
“Between the Sheets and in the Streets, Queer, Lesbian, and Gay Documentary” Holmlund, Chris
Documentaries I will watch:
“Trembling Before G-D”
“Wild Life”
“Me and Ruby Fruit” and other films by Sadie Benning
“Paris is Burning”
“Word is out”
“Before Stonewall”
“The Gleaners and I”
“Films of Jem Cohen”
“Benjamin Smoke”
“Boy I am”
“Tongues Untied”
“ Outlaw”
“Juggling Gender”
“Nomads and No Zones”
Week by week schedule
Logging/capturing/editing footage
Reading
Writing on blog which includes, a film viewing journal, notes on my readings and various treatments and plans for the final version of the film. Also a week by week schedule.
Meeting with film team
Watching films
Working on fund raisers
Week 1 September 25-28th
Find and meet with tutor on final cut pro
Find editor intern/ PR intern/ titles intern for winter and Spring Quarter
Meet with film team to begin editing short piece for Seattle lesbian and gay film festival
Start to read “In the Blink of an Eye”
Watch “Nomads and No-Zones” with film group
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning as well as Treatment for short piece
Meet with Julia to go over syllabus
Week 2 October 1-5th
Meet with tutor on final cut pro
Log/capture/edit footage for short
Continue looking for Interns
Read “In the Blink of an Eye” start “Between the sheets and in the streets”
Meet with film group to watch “Me and Ruby fruit” and other Sadie Benning movies
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 3 October 8-12th
Have short piece ready for the Seattle gay and Lesbian film festival on the 14th
Watch “Paris is burning”
Read “Between the sheets” Start to read excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s Handbook”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 4 October 15-19th
Start work on fundraiser party set for November 18th, make evite and start inviting people
Watch “Tongues Untied”
Read more excerpts from “A Filmmaker’s handbook” and start “ Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 5 October 22nd-26th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening set for spring 08, work with short we created and add on.
Work on fundraiser party by burning DVD and getting together food donations
Meet with Julia to discuss progress
Watch “Benjamin Smoke”
Read “Intro. To Queer Theory”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 6 October 29th-November 2nd
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Do university research for Production and PR interns for Jan.08-June 08
Watch “Outlaw” and The Films of “Jem Cohen”
Start to read “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 7 November 5-9th
Log/capture/edit footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Work on fundraiser party
Watch “Word is out” and “Before Stonewall”
Finish reading “The Visual Story”
Write on academic blog about my readings and learning
Week 8 November 12-16th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Have Fundraiser Fall Soriee party in Seattle!
Start work on my reverse storyboard final project
Watch “Juggling Gender” and “Trembling before G-D” with film group
Write on academic blog about my learning and about the fundraiser
Week 9 November 26-30th
Log/capture footage for rough-cut screening
Watch “Wild Life” with film group
Continue learning Final Cut with a book
Work on reverse storyboard
Send thank you notes to attendees of fundraiser
Start holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Write on academic blog about my readings, learning
Week 10 December 3rd-7th
Have final reverse storyboard done to show to Julia
Continue holiday letter writing fundraiser for TQ
Watch “Boy I am” with film group
Write Self Evaluation
Evaluative blog on the quarter and my thought on the final project
Week 11 December 10-14th Eval Week
Faculty evaluation from Julia
Notes on "Benjamin Smoke"
A sense of mystery starts this beautifully documented film. Snatches of a person in darkness, close-ups of different body parts in grainy black and white. This film sets up a good sense of place and texture.
-Monologues-slowly inform the viewer of the story, extreme full frame close ups as Benjamin talks.
-I like the use of sound in darkness making you guess what is going to happen, the next shot is slowly coming in and out of a simple banjo rhythm, setting the stage for this performers work.
-The technical skill and choices in this film are what drew me in the most. I wanted to take up art photography again, I learned about different visual tactics for using super8, I learned to see the art of cinematography.
-Jem Cohen introduced people by doing mug shots in Super 8 with them talking over the still, quiet, shots.
-The choice of having him work fast forward cooking in the kitchen as b-roll was an accurate representation of his speed addiction. I liked the shot of his collections around the house; a fast shot with slow music makes a nice contrast and identifies his personality.
-The whole film was very intimate, him in his bed, walking around, lying down, you were really getting to know this person in there full humanity.
-The “stuff” of the cabbage town community as signifiers of what this town is, its identity shared through the objects that end up there.
-A beautiful color night shot showing the evening urban landscape, similar to a long exposure color photograph.
-The sounds of the South, buzzing night signs glowing, loud crickets, good mood sound
-Close up of Ben staring into camera with city night light behind him, I like all the simple face on shots used to share this person with you.
-“What is beautiful and difficult?”
-Jumpy close-ups while telling his life story in the middle of the documentary instead of the beginning testimonial style in black and white, I would like to use this style in TQ.
-Sound collage of random conversation, showing the people sitting together smoking weed, with the audio of the conversation dubbed over the top, this creates a nice mood and is a dynamic way of using sound.
-After his death, audio with photos, sad, good use of photos as a document, flashes of the whole movie dispersed in between holga like photos of him.
-I liked how they did not end the film with his death; they even showed live footage of him afterward.
- I liked reading the DVD pamphlet afterward and it sharing how the filmmakers followed Benjamin for years and documented with whatever they were able to afford at the time. This left the film with a diversity of mediums covered that really added to the character sketch of this person Benjamin. I really liked this documentary and was thoroughly inspired to shoot as artistically as Jem Cohen.
-Monologues-slowly inform the viewer of the story, extreme full frame close ups as Benjamin talks.
-I like the use of sound in darkness making you guess what is going to happen, the next shot is slowly coming in and out of a simple banjo rhythm, setting the stage for this performers work.
-The technical skill and choices in this film are what drew me in the most. I wanted to take up art photography again, I learned about different visual tactics for using super8, I learned to see the art of cinematography.
-Jem Cohen introduced people by doing mug shots in Super 8 with them talking over the still, quiet, shots.
-The choice of having him work fast forward cooking in the kitchen as b-roll was an accurate representation of his speed addiction. I liked the shot of his collections around the house; a fast shot with slow music makes a nice contrast and identifies his personality.
-The whole film was very intimate, him in his bed, walking around, lying down, you were really getting to know this person in there full humanity.
-The “stuff” of the cabbage town community as signifiers of what this town is, its identity shared through the objects that end up there.
-A beautiful color night shot showing the evening urban landscape, similar to a long exposure color photograph.
-The sounds of the South, buzzing night signs glowing, loud crickets, good mood sound
-Close up of Ben staring into camera with city night light behind him, I like all the simple face on shots used to share this person with you.
-“What is beautiful and difficult?”
-Jumpy close-ups while telling his life story in the middle of the documentary instead of the beginning testimonial style in black and white, I would like to use this style in TQ.
-Sound collage of random conversation, showing the people sitting together smoking weed, with the audio of the conversation dubbed over the top, this creates a nice mood and is a dynamic way of using sound.
-After his death, audio with photos, sad, good use of photos as a document, flashes of the whole movie dispersed in between holga like photos of him.
-I liked how they did not end the film with his death; they even showed live footage of him afterward.
- I liked reading the DVD pamphlet afterward and it sharing how the filmmakers followed Benjamin for years and documented with whatever they were able to afford at the time. This left the film with a diversity of mediums covered that really added to the character sketch of this person Benjamin. I really liked this documentary and was thoroughly inspired to shoot as artistically as Jem Cohen.
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