The Society Of The Spectacle

This is certainly one of the coolest and most ambitious ideas I have seen this year. All based on a very simple truth. New York Writes Itself, is literally that. A crowd-sourced film script made up of thousands of New Yorkers imaginations and reflections of their own city, billed as a ‘A Production By The People Of New York’.

It’s such a simple thought; a city as diverse, as complex and as densely rich in story as New York could quite literally write itself a script. It’s not like New York hasn’t already been explored in minute detail by some of film’s great directors, from Spike Lee’s Bed Stuy masterwork Do The Right Thing to Woody Allen’s Upper West Side neuroses in Manhattan, or Times Square’s squalor in Midnight Cowboy and Taxi Driver, (the tip of the iceberg obviously), but what makes this different, and therefore worth the follow is the threading together of these disparate experiences. Can you really make a script of something as vast as New York? All these films put a microscope onto a particular slice of New York life, giving you an opportunity to truly experience that slice of life. The creators have neatly sidestepped this by allowing all the elements, Quotes, scenes and characters in the script to be selected and made into their own productions – like posters, exhibitions, music videos and short films.

Projects are already underway, with the first one being ‘The Chairman’ (below)

If you wanted to take this exploration further, then this project is another example of either the strength or weaknesses of crowdsourcing projects. What are the rewards of participation?  I personally believe the reward is in seeing your own experience recreated in some way. Your unique experience of New York becomes a unique thread in the cultural pattern of the city. You are now immortalised in your metropolis. When at times we can feel alienated from the scale and enormity (and relative anonymity) of cities, the chance to write your own piece into it, seems to be too tempting. A project to follow with interest.

Creating new spins on retro styles is nothing new. So the question is how do you hold someone’s attention with something they are already familiar with?

Well, in the example of these two videos, the answer is simple. Craft. The first video is a music video for the concert season at Bellavista Social Pub (Jesus, what a name…). Ignoring the lameness of the name, the Jazz theme of the season has led the team to create a supreme re-interpretation of some of Blue Note records most beautiful record covers. The attention to detail is exquisite, and I mean exquisite. Even if you aren’t familiar with the content of the records themselves (although I would highly recommend you check some of these out). You cannot fail to be impressed with the level of homage, as well as the bravery of taking this design/moving image challenge on.

While the classic designs of Blue Note were getting a makeover, there appeared another video that took it’s cues from a lower form of entertainment, but nailed this homage just as brilliantly.

A speculative music video made for Buck 65 by Travis Hopkins, it reinterprets the lyrics of this rapidfire tune into a visual assault of the senses taking it’s cue from the 1960′s/70′s/80′s Exploitation scene. There’s so much pop cultural referencing going on here that really, you just have to watch it. But again, the craft, the dedication and the sheer nuttiness of it makes it really stand out.

Inspiring stuff.

Here is the New York Times obituary of Sidney Lumet. This is a superb summary of his films, the genius of Lumet as a director was the power of story over style (Network, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, 12 Angry Men, The Pawnbroker etc.) The breadth of stories is truly stunning, and in death, you recognise the amazing stories covered in his career, as well as a deep seated love of New York itself. There are some lovely anecdotes here, Lumet is an engaging speaker on the subject, and his summary of his craft at the end is priceless. A director, and body of work to be treasured.

Enjoy.

Filmmaker Alex Jablonski and cinematographer Michael Totten have, for the last year, filmed a short documentary each and every month, under the auspices of ‘The Sparrow Songs’. These short films create a snapshot of America (and specifically Southern California) in 2010. It reminds me of the 3six5 project in it’s diverse (and sometimes brave) subjects, but also tries to get underneath some of the issues and stories that dominate a society wrestling with it’s present malaise, and it’s future ambitions. These aren’t political caricatures, but are honest, open and fascinating films, whether you are inspired, or confused by the subjects themselves, they are beautifully done. I urge you to explore them all, but I’ve posted the one that fascinated me the most. The Donut Shop.

These have been about for a while, but as a set they are deceptively simple, and are worth a share. Shot for Film Four, they do two things simultaniously. Cement Film Four’s credentials as a both a producer of films (Jude Law, Kristen Scott Thomas, Daniel Day-Lewis, Tilda Swinton and Bob Hoskins help with that) while also neatly dovetailing with a seriously heavyweight Hollywood cast. But, what’s great about these is that the stars don’t get in the way of the stories, these are personal recollections on film, the process of making, and the satisfaction in creating art in ones craft. Add to that a fine editing style, and simple and effective Art Direction, a very familiar piano piece, and you have a lovely little set of ads. Check ‘em out.

Peter Biskind, has for years, been one of my favourite writers. His definitive book on the New Hollywood of the 1970′s – Easy Rider’s Raging Bulls, is rightly regarded as a key text in rehabilitation of many of the films and directors of the 1970′s. The first chapter of the book deals with the film, and the star, that started it all. The film that scandalized Hollywood was Bonnie & Clyde, and the force behind the film, was Warren Beatty. (more…)

About a month ago, Edgar Wright (director of the fabulously inventive Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz) was the curator of the Curzon Soho Midnight Movies night. Midnight Movies, since way back in the 1970′s have been the perfect space for the obscure and the ludicrous outer reaches of film have gathered, from Alejandro Jodorowsky’s El Topo (nuts) to the rather unique charms of Wright’s choice. Death Wish 3. While I had to miss out on the big screening, I took the opportunity to take in this classic of the 80′s B-Movie scene and boy was it worth it. (more…)