We're living in a global world. We're living... No, we are stuck. We're stuck in a sort of hyperreality, where we can't keep up, yet we can't let go.
This is the 21st century.
McLuhan aptly characterizes this era, this brand new-world, where "electric circuity profoundly involves men with one another. Information pours upon us, instantaneously and simultaneously" and there is no permanent escape (McLuhan, 63).
In the short experimental film, Smoking Causes Film Ideas, A.Garcia and I set out to explore the space and time when smokers are able to create what each of us truly desire and require, a peaceful silence, a sort of white emptiness in this dark place, a disconnection from the incessant buzz of the 21st century.
We have, through this film, attempted to cease time and vanish space. We capture a private luxury, a state of nothingness, a brief instant of tranquility that not only the four smokers in the film enjoy, but perhaps thousands around the world are indulging in, this very second.
I would personally just like to say that you and Ariel's film was really creative! The way you approached it candidly was probably half of why it was so interesting. Its cool that you didn't necessarily go into the project with a written out script and hat the story kindof just spontaneously unfolded right in front of your camera for you. The other aspect that makes is so interesting is the visual aspect you guys included; the duotone contrast was so graphically "awesome" if I can say. It are me want to pause each frame and like someone else said, take it, print it, and hang it on my wall. Or even as an album cover, it is so simple (with two colors) but it holds such a strong detail and abstractness to it. You two did an amazing job and the visual effect made your video stand out.
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm curious in how your creative process for making the video was affected by working with someone else. Also I'd like to here more explanation about how smoking connects to the buzz of the 21st century since people have smoked tobacco for hundreds of years.. Other than that I enjoyed the video and some of the effect of black and white smoke is very captivating.
ReplyDeleteHey! Zain and I have been close friends for almost a year now so the collaborative process went pretty smoothly. We brainstormed together and had pretty similar ideas in terms of the direction we wanted to take the video in. Dividing the work between us wasn't really an issue, as we worked together for almost the entire project, the blog posts being the only separate tasks we did.
DeleteI'm having a little trouble understanding what you're asking only because as 20 and 22 year olds living in the 21st century, I can't really relate to a world smoking and technology aren't related for myself personally. Especially since I only picked up smoking at the age of 18 as a freshman. Our film wasn't really meant to provide insight or explanation into the relationship between smoking and technology outside of our group of friends. I hope that helped clear up any questions you may have had.
We're glad you enjoyed it! :)