BOB: The Documentary

Log line: "Bob: A normal guy, with a normal (?) life."

Treatment: The film will open with the camera searching for Bob at school. Nobody knows where he is, and some don't know even who he is. With this film we want to highlight the life of Bob, and the quirky things he does in his daily life. We will use interviews with people from school, along with his family members. We want our film to be humorous and to reflect his life, and how it affects other people. We also want to have people say things in their interviews that contradict what Bob is actually like, and show the irony in that. At the end of the film we want the audience to feel connected to Bob and see how down-to-earth he is. 

Bill Cunningham New York

One of my favorite documentaries of all time is "Bill Cunningham New York." This observational, or "cinema verite" documentary directed by Richard Press follows the legendary fashion photographer Bill Cunningham around the streets of New York City. Bill Cunningham rides around NYC on his bike every day, capturing images of unique street style. He then compiles his most exciting photographs into his own section called "On the Street with Bill Cunningham" in the New York Times.

I really like this documentary because of how the bright colors and crisp images in the film reflect Bill's style of photography, and because I hope to pursue fashion photography at some point in my life. The film highlights Bill's dedication to his craft, and it proves how sticking to a task and staying humble can pay off in the long run.

Key parts of the documentary include interviews with iconic people in the fashion industry, such as Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, Iris Apfel, and Tom Wolfe. These people further prove how much of an impact Bill has had in the fashion world, and it shows that it's not only designers and models that become successful, but also the people behind the camera.

Ne Regret Pas

"Ne Regret Pas" (No Regrets) is a short film in the style of French New Wave. In order to make it look authentic, we used handheld camera methods, jump cuts, b/w visuals, and French music. Direction/Acting by me, cinematography by Maddie Bright, and editing by Emily Miller. 

LINK TO VIDEO-

https://vimeo.com/147854898

NEST

Recently I've been using Premiere Pro to edit films, but I'm not great at it yet, so this short little film is just an excuse to try out different transitions and other simple tools. I was bored one day and decided to put together a few clips of my pet mouse, and this is the result. Here is the link to the full video on my Vimeo account. 

Les Yeux Sans Visage (Eyes Without a Face)

"Les Yeux Sans Visage" by Georges Franju is a French-Italian horror film, of the new wave era. In the movie, a girl's face is horribly disfigured in an accident, she is hidden by her family, and is forced to wear a mask. Afterwards, her father, a doctor, kidnaps another girl and removes her face, attaching it to his daughter.

This film, while in the horror genre, is very violent, but a lot of the violence and gore is not actually seen because of the social restrictions at the time that called for a lot of censoring. Originally released in the 1960, it has been released many times after that on various medias- the most recent of which is VHS in 2001. When it first came out, a lot of Europeans disregarded it because of the dark nature of the film, which was looked down upon at the time. When the director, Georges Franju, was asked about his film and how he came up with the concept, he said: 

"I was told, 'No sacrilege because of the Spanish market, no nudes because of the Italian market, no blood because of the French market and no martyrized animals because of the English market.' And I was supposed to be making a horror film!"

I really like the visual imagery in this film, a lot of the shots are minimalistic, and the fact that the film is in black and white creates another level of simplicity and neatness. The simple horror in the movie alongside the surrealism in the plot creates a very specific and precise movie, that has recently become a cult classic.

Romeo + Juliet

However cliche it may be for this movie to have influenced me, being a theater person, it's really had a lasting impact on my mind. This may just be due to my love for Leonardo DiCaprio, but something about the combination of vibrant colors, grimy clothing and locations, and the use of Shakespearian language contrasting with a modern soundtrack and setting has changed my outlook on filmmaking.

Ever since 5th grade, when I first watched this film, it stuck with me. My mind always trails back to the scene where Romeo is wandering around the beach at dawn alone, while the song "Talk Show Host" by Radiohead plays. Something about that peaceful scene, paired with a slow, C-minor key song gets me every time. Another moment that fascinates me to no end is the Capulet's party scene near the beginning of the film. The elaborate costumes, loud music, choreography, and strangely creative shots create a beautifully overwhelming experience for the audience. And, of course, Mercutio dresses in drag that night, which earns bonus points from me.

The expression of fast-paced life, loud color, and resonating sound, as well as the juxtaposition of old and new, has had a lasting impact on my view of filmmaking and my train of thought when it comes to creating concepts for possible films of my own.