Clientology part 1

First of all, this is going to be a rather incoherent post...in order to start seriously thinking about some of the things assigned in the task for next year`s Client Project, I`ll have to have a really serious inner dialogue to get an idea of what I want to do, and according to that, where should I start looking for clients. Now, browsing through film and documentary festivals pages has been a good thing regardless of my still confused state of mind, you never know what might give you ideas...but, I will be back with more on this topic...

 

Art By Chance (Ultra Short Film Festival) 

 

The reason Art By Chance caught my attention was because `the selected short movies will be presented to the public through advertising screens instead of movie theatres [...]Viewers around the world will have the opportunity to watch the best festival movies free of charge and within the course of their daily routine`. All submissions must use the given theme as a backbone of their work, which last year has been the idea of a journey, and this year, is that of time. Films must be 30 seconds long or less excluding the title and credits. Deadline: 26 March. 

 

Sheffield Documentary Festival

Unfortunately, the deadline for this is before November, so no chance really to be considered for next year`s Client Project I guess, but it`s good to keep in mind the event nevertheless.

Ah, and there is something else that might be useful I managed to spot on their page:

Submit a Session IdeaI - If you have an idea for a session you would like to produce at the festival - it can be craft-based, case studies, debates, panels or masterclasses, you can submit your idea to Doc/Fest. Online submissions for 2010 will open in March. (Hmmm...thinking, thinking...ideas...yes, I might have some of those...hmmmm)

 

CrossOver Labs

 

Multiplatforming, discussion panel and project that brings together people from various media to:

• explore new techniques for developing multi-platform projects
• encourage fresh thinking about interaction with viewers and users through user-centred design processes
• provide a framework for the development of concrete projects and results in the building of pitches and early stage concept prototypes.

 TO BE CONTINUED...^.^

I do what I can...part 5

Well, here we are again...this is the spot for Comedy Cluj Film Festival and you can find it on the festival`s blog (unfortunately, only in Romanian for this year). The ending reads: `What of a world without laughter?`

I do what I can...part 4

COMEDY CLUJ: http://www.comedycluj.ro/

The Comedy Cluj site...still under construction, but getting ready for the event. I have been taken up by the volunteer coordinator as a collaborator for the site so, besides writing some of the material, I am taking my turn in coming up with suggestions for layout, spell-check, etc.

I do what I can...part 3

So, what`s new? Well, I`ve been doing some translations for film subtitles for Comedy Cluj and also done some more writing for the official website (www.comedycluj.ro). The site is still under construction, so you`ll have to take my word for it for now...I`ll leave you with the event`s mascots. Happy fellas!

I do what I can...part 2

Long time no post, right? (I bet you are asking yourself, my dearest non-existent reader, why am I talking to myself and constantly acting like I have an audience...I stopped wondering about that a long time ago...). Thanks to a good friend from Cluj, involved in organising a comedy film festival, I got to do some work. Working on some English translation for the festival`s promotional materials. Should they like it, I might make it to the official site of the event (fingers crossed!). Just in case you are bored to death and have nothing else better to do, here it is:

"Step right up and prepare yourself for sheer comedy delight with Comedy Cluj International Comedy Film Festival! Emerging from foamy waves of film passion and ready to wash away those grey tedious afternoons, Comedy Cluj aims high on the laugh-o-meter, making its public burst into laughter with a heavy-duty artillery of 70 fire-cracker comedies. Oh, and on a more social note, Comedy Cluj provides a gathering place for film aficionados/enthusiasts/lovers, critics and everyone in-between from all corners of the world can meet and exchange musings.

We are here to…

- give you a taste of cultural diversity that will leave you coming back for more…

- lure films and audiences from around the world

- give you a taste of a bewildering range of comedy sub-genres (satire, parody, romantic comedy, opera buffa, black comedy, sit-coms, absurd, etc) leaving the public with a highly sophisticated palate and eye for the best productions.

- take out the middle man, providing an environment for unmediated/direct interactions between film creators, producers and distributors

- give the home comedy production a gentle nudge, or a kiss, if you will, that would wake it up from its present slumber

- put the Charisma back into Comedy, enticing viewers of all ages – a special attention to all of the hip youngsters – to feel its evergreen appeal

- take our shot at placing Cluj and Romania on the glitzy map of cultural, artistic and cinematic hipsterdom."

TranSLATE 2

Nae Caranfil`s E pericolo sporgersi. Simply brings a smile to my face so I have to include it here.

-And now you want to show me your vinyl collection, or what?

-I understand you are making a pass on our girls, right?

-Have we met before?

-For your sake, we`d better not! That`s all I`m sayin`...

-You want something from me?

-Yeah! I want you to leave this girl alone! She`s mine.

-Which girl?

-You know all too well. The one that`s just left.

-So, you`ve been listening?

-No...but I know she`s been here. Why...just because we allow you in our town to do your service, you think you can have a go at our girls?

-For now, the only one having a go is you...at me!

-HEY! Watch it! I`ve done three years of boxing as a kid, if you`ll tick me off I`ll make you bleed!

-Be....careful what you say. I`m wearing a uniform and that might spell trouble for you.

-I`ve tried to argue with you from man to man, but is seems like you don`t want to...

-Maybe you want to meet the rest of the patrol?

-Maybe you want to meet my brother, who is into karate...there`ll be blood, I tell you!

-Maybe you need a beating up!

-I tried to argue sensibly with you...

-You want a fight?

-Be careful...

-Fight?

-If you touch me, I`ll break your glasses you son of a bitch!

-Who do you think you are, talking like that about mum?

-And why are you acting tough?

-You`ll see what I`m made of...

-Why did you hit me?

-Who....who hit you? Me...?

-Yes, you...you wanted to hit me. Why did you want to do that. Why?

-D....don`t make me loose my temper!

....

-You damned Bucharest scum!

TranSLATE 1

A hilarious fragment from Cuibul de viespi (Wasps`Nest), a film based on one of Alexandru Kiritescu`s plays. Probably sums up pretty well all one can say about Romanian sense of humour and the Balkan....ehrm....charm. I know it is hard to incorporate all the savory linguistical bits but...here is a somewhat valiant attempt (hopefully):

-You got the braids? Thank heaven and all of the saints! Put them there. And you? Why are you daydreaming? Get a move on…destination: braids! And get the incense burner.
-What incense burner?
-What incense burner? What incense burner? The one we use for the braids! Now go and fetch it for me….WAIT! But don`t get me the wrong one or I`ll use it on your head!
-Alright…
-WAIT!!! Bring some incense too.
-…
-WAIT!!! And make sure you don`t bring some coals instead….WA..
-WAIT! I get it! Don`t patronize me!

-You deserved that, you rascal!
-I`m late because I had to queue.
-Queue…huh? Nein! You be smooching…
-Ma`am?
-Mit soldiers!
-Wha…? You are out of it…
-Insult you me? Gypsy! You little cat! Lazy bones! Ptttt!
-Calm down you two. What`s this all about?
-She should leave me alone, coz I`m an honest girl, not like her… silly old bat!
-Wass? Gehn zum Teufel!

-Requiem it is…but a lucky one!
-Sis…did you write the (remembrance) list?
-I did.
-Read it!
-Ana, Grigore, Tinca….puuuuuuut that down theeeeeeeeeere!....Didina, Tina, Gherghina…
-Don`t stand about to see what an fool she is. She is from Caracal, she can afford it! But you are from Transylvania, right?
-I get this sort of humiliation even in front of the servants!...Balasa, Androne…
-….and all their relatives…I say, let Zamfira know how much you`re worth!
-Tase, Marghioala, Ionicica…
-What? You`ve listed all the boors from Tase`s family? Devil take them! God rest their souls!
-Arghirita, Sofronie, Marita…
-Marita?
-Yep!
-On Margareta`s remembrance list?
-Aham.
-Vanda`s mother…
-Aham.
-Where`s your brain, sis?
-Oh, gosh! You`re right! You`re so right! It`s because of that debauched woman that we got into all this trouble! Ptttt! It`s not within our nature….to curse and all….but she deserves it! May she turn into dust…may God and the virgin Mary turn her into dust!
-I`ve never cursed anyone in my life, and I won`t do it now! But may I see her buried without her shoes on, oh Holy Mother and Saint Filofteia! The Lord gaveth unto us, the Lord taketh!
-What is it?
-Hit my back! Whooooooah…you almost knocked me down!
-Well, you were coughing real bad and…

I got the BLUES(creen)!

Ohohohoho!....I got myself some new guinea pigs...I mean, part-time actors and volunteers and hopefully, tomorrow will be a good day...for experimentation! What I would like to try out is the blue/green screen effect, and, possibly, the split screen effect too.

Simply put: just a mild case of cartesian anxiety! part 2

Browsing through P. Adams Sitney`s Visionary Film, I came across the title of a 40s American avant-garde movie: Maya Deren`s Meshes of the Afternoon. The author drew several parallels with Dali and Bunuel`s Un chien andalou, and the description of the imagery employed seemed interesting enough to gave it a go. Heil YouTube again!

Using Teiji Ito`s music was a surprising addition, as the review in the book didn`t say much about the sound used. After a quick, it seems that Ito has written the scores of several other productions of Maya Deren, the producer of Meshes of the Afternoon. Seeing that there is a definite theme of repetition and accelaration that leads to the build-up of the dramatic sense, using this sort of music seems just perfect, as the drums seem to express the angst and all the ambivalence of feelings that are not revealed to us through the characters (who often seem expressionless, bedazzled and slightly hypnotic). In terms of visual metaphors, the mirror replacing the face of the nun is really inspiring...for think of all the things you can do with or about a mirror (break, distort, reflect, attract, trick).

Bookingham

Now that the deadlines are history, I can finally go back to reading some of the books I set my sight on. The one that is currently come to my attention is Michael Rabiger`s Directing.

I find I can open it at pretty much any page I want and just start reading. It draws you in, although it is supposed to be one of those rather aridly written `technical` books. I found some interesting techniques for motif and theme exploration, basics of script writing and of course lighting (which is becoming slowly but surely a little obssession of mine).

Rock me Amadeus!!!

Ah, yes! Remember the somewhat trashy song of Falco? I did and also remembered Amadeus, the movie by Milos Forman and seeing that I liked it very very much...I couldn`t resist the temptation to read the play of Peter Shaffer that has inspired the film.

Funny how you see some of the references when reading the play...most strikingly, the venticelli`s whispering in the trailer.

Come to think of it...I should start looking for tickets to the play itself...hmmmmm....