Cucalorus Reflection
CUCALORUS SCREENING/ATTENDANCE SCHEDULE
SCREENING
|
DATE & TIME
|
Dace-a-lorus
|
WEDNESDAY, 7pm
|
Superchunk with the Cardinal Family Singers
|
WEDNESDAY, 8:30pm
|
Hominy Shorts
|
THURSDAY, 6:30pm
|
Kohlrabi Shorts
|
THURSDAY, 10pm
|
Jackfruit Shorts
|
FRIDAY, 7:15pm
|
Beats & Coffee with Langston Hughes III and Subterrene
|
FRIDAY, 8:30pm
|
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
|
SATURDAY, 8pm
|
Fiddlehead Shorts
|
SUNDAY, 4:15pm
|
Mapplethorpe
|
SUNDAY, 6:30pm
|
CUCALORUS WISHLIST- regrettable list of films/events I didn’t see
FILM/EVENT
|
DIRECTOR/EVENT ADMINISTRATOR
|
El Angel
|
Luis Ortega
|
Knife + Heart
|
Yann Gonzalez
|
Burning
|
Lee Chang-Dong
|
Lords of Chaos
|
Jonas Askerlund
|
Intro to Super 8mm Filmmaking
|
Norwood Cheek
|
Cucalorus Festival never fails to roll up with an unusual energy. It is a festival, a home for wandering artists, an incubator for emerging creatives, and even a think-tank for technology-driven economic development. On its 24th year, my expectations were met beyond belief. I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the community Cucalorus launches every November to support and challenge each other. I had the opportunity to work on Cucalorus from the beginning to its end, but I wanted to devote time for myself during the festival to enjoy the blood, sweat, and tears I put in over the past 8 months to help this festival. I attended all of the screenings I wanted to see, but I did not expect that my interest in other Cucalorus events would steer me away from the Connect event I initially planned on attending. I attended/viewed nine different events/screenings-- more than I have in the past! When I wasn’t attending events of viewing screenings, I was either in class or conducting my duties as Filmmaker and Performer Pass Coordinator in the box office. I completed my actionable goals of meeting four different filmmakers (Melanie Zoey Weinsten, director of Spanko; Stacey Larkins, the director of Jabari Keating; Wendy McColm, the writer/director/actor/producer of Birds Without Feathers; and Nick Westfall, the director of 8 Slices), successfully completing my role as Filmmaker and Performer Pass Coordinator, and I also balanced my time as an employer and a student viewer. As a filmmaker, I learned that my interest in experimental film has an audience. It has truly shed light on the idea that my work of unconventional filmmaking has an audience and is respected. My favorite experience at Cucalorus was my interactions with fellow filmmakers on the bus that took us to and fro Cucalorus locations. I really had an opportunity to speak with filmmakers because we were all trapped in one space. All it takes is one film reference and you have a conversation just like that. I was most surprised by the lack of extravagance and wow-factor at Visual Sound Walls. Two years ago it was located in a big space, with 2 floors for observation, projections everywhere, live entertainment, and a thoroughness in its production. This year was truly saddening. The “visual sound walls” was projected in a small/uncomfortable location, on a very tiny screen, with one projection on a wall, and no music nor detailed production. Visual Sound Walls is usually my favorite event because of its psychedelic experimental atmosphere, but this year was just upsetting. If I was a filmmaker at a festival, then I would now know that whether or not you are wealthy in cinematic experience, my artistic vision matters. There are people out there who will want to see and critique my work in a healthy atmosphere. If I were a filmmaker, then I would know that my work means something to other; to know that my endeavors have been valued, even if it is a small group.
Comments
Post a Comment