SEPTEMBER 27, 2008
Oculi wrap up BY LEE BISHOP
So Oculi was a really great experience for me. Hard to believe that was a week ago. Since I got back from the beach, I've been posting pics from my trip, emailing with other filmmakers and friends I met there, and have still not gotten around to blogging about it all! Now my beach buzz has pretty much worn off, but I still have bits to mine from the event, I'm sure.
The film showcase was run professionally, and you could really tell that Steven Gibbs had taken alot of care and time choosing the films and the order for the event. Airlie Pelletier, a young local filmmaker, was our lovely host, and there was even a guest speaker, Dr. James Kreul from the UNCW film program. I joked with him that he added a grown-up touch of controlled rationalism to the whole thing. But gee, he seemed pretty young to me too.
Once the thing got going (it lasted 4 hours, so the mood was set in stages), more and more people arrived, and came and went, and drank and drank. The tone was respectful, but a fun party at the same time. Perfect. The excellent program (essential when viewing so many short films in a row) noted that "filmmakers will be available for comment", and hey, I was one of them! And there were lots of very fun and educational impromptu filmmaking discussions all around. Whoa, am I finally in the right universe??
The films were a mix, just like they said. Technical, emotional, most were super short, but some ran up to 15 minutes. Abstraction in all its forms was pretty much there. Nothing narrative really, but some were closer to it than others. As I went with the flow of people and the scene, I did not see every one of the 44 films, but I loved some of the ones I saw, and they inspired me to make more. All the films inspired me to make more!
My favorites were 'Heatshot #1' by Yeonjeong Kim from South Korea, a stunningly mesmerizing club mix of music and color, and 'Bunny Flame Yellow' by Miles Fitzgerald Holst from Raleigh. How could I not cheer with glee after watching 30 seconds of styrofoam bunny go up in flames? Oh the yummy goodness.
At the end of the showcase, I was pleasantly surprised to learn awards were being given out. People's Choice went to local Rocco Taldin for '888XFlame-a-Rama', Best Local Film went to 'Bird Watching' by Annie Segrest, the Guest Speaker's Choice Award was given to 'Waterway' by Jung-Chul Hur from Bangkok, Thailand, and Best of Show went to 'Undisclosed Beauty' by Anders Weberg of Sweden.
I did end up driving down for this thing on my own, and I had alot of anxiety about it all, but I kept reminding myself, Lee, you are participating! You are an honoree, you were chosen! It's not like I was just checking it out as a casual observer. That helped me keep going. And the signs I kept seeing once I got into Wilmington--"Lee! Lee! Lee!" they said. Some political thing, but worked for me!
I was surprised that the only other filmmakers who attended were local to Wilmington. Not even anyone from Raleigh bothered to go. I suppose it was not as big a deal to them as it was to me, being such a newbie and all. Hey, that's ok, it just made it more special to be the only one who travelled in.
I feel like I made new friends, and future friends, and I was
reminded of so many reasons I made plans to move to Wilmington a couple years ago. Now of course there are even more reasons, so who knows, we'll see.
Wilmington rocks!
The films were a mix, just like they said. Technical, emotional, most were super short, but some ran up to 15 minutes. Abstraction in all its forms was pretty much there. Nothing narrative really, but some were closer to it than others. As I went with the flow of people and the scene, I did not see every one of the 44 films, but I loved some of the ones I saw, and they inspired me to make more. All the films inspired me to make more!
My favorites were 'Heatshot #1' by Yeonjeong Kim from South Korea, a stunningly mesmerizing club mix of music and color, and 'Bunny Flame Yellow' by Miles Fitzgerald Holst from Raleigh. How could I not cheer with glee after watching 30 seconds of styrofoam bunny go up in flames? Oh the yummy goodness.
At the end of the showcase, I was pleasantly surprised to learn awards were being given out. People's Choice went to local Rocco Taldin for '888XFlame-a-Rama', Best Local Film went to 'Bird Watching' by Annie Segrest, the Guest Speaker's Choice Award was given to 'Waterway' by Jung-Chul Hur from Bangkok, Thailand, and Best of Show went to 'Undisclosed Beauty' by Anders Weberg of Sweden.
I did end up driving down for this thing on my own, and I had alot of anxiety about it all, but I kept reminding myself, Lee, you are participating! You are an honoree, you were chosen! It's not like I was just checking it out as a casual observer. That helped me keep going. And the signs I kept seeing once I got into Wilmington--"Lee! Lee! Lee!" they said. Some political thing, but worked for me!
I was surprised that the only other filmmakers who attended were local to Wilmington. Not even anyone from Raleigh bothered to go. I suppose it was not as big a deal to them as it was to me, being such a newbie and all. Hey, that's ok, it just made it more special to be the only one who travelled in.
I feel like I made new friends, and future friends, and I was
reminded of so many reasons I made plans to move to Wilmington a couple years ago. Now of course there are even more reasons, so who knows, we'll see.
Wilmington rocks!
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