Notes from December 2007

RACC denies Empty Quarter funding

After four years of failed attempts to partially fund Open Road, RACC denied completion funds to Empty Quarter. I have yet to see the panel's comments... but if they're anything close to comments made in previous years, I'd have to say the panel is overwhelmingly, and consistently, conservative in its make-up, and shared view of art/film making. "Media Arts", includes the disciplines of web, video, and film, similar to fine or visual arts including various approaches to sculpture, painting, photography, etc. My concern is whether those judging the category of "media art", who in the past have been largely from the field of web and design fields or commercial film production, are the best candidates to sit on a panel judging "media art" when it includes the use of various film formats, particularly when the use is non-commercial and unconventional. New media, which often utilizes a great deal of compositing and visual effects, sits at a distance from a film practice that uses straight photography. Commercial film production is unable to present images on the screen for longer than a few seconds. Where does one exist if not falling within these two realms? Is 16mm filmmaking a unique practice under the category or "media art"? A bronze sculptor, or quilt-maker, or book artists are unquire in their disciplines (perhaps their uniqueness even makes them worthy of funding). Does the choice of artistic materials matter, particularly in relation "media arts"? Does it matter that people in Portland hand-build bicycles, blow glass, create wood cuts or work with traditional letter press type? Are public monies available to those making a living doing commercial work in the field of media, as much as to those struggling to work in non-commercial and unconventional ways?

December 17, 2007  –  permalink

Continued work on Open Road

Mark was kind enough to provide some guidance and lend a hand with recent dusk-for-night and moving car shots. We did approximately 4 hours of shooting at three locations. This rainy weather will help to provide me with the other shots I've been needing to collect. It's funny to live in a region where rainy weather is commonplace, yet know that not any rain will look quite the way I want it to. So I wait patiently, hoping the rain I am in search of will happen on a day I am not working.

December 02, 2007  –  permalink