The Short Attention Span Digital Video Festival
Hi guys! Currently, we have had some interesting events at the University, and due to the limited page space we have for the magazine, some of our articles are unable to make it in. Therefore, we are going to post some articles of interest for you guys to read! Today is an article by Graphic Design major Michael Gelobter, reviewing The Short Attention Span Digital Video Festival, which was held last month on Lesley University's main campus. Thanks for the review, Mike!
----------
The Short Attention Span Digital Video Festival, or SASDVF, is a rapid and eclectic mix of short videos. The goal of the video festival is to create an accelerated pace of expression. Most of the videos are under two and a half minutes, but pack the punch of longer films. In my opinion, the longer films seemed to lack impact compared to their shorter counterparts. The pace of the festival encourages artists to be clear and direct in their concepts. The concepts from this year's festival covered a wide range, which punctuated the rapid pace.
The films that stood out from the bunch were those that captivated the audience with a clear and definitive concept. “Thirteen Ways to Die at Home” by Lee Lanier was an attention-grabber in the beginning of the night. This film displayed a playful superimposition of absurd dangers on to retro video footage. “Thirteen Ways to Die at Home” expressed a postmodern parody of the fear conveyed through video in the second half of the 20th century.
Some of the films were visually interesting, but lacked in narrative. “Snip
Crunch” by Matthew Heimbecker had a strong visual concept in which scissor wolves hunted a paper-ball sheep. “Sheathing the Light” by Nicholas Baish was purely visual as a kaleidoscopic exploration of form, space, and motion. Other films relied on story and context to convey a message. Geoff Marian's “Falling” was a delightful and comedic account of two raindrops awakening to realize they are falling to the ground. The personification of the raindrops and their dialogue projected the theme of acceptance.
The best film this year, in my opinion, was Alex Cormack's “Soon Forget.”
Based on the soundtrack of a Pearl Jam song of the same title, Alex clearly illustrates the narrative. Furthermore, he subtly and powerfully accentuates the concept by employing 3-dimensional construction in a piece about emptiness. Everything in the video, from the characters to dollar bills, are built as boxes, which emphasizes the hollowness expressed in the soundtrack.
Overall, our first Short Attention Span Digital Video Festival was a great success in bringing artists together to express and absorb a large amount of content in rapid succession. Be on the lookout for this event next year, as it promises an entertaining variety of artistic expressions.
----------
Keep your eyes open for the fifth issue of The Sketch Report, which should be coming out by December!
Best,
Krista Swiader, Club President/Editor
----------
The Short Attention Span Digital Video Festival, or SASDVF, is a rapid and eclectic mix of short videos. The goal of the video festival is to create an accelerated pace of expression. Most of the videos are under two and a half minutes, but pack the punch of longer films. In my opinion, the longer films seemed to lack impact compared to their shorter counterparts. The pace of the festival encourages artists to be clear and direct in their concepts. The concepts from this year's festival covered a wide range, which punctuated the rapid pace.
The films that stood out from the bunch were those that captivated the audience with a clear and definitive concept. “Thirteen Ways to Die at Home” by Lee Lanier was an attention-grabber in the beginning of the night. This film displayed a playful superimposition of absurd dangers on to retro video footage. “Thirteen Ways to Die at Home” expressed a postmodern parody of the fear conveyed through video in the second half of the 20th century.
Some of the films were visually interesting, but lacked in narrative. “Snip
Crunch” by Matthew Heimbecker had a strong visual concept in which scissor wolves hunted a paper-ball sheep. “Sheathing the Light” by Nicholas Baish was purely visual as a kaleidoscopic exploration of form, space, and motion. Other films relied on story and context to convey a message. Geoff Marian's “Falling” was a delightful and comedic account of two raindrops awakening to realize they are falling to the ground. The personification of the raindrops and their dialogue projected the theme of acceptance.
The best film this year, in my opinion, was Alex Cormack's “Soon Forget.”
Based on the soundtrack of a Pearl Jam song of the same title, Alex clearly illustrates the narrative. Furthermore, he subtly and powerfully accentuates the concept by employing 3-dimensional construction in a piece about emptiness. Everything in the video, from the characters to dollar bills, are built as boxes, which emphasizes the hollowness expressed in the soundtrack.
Overall, our first Short Attention Span Digital Video Festival was a great success in bringing artists together to express and absorb a large amount of content in rapid succession. Be on the lookout for this event next year, as it promises an entertaining variety of artistic expressions.
----------
Keep your eyes open for the fifth issue of The Sketch Report, which should be coming out by December!
Best,
Krista Swiader, Club President/Editor
posted by Anonymous at 11:48 AM
0 comments
