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One of the most intriguing films made, is Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959), by Director Alain Resnais (1922-2014) and Marguerite Duras (1914-1996), French novelist, playwright, screenwriter, essayist, and experimental filmmaker. Duras’ script earned her a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards. The script, its visuals and editing, as well as both protagonists’ roles embodied by Emmanuelle Riva and Eiji Okada, has left an indelible mark, so much so, that ten years ago, having read the script by Duras over and over, I assembled my recollections and those of other female survivors of WW-II & the Greek Civil War, into 27 poems that formed a basis for directing the film I was about to create at the time, as well sampling the voice-over, of a first experimental film – or filmpoem, 'Sweet Terror of Memory' (2018, 15'); the poem titled 'BLANK / Hiroshima Mon Amour', part of 'Poems for A Scenario', threads words of Duras together with those of my family's and other women's innate memory of being uprooted, of loss and pain, into a poem that represents a void that is left, though still an echo of remembering and wanting to forget, is there. War, is devastating, and has its effect, on many generations hereafter. We will not forget. After President Roosevelt died on April 12th, 1945, it became Harry Truman’s job to decide how to end WW-II. The thought of invading Japan gave Truman and his advisors pause. [..] Upon becoming president, Harry Truman learned of the Manhattan Project, a secret scientific effort to create an atomic bomb. After a successful test of the weapon, Truman issued the Potsdam Declaration demanding the unconditional surrender of the Japanese government, warning of “prompt and utter destruction.” Eleven days later, on August 6, 1945, having received no reply, an American bomber called the Enola Gay left the Tinian Island in route toward Japan. In the belly of the bomber was “Little Boy,” an atomic bomb. At 8:15 am Hiroshima time, “Little Boy” was dropped, causing approximately 80,000 deaths in just the first few minutes. Thousands died later from radiation sickness. On August 9, 1945, another bomber was in route to Japan, heading for Nagasaki with “Fat Man,” another atomic bomb. After the first minute of dropping “Fat Man,” 39,000 men, women and children were killed, 25,000 more injured. This, in turn, forced Japan to surrender to the United States. Today, historians continue to debate this decision. Was there another way to end the war? Presently, 9 nations possess an estimated total of roughly 13,000 nuclear weapons, whereas 32 other states are part of the problem, either hosting (5) or endorsing (27) their use. December 2017, Beatrice Fihn and Setsuko Thurlow, representatives of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), deliver the Nobel Peace Prize lecture:https://lnkd.in/eDMDY2gH https://lnkd.in/eppPSjkV #hiroshimamonamour #hiroshima #nagasaki #cinema #ICAN

"Call Me Sheyda" is an auto-ethnographic project for my Master's degree in Fashion Design at Northumbria University Newcastle. This piece encapsulates real-life videos capturing a significant moment in my life, mere minutes before an arrest in Iran. I intentionally integrated this poignant episode into my project, aiming for its inclusion as an unfiltered and genuine piece of ethnographic observation. https://lnkd.in/eqEjnra5

Great authenticity, important in keeping old typographical styles alive: https://lnkd.in/egNJMB5g

My first video essay! I made it with a student of mine--the very talented Alan Zhou. This piece is part of a wonderful series over at In Media Res devoted to Robert Bresson!

Sign up, create a profile, get a FREE demo and discover why so many streamers and channels trust tanooki to make their post production process run smoothly. tanooki is the single secure gateway to all the tools and talent you need for modern media creation. Send me a message to learn more! #postproduction #documetary #collaboration #dallies #review #liveeditstreaming #logging #archive #upload

Inspired by Harry Potter series read and the insights from my first blog on Medium, discover the magic of imagination and cinematography. Let's discuss the merits of each—stay tuned for more! [TO BE CONTINUED] ⏩📖 #Books #Movies #HarryPotter #MediumArticle #FirstBlog

This is going to be increasingly important for 2K resolution films of the 2010s in a 4k era. Digital resolutions cannot be remastered in the same way as film masters. Upscaling does not provide more detailed pixels.

Richard Linklater is my favorite film Director. I think he’s arguably the most important Generation X Cinema figure. He has collaboratively created audio-visual artworks defining what it means to have lived in America through the hopeful but anxiety-growing 1990s and the terror-filled 2000s. Critic Patrick Brzeski recently asked Linklater, “Do you think a career like the one you’ve cut out for yourself and enjoyed over the years is possible anymore? How do you view the current state of American moviemaking coming out of the pandemic?” His response is important: "It feels like it’s gone with the wind — or gone with the algorithm. Sometimes I’ll talk to some of my contemporaries who I came up with during the 1990s, and we’ll go, “Oh my God, we could never get that done today.”...the way distribution has fallen off. Sadly, it’s mostly just the audience. Is there a new generation that really values cinema anymore? That’s the dark thought...I fear that there’s not enough of a critical mass in the culture to sustain what was...With a changing culture and changing technology, it’s hard to see cinema slipping back into the prominence it once held. I think we could feel it coming on when they started calling films “content” — but that’s what happens when you let tech people take over your industry. It’s hard to imagine indie cinema in particular having the cultural relevance that it did. It’s hard to imagine the whole culture is going to be on the same page about anything, much less filmmaking. We can be self-absorbed and say it’s just about cinema, but it’s really all of our modern cultural life. You could say the same things about reading books. A lot of young people can’t read a book, because they’re just on their phones. Some really intelligent, passionate, good citizens just don’t have the same need for literature and movies anymore. It doesn’t occupy the same space in the brain. I think that’s just how we’ve given over our lives, largely, to this thing that depletes the need for curating and filling ourselves up with meaning from art and fictional worlds. That need has been filled up with — let’s face it — advanced delivery systems for advertising." Critics are an indispensable component of the cultural value of Cinema. Without serious people looking with critical intent and appreciation at these works of art, they hold no meaning other than in the creator’s minds as intention. The power of art does not lie in the creation but in the interpretation. The creation is no different than any other natural act. Some of us create wealth. Some create knowledge. Some create misery. And a few create art that matters. I am a self-proclaimed “New Critic.” I only write about the art that brings me joy and transcendence, even if it is troubling and worrisome. I have a secret short project coming soon based on my favorite film by Richard Linklater. Subscribe on Substack and stay tuned.

Generative AI is so much more than ChatGPT. Check out the winners of Runway Studios GEN:48, a two-day event where teams leveraged the power of AI to create the most compelling short films. If you’re not yet familiar with what creators are achieving with video AI, this is an ideal place to begin. Participants harnessed Runway's generative tools, manifesting narratives that could traditionally strain even generous budgets and substantial resource pools. For instance, AI was instrumental in compressing what would be weeks of animation work into mere hours, and in composing scores that resonate perfectly with the visual storytelling, making the AI a true creative partner. For business leaders, the takeaways from such showcases are transformative: 1. Democratization of Content Creation: AI video tools are leveling the playing field, enabling smaller brands to communicate their stories with cinematic quality, once reserved for those with deep pockets. 2. Speed to Market: The use of AI in content creation and adaptation significantly accelerates the production process, allowing businesses to react quickly to market dynamics. 3. Personalization at Scale: AI’s capabilities to generate customized content can lead to more individualized customer experiences, potentially increasing engagement and brand loyalty. 4. Innovative Marketing: The expansive potential of AI opens new doors for creative, narrative-driven marketing strategies that captivate audiences in a cluttered digital landscape. 5. Operational Cost Efficiency: The integration of AI in creative processes can reduce the dependence on large teams for content production, positively affecting the company's cost structure. These points illustrate a future where generative AI is a staple in how businesses communicate and engage. As we navigate this innovative landscape, the question remains: How can your business not only adapt to but also drive forward the conversation and connection with your audience through AI?

Japanese Horror Culture proves to be an indispensable guide for anyone interested in the complexity of Japanese horror. No stone is left unturned as the book not only addresses the underlying themes and origins of Japanese horror, but also provides an astute analysis of some of the best examples of the different expressions of the genre-films (including cinematographic techniques specifically employed by J-horror), literature, video games, and of course, manga and anime. Filip Bakardzhiev reviews the best book examining Japanese horror culture. https://lnkd.in/ei_JyADW