i've spent the whole weekend supporting jonathan's festival, resfest. if you've never been, check it out now! what started out as a personal project in a san francisco basement has emerged as the leader in digital film festivals. attendance is mandatory for all upcoming film and music directors and anyone interested in the art of technology. under one roof, over three days give yourself a little happiness and check out the line up; there's something at resfest for everyone.
shorts #1 - salami fight association is director, douglas avery's twisted comedy involving video camcorders, bacon, duct tape, guys in their underwear and lots of salami! the acting was a little weak but the action scenes are totally juvenile poo poo funny. johan kramer's, the winner of resfest 2003 was beautifully shot. the colors were really saturated and everything was literally, picture perfect (from the cherubic kids to the accountant's blue jacket).
cinema electronica - probably resfest's most popular screening. showcasing the most innovative electronic music videos, it's easy to see why. my favorite was director, cesar vayssie's, why should i cry video. the footage looks like a diesel/levi's jeans commercial starring two bare chested buddies with big accessories going about their day looking for a little adventure and some love.
shorts #2 - the two best shorts of the whole festival premiered in this program. director ivan zacharias's mulit is a hilarious story about a rico suave hairstylist who's found himself on the outs with love only to end up in the midwest spreading his trademark hairdo, the mullet. the bollywood production is beautifully shot on location in india. nothing made the audience laugh more than director junji kojima's the japanese tradition: relationships. get a little lesson in finding and keeping love and while you're at it, strengthen your hands with a jar opener-exerciser. this was my favorite film of the whole weekend.
spike jonze rarities - i don't think there's much to say about spike's talent. it's so obvious. torrance rises is a hilarious joke on everybody. watch madonna and will smith get upset when richard koufey (spike's dance freak alter ego) goes to accept his mtv vma awards. so original...
daft punk & leiji matsumoto's interstella 5555: the 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem - mesmerizing anime set to daft punk's music. the hour long music video tells the story of a kidnapped rock band trying to find their way home. i'm not a big fan of musicals, but this one was easy on the eyes and ears.
by design - a showcase of short graphic work mixing old and new mediums. the barnstormer's, letter to the president is a poetic piece of visual art done the traditional way -- with a brush and paint. it certainly got the most crowd response. i felt the other entries just went with electronic music plus high pitched annoying noises and the flashy animation and graphics combinations. it all begin to look the same.
michel gondry retrospective - it's impossible not to notice michel's taste in timing and his mastery of the music video. having created some of history's finest (e.g. daft punk's around the world, bjork's human behavior, rolling stone's like a rolling stone, etc.) michel has secured his place in video creation history. maybe it's the french artistic eye combined with having been the drummer for french band, oui oui. whatever, his work is a child's dream; a forever young auteur's vision of pop and pleasure. keep reading the bandes dessinees michel and please keep cranking out your fantasies on film.
at the closing night's after party, i got a chance to speak briefly with michel about his strong dislike for video games. he felt games stumped creativity. after three minutes of debate, he concurred that games are still new and well, there still might be a chance that one day, it too will be a force combining art and commerce. we're working on this, wish us luck.
go to resfest. you'll thank me later.
