77 Spaces -- a film by AJ Brooks

Absolutely, and I thank you for clarifying.

My initial response was to be sure there wasn't confusion on the story point, and there wasn't so that's all I wanted to make sure.

Thanks Lawrie.
 
Not to pile on, especially since I found this film gernerally visually mesmerising, but it fell flat for me, too, with a really troubling faux "arthouse" feel to it. I thought the performances were very good, with the notable exception of the furtive photographer whose leering close up garnered embarrassed laughs from the crowd at my place watching it. It also seemed as if you were trying to cram in a subplot - the two guys and their "good vs. evil" motive to try and justify this being placed in a fest whose stated subject matter was war. I don't have a problen with anyone entering any film in these fests, but I do wonder what the criteria for judging should be. Does an excellent film that really stretches to reach the required subject matter deserve a higher score than a good film that nails the subject matter? Should I deduct stars because the film fails to meet the rules of the fest (in my opinion)? Luckily my one vote is really meaningless and we'll see where everything falls out at the end.

Technically this film was fabulous: the rich images by Ryan were beautiful to watch. The music was dead on and the narration nicely done. But, in the end, it came of as rather pretentious drivel. This is probably just my jaded view of this type of film - I find most of them to be pretentious drivel. When you ask the protagonist to "please get a life" halfway through the film, you know you're in trouble. I ended up not caring about this woman or her supposed problem in the least. I think I'm being this hard on your effort simply because it struck me as an intellectual attempt to rise above the mundane and it didn't work. Or maybe I'm just jealous because my woefully pedestrian intellect gravitates toward more linear narratives and I simply was not capable of understanding the real meaning of your film.
 
First, regarding the "is it or isn't" appropriate for WarFest discussion, I like that your pushing the boundaries with this entry. A few years ago I had a similar experience with my entry "Facade" in BetrayalFest and I think it's very cool to see the different interpretations of the challenge - especially when we have to watch so many that are similar.

Second, for me the film was beautiful visual poetry. I was definitely caught in it's spell and I was intrigued by it's subtext and ambiguity. I'm not sure I got it all, but then I don't know that I had to, to really appreciate it. Your craft here is excellent. And that final shot - the look at the camera is really spellbinding.

Very well done - definitely, one of my favorites!
 
Thanks Lawrie.
The 13 minutes of my life that I'll never get back precludes me from watching Maya Deren's home movie again. The height of pretentious drivel.
Wild Strawberries is a masterpiece I could watch again and again, anytime, anyplace.
I much prefer Russell's "The Devils" for sheer, out-of-control, totally watchable artistic pretention.

But then I always preferred Dali to Picasso, much to my art professors' dismay.
 
Good stuff Taylor, just wanted to point out, as some folks can reject critique of their arthouse films (not you AJ specifically sorry) but referring certainly to most of my old film class/hipsters haha... because they think anyone that dislikes their particular arthouse attempt (simply hates all arthouse material) which is not true because arty stuff (unlike mainstream entertainment) is trying to do something a lot harder than being 'generally popular' (which isn't easy either but simply easier...) Why because arty films are saying to the audience something like... hey dumbass time to wake up... heres some enlightening - existential - mind blowing perspective etc etc. The drop down for failing that maneuver is like watching rosie o'donnell race John Goodman at hurdles.

Of course all arty films are pretentious but its only a bad thing (when you don't like it... say yourself Taylor with Meshes and a good thing with something like Wild Straberries!)

Hey I love 'The Devils' too, finally found a proper uncut version, and your right - totally mind blowingly watchable artistic pretention - one of my favs!
 
It's a bold entry AJ, and as I've watched you grow as a filmmaker over the past few years, I'm happy to see you experiment and do something outside the box.
these fests need different interpretations of the theme, it's crucial.

this film was poetic and arthouse deep, i dug it. it also would have been cool if, at some point, a ragtag band of ninjas starting running up the hill at her and she pulled out an uzi and screamed "eat lead bitches!"

but you can save that for the sequel. :)
 
Professional ninjas actually showed up for the shoot but i had to cut their scenes because they were so good no one could see them. :)
 
Slowly getting to the films.

I think the only thing I could add is that I believe this is the best looking film of the entire fest and that's saying a lot with some of the strong cinematography entries here. Really great lighting and color. Well done.

As far as the story goes I personally really enjoyed it and appreciated what you were going for.
 
This looked stunning. Great visuals, lighting, wow! As for the story, I was drawn in from the beginning to the end. A couple minor bumps in the road for me.

The second half worked more for me than the first half.

For me...the "good" guy and the "bad" guy scenario was just too obvious for an arthouse type film. On the one hand these are her memories, so I guess you have to show the bits from her memory, but then the face off is an interpretation and for me it was just too overt.

I was fine with the ending and 4th wall break. For me it was very effective.

Big props for stretching and going for something different. Overall I really liked it.
 
I really enjoyed this AJ. Some very nice images, I liked the use of the shelves/pockets as representations of her memories. She had a strong screen presence, something about her and who's going to complain about that shot of her in the bedroom ;)
 
Interesting film AJ. I tried this back in 'Betrayal Fest 2010' for a big FAIL....I'm sure you'll do much better.
Cheers. :beer:
 
I'm going to try and review all the films so I figured I would start with the regulars first.

Nice work on getting another film done, AJ. I figured this one was going to be much more on the artistic side based on the poster alone.
I have no issue with that, but even an artistic film could manage to hit the theme of the fest a little harder. I didn't feel the theme in this one at all, aside from spoken exposition in the VO. I did love the look of it, however I would have liked just a bit more movement in the shots as many of them were pretty static, but I'm sure that was more of a personal choice.

I did like the parts with the homeless guy and the creepy dude in the park but I just felt it got very slow after that.
Loved the score.

All in all it was a good film and I'm sure you'll do well.

Cheers!
 
As always, if you haven't seen this short yet, please stop reading this post as there are SPOILERS throughout.

What I liked: The narration. She did a fantastic job on it. I really felt the emotion in what she was saying. There was depth to it. I assume it was the actress, who did fantastic as well. Specific lines really hit me: "...yet I can't remember my grandmother's face," and "...that all these spaces were you." I don't think that I need to go into the cinematography at all. You always are on top of the game on that. Every aspect, technically, was wonderful. I know that this was experimental, but it was a fantastic piece (as I stated before).

What I didn't like as much: The homeless guy scene struggled a little for me. Maybe because he didn't say anything, and it felt forced. There's a shot where she looks at a feather, and then another shot of the same thing from a different angle. I'm not sure why this seem so strange to me (the angle change ... roughly 3:25), but that's nitpicking.

Question: What does the title mean? I don't get it. Are there 77 spaces in that "memory" box?
 
Hawk Teflon said:
Question: What does the title mean? I don't get it. Are there 77 spaces in that "memory" box?
Click to expand...

77 is just an arbitrary number, and yes it is the number of spaces she has available to remember things that are important to her. I picked the number because it looks and sounds nice with the repetition.

It was either that or 69 :)
 
Really great job with the narration. The visuals were great. I love the shot from inside the kitchen cabinet and the bathroom close up. The tattoo reveal was nice as well.

On the first watch I had a hard time getting past the good vs evil guys. Just too obvious and having them battle with invisible weapons just lost me. Second watch didnt bother me as much, but without them I feel this would have been stronger. Feels like it could have been shortened a bit, felt like some disconnected shots in there.

I really love that you went way further out then any of us. Ive only competed twice but have watched many of your entries and love them every time.
 
I really liked this short and its interpretation of War. It was very experimental but I just liked that on this fest. I didn't totally understand the use of the homeless guy and the creepy guy in the greater context, but with it being experimental I tend to roll with it. It was extremely well shot and I liked the use of close-ups and softer shots.. The actress also did a very good job and the narration worked very well. I also really like the choice of music on this one.
 
First film to watch this fest.

Favorite Thing: the whispered narration. That was a strong and unusual choice, especially since it was only used for a specific section of the film. It would have lost it's powerful quality if used throughout, but when it came in, it shocked me in just the right way.

Least Favorite Thing: the skin. I'm no prude, but in a short that comments on a peeping Tom with a camera, it seemed unintentionally ironic. I mean, wouldn't it make more sense for her to discover the tattoo while removing her shirt? I just think anytime someone cuts to a girl in her underwear, I immediately feel like I'm watching a Michael Bay movie.
 
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