Am I cursed or something? I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie in the theater and didn’t experience one of these distractions.
Category: Film
News, reviews, and analysis of cinema.
What I Enjoyed, November 2017
November was one heck of a month. I got married and will be starting a new job in December. I managed to continue to draw every day, and I’ve still really been enjoying it.
After taking some time to think about it, I’ve decided that this will be the last What I Enjoyed post. It puts a strange amount of pressure on me to write one larger blog post at the end of the month instead spreading it out throughout the month. In the future, I’ll do individual posts for things I’ve enjoyed.
What I Enjoyed, October 2017
October was a solid month! I spent lots of time drawing Inktober illustrations and Waves comics. I didn’t spend too much time digging into any film directors, authors, or video games, but here are the two things that stood out.
All the Great Scenes: Tears in Rain, Blade Runner
A total classic scene that doesn’t get old. I love the brevity and clarity. It’s truly moving.
I’m quite looking forward to Blade Runner 2049. 🙂
R.I.P. Harry Dean Stanton
I saw the news that Harry Dean Stanton (HDS) passed away two days ago. I never know what to say, if anything, when a public figure passes away. Usually nothing. It’s sad, of course. But something struck me in my core when I read that HDS passed because he always brought something special to films that I’ve seen him in.
I’m most familiar with HDS from his appearances in David Lynch’s films. The lovably angry owner of the Fat Trout Trailer Park in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and Season 3, the assistant duping people for cash in Inland Empire, the blindly in love boyfriend of Lula’s mother in Wild at Heart, and the surprise reveal of being Alvin Straight’s brother in The Straight Story.
It’s time to finally watch Paris, Texas. Rest in peace, Harry Dean Stanton.
What I Enjoyed, August 2017
My foray into foreign cinema continues with films by Godard, Wai, Bergman, and more.
August was a nice month. I got some work done, traveled to Maine for my brother’s wedding, and watched a lot of wonderful films from new-to-me directors.
One of My Favorite Videos: David Lynch on Where Great Ideas Come From
You don’t make the fish, you catch the fish.
This video by The Atlantic is one that I seriously rewatch every month. It inspires me deeply. The way that David Lynch describes creativity as a type of fishing really resonates with me.
Breathless (1960) Cigarette Toss Supercut
A supercut of every time Michel tosses his cigarette in Breathless.
I watched Godard’s Breathless yesterday, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Something fascinates me about the way Michel lights and tosses his cigarettes in Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless (À bout de souffle). It’s as if each cigarette tossed out of frame enters another dimension and never stops moving.
The song is “Poursuite” from the Breathless soundtrack by Martial Solal.
The typeface is Jean-Luc by Atelier Carvalho Bernau, http://carvalho-bernau.com.
Gnome’s Day Out
An experimental short film about a gnome and their adventure out of their home.
My friend Zach lent me his Sony PD150 for a little bit, so I made a very short film about a gnome who leaves their home to see what’s going on out in the world.
Gnome’s Day Out is an experiment. It was fun to use an older camera that records to a tape deck. I like the image quality. Making this film has me reflecting on how the rapid pace at which technology changes means that so many cameras get left behind with no real use. I think that’s a bit of a shame, as they all have their own visual qualities. While the advancement of technology brings some positives, I wish that there was less of a focus on the specs of any given camera.
The music used in Gnome’s Day Out is “I Allegro con brio” and “II Andante con moto”, composed by Ludwig van Beethoven and performed by Lambis Vassiliadis. They are part of the public domain. Listen to them here.
My Brother’s Wedding
The video I made and my favorite photos from my brother’s wedding in Maine in August 2017.
This past weekend my older brother got married on the coast of Maine. I took some photos and shot some video (which I edited together above). It was a beautiful weekend. It’s a rare and special thing for so much family and friends to come together.
Here are my favorite photos from the weekend:
Brett Chalupa's Journal 