|
IN THE YEAR 200X
I made this film because I'm very fond of robots, not in the sense that I would marry a robot, but I would– if it were possible– befriend a humanoid robot.
This film, however, isn't about robot friendship, but is about the alternate or perhaps near future where/when robots gain sentient intelligence. Underneath the broad narrative is personal story of MAIKU's creator and the individuals who surround its entrance into the world.
|
'In the Year 200X' has been screened at the CMJ Film Festival 2005 (New York City), Flicker (Richmond, VA) and Project Resolution. I'm probably most satisfied with this film in terms of the original idea versus the end product, but I'm still working on it even though maybe I shouldn't be.
Synopsis:
For the past three decades, Dr. Ryuji Hayama has been working on MAIKU (Andrew Mowe, Liminality). Upon his death, the MAIKU project leaders, Dr. Lee Strider (Mark Joy, Dogma, Pecker) and Dr. Yuliya Chikerenda must oversee MAIKU's intellectual growth. MAIKU's cold yet child-like intellect creates feelings of confusion in his caretakers. Meanwhile, the CEO of the company funding MAIKU's development also passes away, leaving the over-zealous Frank Roth in charge of the company, RothCorp. Frank Roth has big plans for MAIKU, foreseeing his future in mass-production and commercial use, plans anti-thetical to Hayama's vision for MAIKU– to understand human intelligence– to create, to imagine and to live.
|
POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE
This short "docudrama" stars my former roomates and I during our last days at our beloved apartment 31 and right before we were to graduate from college. Shot over the course of 3 days I was unexpectedly satisfied with the end product. Some people liked it- others did not. I think it was difficult to find humor in the suicide bit or understand why one of the characters gets sucked into a transdimensional vortex, never to return.
|
|
'Pomp & Circumstance' has screened at the Mid-Atlantic Film Festival 2005 and Project Resolution.
Synopsis:
Paul, Andrew, Harrison and Ryan all live at 1030 Franklin St. Apt. 31. Paul, recently graduated from college, just got a job as a banquet sever in a real fancy hotel. Andrew, Ryan and Harrison, who just got out of a 2 year romantic relationship, will be graduating in the coming month. They all hope to move out of Richmond, VA, become adults and be successful- but sometimes things don't work out right.
|
|
POISON GAS
Shot on a Krasnogorsk 16mm camera, this film for me was an experiment with handheld, low-light shooting and 1st-person narrative. One thumb sideways, the other one down.
|
'Poison Gas' was a finalist at the James River Film Festival 2005.
Synopsis:
The pollution of the city manifests itself as poison gas which is subdued only by strong light. A heartbroken young man decides to take a walk outside.
|
ANNIE HALL LEAVES NEW YORK
It was an attempt to turn personal footage into a loose narrative. I think I failed.
|
|
|
|
