Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
AIFF jurors approve of Frozen Shorts
Where else but Alaska could a bunch of twisted knickers called Frozen Shorts be selected as best shorts in the Snowdance Category? Well, when you put it like that, the only answer is "nowhere". It is by definition an Alaska thing. And a fab thing it is! Snowdance is the category for Alaska-made, or Alaska-themed films. Frozen Shorts was also the runner-up for best picture in the category after "About Face" directed by the formidable Mary Katzke. Congratulations Mary, and a hearty thank-you to the jurors for making my morning!
Frozen Shorts screens tonight, Monday Dec. 14 at the Beartooth in the 5:30 program. If you can't make it to the big screen showing, here is a tiny screen version
Frozen Shorts screens tonight, Monday Dec. 14 at the Beartooth in the 5:30 program. If you can't make it to the big screen showing, here is a tiny screen version
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Animation as art
In the Anchorage International Film Festival program we learn that animation programmer Teresa Scott considers animation an art. If she should get challenged on this (and the fact that they feel obliged to advertise this opinion suggests that she might) she should know that she is in good company. She has an ally over at U.A.A's Litsite where founder Ron Spatz isn't afraid to feature animation as literature. And why not? It's certainly narrative, and what separates this form from any other form of narrative art? The same tests should apply.
Among the questions to ask: Is it well-executed? Does it deepen our appreciation of our place in the world? Does it challenge us to see anew? Is it beautiful in and of itself? The more the piece fulfills any of these criteria, (or others, make up your own) the more "artful" it is. It's not a question of form. Be it animation, novel, film, poetry, painting, the question is what does it do, and how well does it do it.
Let's hear it for those like Teresa and Ron who see deeper than form. Their reward: To find art where others have missed it.
Among the questions to ask: Is it well-executed? Does it deepen our appreciation of our place in the world? Does it challenge us to see anew? Is it beautiful in and of itself? The more the piece fulfills any of these criteria, (or others, make up your own) the more "artful" it is. It's not a question of form. Be it animation, novel, film, poetry, painting, the question is what does it do, and how well does it do it.
Let's hear it for those like Teresa and Ron who see deeper than form. Their reward: To find art where others have missed it.
