research13

I always loved fictional ads. and ads directed by filmmakers.
My boyfriend and I kind of collect them or stumble upon them in the coolest films. Since we have to choose one director and something of his/her style, I kind of have to choose a specific director. Because my assignment, though I did not have the briefing yet, is up until this point quite straightforward. Quite simple, So I don't want it to be overtly my style. I am treating this as if they personally asked for me and they know what I do. So I have to balance my insanity, with something that the common people will get. (IAMJOKING)

This is Nobuhiko Obayashi, an Interesting case. Experimental filmmaker/ads director turned director of films such as Hanagatami, Hausu and drifting classroom.
In his advertisements he implemented the same avant-garde techniques he implemented in his experimental shorts.
He would go on to direct, his first feature, a film that was supposed to be the studios "JAWS" No director, would attempt to direct the screenplay he wrote. So he would be allowed by the studio, even if his contract prohibited him from directing films, direct HAUSU, by the west considered his Magnus Opus, not very fair as he made amazing films afterwards as well, people only tend to watch hausu. He is famous for implementing practical effects and other tools such as pixelation.

I almost want to start directing ads. Nobuhiko Obayashi is so artistic. Looking at these ads. Those are filled with special effects. It makes sense that his debut would be filled to the brim with several special effects. I also have a theory that he would mature with every single movie he made after Hausu. You will still stumble upon surprising scenes with beautiful exaggerated painted skies, or pixelation and unorthodox editing.

I want to dabble in the unexpected in this video, though I am bound to the unexpected, since there are clear expectations of me. That fit this societal image.

I adore fictional ads in films, as they add so much to the worldbuilding of the films. As ads so say so much of society and what we consume, what we find interesting, and what society thinks of certain groups in most cases. Some commercials are quite racist. I will also add spoofs of commercials to this selection.

this is obayashi's final film. released in 2017.

scary movie 1/2
both spoofs of actual ads
latter movies don't matter

CSA confederate states of america.

Spike Lee//// Bamboozled these fake ads. Always tears me up. They complement the narrative tremendously as the film centres around television.

Though the subject matter is social and serious, I don't want to fall into any conventions and make it overtly realistic. Though realism is something you can't achieve in filmmaking, that's beside the point. I am going to try and thread in the realms of magical realism without it becoming a spectacle. So I need to establish something that can be perceived as a legend. The legend is dead in our society as news travels so ridiculously fast. So in a sense, I need to invent an image that can only be perceived as something that is out of the world. For that, however, I first need to thread in those conventions.

I need to go on this route because, as an artist, I believe it's better to scare the viewer away and show something within their comprehension. I also need to do this because there is already a negative image constructed of the participants as they're referred to as people who are not contributing to society; society is something too abstract. You can't really contribute to something so intangible and invisible. You can't contribute to this construct as the singular individuals, and this statement implies that evil capitalists contribute to society, Nah they contribute to the downfall of it. Already two myths.

I know too many people who are and have been in situations that will probably be similar to the contestants. And due to the complexity of humanity and paths forced taken, legends aren't too far away.

I am afraid that I will not be able to find a clear director whom's vision I can utilize until I meet the participants. I will have a briefing soon with the client and then I think I can understand more what I want.

The ads in CSA work, as it is a speculative documentary on how life in America would've been if the confederates would have won the war. All products and phenomens mentioned in the film existed and where widely available due to white supremacism as a result to slavery.

Sunday 11th of April

something more wholesome

Stephen chow, the God of Cookery. A spoof

I had the briefing and I am still blanking out. Rolandas said I don't want to have talking heads with some b-roll and I couldn't agree more. I am at this point devoted to restoring an image and reversing the myth of contributing to society. I am conflicted as it is good to create opportunity, but maybe there are so many issues in between. I know this is not the point now. but it is surely interesting to think about this as well.

Also, it is so satisfying to critique. Especially when it comes to image and perception. because I can consciously and subconsciously perpetuate that image. Can I transform that image?

This is tricky, as I am basically aiming and missing to shoot myself in the foot, before undertaking a marathon. But I am willing to put in work and go that extra mile. I am mean to myself and the future Kaaya will give me so much hell if I will be an active complicit participant

What do I need to know?

What questions can I ask and can I predict the outcome?

what outcome is desirable and what do I need to ask?

Groups are made I am teamed up with Larissa and Rolandas. I will also meet the client and the participants on Tuesday...

Anxiety BOOM BOOM BOOM. Not for the client. but retirement homes make me sad. My grandmother works in one and she told me the most despicable stories on retirement houses. The sadness, the solitude, the deteroriation, the treatment.

thoughts and reflections.

Like I thought. No image has been constructed yet. I borrowed a book in the library.
"teaching to transgress," by bell hooks. For my autonomous practice, I read the book real to reel by bell hooks. In this book, she said transgression is only transgressive if the outcome is transformation. I am breaking laws, by wanting to subvert an established image and I am also breaking laws, by wanting
It's a book on teaching students how to transgress, but it was the only book available at the WDKA and the only one available to torrent. Also reading bell hooks I get equally angry, happy and sad. So It might do the trick.

So I have an idea to think about biographies of the fantastic, which is a list I made on Letterboxd. I usually hate biographies because they suck. Just Kidding, it's a bit more nuanced than that. Biographies have become how people "tell untold stories" or "stories we have to fucking care about" This happens in large quantities, and it happens most straightforwardly. However, I do love biographies of the fantastic, as they have the power to turn regular shmegular individuals into legends, in the most magical realism way. These stories are not all non-fictional, but they are told in such an interesting way. It's not just research on someone's life or an anthropological study on a singular individual. These films are so much more than. They have universes and complexity, choice and range, and they're not. And I am stressing the T and the invisible S. They're not bland.

If I have a timeline, I can work something out. And when I have
So, for now, I am leaning on Tetsuya Nakashima as film inspiration. Or Sion Sono. I have been consuming a lot of Japanese media lately as I am into huge convoluted plots, genre film and strong narratives. Japan is one of the masters of this craft, so are the Italians, Soviet cinema, China/Hong Kong, India, Yugoslavian film. So I have to also skim for a director whose vision would work with my plan

How did they get here?

Where do they come from?

What are major events that turned their life around?

What are the ups and downs experienced in this period?

What keeps them afloat mentally?

The art is to make these questions less invasive yet, Achieve desired results. for instance, if they say they find peace in their children or in knitting. I already have a desired answer, and the questions that lead to these answer don;t have to be unethical. things are getting complicated.

timeline pep-talk.

Make a timeline, with important events, and turning point. Find a way to immortalize these events in script and vision. Don't make it solely about the present and now, incorporate the past. it's important kaaya.

The timeline needs to consists of clear points. Ideas for the structured script; non-linear. I have about 5 minutes. Try to gather points that can be visualized with existing images or images that I can make, without the subject. Record the conversation. Every single fact is detrimental.

You don't know how much time you have and how often you'll see the individual, so try to think fast.

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The list biographies of the fantastic

At first glance, it seems that a lot more movies could be added to the list and that is very true as I sadly will never watch all the films released in this world. But I also have a specific way of selecting this film. This film only consists of the works of 4 filmmakers, and all these movies are epic. Americans ruined this word. I selected these films as in their own sense they're both magical and realistic. The characters in these films are also of legendary status, but are just human beings navigating within the films. These stories are masterfully told and I aspire to

They're also the only who could tell these specific stories, in such specific circumstances, this might be confusing. For instance bad film, is self-funded by the theatre troupe the director Sion Sono led, The story is so complex and amazing, and I don't know how that could have been, as the film is a high concept home video film. Malcom X was a project hijacked by Spike Lee and thank God that he did, as he managed to tell a complex story about a complex individual. No other American director could have done that and I am staying by that forever.

I will add more movies along the way. As I have decided to look into the fantastic biography part. I don't have a lot of time and
I need to hold on to this for a while.

Mo's Better Blues is a fictional Biopic. the first reason why this is on the list because I don't care for music biopics, there are not many I care about.

Also, though the character is fictional has so much depth, history and complexity, that he feels like an actual person who could've lived on this planet.

Memories of Matsuko. This movie is not my favourite movie on this list, but it's the film that inspired me to make this list.

zoom, to ideal size. 75/80%

this will be so much fun. I am really hyped about this.

After I started critiquing the commercial practice. Which I hated more, because of the subject matter and the way it was relayed to us. Joost asked me how do I want to make money

Kick, also said something about him considering the commercial practice as he wants to make money as well. This all made me say fair. Art is pretty much dead, so every work conforms within the commercial practice. That's why I need to study so hard, so I can incorporate elements. I don't only want to do artistic research. I want to do cool-ass things as well.

Directors take on lots of commercial work as well, especially the directors I love the most. Because making films is very expensive and the weird projects they undertake now and in the past. Demanded a lot of money. I will have to make a lot of money as well. But I don't think I will need the commercial practice. I need to try and realize this within the other practices. I am contradicting myself a lot, this research is very important.

The rise of a selfless hero

I spoke to Carla and listening to her story and her journey. I realized that there was something within me that took it further than simply creating a video for a client.

I am a black woman and I endure lots of media in which black women are the butt of the joke, a monolithic entity undeserving of protection or even fucking sympathy. It's not easy not to be bothered of these things and just producing a story. It's not easy for me. It probably sounds like my neverending complaints, but I am a human. I bleed and I breath. I have feelings and emotions and this society truly broke me.

Having all that in mind, something switched in my head. I want to create a story that portrays Carla as a hero. Not as a person, now contributing to society. Because to be fair I think that is a fucking backhanded compliment.