+
KANSAN.COM
ARTS & CULTURE
+
"STILL MOON" FROM
PAGE 5
statement on expansion at the expense of oppression. The surveyors are in the wilderness to build a railroad, but the impact of their presence is evident in the camp full of bodies. People like them - white men from another region presumably caused the destruction.
["Still Moon"] is about progress and how just because we can do it doesn't mean we should do it," Huang said. "Railroads back then [were] a great invention, a great method of transporting resources and people, but sometimes there's so much sacrifice made making this available."
Many of Huang's films tackle similarly-large topics: his upcoming, semi-autobiographical project "All the Little Things" will tell the story of a young man who goes home to visit his parents in rural Taiwan after finding success as a white-collar worker in New York City. He hasn't been home in years, and the man must come to terms with the fact that, as different as their lifestyle may be, his parents love him unconditionally and represent his heritage.
"When he finally stumbles on his past, he realizes how far he has strayed from his origin and roots," Huang said.
Pre-production for "Still Moon" began at the end of
2013 when the cinematographer Daniel Rink brought the script to Huang's attention. Principal photography took place over the course of a week in 2014 in the Oregon wilderness. In addition to Huang and Rink, other crew members include screenwriters Joseph Grove and Jona Ward, editor Hayden Johnson, and actors Charlie Glaekin, Andrew Hunter and Stefani Zabner.
Rink chose to shoot the film on 16-millimeter stock rather than capture it digitally. He had film left over from a previous project and wanted to use it before its expiration date. It worked out for the best, as Rink believes the stock fits the antique, dated feel of the film better than digital film
would have.
"I wouldn't say I'm a purist, but I think every story has an aesthetic that is inherent, and you need to be able to capture that," Rink said. "It's a story about the old ways fighting the new ways, and I thought that film would be a good way to do that."
The crew was lucky enough to have six days of good weather while shooting the film. Rink says the biggest problem during shooting was using the sunlight as efficiently as possible.
"For us [the challenge] was just choosing the right time of day to shoot — and then, when that time passes and you still have to shoot more scenes, making sure that you choose the right
shots for the amount of time that you have and still making sure that the story gets across," he said.
The film was accepted into the Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner. Although the Short Film Corner is not part of the festival's competition, it gives Huang and his crew an opportunity to meet and network with accomplished entertainment industry members and executives.
"The ability to be there to mingle with industry producers and financiers and investors and hopefully bump into celebrities, directors – that's the part I'm excited about." Huang said. "It's not a red carpet situation for my film, but it's an opportunity to be surrounded by filmmakers."
After the film completes the festival circuit, Huang is considering releasing it on Vimeo or another video sharing website. Rink says they didn't embark on the project with the intention of making a large profit.
"I think Kevin would rather put it out there for anyone to see at any time," Rink said. "Just getting it out there for whoever I think is a better idea than trying to monetize it, because that's not really why we shot this film. It was more about shooting film, getting out there with all of our friends. We just want it to get out there because we want people to see it."
Edited by G.J. Melia
Interactive art exhibit encourages self-relection
▶ SAMANTHA SEXTON
@Sambiscuit
See, listen, express, think, help, feel — six concepts and actions "of humanity" that are woven within Mexican artist Nacho Rodriguez Bach's interactive installment, "The Path of Thought." Bach gave an art talk about his interactive piece last night at Spooner Hall.
Walking into The Commons in Spooner Hall while "The Path of Thought" is set up, one will find curious, colorful tiles on the floor, inviting the participants to follow and read along, exploring a path of self-reflection and optimism.
"It's as much a social experiment as it is an artwork," Bach said. "I want the participants to think inward and reflect on their feelings and their own thoughts."
The six concepts brought to mind by the piece are helpfully color-coded to help the participants form their thoughts more clearly around one idea at a time.
general and how true free thought could aid in combating violence and negativity.
"We don't really think about thinking too much," Bach said. "When we think we're thinking we're really just feeling. We're having a reaction to something that we like or hate or that makes us cold or warm, but we're not really thinking objectively and freely. Free thinking can hurt."
Bach, a native Mexican, has set up his artwork experiment in multiple countries and in three different languages including English, Spanish and Russian.
After walking "The Path of Thought," participants are asked to fill out a small survey asking about their thoughts on other people, themselves, the world in
"I want the piece to allow us to see ourselves in others and to see others within ourselves," Bach said. "We belong to the world and the world belongs to us."
Bach said that his interest in social activism and commentary only began when he started displaying his artwork in outdoor, public places. Since then, he has not only been taking his artwork internationally but has also been recording the data gathered in hopes of making a difference.
We belong to the world and the world belongs to
Nacho Rodriguez Bach
Artist
Casey Mesick, curator for global and indigenous art at the Spencer Art Museum, was excited to be able to attend the art talk Wednesday night.
The social connection disintegrates the process of self-reflection and ruins the results."
"I had a bit of an idea what was going to be going on, but it was nothing compared to actually being here and experiencing it," Mesick said. "After hearing Nacho talk about it, I need to go through it again."
"We've found that 87 percent of people who go through the path report having a different outlook, be it about themselves others or the importance of the community," Bach said. "We've also found that those who travel the path with a friend or family member have a completely different response.
Mesick said while she's used to watching other people experience art at the University, she wasn't prepared for "The Path of Thought."
Nacho Rodriguez Bach and his new interactive project "The Path of Thought". It will be on display in Spooner Hall until Feb. 26.
"It's definitely a lot to take in," Mesick said. "The combination of the reading and the walking is really interesting and makes for a totally different way to experience art."
Bach allowed for some time for participants to go through the path before beginning his art talk, a neatly-organized powerpoint presentation which only lasted about 25 minutes, before opening up the floor to questions which nearly doubled the presentation time.
"I'm surprised at how many questions there were," Mesick said. "It's obvious how engaged they were in the piece and how it really did make them think differently."
"Nothing will change without first learning who's affected, how they're affect-
Bach's interactive installment encourages participants to think not only about themselves by using
metaphors to explain the neurons in the brain but also about those around them and the community as a whole, almost pleading for a positive change.
ed, how many are affected and what it is that is affecting them," Bach said. "I hope that by allowing people to engage and by measuring the reaction of their own self-reflection, I can find new ways to improve broken systems."
"The Path of Thought" will be open to the public at The Commons until Feb. 26 and will make its way around campus throughout this spring.
Edited by Mackenzie Walker
+