THIS WEEK’S FEATURED FILM PREMIERE: "Kuleshov In 2020” (Dec. 6-12)

WATCH THE TRAILER (CLICK IMAGE ABOVE FOR THE FULL MOVIE)

Kuleshov In 2020

Description
In the early 1900’s, Soviet filmmaker Lev Kuleshov made a short film showing an expressionless man intercut with three other shots: a bowl of soup, a child in a coffin and a woman laid out on a sofa. When an audience was shown the film, they believed the expression on the man’s face was different each time, looking hungry, grief-stricken and lustful. It was the exact same shot of the man every time. I created a film that uses the same simple trick to expose our own perceptions about race, class and gender in these tumultuous times.

Instead of one expressionless individual, my film has two. The images are first intercut with a white man. Then, in the same order and duration, with a black woman. Finally, the images will be intercut with them side by side. The viewer will inevitably see each object differently depending on the neutral face that comes before it. Every image does heavy lifting to represent the disparities in our society, and most have multiple interpretations. They address police brutality, hunger, death, wealth, quality of life, Trump, COVID and whatever the viewer brings to it.

I chose to shoot on Super 8 for the timeless and nostalgic feel. I like the grain and imperfection of Super 8 and thought it would tie back to the texture of the original. Film has depth, and we tune in when we see it.

Runtime: 5 minutes, 30 seconds
Best Viewed: Cinema Presentation

Director Biography - Jamie Courville
Jamie Courville’s career has included sassily doing continuity for Muppets, editing video art, working in post for documentaries, and founding a video collective. Her work examines perceptions of disease, race, gender and class.

Courville has recently completed the observational feature length documentary project Gowanus Current, asking what is of value and who gets to decide. Other work includes “Drift”, an exhibition of media art installations contemplating the changing Gowanus landscape at the Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse; “Squirrels Stories,” a series of audio portraits with a listening event at the Brooklyn Public Library; “ListenBeHeard,” an interactive, anonymous call in project, and more. Her short films have screened internationally.

Awards include NYSCA Individual Artist Support, NYFA CityCorps Grant, and Brooklyn Arts Fund from the Brooklyn Arts Council.

Jamie received a BA in Radio, Television and Film from the University of North Texas. Really, her education came from working on film sets for decades and observing the world.

Credits & Specifications
Jamie Courville (Director)
Chris Reynolds (Producer)
Kori Riddick (Key Cast)
Andrew Zaeh (Key Cast)

Completion Date: August 18, 2020
Country of Origin: United States
Shooting Format: Super 8
Aspect Ratio: 4:3