ARTSETC.
Find something new at the WFF, even if it sucks
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Also by Adam Arnold:
- Bearing the banner of uniqueness (December 1, 2004)
- 'Huckabees' inspires ♥s (October 27, 2004)
- Celebrating Adult Swim: Cartoons for the modern age (March 25, 2004)
- Two Tales of Depression in the Far North (April 5, 2004)
- A Night in Tanzania (April 5, 2004)
Related Stories:
- Oscar nominations reflect banner year for women (February 12, 2003)
- Dressed for awards season (December 9, 2002)
- The price of gold (February 17, 2003)
- The wide world of American movies (October 7, 2002)
- "Bringing Down the House" tops U.S. box office (March 10, 2003)
by Adam Arnold
Thursday, March 27, 2003
After another Oscar-night wrap-up of the year’s glitzy glamorous Hollywood fare (or “fair,” if you will), it will be refreshing to see things with thoughts behind them beyond box-office numbers and little gold statuettes.
If you can get a ticket.
An online perusal of the films and talks (www.wifilmfest.org) reveals a plethora of non-mainstream material, mostly with the words “sold out” displayed prominently alongside each show time.
Most of the events — sold-out or not — are bound to be thought-provoking. Many will be highly insightful. Some will certainly be disappointing.
But in the grand scheme, we must appreciate having a venue in which even unpolished, even amateurish films can be shown, seen and assessed.
Making a film is extremely hard work. Like with any creative work, it can be extremely difficult to maintain a detached view. A public forum is needed for young filmmakers to receive criticism from those who will not spare their feelings. This is how artists can become better artists: by listening to an audience and assessing the reactions of detached individuals.
A film festival audience always hopes for the revelation of something new, honest, moving. This is what an independent festival can present, like an obscure band revealed by a good college radio station.
But the greatest potential benefit from such a festival is the impact it might have on a raw, untested filmmaker.
Though the “best” works at this week’s festival may have sold out ages ago, no one should be afraid to grab up tickets for whatever’s left and take a chance. Even if what you see doesn’t change your life, your reactions might change the life of an aspiring director.
Be glad for and proud of a thriving, standing-room-only festival. Many a city does not enjoy such an annual monument to a vibrant culture of artistic expression.
