Staff Pick Award for Palm Springs ShortFest 2022: "Meantime" by Michael T Workman |
HTML0 I'm sick and tired of that waiting.
Aren't you,
For the entire world to enhance
Lovely and gorgeous?
Take an Axe
Cut the universe in two pieces.
Find out what worms they feed on
In the of the.
Langston Hughes "Good Morning, Revolution: Uncollected Social Protest Writings
Winner of the Staff Pick Award at Palm Springs Shortfest 2022 is "Meantime" written by Michael T Workman. Michael set up a camera at the home of his father to film the documentary. It's the result of a "deeply personal investigation of his memories and the burden of guilt, work as well as the desire to protect the fragile." That's at least that's the name of the movie. The attraction of the film is in the fact that it's not really about the complex expressions of emotions in humans. "Meantime" is an expansive lens that focuses on the source of the ills that plague the people of the United States: capitalism, poor labor practices, insufficient medical treatment for people suffering from mental illnesses, and the fact that the American rule of thumb that states "pull yourself by the bootstraps" is an physically unattainable task. It exposes the various ways that people in this country in the United States fails to fully guarantee the health and well-being of their citizens over the whole life span starting at birth and continuing to. According to Michael the film's creator describes succinctly in our Q&A "
"It may not be obvious to you, but the subject of the movie is about the humane nature of capitalism. ...My dad suffered the effects from an economic system that treats people in the same way as "human resources" this is a way of thinking that views individuals in the same manner as a "human resource" and therefore dehumanizes them when they do not fit to an unreliable method of exploiting labor. "
Filmmakers produce films that are just as brutal as the savage Montana winters that are depicted, "Meantime" is a movie about souls who were injured but who grew up to become caring and compassionate individuals.
We had a chance to have the opportunity to talk to Michael some questions regarding how he came up with this special family photograph and were impressed by his thoughtful and kind answers. Check out the following excerpts of our conversation with Michael.
The idea of this is that:
"The concept for the film was born when I helped my dad to digitize video footage from his house. While watching them, I was struck by these deeply moving moments that came out of the tiniest photographs my dad created from. Celebrations at celebrations of birthdays, Christmas or weddings were the ones that affected me most. It was the times that my friends were caught at a crossroads waiting for an event to occur and then talking and laughing, or even engaged in fights. These were the times I met my beloved ones from different phases of their lives. my knowledge of their lives was more precise. My choice to not make films about my personal life. The video I had seen as well as my return to Montana led me to make this film . "
His tips on filming family:
"Working alongside your loved ones can be a challenge. Deciding when it was time to put the camera down and just exist was the biggest challenge. In between the filming session, my dad and I ended filming. And, now, I'm in front of my camera now. One of the best suggestions for film makers working with families is contemplating when and the things will be recorded and use that as an opportunity to set a limit. Don't record everything every day, and don't take note of the way things are happening. Consider what you'd like to capture and let the camera do everything else. Once you're finished the film, you'll have completed. You'll find things you didn't notice which is okay. The most important thing is to set up a situation where the photos that you capture have the best chances of being captivating and intriguing. Turn off your camera and get back to enjoying your routine . "
HTML0The response of his family to the film
"My family members have seen the film. I passed it on to my mother after I finished watching it. It was one of of my most emotional experiences that I've ever had. As the film is personally to me I experienced times when I was unable to comprehend it and as well, moments that caused me to feel deeply emotional. While watching the movie with my mother certain aspects of the film caused me to cry in uncontrollable ways. This is a testimony to the way the people who are watching the film will significantly affect how you view the film. This was a healing moment for both of us. She learned about the viewpoint that my father held, one she didn't have when she was younger.
My greatest fear was showing the film to my dad. We were planning to watch it together but it wasn't the time to do it, and He decided to enjoy the movie on his own. As soon as I got a phone call from the back of my phone to inform me that the film was being watched at home, I'm sure my heart broke. He said something along the like this "Mike I just watched your movie and it was fantastic and I'll definitely return to it." One of the toughest things for his was not the shakiness of what was being stated, but rather watching himself on the screen and hearing his voice. It was the voice that caused him to feel uncomfortable (for myself too!). ). "
On challenges faced:
"The toughest part of creating the film was to create an era of separation between myself and the film. It's my opinion this is the biggest issue in personal films, and this is where they fail most often. The films made by those that are intimate are often extremely personal to the filmmaker, but they're not always the viewer. I wanted to remain out of the situation as much as possible and to try and separate myself from the work and think of it as something that didn't understand myself. Since I was the editor, this was a constant issue. I was able to overcome this issue with the help of many trustworthy people near me. They provided me with honest and positive comments . "
HTML0Things the director would like us to be thinking about while watching the film
"It might not seem evident, but I'm certain that the central theme of the movie is the cruelty of capitalism. This is, in the end, the cause of my father's struggle to live life in the manner he'd want to have peace and peace. While abuse may be the cause of my dad's troubles and challenges, his inability to come out of the difficulties was a part of his experience is a result of the society and not of an individual failure. My father's story is a result of our society's treatment of human beings by making them look like "human resources" which creates a culture of dehumanization to individuals who aren't able to be a part of a rigid structure of exploitation and work.
Capitalism gives working class people the option of working, or just begging on the streets. Although this aspect isn't explicitly addressed in the film it's an integral subtextual aspect of the story. If people in my dad's circumstance had access to high-quality health and wellness by means of shelter and food and shelter, and wouldn't have to show their humanness in extreme circumstances, they would be able to live happily, safe lives in which they can concentrate on healing the wounds they've experienced.
The principal point made on the card that opens the film is the fact that dad's stroke was caused by an anxiety attack at workplace due to being in a company that needed to earn the greatest revenue, however, it was not having enough employees in the hospital where dad was employed. I noticed the repeated occurrence of the issue when I was creating the documentary. I discovered that work stress and not stress of being pregnant was what contributed to my father's mental health crisis in his early years as a toddler.
Additionally, I would like to hope that the film will inspire people to treasure the time that they share with their families and friends and to be able to discuss hardships and trauma within an environment that is safe and warm. The core of the film revolves around caring for your parents, in a way that you can understand their struggles and cherish the moments that you spend with your parents . "
Michael's ideas to filmmakers who are new to the industry.
"I frequently remind my students that they should be a fighter to keep their energy and drive to make movies. Each step in the process, the industry will attempt to force you in the middle and provide you with the required equipment. They'll attempt to cut out the enjoyment and create artificially high stakes for making some of the worst media. Anyone who has worked for an agency with a huge advertising budget knows this. One of the best tips I've received is to find actions that will inspire you, regardless of whether you earn profits or not. isn't. There's no reason to stop making the movie you've created yourself or explore hobbies that allow you to feel like an artist. If you're contemplating Sundance however you've renounced the filmmaking passion you have What's the reason for this changing "
What's next?
"I'm in the process of developing an idea for a feature document . It will be an observational film that is character-driven and woven into a tale which takes place in a small mining town in Montana. The project is at the beginning of the process, and I'm not at an ideal position to comment on it currently.
I'm working on a project which focuses on people who do work that they know will not be productive. If you're in the same situation to this, send me an email. The company is currently recruiting . "
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