Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, Mahopac NY, Social Media Manager

This 16th annual Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival has come and gone, and let me just say it was such a powerful experience.

Being a blogger has allowed me to develop my own voice, communicate my own thoughts, and fully immerse in the festival's program.

And what a program it was.

The events were transcending. The flash mobs were interactive and well-received. The festival was educational.

I explored different cultures, met high-profile artists and professionals, and collaborated with a refreshingly positive team of enthusiastic individuals.

To say the least, mobilities was the perfect theme for the festival, because the experience was truly moving.

Blog posting written by Shawn Steiner '13 & Andrew Ronald '15, Film, Photography, and Visual Arts, FLEFF Interns

New media and an experimental filmmaker? Be prepared for some very unique and inspired thoughts during this next hour of FLEFF Lab Friday. Make sure to stop by Park 220 sometime today as it will always have something exciting going on.

A very good start to the conversation. Everyone is introducing themselves and seeing the variety of interests in the room.

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Evan Meaney talks about transmedia and how his method is to destroy everything. He takes apart files and then tries to create something new from the pieces.

QUESTION: What is it to live in a world where media is decaying?

Mansoor Behnam discusses his obsession with images and how the ideals of mystical Persian literature has led him to produce his experimental films. He is experiementing with the idea of god with the help of digital media and technology.

SCREENING: "When You Are Blind" (2001) Short Film By Mansoor Behnam (video embedded below)

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"It's the burden of representation."

Mansoor believes that in order to experience the non-representational one must embrace the experimental format. It is necessary to represent the invisible and create mystical work through a lot of abstract effort and imagery.

One major goal of his projects are to bring "new and hidden truth to a body of knowledge."

Another point is that collaboration can bring out new heights and thoughts in each work.

The issues of suppression and public viewpoints are a serious consideration to talk about and unfortunately we need to give some time to Evan Meaney so find Mansoor and ask him questions!

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"Art-math high five?"

Evan takes a stab at explaining Null_Sets. It basically is a way of converting text into images, similar to the method of a QR code. And theoretically if you have a camera with a high enough fidelity you could translate these images back into their original data.

QUESTION: "At what point does noise become useful data?"

Now, you can even download the Null_Sets toolkit right here.

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QUESTION: How do these works connect?

Mansoor sees it in the images that come out of new media attributed to the presence of the infinity. Also, if anyone has seen Middle Eastern rugs, many people have seen a connection to telling stories through patterns in these carpets to the visuality of the Null_Sets jpegs.

Evan discusses compression and how if something becomes so compressed it becomes something unreadable and unreachable. We don't have access to it. "It becomes invisible." Which is what Mansoor attempts to describe in his work.

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Fortunately, a lot of their work is available online. So go watch it, use it, download it and let us know what connections you find.

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Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald '15 & Shawn Steiner '13, Film, Photography & Visual Arts, FLEFF Interns

What's the best part about Friday during FLEFF week? FLEFF Lab Friday of course! Shawn and Andrew are here live blogging the event for everyone who couldn't make it to Park 220 today in person.

We are starting with Ulises Mejias, author of Off the Network: Disrupting the Digital, discussing Augmented Reality Games.

10:13 AM - "Every crisis is an opportunity, but sometimes you don't get enough crises."

10:15 AM - "Play it before you live it [by] constructing scenarios about things that could happen in your community, and then using this platform to create dialogue." This year in particular, Mejias is discussing the all-too accessible issue of fracking.

10:20 AM - Mejias discusses how he gets his students on campus to participate in these games through an interactive, virtual experience. The goals range from the conceptual ability to create dialogue by writing comments and sending invitations, more participatory actions like attending events and educating others, and perhaps the ultimate form of involvement: the ability to act.

10:33 AM - To what extent can these games go in terms of the topics being covered? As far as Mejias is concerned, the administrators have not censored him, yet. But he reflects upon the games where the point is to "...choose topics that, by their nature, create discomfort." And for example, "...people are not that willing to talk about racism."

10:36 AM - What otherwise might be looked at as nothing more than schoolwork, Mejias stresses what makes these games more playful than academic? Simple elements, like the element of competition, generating participation on the website, and centralizing the mere essence of game theory separates the boundaries.

10:40 AM - Although he started doing this with one class, participation has steadily increased to about 150 students. Colleagues have begun to offer this as both credit and extra credit, and the number of stars won on this game are even associated with a grade for Mejias' students. 3 stars earn a C, while 5 stars earn a very worthy A.

10:50 AM - The idea of intensification is quite paradoxical where, while participating in various activities, you happen to leave room to generate more inequality. Although these games are a great simulation, it has its limits: there is no active energy associated with a virtual experience. So the obvious follow-up to the question is, of course, how to get students to physically create change.

10:53 AM - Augmented realities aren't about aliens invading. ARG's are a way of marketing products, video games, movies, etc.

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, Social Media Manager, Mahopac, NY

It's the second day out of a week-long worth of events for FLEFF and they're going strong! If you couldn't make it to this insightful workshop with Sarah DuPont, producer of Amazon Gold, there is no need to fret! I'll be liveblogging the event for you all to read right here:

4:02 PM - What better way to start than with a trailer for Amazon Gold?

4:08 PM - DuPont describes the detailed, yet poisonous process to acquire gold and the harmful dangers on the environment that occur in the meantime. This is why she made this documentary.

4:09 PM - Why is the Amazon and biodiversity so important? Thoughts from the audience touch upon the importance of the ecosystems that exist there. Even more frightening, "you are destroying things that you didn't even know were there in the first place."

4:14 PM - This was a true documentary. The crew members were exploring while the camera was rolling in some places that had never even been shot before. "If you get caught, you can get killed and no one cares. It was a dangerous endeavor, but it was worth every minute because the implication of losing the Amazon..."

4:16 PM - The Amazon is a big regulator of weather patterns and climate change, something that is very accessible to individuals everywhere today.

4:18 PM - A bit of inspirational advice from DuPont in which she mentions "this film was made for the game-changers out there."

4:22 PM - This is what discussions are all about. While getting some input from the crowd about their concerns regarding climate change, audience members are currently comparing the Earth during the prehistoric era to the modern age. And Sarah gets us back on track...

4:25 PM - Why did DuPont make this movie in the first place? The power of the visual is accesible. You can create awareness and give people a wake-up call if you show them devastated areas and damaged environments.

4:30 PM - How did DuPont make this movie in the first place? She describes the traditional filmmaking process from acquiring the appropriate crewmembers to the dangerous shooting process, and the tumultuous post-editing process. Simply put, "to make a movie is very, very hard." And three years later, the movie was complete!

4:38 PM - As United States citizens, we are supposed to promote positive change and reformation, even after we were the ones who caused this turmoil in the first place. DuPont lists off some alternatives to the process of making gold. So what do we do? Lobby off some ideas - we have voices, so why not use them?

4:52 PM - Dr. Zimmerman relates Dr. Phil McMichael's conversation from the previous night to today's conversation by emphasizing the collective nature of coming together to prove to be the solution. The global solution.

5:00 PM - How much regulation is too much regulation? Another controversial discussion leads to hands popping up throughout the audience. Opinions clash, thoughts are generated, and discussion occurs. It's what FLEFF is all about.

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Social Media Manager, Mahopac, New York

You might have heard it while watching the climax to an action-packed movie. You might have heard it in an elegant concert hall. You might have even heard it on The X Factor.

It's intense. It's powerful. And it will move you.

This is the music of Carmina Burana.

Seamless integration between sporadic bursts of energy, rhythm, and triumph, strung together by a haunting echo in the background define this style of music. And despite how startlingly demonic the music may sound, underneath it all, there is something still enchantingly reassuring about it.

Looking up to the lyrics to one of the more popular, well-known songs "O Fortuna," reassured me of this feeling. "…hateful life first oppresses, and then soothes as fancy takes it poverty and power, it melts them like ice." The music isn't meant to be malicious or intimidating...it's meant to be didactic. There's an enlightening truth behind the cyclical nature that defines fate. Carmina Burana's music is meant to serve as a vehicle for this message.

You can hear the music for yourself on Tuesday, April 2 at FLEFF's Concert featuring these particular pieces performed live at the Whalen Center for Music.

What do you interpret after hearing this music?

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Social Media Manager, Mahopac, NY

Although FLEFF is just a little over a month away, there is so much that has yet to happen. And there is so much to be excited for. At this point in my FLEFF-tastic journey, I have had a lot to reflect upon.

One of these upcoming events in particular is the Upstate Filmmaker's Showcase premiering at downtown Ithaca's independent art cinema, Cinemapolis. On March 3rd, the entire staff will come together and converge with fellow audience members consisting of local professors, other interns, and of course, the entire Ithaca community. 

People will converge. Ideas will collide. And conversation will occur.

Because isn't that what festivals are all about anyway?

Of course there are other very exciting events that the interns have been preparing for, including our efforts to revamp urban exploration in a new was using the Derive app and our positive stories that we will be covering through an exciting partnership with EngageMedia. But we will save these for later. In the meantime, let us reflect.

My role as a Social Media Manager has truly allowed me to ascertain a newfound perspective towards the idea of film festivals, and FLEFF was the perfect vehicle to explore this attitude. Festivals are fast-paced, and the only way to respond to this celerity is through the ability to adapt. You have to be pliable. The fellow interns and bloggers have understood this, and they are all so willing and eager to contribute to the festival's success.

And what a successful festival it is going to be.

Working with their enthusiasm has given me the passion to work harder, strive to serve as a positive role model, and also have a lot of fun on this journey!

What can you take away from your own FLEFF-tastic experiences?

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, NY

What's the best part about FLEFF? Meeting the guests, of course!

Yes, the films being screened are fantastically exclusive, but it's even more exciting to meet the people behind these films. And that's why I have composed the following list:

1. Evan Meany - Current Ithaca College alum and winner of the Distributed Microtopias Exhibit, Evan Meany will be making an appearance as a featured guest of the festival this year. An aficionado of transmedia design, Meany explores the mobilities of glitches of all kind, from the abnormal to computing technology. He will be showcasing some new media art and representing Ithaca alumni everywhere.

2. Jon Bowermaster - No stranger to film festivals, Jon Bowermaster is going to be present at Cinemapolis alongside the screening of Dear Governor Cuomo. He's traveled the world (both land and sea), is an award-winning journalist, and currently works at National Geographic. Who wouldn't want to meet him!?

3. Yong ki Jeong - Director/writer of Once Upon a Time, Jeong will be available to speak on behalf of this comedy heist following a con artist and a jazz singer. Considering the history this film has had in Korea, who better to promise an interesting conversation about the film than the director himself?

By no means does this imply that I am not excited to meet other guests because, let's be honest, I am beyond ecstatic to meet everyone I possibly can during FLEFF week!

But these are just some people to look out for. Who are you guys excited to meet?

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Blogger, Mahopac, New York.

I recently had the opportunity to Skype with Shambhavi Kaul, a continuation of this blog post.

After joking about the almost too-idyllic introduction of being able to pick up a camera at the age of five and instantly fall in love with the art of cinema, Kaul and I discussed a few things, ranging from what inspires her as an artist, some analysis on her piece, Scene 32, and how the piece fits into FLEFF's theme of "mobilities."

To begin, I asked her a question most artists are quite familiar with: what inspires you? Kaul responded with quite a powerful answer in which she stated, "meaning within cinema is produced in part by presenting both the familiar and the unfamiliar. The unfamiliar is usually what we take for granted, the aspects upon which the familiar becomes possible, the moon, animals, certain backdrops...my interest is to re-circulate these aspects while resisting the frames by which we claim to understand them."

Scene 32 also makes vivid use of both HD video and 16mm film. Upon elaboration, Kaul explained that "Film and video are two totally different mediums. When you put them next to each other in a deliberate way, their modes of description begin to seem imperfect and thus meaning is made unstable.” 

This only reinforces her place in the exhibition as part of the mobilities movement. Cinema travels, and it is one of the original modes of portability in the way it has become enhanced. “The deluge of images that was once thought to exist only in the darkened rooms of theaters is now all around us. In all this, I think of my work as acts of recirculation where a resistance, perhaps a counter argument to some modes of appropriation may be enacted.”

As for plans for the future, Kaul is working on yet another exciting new project shot in Southern California and Northern Mexico. "It's a piece about borders and landscapes, and how they affect each other," she explains. "What pertains to meaning in landscape? This is something I definitely plan on looking out for. Are you?

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, New York

Knowledge. Exploration. Imagination.

These are all elements of the Distributed Microtopias Exhibition here at the 16th annual Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival. And there was one artist in particular who stood out to me: Shambhavi Kaul. Her piece entitled Scene 32 is a part of the exhibition.

And rightfully so. Shot in both high-definition video and 16mm film, the sound of subtle winds accompany various shots of mesmerizing textures, patterns, and remote locations. It is very moving in the sense that it invites the audience to experience ephemeral moments and reflect upon them for a munch longer time. The editing strategy is even structured in such a way to promote an overt, yet fluid transition from one moment to the next. 

Scene 32 truly encompasses the idea of mobilities.

I happened to stumble upon this video as well for some commentary from the artist herself about the piece, but I am also attempting to set up a Skype interview session with Kaul sometime later this week where I will be able to ask her a whole lot more! Stay tuned!

How does Scene 32 make you feel?

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, New York

Cinema is moving. 

Usually at twenty-four frames per second for all you filmmaker enthusiasts out there (putting Peter Jackson's attempt at innovation aside.) But nonetheless, the statement remains valid.

Cinema has the ability to transcend space and time. Spark social rebellion. Create dynamic cultures. Truly change how people see the world. 

And hey, isn't this why they call them motion pictures in the first place?

But festivals are just as mobile. FLEFF is no exception as it gathers heterogeneous ideas and cultivates people, ideas, exchanges, businesses and, of course, films together. It is a hodgepodge of artistry and commercialism. A reflection upon the historical birth of cinema to today's Oscar-nominated films. A widespread connection between internationally foreign films to the ones made in your own hometown.

The concept behind mobilities is meant to explore the actual movement of people, ideas, and things, as well as the broader implications behind these movements.

And FLEFF is the perfect vehicle to explore what is mobile.

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Blogger, Mahopac, New York

Well here we go again with another great edition of the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival!

My name is Andrew Ronald and this is my second year in a row blogging for FLEFF, but first year taking on the role as a Social Media Manager. I am from Mahopac, New York currently studying Film, Photography & Visual Arts with a minor in Marketing at Ithaca College. You guys might recognize some of my blog posts from last year, but this time around, the festival is taking a slightly revamped approach as the theme of mobilities is explored.

And what an appropriate theme it is! 

Simply put, I love everything about communications. From the commercial to the artistic. From the global to the local. And similarly, a lot of these connections have to do with the presence of festivals themselves. Festivals are very unifying. They create binaries, connect individuals, and are highly established places of convergence.

FLEFF is no exception.

I can't wait to engage with some of the new programs we have going on this year, including the up-and-coming Derive, an urban exploration project, and perhaps the quintessential example of mobilities: flash mobs!

In honor of the new theme, what do you guys think of when you hear the word "mobilities?"

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, NY

The art of film is a dynamic fusion between a stimulating image and a moving soundtrack, and Patrick Winters is no stranger to proving his mastery of this balance as he specialized in sound design. In this interview, his passion vividly came alive when he told me that "...eventually I found sound editing and designing, or should I say it found me."

Background

Not only has he used his career teaching sound design in the Department of Television & Radio at Ithaca College as a form of stewardship, but Winters developed this fascination for visual storytelling at the age of 16 when he created his first dramatic 8mm film. He goes on to say that "I believe it's important for those of who have acquired a body of knowledge and experiences to pass those along to the next generation," and as an eager film student, I can't object to this.

What Are Microtopias?

"I see microtopias as communities of individuals who recognize their connections and work together to enhance each others lives. These communities are not limited by cultural, ideological, political or geographic boundaries. These communities share in the joy of life that comes from seeing the world as being engaging and limitless."

Advice For Students

One thing: create. "Follow your heart and do what calls to you, because that's what will be the most rewarding thing for you to do."

FLEFF 2012

Patrick Winters comments on his excitement over FLEFF 2012 because of the principle of the festival itself. It is very intellectual, complex, and mind-opening towards an interdisciplinary audience when it comes to creating and simply being.

Check out his workshop about sound designing on motion pictures and motion sound on Saturday, March 31 at Cinemapolis!

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, NY

Anyone with an interest in film and independent cinema should certainly take the time to get to know Karen Rodriguez, the curator of the Upstate Filmmaker Showcase for FLEFF at Cinemapolis. I recently had the opportunity to interview Rodriguez and learned a lot about her.

Background

Rodriguez has had outstanding experience with production, videography, cinematography and lighting as her academic career has spanned across the historic country of Germany and the bustling city of Boston. As she studied photography, Super-8 and film analysis, her passion for film exploded and led her to independently produce features and shorts, followed by working at the Thaw festival where "we screened narrative, experimental and documentary short films and videos and it was a complete blast! My favorite parts of filmmaking are the actual production and attending the film festivals!" 

Production Work

"I think of myself as a bit of a generalist when it comes to production work...My own work that I'm most excited about falls into the personal/experimental form. While I love the camaraderie and focus of a large crew, my ideal mode of production would be analogous to a singer-songwriter writing a song where the filmmaker has an idea, picks up a camera and makes it happen." To me, this sounds like a beautiful sentiment as art forms are often compared to each other and it is interesting to think of film on such a microscopic scale.

What Are Microtopias?

"Microtopias is a rich metaphor and brings up for me many ideas. Most concretely, it reminds me of the idea that all politics are local meaning that sometimes it is difficult to think about affecting the world on a large scale, but that small efforts, local efforts can make a difference. It's connecting these local efforts to one another that is important for making large scale change."

Advice For Future Filmmakers

A strong recommendation Rodriguez deploys in her interview address the need to stay independent and work outside of the industry. This singularity, even if you are an independent documentary producer tackling corrupt politics and popular culture through a critical lens, facilitates the arduous process behind developing your own voice and artistic aesthetic that differs from corporatized media.

FLEFF 2012

"In addition to the two Upstate Shorts screenings, I'm looking forward to Patrick Winter's talk on sound design, the talk with Laura Kissel and Matt Podolsky on new forms of environmental documentary, "Veins in the Gulf," and "100 Short Films about Water," anything with live music accompaniment, and of course, the parties!"

FLEFF Week 2012 has begun! Conversations about the microtopias installation have been bustling all over campus and the artists have made their way into Ithaca. As a matter of fact, I am in the Park auditorium right now at Art Jones' master class about remixing, new media, and the arts of collaboration. 

A generous introduction by Patty Zimmerman starts the workshop about how Art Jones has found his niche in the artistic world and addresses the way his inventive style defined a new, live VJ remix aesthetic. Following this opening, we got a little more into the details about what he does and how he does it.

After commenting on how remixing was popularized by modern culture and the MTV network, he elaborated upon its use – a personal use – as an individualized methodology. Art Jones’ artistry germinated with the creation of experimental films and documentaries about hip-hop and he developed a passion to translate these strategies to another art form - music.

"But why go live?" Zimmerman asks. "What's wrong with media that is fixed and is start to finish?"

"Absolutely nothing!" Jones chuckles. "Except when I started doing it, I was just a few years out of film school…but became so inspired by music that could engage audiences. I waned to remove the boundary between so-called high culture [galleries, museums] and low culture. I grew up in the Bronx where hip-hop was assembled. Hip-hop was on the low end. It would be better to find a way to organically integrate things that inspired me like hip-hop and generally electronic music."

One of the most striking things that came up during this conversation was his perspective that there was a sense of chaos that can cohere with moments. In response, Art Jones adopted a music model rather than a cinema model. If we think about music, whether it’s hip-hop, a rock band or fantastic pianists, the ephemerality of a still image is enhanced by the power of a continuous audio track through digital mixing and music processing.

If you missed the opportunity to attend his class today, make sure you check out his digital and remixing mastery at The Concert for Microtopias tomorrow night at 8:15 PM in Hackett Recital Hall! And as for a sneak preview of what to expect? "A generative art process in sense of the imagery [and] organic, biological structure that can grow the microtopia...It's going to be challenging and totally new!"

And for more current updates, make sure you follow FLEFF_IC on Twitter! 

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, NY

It is evident that Karin Ash has consistently demonstrated a fusion between dedication and a hard-working personality to get where she is today as president of the Cinemapolis Board of Directors. Cinemapolis itself is an independent theater "...dedicated to providing a sophisticated community with the best in new international and independent cinema." I recently had the opportunity to interview Karin Ash and receive some insightful information about her and her interaction with FLEFF 2012.

Background

Karin Ash worked for thirty-eight years as a professional in university higher education administration including state universities in Florida and California and even Ivy League schools. Although these locations were very dynamic, one thing remained consistent: "I always focused on helping students gain experiences that would assist them in deciding upon a career direction, gaining relevant internship experiences and finding post-graduate employment." And in a way, this emphasis on helping students was actually symbiotic. Not only were college students being shaped into future denizens of the "real" world, but Ash claims that she "...gained a better understanding of the...challenges that are of concern to students [and] developed a fairly good overview of the career opportunities where students could make a difference. And, for many students making a difference in the environment, as defined by FLEFF, is paramount. Many students want to work in a field where they will have a positive impact on water, energy, health, international development, the food industry and education."

Advice For Students

In order for students to gain entry into the art and media world, Ash commented on the significance behind students expressing their interest in the art and media world as opposed to just verbalizing it. In order to become engaged and demonstrate this expressivity, students must construct a vast canon of experience during college, volunteer their time if they cannot find paid internships, especially during nights and weekends, and hold perspicacious dialogues with professionals.

FLEFF 2012

"I'm most excited about FLEFF's theme this year of microtopias. The theme is very much in line with the Board of Directors vision for Cinemapolis, 'a premier art cinema, where people of all ages broaden their horizons through artistically significant films, cultural camaraderie, and educational programs.'" Not only are the movies shown during FLEFF week inspiring and intergenerational, but they are accessible and invite patrons to learn about different environments - the whole principle of FLEFF in the first place.

Closing Words

"The Cinemapolis Board of Directors is extremely grateful to Ithaca College, and especially to Patty Zimmerman and Tom Shevory, who work so hard all year long to host this fabulous multimedia event."

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, New York

Attention all cinephiles! The FLEFF 2012 Film Descriptions and Trailers page is up!

Now of course every film that will be screened during FLEFF week is fantastic and everyone should come see as many as possible, but here is just a laconic list featuring the top five movies I am most excited for:

1. Art & Copy

Can creativity really solve anything? This documentary directed by Doug Pray draws on a struggle any artist can relate to: finding inspiration. Creating a dynamic binary between the advertising industry and the most influential creative visionaries of our time, this film aims to expel the stigmas associated with a supposedly "manipulative business." And it has a really pretty movie poster.

2. Buster Keaton Shorts

Calling all film enthusiasts! If you never got the opportunity to see the infamous "stoic man" of the 1920's on the big screen, then head over to Cinemapolis to check out this cinematic classic. Specializing in vaudeville comedy and dominating the silent film era, Buster Keaton proved that shorts could be just as satisfying as feature-length films, all while hilarity ensues (even in something as simple as Keaton's desperate flight from the police in his short Cops.)

3. The Fairy

"A whimsical comedy featuring a shoeless fairy and the hotel night clerk." With a description like this, how could you not want to see this movie? Through this film's jovial narrative, a seemingly realistic atmosphere manifests into a fantastical romance. Spoiler alert: the fairy can grant wishes too!

4. Sushi: The Global Catch

Let me clarify: I didn't pick this film just because it's about one of my favorite cuisines (although it certainly did help me refine my list). The film traces the origin of sushi back to Japan, as I'm sure you all already knew, and documents the evolution of this delicacy in its attempt to please the hungry public to something as mass-producing as fast food restaurants themselves. This transition, however, occurred with such celerity that it upset the ocean's ecological balance, and this issue is touched upon as well.

5. Tuesday After Christmas

Brought to you by the director of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, the film marries elegance and drama by integrating the all-too familiar issue of marital infidelity into the narrative. The husband has a clandestine affair with his daughter's dentist and must now choose between this unstable, yet exciting relationship with his lover and the stable romance he has shared with his faithful wife for ten years. Emotional. Sensational. Engaging. Go see it.

I wish I could have written about every film as they all sound exciting and satisfyingly establish their own microtopia, but I am more interested in knowing which movies you FLEFFers are most excited for!

Tonight at our weekly FLEFF meeting, us interns got the amazing chance to hear electronic composer Robby Aceto share some information about the scores he has recently created and took some questions from the audience. You can get a chance to hear him as he will be improvising live music during the screening of the ninety-year-old documentary, Nanook of the North at Cinemapolis. 

"We are so sophisticated in our technologies, and a hundred years ago these things were just fantasy." He begins by speaking about the way sound in film has evolved over the past hundred years from live music accompanying each screening to revolutionary technology that made synchronous sound possible. Does the Jazz Singer ring a bell for all you film scholars out there? After that, he took some questions from the audience:

7:12 PM - Aceto informs us that the electric guitar has become a ubiquitous instrument in today's musical world, but as a "color guitarist," he deviates from this typical sound and offers a truly unique sound.

7:14 PM - "It's not the easiest thing to do." Striking, but true. Aceto talks about being a freelance musician and the negatives that come with it when it comes to getting gigs and finding your niche. However, he gives some optimistic advice: "be available and try to make a name for yourself." And let's be honest because this is true despite what field you are working in.

7:22 PM - Working in a group is kind of like duking it out. The baseline is respectable material and there is a sense of collaboration that goes into perfecting the piece. 

7:30 PM - We get to hear one of his pieces! As an outrageous and bizarre silent film appears onscreen (through an excessive use of vignetting), the music resonates with a sense of respectability and relevance. This proves that despite how ridiculous the visual may be, the power of sound in film is incredible and truly influential.

7:45 PM - Yet another piece comes on and the sound is remarkable. Through a myriad of instruments, including a toy piano, a cello, a mandolin and an open-air mic, a harmonious final result is achieved. No wonder the FLEFF co-directors Thomas Shevory & Patricia Zimmerman asked him to return to the festival for a fourth time.

7:52 PM - What is composing you may ask? "The idea is that you're not there to comment on what's going on. You're there to interpret and try to be a part of it." 

I think leaving off on these last words is appropriate. Although in context he happened to be talking about scoring music for film, I believe his words have the ability to speak on a much stronger level. By integrating yourself with what is surrounding you rather than take note of it exemplifies the interactive nature of FLEFF. Do you agree that actions speak louder than words?

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, NY

FLEFF: A Different Environment

It's a promising tagline. Promoting sustainability, encouraging environmentally friendly habits, and even being able to capitalize on eco-friendly...well...anything. But it's not just about carpooling and recycling, and FLEFF's interdisciplinary nature speaks in a stronger and more influential way.

FLEFF is about bringing people together for an enlightened and highly cultured discussion. It's a microtopia of intellectual unification. It requires musicians, filmmakers, artists, and guests who reside along a wide spectrum of ages to hold sophisticated conversations. It's an encouraging outlook on engaged curiosity and unique lenses to view the world through. After all, culture is saccharine.

By proposing these requirements at the actual festival, FLEFF projects its own sense of captivating higher-level thinking. Curiosity drives scholars and an inquisitive audience towards ascertaining information, thereby making them capable of achieving remarkable results, whether they are as complicated as groundbreaking medical formulas, or as simple as finding a shortcut on your way to work. Either way, the environment is defined by this influential role FLEFF plays.

How would you define "a different environment?" 

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, New York

"There are so many brilliant people on this campus. They are extraordinary musicians, fantastic friends, wonderful colleagues, and what I've learned from them is to have the guts to push the envelope and go artistically and emotionally where you never thought you would go."

7:05 PM - Dr. Patricia Zimmerman buoyantly informs us interns about the pianist, Dr. Martin, and baritone singer, Dr. Hougham.

7:12 PM - Musical decisions are announced! In order to promote the interdisciplinary culture behind FLEFF, synthesis of spiritual, ethnic and emotional music is declared.

7:14 PM - The audience rises! Clapping in rhythm, we get to preview the piano accompaniment, filling the room with energy and joy.

7:15 PM - Technical problems! Luckily us interns are technological people and know what to do!

7:19 PM - Beautiful opera music fills the room, lulling us into a daze as we hear Ice Habe Genug, meaning "I've had enough," addressing the state of human morality. As to why the selection was picked, Dr. Hougham comments: "I picked it because it's a piece that I love, love, love and wanted to sing." He continued to declare that it's heart-wrenching and I couldn't agree more.

7:25 PM - Dr. Martin blissfully plays gorgeous harmonies on the piano with a smile on her face. And yes, she's about as sweet and humble as her joyful music. 

7:30 PM - Dr. Hougham just said the word "microtopia." All the interns just got so happy on the inside. I could tell.

7:33 PM - "You'll hear a lot of harp, you'll hear strings and there's woodwinds, but there's some really nice places for the harp," Dr. Martin says. Live blogging does not give justice to the fantastic music we are listening to right now.

7:35 PM - "Children wade, in the water. God's gonna trouble the water." The familiar tune to Wade In the Water ripples throughout the room, and even after hearing three different versions, the message still remains the same. Dr. Hougham struggles internally, however, by questioning "What business do I have singing this music? However, one of the things that occurred to me about microtopias is that they exist all over the campus." Upon hearing that an African American student said, "Honey, I sing gospel music, I gotta help that guy," the theme of microtopias becomes definitive. Students teaching teachers and teachers teaching students. Either way, it's a microtopia.

7:45 PM - Anytime by William Finn comes on. I've never heard it before, but trust me, it's good. What a voice. 

7:49 PM - "When I go to a movie, I listen to the music. I notice if it's bad." As a film student, I'm loving this right now.

7:52 PM - "Personally I feel like FLEFF has opened my own creative parameters. This is Ithaca. It's a really tremendous place to try new things." I couldn't agree more, Dr. Hougham. I couldn't agree more...

7:54 PM - "When you try and describe music and creative art to someone, you never have enough ways because you never know what message will get through." Dr. Martin compares music to art, dance, and literature, and truly understands the fusion music plays in everyday life.

8:00 PM - "Why is it important to perform in a packed theater, and what does it mean to musicians? What does it feel like? Why does it matter?' Dr. Zimmerman makes the audience ponder the meaning of community and how often we can forget that the performer is actually aware of us. It reminds me a lot about the same question I asked myself when I wrote this blog post. We all come to the conclusion that the audience is really not that removed from the performance in the concert hall. It's more than mere entertainment. It's alive. It makes you feel different. After all, it's FLEFF: A Different Environment. 

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, NY

It has been really exciting for us FLEFF interns to get to know each other, and as a blogger, I took the liberty in getting to know my fellow colleagues I will be working with at the festival. I would like to introduce all you FLEFF activists to the spunky and ambitious Karly Placek, a freshman at Ithaca College majoring in Documentary Studies and Production. Karly is from Monroe, Wisconsin, and if you ever happen to be in the area, she highly recommends Brennan's Market, the cheese store where she works, or just a good field to go cow tipping in. 

ANDREW RONALD - What made you interested in becoming a FLEFF intern?

KARLY PLACEK - I was interested in the international aspects of it. I wanted to meet new people from different cultures and share ideas about art and media

AR - On that note, what have your experiences been like so far and have they upheld what made you originally interested in joining FLEFF?

KP - I like getting the chance to meet other kids at different schools [on campus] that I normally wouldn’t collaborate with. It has been interesting to brainstorm different ideas for the festival with them. These students come from such different backgrounds and I think it’s really great that we all get the chance to work together. 

AR - Because FLEFF explores the theme of microtopias this year, how would you define this term in your own words?

KP - To me, microtopias are places that are created when people understand that ideas aren’t necessarily accepted in society as a whole. They are, in fact, created on a smaller scale to unite people with comment interests.

AR - How effectively do you think the interns this year are promoting FLEFF through social media and other forms of communication?

KP - I think FLEFF interns this year are doing a good job about getting the word out about FLEFF. Not only are they utilizing Facebook and Twitter, but they are working on promoting public relations via word of mouth, posters and stickers. 

AR - The screening of Oka! kickstarted the FLEFF experience unofficially last Sunday. What did you think of the film and the director?

KP - I absolutely loved it, and I think that has to do a lot with my global interests. Anything about Africa sparks my interest and I am personally an active member of Invisible Children, a club that aims to resolve conflicts in Africa. Having the director there brought me so much insight that I had never experienced in a film before. She really served as an example that I could emulate in the future with my own personal filmmaking career and anthropological exploration.

AR - What are you most looking forward to?

KP - I am most interested in meeting the directors and brainchildren behind international films and new media projects. I want to get advice from them and see what my career could actually be like in the real world. They have a lot to offer and I have a lot to learn. 

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, New York

The theme of FLEFF this year explores the concept of microtpias, and because this definition varies on a number of levels,  I figured I would tackle my own definition of the term. And you can put the dictionary down because the idea behind microtopias is too abstract to be defined in a single sentence (and isn't even in the dictionary in the first place).

Alright, here's the English lesson for all you language aficionados out there. Microtopias is coined from the prefix micro, meaning small, and suffix topos, meaning a place. Microtopias therefore, are essentially small places. Logical, right? But is that really where the definition ends?

Microtopias are portmanteaus of reality and unification. The reality is that one singular, harmonious utopia cannot be achieved. In fact, to distinguish utopia from communism may call for a very interesting conversation. But microtopias are still unifying nonetheless, and this accounts for why they can be found on such a global scale. Utopias preach for a marriage between perfection and peace. But realistically, we must divorce ourselves from this idealistic society and strive to achieve unison in compartmentalized divisions - divisions we would call microtopias. 

FLEFF understands this notion. It's a microtopia of its own and leads to interminable conversations revolving around complicated situations. It makes us strive to perfect sustainability, mesmerizes us through music, gain insight through international films and disrupts the premise of a utopia. Microtopias are now and they are here to stay.

How would you define microtopias? Do you think the foundation behind building a utopia is unrealistic? 

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, New York

The power of cinema is important to anyone who may be in the filmmaking business or studying film theory, and it even targets viewers who simply derive enjoyment from watching films. This affinity to cinema was something that struck me at an early age, justifying my current role as an eager freshman at Ithaca College working towards earning my BFA in Film, Photography & Visual Arts. It probably also accounts for why my friends vacantly stare at me when I hold interminable conversations about the latest feature film out in theaters that they “need to go see immediately!” It also explains why I find these jokes hilarious:

• Screenwriting tip: The best place for a character to breakdown and cry is always in the shower.

• In Fight Club, half the people in the movie talked about the damn Fight Club.

• If you really want to know why horror movies no longer scare people, just watch the news.
  ...and more entertaining movie humor!

Simply put, film is moving. Is it captivating. And it is inspiring.

This power, however, is not limited to the cinematic world, and this is something that the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival understands. FLEFF manifests this energy in such a way to permeate the minds of an interdisciplinary culture, ranging from aspiring filmmakers to individuals who are ardent about exploring human nature and even those who are passionate about the planet. Appropriately, this year's theme touches upon the concept of microtopias, an environmentally relevant subject as the festival upholds values of sustainability. Microtopias is indicative of the nature of the festival, promoting a liberal view on a myriad of subjects that will be presented at the festival.

This is one of the main reasons I knew I needed to become involved with FLEFF. Of course during my experience as an intern, I know that I will be surrounded by an overwhelming (yet by no means exhausting) amount of film. After all, the first festival-related event includes a screening of OKA! taking place at Ithaca's local not-for-profit theater, Cinemapolis on February 12 with director Lavinia Currier. But I knew there was more to FLEFF than just letting the harmonious sound of the words "film festival" ring in my ears. There is so much more rewarding information to inherit by becoming involved with FLEFF (and some delicious wine to taste at the Finger Lakes Wine Center who was generous enough to host our evening celebrations!) The collision between social interaction, dynamic energy, mystifying adaptation, relatable locality, innovative technology, and rejection of utopia all seem to define FLEFF for what it promises and what it teaches.

So now I have a question for all you eager and ambitious FLEFFers out there! As a passionate film enthusiast, I am going to throw this question out there: What's your favorite film and how does it inspire you? Who knows, maybe your favorite film hasn't been discovered yet and will be screened on March 25 when FLEFF starts!