What is Behind the Lens: Conversation with Two Project:Involve Filmmakers

American independent cinema of the late 80s and early 90s had a thriving yet cacophonous stronghold on the so called “identity film.” The children of film school and cheap independent cinema were born in this volatile and revolutionary changing of the guard and were often told in film school to start out by looking at their past and making a film about that. Filmmakers like Steven Soderbergh, Spike Jones, Ross Mcelwee and Gus Van Sant came from this school of thought and produced some of the most celebrated films of our times.

My home, Los Angeles, is a city with an identity crisis. The swirling, ever changing masses of creative minds moving in and out of the city may have something to do with it. Or, maybe it’s because it’s filled with people who are manifesting their identities through the strong medium of film. Media is what attracts most people to the city of angels and they all have to start somewhere. It seems that most start with where they came from, in essence, their... more

An Experimental Portrayal of Personal Evolution

The term “autobiographical animation” seems almost contradictory, yet two recent films “Persepolis” (2007) and “Waltz with Bashir” (2008) use this form to capture psychological, emotional and personal stories in a way that live action could not possibly.                                 
The films use Middle Eastern cultural identity as an entry point into discussing both the larger socio-political landscape, the characters’ own internal conflict and ultimately their growth. The animation, rather than being gimmicky or tacked on, allows for the characters to safely explore painful experiences, share fragmented dreams and tell past stories. Furthermore, it provides the audience with the chance to visually experience internalized emotions, distant memories and living through a time and place that they may never have understood before. Ultimately, both films use animation to portray global, local a... more