I don't really understand the correlation between the title of this short movie with the movie itself, but what I do know that this is one MAD piece of art!
Every scene is so pretty, and carefully proportioned. And I should also warn you, bear in mind that none of what you about see is real footage! This isn’t VFX, it’s fully created with a mix of 3dsmax, Vray, After Effects, and Premiere.
And all by one person, Alex Roman *hand clapping sound fx* :D
It's just amazing. How reality can now LITERALLY being manufactured. So who actually knows what's wrong and what's right? Or what's true and what's lies in this world?? *sigh*
Where the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book written and illustrated by American writer Maurice Sendak.
The book is about the wild adventure of a boy named Max who is sent to his room without his supper by his mother as punishment for misbehaving. Misunderstood and rebellious, Max sets sail to the land of the Wild Things, where mischief reigns. Max wears a distinctive wolf costume during his adventures.
Although just ten sentences long, the book is generally regarded as a masterpiece of American illustrated children's literature.
The movie version is directed by Spike Jonze (the director Being John Malkovich; Adaptation; and co-created of MTV's Jackass); which scheduled to be released on October 16, 2009.
The seven creatures (Wild Things) are portrayed by actors in suits up to nine feet tall made of foam, with computer-generated faces. Which I think makes the creature looks "fresh" (as in different from other fantasy creatures in movies); but I can't help the feeling that it looks really fake sometimes.
The whole movie was shot with a handheld camera in order to compliment the "evocative" "other-worldly" feel of the film. And if you notice, it seems that this "other world" is on perpetual sunset. Which makes it beautiful, of course. And different. In a much rugged and indie kind of way.
This is definitely a must watch movie, the top on my list! Though I still don't know where can I catch this one in Singapore.. :-S
Taken from the Director's Statement :
It is not just a film about art collector, or art, but mostly it's a film about the power of passion and love, and a celebration of life.
This film also sends out the message that art is not limited to the elite few. You don't have to be wealthy or an art school graduate to enjoy art. If you are interested in collecting art you don't have to follow trends or others' advice. Just listen to your own voice. Trust your eyes and instinct. Simply take the time to look, look and look.
I hope to share the story of Herb and Dorothy Vogel with as large an audience as possible, particularly with those who appreciate the passion of creativity in any of the fine arts. Or to those who are intimidated and discouraged in taking up an interest in art, simply because of their lack of education or money. Or to anybody who is trying to survive day-to-day living. You may not have lots of money. Your job may be boring. Still life can be exciting and fulfilling to the extent that we allow ourselves to follow our passions.
HERB & DOROTHY tells the extraordinary story of Herbert Vogel, a postal clerk, and Dorothy Vogel, a librarian, who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history with very modest means. In the early 1960s, when very little attention was paid to Minimalist and Conceptual Art, Herb and Dorothy Vogel quietly began purchasing the works of unknown artists. Devoting all of Herb's salary to purchase art they liked, and living on Dorothy's paycheck alone, they continued collecting artworks guided by two rules: the piece had to be affordable, and it had to be small enough to fit in their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment. Within these limitations, they proved themselves curatorial visionaries; most of those they supported and befriended went on to become world-renowned artists including Sol LeWitt, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Richard Tuttle, Chuck Close, Robert Mangold, Sylvia Plimack Mangold, Lynda Benglis, Pat Steir, Robert Barry, Lucio Pozzi, and Lawrence Weiner.
After thirty years of meticulous collecting and buying, the Vogels managed to accumulate over 2,000 pieces, filling every corner of their tiny one bedroom apartment. "Not even a toothpick could be squeezed into the apartment," recalls Dorothy. In 1992, the Vogels decided to move their entire collection to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. The vast majority of their collection was given as a gift to the institution. Many of the works they acquired appreciated so significantly over the years that their collection today is worth millions of dollars. Still, the Vogels never sold a single piece. Today Herb and Dorothy still live in the same apartment in New York with 19 turtles, lots of fish, and one cat. They've refilled it with piles of new art they've acquired.
HERB & DOROTHY is directed by first time filmmaker Megumi Sasaki. The film received the Golden Starfish Award for the Best Documentary Film and Audience Award from the 2008 Hamptons International Film Festival. It has also received Audience Awards from the 2008 SILVERDOCS Film Festival and the 2009 Philadelphia Cinefest. Palm Springs International Film Festival named HERB & DOROTHY one of their "Best of Fest" films in 2009.
