Staff Pick Award at Aspen Shortsfest 2022: "The Victorias" by Ethan Fuirst
Most people have heard of the old saying "To be able to truly comprehend a man, one must spend a mile walking with the man." This year's winner of the Staff Pick Award at Aspen Shortsfest 2022 is an amazing example of the phrase. "The Victorias" composed by Ethan F. Fuirst, describes the life of seven teens who are dedicated to documenting deeply and depicting another's life. The protagonist is a 14 year old Sephardic immigrant who lived in an NYC apartment building during 1916.
The best thing about "The Victorias" is that is holds an eye on the challenges faced by immigrants in all of the United States. The show also shows how hardworking peoplein 1914, and in 2022, ultimately have a feeling of being disposable in a turbulent capitalist economy.
We asked a couple of questions to Ethan Fuirst about this multi-layered, smart and compassionate film and got responses that were full of personality and love.
The inspiration for this:
"I worked for the Tenement Museum, along with actors from the film to play the role of Victoria. While American film has a serious shortfall of films with costume-wearing interpreters that play the part of a fourteen-year-old Sephardic Immigrant however, I never thought I'd make a movie about"the Vickies" (as the group was commonly known in at the Museum). When we all got laid off during the pandemic and there was a chance explore and preserve the experiences of the people who lived there through film.
The Vickies are the most compelling oracle storytellers I've met. I was certain that you could let them speak without distracting the audience through voiceovers from outside or using title cards, we would create an engaging film . "
In the film's original style of appearance
"Because the film is comprised of 90 of interviews, we were aware that the backgrounds had to present the subject in a manner which captivated viewers and made each shot stand out. We constructed a studio at Greenpoint and filled it up with set designs created by our incredible producer Amber Thrane. In the museum, the Vickies lived in a 1916-set tenement apartment. Amber and I came up with an idea to make the background should look similar to an unconstructed tenement taken from memory , instead of being a real reproduction. This is why I allowed the use of an electric light within one frame, despite the fact that there was no electricity inside the house of a tenement in 1916. Sue me.
The drawings were drawn by Faith Bennett, a very impressive visual artist who had been at the museum along alongside us and also had seen the Vickies perform. She had firsthand knowledge of the program elevated the drawings beyond a visual gimmick. I would tell Faith, 'Can you draw an picture of Victoria as a group or a group of people?' Faith would then send me an image and inform me "This sketch is what I created based on an incident I witnessed during which Victoria request a kid polish her shoes prior to the start of a show.' It was a sign of affection and detail . "
Interviewees are required to be vulnerable onscreen:
"I have a humorous manner during my everyday living. My subjects are introduced to me as a friend as well as a friend. The task of building their trust was one of convincing them that I'd handle their tale with more empathy than they'd previously seen me display before.
I'm extremely happy with the way the seven Vickies forced me to think about their role as subject matter as well as whether or not I had already shaped the narrative before allowing their presence on film. They're too clever to commit with the film and not push me a small amount. That engagement showed the filmmakers that they're taking their film seriously. They also gave me an opportunity to go on Zoom or even send a message to demonstrate the level of dedication I was looking to show to the project.
I used to say that I requested that the participants let me tell their stories'. However, that suggests that there is a singular truth to their varied experience. Now it is clear that I communicated that participants should trust in me and let me select a story. I'm convinced that the movie we decided to use represents the truth of what Vickies experienced, but this isn't the only method to represent the Vickies. Many films can be created from the interviews that be able to come up with different conclusions. Editing footage from documentary is as much an act of manipulation as it is a way to serve as a method of curation.
My work as a director the film isn't too dissimilar to what the actors were performing playing Victoria Confino. The actors all told an entirely different tale and were determined to be fair to the person they were portraying, but was also keen to ensure that we did what was right to our viewers. It was a pleasure to collaborate with people who believed that telling stories is never ideal, but they are always worthwhile. "
The subject's reaction to the film
"They are aware of it! Feedback from me has been extremely positive! Seven people have different degrees of involvement with the work. Some people found it an event that brought relief. A few people chose to do it for it was a good idea. It's normal to keep an appropriate level of separation while you watch the 2 minutes of screentime selected from an interview you did about the job you had for years.
It's vital to remember that subjects' opinions about their experiences as Victoria is changing as the interview was recorded. This shift in perspective is a part of the reason the documentary doesn't provide a precise description of their experiences, it's simply a snapshot the memories of the conversation . "
The ideal target audience lesson:
"I'm inclined to let the movie be the sole speaker since the purpose in the movie is that I created a 15 minute, nine-moving image which is an exercise in Rorschach to the audience. In all honesty, I'm happy to confess that I have no shame about feeding my children.
I hope the audience reconsiders the way we view the work we do. These performers were so fucking impressive in their performances. Through their performances as Victoria they taught the general public how to appreciate the overlooked human experience. What might the world be like If the billionaires that serve in the board of charities and charitable companies invested in individuals who are devoted to this sort of work ? "
HTML1 A word of advice for aspiring film makers:
"I would not wish the dream to be filmmaker to my biggest adversaries. In fact, Sisyphus did not have to purchase lighting equipment.
If you suffer from Filmmaker Syndrome, my advice is to select projects that you'll be happy to have made regardless of whether they turn out to be disasters. With the majority of your coworkers, they're running relays. Directors must be able to run the race. There are days that you're editing your film in darkness when the footage isn't vibrating and you're wondering "Why should I pay for the purpose of capturing my subjects on the camera sitting in a standing position, talking about an Jewish immigrants who came to America hundred years earlier?" You have to be able to keep in mind "It's because I am awed by this tale, no matter whether the movie isn't a success. . "
If you have any suggestions for me regarding ways to aid in making filmmaking less stressful I'd like to hear from you! The doctor I saw prescribed me medication, but I'd prefer more support . "
and the most effective answer to the"What's next? "What's coming next?" We've seen it all:
"April 24th marks Barbra Streisand's 80th birthday, this celebration has had a profound impact on my everyday living. I've led an eight-month Barbra Study Group that is currently in the final section. In addition I'm hosting a party to celebrate Barbra's birthday. What makes anyone think about anything other that Babs at the moment is beyond me. myself. . "
This post was first seen on here