Staff Pick Award to Palm Springs ShortFest 2022: "Meantime" by Michael T Workman |

HTML0 I'm so sick of that waiting.

Aren't you,

For the entire world to enhance

Beautiful and lovely?

   Let's grab an Axe  

Then cut the universe into two pieces.

Find out what worms they are feeding on

In the of the.

Langston Hughes "Good Morning, Revolution: Uncollected Social Protest Writings

The winner of the Staff Pick Award at Palm Springs Shortfest 2022 will be "Meantime" written by Michael T Workman. Michael placed a camera in his father's home to record the film. It's the result of a "deeply personal examination of memories along with labor, guilt as well as the desire to preserve the fleeting." That's at least that's the title of the film. The appeal of this film is that it'sn't really about the ambiguous expressions that emotions in humans. "Meantime" is a wide-angle lens on the source of the ills that beset people within the United States: capitalism, low-quality labor practices, inadequate medical care for those with mental illness, and the fact that the American principle that says "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" is a physically unattainable task. The documentary exposes the many ways in which people in the United States fails to fully ensure the well-being and health of their citizens through the whole life span starting from birth up to. As Michael the film's creator describes succinctly in our Q&A "

   "It might not seem apparent, but I think that the topic of the film is the inhumanity of capitalism. ...My dad was a sufferer of an economic system that regards individuals as "human resources" which is a system which views people in the same way as "human resource" and dehumanizes them when they do not fit to a rigid system of exploiting labor. "

The filmmakers make films that are as stark as the brutal Montana winter that it's depicted, "Meantime" is a movie about souls who were wounded but yet grew to become caring and compassionate individuals.

We had a chance to have the opportunity to ask Michael some questions about the process behind creating this special family photograph and we were amazed by his thoughtful and kind responses. Check out the following excerpts of our discussion with Michael.

The idea behind this is:

   "The idea for the film was born after helping my dad digitize video footage taken at his house. As I watched them I was struck by these deeply moving moments that came that came from the smallest images my dad made of. The celebrations for birthdays, Christmas parties or weddings that impacted me the most. They were the moments when my friends were caught stuck in the middle, watching for some event to occur and then talking and laughing, or even engaging in a fight. These were the times I saw my loved ones from different phases of their lives, and my understanding of their life became more specific. It's always been my personal preference to avoid making a personal film However, the video I'd seen and my returning to Montana led me to make this film . "

His tips on filming family:

   "Working with your family members can be so hard. Deciding when it was time to turn off the camera and just exist was the biggest challenge. Then, in the middle of the filming session My dad and I stopped filming. Now, I'm with my camera now. One of the best suggestions for filmmakers working with families is to be thinking about when and what that you'll be recording and use that as a limitation. Don't record everything every day and not record how things are going. You should think about what you'd like to film then let your camera handle the rest. Once you're finished, you'll be finished. There'll be things you did not notice, and this is fine. Most important is to set up a situation where the photos that you snap have a better chance of being compelling and deep. Switch off your camera and start having fun with your daily routine . "

   The reaction of his family to the film  

   "My family members have watched the movie. I passed it on to my mother after I had finished it. It was one of of the most intense experiences I've had. As the film is personal to me, I went through moments of being unable to connect with it, and as well, moments of profound emotional reactions. As I was watching the film with my mother, a few aspects of the film caused me to cry in an uncontrollable ways. It's a testament to how the environment of viewers you're viewing the film with can significantly alter the way you see the film. This was a healing moment for us both She also learned about the viewpoint that my father had, one she could not see in her younger years.

   My greatest fear was showing the movie to my father. We planned to watch it together but it wasn't the right moment, and he decided to watch the film by himself. The moment the call came in the back of my phone to inform me that the film was watched at home, my heart was broken. He said something along the like this "Mike I watched your movie it was fantastic and I'll definitely return to it." One of the most challenging things for him was not the fragility of what was being stated, but rather watching himself on screen as well as hearing his voice. It was the voice that was making him uneasy (for me too). ). "

On challenges faced:

   "The hardest part about making the film was to make an era of separation between me and the film. It's my opinion this is the biggest issue when it comes to personal projects, and this is where they fail most often. Films made by people who are personal can be extremely emotional to the creator however they're not always the viewer. It was my intention to stay out of this situation as much as possible and to try and separate myself from the film , and to think of it as something that I didn't understand myself. Because I was the editor this was a constant issue. I was able to overcome this problem with the assistance of many trustworthy people near me. They provided me with honest and constructive feedback . "

Things that the director wants us to think about when watching the film:

   "It might not seem obvious however, I'm sure that the theme of the film is the cruelty of capitalism. This is, in the end, the cause of my dad's struggling to live life in the manner he'd like to enjoy harmony and security. Although abuse could be a root of my father's problems and struggles, his inability to come back from the trauma that he experienced in his life is an effect of society, not an individual failing. My father's tale is the consequence of our culture that treats humans by comparing it to "human resources" which is a system of dehumanization for those who are not able to be a part of a rigid structure of exploitation and labor.

   Capitalism allows working-class people the option of working, or begging on the streets. Though this is not explicitly discussed in the film, it forms an important sub-textual part of the plot. If people in my dad's situation had access to quality wellbeing and fitness by way of shelter as well as food and shelter and didn't be required to display their humanity in harsh conditions, they would be able to live happily, safe lives in which they can focus on healing the trauma they've experienced.

   The main point on the title card which opens the film is that dad's stroke resulted from an anxiety attack at work because of the fact that the company had to achieve the most profit, but was not having enough employees at the hospital where dad was employed. I realized the recurrence of this issue for him during the process of making the documentary and I realized that stress at work rather than stress from being pregnant was what contributed to my dad's mental health crisis as a young child.

   Also, I hope the film inspires people to cherish the moments they spend with loved ones, and discuss trauma and hardship within a safe and welcoming environment. The heart of the film revolves around caring for your parents, by understanding their humanity and cherish the moments spent together with your parents . "

   HTML1 Michael's suggestions to new film makers  

   "I often remind my students that they should be a fighter for their enthusiasm and youthful desire to create movies. Each step in the process, the industry will attempt to make you fall into the middle of the road and provide you with the necessary tools. They'll try to eliminate the fun and set artificially high stakes for making some of the worst media. Anyone who's worked at an agency that has a huge advertising budget knows this. The most effective advice I have is to pursue activities that inspire you no matter if you make money or you do not. isn't. You can continue to make the movie you've created yourself, or pursue interests that make you feel like an artist. If you're considering Sundance but you've abandoned your love for filmmaking, why is the situation changing  "

What's next?

   "I'm currently working on an idea for a feature documentary . The film will be an observational film that is character-driven and woven into a story that takes place in a small mining town in Montana. The film is currently still in the early stages of the process, and I'm not at an ideal position to comment on it at the moment.

   I'm working on a project that focuses on individuals who perform work they know is not productive. If you're in a similar position to this, send me an email. The company is currently recruiting . "

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