Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Infringement Film Festival @ Sugar City, Tuesday night

Not sure how to write about this one; I've been putting it off for the last two days. Here are a few thoughts:

1. Arrived midway through Ghostlights, the LaChiusa brothers' and Bob Kupczyk's doc about the ghosts allegedly haunting several WNY theaters. Knew a lot of the interview subjects, which helped me think that the film's greatest interest lies in its unstated subtext: a portrait of a closeknit local arts community and the way stories travel from one part of it to another.

2. A Grim Touch, a comic short about the Grim Reaper's newest employee, may have a one-joke premise and a lot of telltale student-film traits, but it got me to laugh a time or two.

3. Lord knows both of these, for their own reasons, are good fits with Zombie Loves Vampire, possibly my favorite project title in this year's festival. Plot's pretty self-explanatory. Really nice camerawork and lighting, especially for a $400 15-minute opus.

4. Between those last two came Wasted Talent: The Neighbors from Hell. I'd seen a few (okay, TWO) minutes of this in the Samples @ Sample press preview event, and that pretty much covered the highlights. Wanted to like it, because the filmmaker seemed like a nice/bright guy, and ya always wanna encourage the younguns, but I gotta say, the full length version upset me like nothing I've seen in any Infringement past or present. I looked hard for anything resembling art in the movie, but after a nicely animated prologue, it just looks like a blatant ripoff of Jackass stringing together a bunch of particularly mean pranks, many of them involving guns, car air bags, weaponized body waste, and/or other quasi-legal acts of vandalism, in an especially incoherent way. (VERY hard to tell what the hell is going on in most of the segments.) I couldn't find anything very funny about most of them, and when the handful of other people in the audience laughed at a bit in which one of the exploding air bags is detonated on a bike path purely to scare the hell out of an unsuspecting passerby, I got pissed off. I wanted to yell, "How would you feel if you were the guy on the bike?" What's the point of all this?

I was fuming the rest of the night, and at one point it hit me: at least since high school, I've seen DIY art--and music, and movies, and humor--as one of the main refuges of the meek against the bullies of the world. Wasted Talent puts the camera in the hands of the bully. Thanks, YouTube!

4a. I don't even want to complain about the movie, because I have a sinking feeling its maker takes every negative review as a badge of honor, as if he's really sticking it to the Powers That Be. He's not. It's an incoherent mess. A big part of what annoys me so much about this thing is the title. I know the guy is young, but rather than joking about how he's wasted his talent, he might want to think about convincing us he has talent, and then do something with it. Life is too short, and art too important, to dick around, no matter how young you are.

5. You know it's a special kind of night when the work that moves me the most comes from the notorious Josh Strauss. If you know the guy, you won't be surprised to learn that his performance on this particular evening consisted of showing part of a German bondage porn tape, then random excerpts from a vast stack of DVDs strewn all over the floor, before settling on The Lucky Strike Revolution, a short in which we are treated to a man taking a dump in a ... dumpster. But I'll be damned if the film doesn't also contain some incredibly beautiful shots (often of incredibly ugly things). A provocateur in the tradition of Buffalo's own Paul Sharits and the late great Jack Smith, his work is absolutely not for everyone. Most of it is not for me. And yet, I have no problem finding an aesthetic at work in it.

6. Uh, guys, any chance you might all want to loosen up a little on using the word "bitch" every two seconds? I know everyone does it these days, and you're gonna tell me that it's not sexist anymore, that it's just a word, but that's bullshit, bitches.

27 comments:

Matthew said...

Actually in "Ghostlight" one of the subjects goes into greater detail of how theater people and their imagination can take a simple story and after the 5th or 6th telling turns it into "All Hell on Earth".

Unstated, no. The point of the documentary was to get into the folklore of these theaters and use a skeptic to question one's belief.

chris uebbing said...

I saw a few of the same films, but a different night, @ Hallwalls.
My favorite part of "Ghostlights" was the rebuttal of the skeptic, who pointed out the illogical and backwards deductions needed to make the conclusion of the occurence of a supernatural event. Wonder where his funding comes from?
I'd seen "Zombie Loves Vampire" months ago, at it's first screening, and thought it was as simple and cute the second time around. I must quibble about the adverse relationship between punks and goths (from someone with both Sex Pistols and Bauhaus in her vinyl collection), but otherwise "ZLV" is a pleasant and straightforward romance. Very well-done on a shoestring budget.
The series of shorts from Novim Productions I found largely pointless. One involving a young displaced person celebrating life in America had it's moments; I especially liked the bizarre 70's pop motif. Other bits turned me off. I was especially disturbed by the recurrent appearance of a toddler being given positive attention for misbehaving; thanks Mom, for doing your part in raising another generation of assholes.
All in all, some MORE examples of lowering the bar into the sub-basement.Don't we get enough of that on commercial TV?
I left partway through a documentary on local artist "Skitch". His work has some merit, but he's not somebody I'd want to pal around with. Fastforward aforementioned toddler 30-some years.

Dave said...

I have a bone to pick with "Ron" who wrote about the film night at Sugar City last tuesday.

First off, take your trash talking attitude and get out of our festival. I think he handed "Wasted Talent" a seriously unfair review. He mentions how others laughed at the film, and how it made him extremely pissed off. Hmmm, sounds like "Ron" had a film being screened that wasn't as warmly welcomed as the films he is dissing...

Might I suggest taking a chill pill, in the form of a very large suppository? You do realize that, by being pissed off, you are effectively supporting "Wasted Talent"?

Maybe if you actually talked to the artist about his film and your concerns, you wouldn't have been such a d-bag and trash talked him in a public forum unfairly. Yes, at points the film made me go, "Oh no... he didnt", but if you actually brought the scenes in question up with the artist, you might have found out some surprising information (hint: the guy on the bike looks awefully similar to one of the main characters in the film...)

Even funnier, you let a film where a kid crapped in a dumpster completely off the hook? You sir, are a real peice of work. I think you are sick for playing this off as a cheap JACKASS ripoff that lacks any creative input. I thought chapter three was very well made, along with several of the city shots in chapter five, and he did come up with original material as far as buying a car for $100 and jumping it, as well as detonating a car airbag underwater so it looked like a water park jet. Honestly, I hope I run into you at one of the next shows and give you a peice of my mind.

By contrast to the film, the young man who made the movie, (HIS FIRST FILM MIND YOU) was actually a very prepared, intelligent, funny and likeable guy. I actually enjoyed talking to him and was suprised to learn that he is nothing like his character in the film. He even gave out copies of his dvd in very nice looking dvd cases, while others either charged too much or didnt have copies at all. His website was also very professional, his youtube is very popular, and his short communication and interest in the Howard Stern show shows that this young man knows what he is doing, made a film that did it's job by getting laughs, and he has a plan for his future. I even saw the work he got on Channel 2 News, as well as his impressive photography portfolio.

In a nutshell, all you had to do was have an open mind, and talk to the guy. I definitely picked myself up a copy, and I wish him all the best.

klinger said...

It's not my style to talk shit but on this one i must...Ron's an ass. What kind of Infringement would we be if we did only artsy farsy craping in dumpster films. As the visual art/media organizer who programmed the shows i knew full well the Wasted Talent piece would illicit a response, thats kinda the idea of the piece. but to personally attack the kids character, his talent as a film maker, this is crossing the line. Remember, you coulda just left and not subjected your delicate sensibilities to such an abomination (ya know what else they call an abomination?)...

regardless of what ron might think, this kid is very sensative and does actually read these blogs, and i got a call from a very upset artist, yes im using the word artist cause that is what he is, an emerging artist, who is growing, learning, and developing into a fine film maker. Alot of thought, planning, and time went into the piece and for a former/pseudo-current bif organizer to write such hurtful stuff is a slap in the face not only to my hard work on making the film nights happen but also to the festival itself.

So i would like to extend a warm welcome to The Neighbors from Hell, pat em on the back, officially apologize on behalf of the fest, and say The Buffalo Infringement Fest cannot wait to see Wasted Talent 2... anyone got Ron's address....i hear the filmmaker is looking to find permanent dwellings in the buffalo area.

klinger said...

PS Wasted Talent just killed at the gateway film night, i mean killed....people ate it up.....laughter and head shaking galore....Ron Asburn you should be proud man!!!

C said...

I debated for a really long time whether or not to bother responding to this, because its pretty obvious even from an outsider's perspective that this is actually a confrontational conversation between two people that should be had in person and not over the internet, where people can give empty threats of chewing people out without fear of having to follow through.

I've really only been involved in infringement for a year, but I think I know enough so far to conclude this isn't infringement spirit. Stop fighting. It's fucking stupid and it makes us all look that way.

That being said, I personally have found Ron's posts to be useful, and I think there's something to be said for someone who takes the time to write albeit lengthy, articulate and thorough posts about the art happening around them. For me, it's refreshing to see that someone has an opinion, and that the art has affected them in some way. Sometimes we artists are so "anything goes" that I wonder if the art effects us at all.

I also want to throw in that I disagree with every single thing Ron has said. I didn't see the movie but I'm pretty confident that an exploding airbag next to a cyclist would make me laugh. And I do find his wording to be crossing the line of critical to abrasive, and agree that it may be a bit more aggressive than we're used to. But Ron owned all of his opinions in his post and he described his subjective experience.

I know that all of us creative people are a bit sensitive and defensive about our art, but learning to take criticism is important. If this guy is a young and aspiring artist, he should get used to people evaluating his work, and prepare for folks much less kind than Ron. I'm sure he also doesn't appreciate his two buddies responding to the criticism with threats and child like insults on his behalf.

Maybe what we should be talking about is what the point of the blog is. I think we all came into it expecting something different. Ron used it as a forum to express his opinion, which a lot of us thought was weird and sometimes rude. The rest of us have been using the blog to express our congratulations and support to our friends and fellow artists. Perhaps if we knew we were putting critical review on the blog, Ron's posts wouldn't leave such a bitter taste.

We all take ourselves too seriously. On that note I want to go get drunk at Burnwood so I need to stop this nonsense.

Claire

P.S. - Dave + Klinger, let me know who this elusive young talent is, because I'd like to see his film, as it sounds hilarious, and very good.

Ron E. said...

Lemme see if I have this straight: I challenge the maker of a film I didn't care for to aim higher in the future, get called a "d-bag" and an "ass," and I'm the one making personal attacks? People are (jokingly, I trust) threatening to beat me up? Kinda confirms the point I was making about how I read "Wasted Talent" as a film made by/for bullies, if you ask me. (For the record, the fact that a different audience "ate it up" in no way makes me feel any better about the thing. Nor does the suggestion that the poor schmo on the bike was in on the joke, for that matter.)

I made no attack on the filmmaker himself; in fact, the only 2 words I used to describe him personally were "nice" and "bright." Those are compliments. It was his film that pissed me off, and I honestly don't care if he's a 20something first-time filmmaker or an 80something guy with 30 feature films under his belt. If he identifies one unseen character exclusively as "the foreigner," shoots guns at trains (at least I think that's what was going on), and strings together a bunch of mean-spirited pranks that totally revolve around harassing innocent bystanders, I'm gonna call him on it. I'm not saying he shouldn't make the film, I'm not saying it shouldn't be in the festival, I'm saying it made me, one audience member, really angry. If other people rise to his defense, more power to 'em.

I just don't buy the don't-hurt-the-poor-kid's feelings argument. First, that wasn't what I was trying to do at all, and more importantly, the entire film--from its title to its subtitle to its opening preface to the aforementioned string of pranks to its closing remarks--is intended to be an in-your-face assault by a guy who presents himself as, well, a bully. Fine by me; that's pretty much what some of the most amazing art of the 20th century is all about. But if you're gonna be in the audience's face, the audience has every right to be right back in yours.

As for why I sat through it instead of leaving? Uh, Klinger, I think that was because you promised your own film would be next, and I wanted to see it. I'm glad I stayed for that one. I'm also thankful for all the work you put into organizing all these film/video events. I'd like to think that speaking my mind about what I liked and didn't like about those events is the best way I have of honoring that work--yours, and the filmmakers'--in, yes, as public a forum as I can. I've invited other people to contribute to this blog since its inception 5 years ago. (Check the upper left hand corner of the page.) If this makes me an "ass," a "trash talker," "sick," and a "piece of work" who should "take a chill pill" and "get out of our festival," then--to quote a more articulate man than I--excuuuuuuuuuuuuuse meeeeee.

Dave said...

I think we all expected psychobabble from this guy, you can practically cut the bias with a knife. And how is running into someone to give them a piece of your mind, challenging a fight? Please, don't flatter yourself.

Seeing as how I wanted to write about this festival and that this was an area of massive attention this year (which you should be thanking him for), I decided to call up the artist who made “Wasted Talent”. He said that he is aware of the blog, but doesn’t feel like he needs to personally respond to childish behavior (and laughed while saying it). You gotta love this guy’s sense of humor…

So, now that I know more:

"confirms the point I was making about how I read "Wasted Talent" as a film made by/for bullies"

No, it makes you an ass for assuming.

"I wanted to yell, "How would you feel if you were the guy on the bike?""
{coupled with}
"the suggestion that the poor schmo on the bike was in on the joke"

Maybe if you had actually TALKED TO THE ARTIST about the scene that you were enraged enough to write about, you would have discovered that your "poor schmo on the bike" was actually one of the 3 main characters. The face was covered up so the audience wouldn’t know it’s fake, and he’s got the original footage to prove it. In other words, the thing you were most enraged about is a non-issue, and now you look like a complete asshole. I actually think the artist would have preferred you stood up and said something, instead of trash talking his hard work in a public forum anonymously without knowing all the facts.

"weaponized body waste"

It wasn't body waste. Idiot.

So far your assumptions about him have ranged from him being a nice/bright guy, to a bully. That just cements the fact that you didn’t do any research.

"I made no attack on the filmmaker himself"
{coupled with}
"he might want to think about convincing us he has talent"

Keep convincing yourself, pal.

Now this is what pissed me off the most: I really don’t think the artist takes your comments about him being talentless as a “badge of honor”. A project he says he spent many late nights editing and put allot of time into wondering if people would even like it, being dragged through the mud in your blog, disgusts me. To say the film was an “incoherent mess” is absolutely appalling:

-The music was phenomenal. Not only did he time the audio like a pro, but he said he spent a year tracking down some truly great independent musicians instead of going the easy way out and using copyrighted music. I’m counting at least 10 different musicians he supported by using their work. I admire that.

-The animation and voice acting was great! Instead of just saying what happened to him at college, he contracted a freelance animator from Montreal and a very talented voice actor from Rochester. It’s his first film and he’s already successful managed voice actors and animators? Talentless my ass!

-The story was great. The kid gets forced out of school, picks himself back up, and comes up with a plan. He skips back in time to tell the story of his crazy friends living in Philly and their popular YouTube series. You follow the “Neighbors from Hell” from city to city, and at the same time see an evolution as the artist starts to get a more creative with his shots. The film ends with a very nice credits sequence with good music and matching visual backgrounds.

In closing: I’ve read some bad reviews in the past but never one that was so obviously biased and far from the truth as yours. It’s no surprise to anyone that you were pissed off at some of the “pranks”, and therefore raped the film of a fair review. And it’s sad that your vicious review is in full view of visitors to this site, while these comments can only be accessed by clicking a tiny link. You accuse him of wearing controversy like this as badge of honor, but it is pretty clear you are the one who enjoys it. Thank god you’re no longer heavily involved in the festival; you’re the only part I, and obviously others strongly disliked.

C said...

Alright, I'm done writing things that mediate, because I take art seriously and this kind of thing is important to me.

Dave, I don't know where you missed out on this lesson, but it's possible for two people to have different opinions about one thing. Ron has a right to hate it and you have a right to like it. So stop telling people to refrain from being a part of the festival and being outraged and astonished that someone would dare be upset by a movie that boasts about how much hate mail it gets.

Also I'm sure your friend is a big boy and he can respond to critics himself, if he is childish enough to do it, which he isn't. So you should do the maker of this film and all of us a favor and stop bullying people in a comment box.

Geoff502 said...

I couldn't disagree any more Claire. Dave and Klingers responses were completely warranted after the abrasive review that I just read at the top of the page. Additionaly, Dave is responding to Ron's response. It's called a conversation, albeit a heated one... Either way, get over it.

>Ron has a right to hate it and you have a right to like it.<

And everyone has a right to post whatever they want here. Just like you. I dont know where you "missed out on that lesson".

To my opinion:

I'm not sure where everyone else saw this show or how many places it was screening, but I caught a view at Rust Belt Books on Allen Rd. I gotta say, it was a favorite with the audience. No other film there caused people to laugh as hard or as often, no disrespect. I liked 3 or 4 of Novin Productions skits, ZombieLovesVampire had some great acting, Walking Sucks looked like that one taxi interview show on cable, but WastedTalent was absolutely killer. I think the guy who called it a jackass ripoff needs to do his homework next time. You didn't see anybody taking a staple gun to their testicles like jackass, you didnt see anybody throwing dummies on moving cars like jackass, you didnt see any drug or alcohol use like jackass, etc. They kept it respectable and came up with some original skits, and if he consulted a lawyer before jumping into anything then this SOB deserves the credit for keeping it clean and legal.

I give it an 8 out of 10 for originality, good songs, good footage, and putting the time into expanding the experience with those sick DVDs and posters and the website. I give it an 11 out of 10 for being someones first movie, great job man!

Way to bash the guy's hard work, Ron. Calling him a "youngun" was a real classy touch. I hope he goes big with the Stern show and bashes one of your projects twice as hard someday.

Donald W said...

Are you kidding me?

What Ron wrote was pretty dead on when it came to the films shown through the BIF.

The point is that the festival has something for everyone and while some works may be enjoyed by some, other pieces may not tickle one's fancy.

So what if someone posts they didn't like your work? Really. For every one person that may find something "wrong", your going to find another who loves the piece.

If you have thin skin and get provoked over someone's being critical of your work, then perhaps you better not try to be an artist.

What is lost is that we should excited there is some much diversity in the festival and if one looks hard enough they can find something that suits their tastes.

As for David & Jason's over-reaction to this blog, you two sound like a bunch of crybabies. Get over yourselves and try to get the point of "Art Under the Radar"

Geoff502 said...

You forgot to mention me, sweetheart. Are you in middle school Donald? Did you fail to read all of the posts from start to finish, or are you just unable to absorb statements and respond intelligently?

None of us are contending that it's fine you didn't like someone's work. However getting so pissed off at the content that you declare a vendetta and dedicate the majority of your blog to breaking it down and suggesting it lacks any artistic talent, is total horse sh*&. See the following statement: "fuming the rest of the night". Usually when you're mad, you’re not in the right state of mind.

>If you have thin skin and get provoked over someone's being critical of your work, then perhaps you better not try to be an artist.<

Like I said, did you even read the above posts? Who are you talking to? The artist isn't in here. Use your brain in your next response or don’t bother responding.

klinger said...

This shit is awesome!!!! I'm really glad everyone is so passionate about this....an iffy was even awarded for "Best Blog Controversy" The Winner's Ron e -vs- Ron a.... really good stuff....ron e. i apologize but im also trying not to back pedal, uh the thing that really ground my gears to steal from peter griffin... was the inference that what the kid did was not art.... or fest says if you say it is it's art...am i wrong? the life too short,....line certainly seemed to read (to me neway) art is too important to let kids or youtube use it.... and yes artist do need to learn to take criticism and all that but i dont know it just seemed wrong and really outta place for you i guess...so i responded and i'm glad i did look how many people are talking!!

Geoff502 said...

>the inference that what the kid did was not art<

Yes. That offended me. Sure, if it was a bunch of gross stunt clips put back-to-back with no artistic angles and creative shots, with some garage band screaming crap music... then I could see the argument. But seriously did this guy sit through the film facing the wrong way in his chair?

The animation, opening credits, using goodle earth to show where they were, all of chapter 3, the seasonal variety in chapter 4, the city shots in chapter 5, the location for the underwater airbag... was all artistic. I watched the end credits at home and even that was artistic.

klinger said...

And i dont hate gays!!!! In fact i love em as my brother, uncle, aunt, two cousins...i got a big gay family. so maybe im just more comfortable with it then most. I've been getting alot of flack over the abomination comment, i am described by another organizer as-

"You strike me as an anything goes, freedom of expression, DIY, infringy artist who prides himself on being under the radar and accepting of people's individuality, so I would like to think that you wouldn't take a dig at someone's sexuality no matter how angry you were."

and this is true... however i will not shy away from words just cause they are a sensitive subject if they help point out the hippo-criticism of not being acceptant of all art forms, and individuality, that is the idea of our fest. Glass houses, lest thee be judged, kinda thing. I felt obligated to defend art, and again apologize if my defence was misconstued as some sort of attack....but

Say what you want about someone's art, not them though,

shit i hated every Novim piece i saw, but i recognize and respect the work that went into it, the same could be said in a lighter way about the ghostlight piece...it felt too long... but i love matt as a person and respect the endeavor and love the idea, just needs to trim the fat...anywho.

That being said the posts are getting ugly, lets focus on a dialogue and not name calling or threats or whatever people are interpreting these posts as...deal? And yes i know i started it and apologize for doing so.

And i am encouraging Ron A. the filmmaker to engage in a dialouge here and hope fully he'll grow some balls and do so (now thats a personal attack... lol).

Until then Keep blogging all, and just wait till you see what i got planed for next year...hehehe hahaha.

and to the ubbing...punks and goths was all i could do cause i couldnt think of why a hippie would be hanging out on the steps of an old church waiting to be turned into a vampire... But i agree punk -vs- hippie would have been more appropriate, just didn't seem to fit.

Love to all,especially ron e. (thanks for likeing my movie) dont take any of this personal and please keep doing your thing this is the best thing to happen web-wise to infringement....uh well... ever!!!

C said...

klinger, you're great :)

klinger said...

thanks claire... i try, which is lame... as the epithet of my favorite author/poet discourages me to do so.... writer's trivia anyone?

Steve (Wasted Talent) said...

This is great! I can't believe how many people we pissed off. Great Publicity. Thanks to all the humorless "Derka Yuckbahgs." To the Douche that is really upset about our movie, we'll have to film us spraying you down with "weaponized body waste" and even credit you for coming up with the idea. Lets make this happen. I know you won't... but i'll laugh.

klinger said...

derka derka

Ron (rent-a-terrorist) said...

For the record: I never wanted to post a response in here because everyone else was doing a good enough job making this guy eat his own words.

I'm only here now because I got a voicemail this afternoon from Steve (see above) saying he found the blog and wrote a response. So there I am saying to myself "Oh no..." as Steve ends the voicemail with an evil laugh. I just came in here to see what he wrote, and respond to Klinger.

Klinger, you extra chromosome-totin' urine freak, as far as I'm concerned this will be my only post. Why? Because I was invited to tear this "Ron" jerkbag apart on a radio show in Buffalo in a few weeks instead. Yeah, Karma's a bitch.

AllenBuff said...

Sad, I thought this festival was supposed to be different.

I thought it wasn't your typical art/film fest with ego, red carpets, commercialism, attitude and critics. Anybody could show anything, without fear of critics declaring their work garbage, or the artist talent-less. I was wrong.

Organizers like Ron lashing out against artists was not something I agreed to support. I will not be supporting the Infringement festival next year as a venue.

Anonymous said...

Say what you want about the kid, but I think we can all agree that we owe Mr. Ashburn a huge THANK YOU for bringing this much attention to our festival.

This topic already has 22 comments. The most in the entire blog.

Anonymous said...

This is Klinger wont let me log on...big brother is watching...anywho...

well... mr. allenbuff,

this isn't "your typical art/film fest with ego, red carpets, commercialism, attitude,-". Critics we do have... yourself for example.

and i was trying to get a red carpet for my movie nights cause that would have been bad-ass!

Anybody can show anything.

As such, every year we have provocative pieces, Wasted Talent is this years, last year it was The Artificial Uterine Container... and with the root word here being "provoke", how can one not expect if not welcome the criticism or at the very least a responce (on/to the work... not the person). This is the problem with what ron e said.

It is not elitist, ego driven, hoitey toitey, or fancy schmancyness, which is behind his comments, its an opinion, thats all, as are all the responses good or bad.

Ron A. has been more then properly defended by his peers and friends... for you to pull your venue because of some perceived... i don't know what... seems a bit... well... elitist and unnecessary. To punish the fest, as well as the artist involved, as well as the person your trying to defend...over a blog....well i just dont get it mang....

please don't.... and if you do please clarify what purpose that would serve the buffalo underground arts community.

-klinger

Anonymous said...

just wanted to clarify that @allenbuff is not a representative of sugar city. we intend to maintain our affiliation with the infringement festival.-aimee from sugar city

Anonymous said...

To the guy who wrote the review and said it was a jackass ripoff:

Grow a brain. I didnt see anything from jackass reenacted in this film whatsoever. None of the guys in jackass even thought to do some of the cool stuff i saw in wasted talent.

To the buffalo infringement festival: Get some people who can actually write reviews. I wouldnt let this guy write on the sidewalk with chalk...

Beck@uscx said...

Hi I didnt get to the iffy awards due to other commitments but i did see this show at gateway and this guy really did "kill" the audience. Ron sounds like a bitter little child. Some of the audience up front were quiet the whole time but everyone from the second row to the back of the theater were laughing hard. Because i didnt go to the iffys, i didnt get to present my award to this film - (best documentary).

From what I hear they need to get something better than paper plates next year. Maybe 3x5 peices of mat board that you can write on.

InfringeOntario said...

Infringer here from Hamilton, made the 2 hour drive to Buffalo this year to see what kind of infringement you Americans put together, and liked it.

Ron's comments however implying that an artist's work is not art, is a gross perversion of the infringement spirit.

"I made no attack on the filmmaker himself; in fact, the only 2 words I used to describe him personally were "nice" and "bright.""

Really, let's take a look at your facebook page where you discussed this in more detail:

"Meg Knowles said - July 30 at 3:26pm
Wish you had mentioned who made this poor film, then those of us reading could avoid his/her work in the future, or at least know what to expect.

[Aww, what a nice lady.]

Ron Ehmke - July 30 at 8:17pm
You can click on the link to find out. I wanted to say as little about it as possible because I truly don't want to give the guy any more publicity than necessary. Trust me, you have seen this kind of thing many times in the past. It's the School of Jackass, and/or the School of YouTube Prank Videos. Jody's students apparently all attend this school as well, and I fear many other aspiring filmmakers/sociopaths do, too."

Aspiring sociopath, eh? Nice "compliment".

"I'm not saying he shouldn't make the film, I'm not saying it shouldn't be in the festival"

But you'll convince people not to view the artists work at the festival, huh?

"I truly don't want to give the guy any more publicity than necessary."

Looks like that backfired, badly. By the way, the above comment indicates this being personal.