“Short films don’t generally get the attention they deserve. It’s not that easy to make a short film, especially in the non-fiction category. To include enough information in such a brief format – and in a satisfying way – takes a lot of skill.” In a recent episode of AZPM’s Arizona Spotlight, film essayist Chris Dashiell chose a few examples from this year’s What’s Up, Docs, the annual program of short documentaries created by BA and BFA students at the School of Theatre, Film & Television. He focused on the personal essay documentary, in which filmmakers employ intimate stories and themes:
In Pieces of Dad, Desiree Bourret “focuses on feelings … and touches on themes that are universal. She evokes the deep sense of loss that we’ve all felt in our lives at one time or another.”
In Asian and American, Andy Zhao examines the thoughts and self-images of three young Americans of Asian descent – Japanese, Filipino and Vietnamese. “In only 9 minutes, Zhao gives us a good idea of how this double identity of Asian and American feels, and how people can come to accept and integrate both aspects in themselves. The film succeeds because of the clarity and simplicity of the style – it’s a lesson in cinematic economy.”
Challenging and quirky, Why? A Social Experiment starts from the premise of trying to get beyond a biased left- or right-wing framework. “Engaging the audience with a direct-to-the-camera address, Sarah Cowherd takes several detours around the notion of objectivity, blowing up assumptions about political opinions and the way we cover them in the media. The answer to Why? A Social Experiment is amusing and unexpected.”
Listen to Chris Dashiell’s full review at AZPM