NEW LINK: OLIVE FILMS

Films are aesthetic expressions of human experiences. Where language and grammar try to limit the confines of a “given” meaning, poems and films agitate the seemingly immutable monopolies of truth that, with certitude, try to shape and govern the constructs of human societies. It is in this magnificent collide of what “ought-to-be” real and that which has been defined as fictive that these aesthetic means of expression sublate the human experiences beyond the neatly defined boundaries of meaning and certainty. Here, artists allow for the possibility—and only the possibility—of the unfamiliar to become familiar and as such all constructs of society become subjects of suspect by inquisitive minds. Films nurture the imagination of humans and allow them to challenge the common case of metaphysical agoraphobia that centuries of experiencing dogma have culturally and institutionally concretized.

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"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another." -- Buzz Aldrin, Astronau

CHECK-IN: THE WIZARD OF OZ

For me, the story of The Wizard of Oz is a story about how we are born with all of the knowledge we need for life, at the very beginning of our journey, as it were. And, Life is learning how to use the knowledge, and then learning that we had it all along.

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"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another." -- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut

Ms. Olga Suchadolsky

Ms. Olga Suchadolsky, "explores who is driving," in
a video by Wendel Meldrum.

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"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another." -- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut

CHECK-IN: OFF TO WAR

"A year after hundreds of embedded journalists broadcast the hustle and muscle of United States troops in Iraq, two filmmaking brothers have found a brave and apt use for the military's languishing program of allowing tag-along.

In "Off to War," Craig and Brent Renaud not only trudge behind enemy lines with newly called up National Guard members from Arkansas, but also follow wives and mothers playing a desultory waiting game back home. In this startling, understated three-part documentary, all of which will be shown tonight, soldiers and their families voice feelings of confusion and estrangement."

During the year just after finishing my doctoral studies, I volunteered to work at Downtown Community Television, in New York City. I wanted to learn documentary film production from the best, and also to connect with others who were doing meaningful work.

They assigned me to assist the editors, and the Renaud brother's on "OFF TO WAR." What a sobering experience it was; in real time, to watch the story of how our country was dragged into war. The way the Renaud Brother's capture the humanity of both our soldiers and the Iraqi people is breathtaking, and often times heartbreaking.

While assisting, all I ever seemed to be saying was, "Why hasn't EVERYONE seen this?"

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"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another." -- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut

Que reste-t-il ? - A MUSIC VIDEO BY LISA ZANE

- Singer, Lisa Zane's video about something special. -

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"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another." -- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut

CHECK-IN: Toronto film festival starts on grim note:

TORONTO (Reuters) - The 31st annual Toronto film festival opened on Thursday amid warnings from critics that happy movies are going to be few and far between, as themes from many of the 350-plus entrants reflect the grim state of the world.

For me, the spirit of Buzz Aldern's quote below, which is like the mantra of a Youand approach, screams from almost every headline today. When it is also reflected in great abundance from our art forms, to me this says to us all - "PAY ATTENTION!" What can we do to learn to enjoy our lives TOGETHER?

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"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another." -- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut

MOVIE REVIEW: MUTUAL APPRECIATION

YOU| so, whatdidya think?

YOUAND| very interesting.

YOU| uh oh . . .

YOUAND| not that kind of "very interesting."

You| what do you mean?


YOUAND| i mean it's about as honest a movie as i've ever seen.

You| seriously?

YOUAND| i mean it . . . simple, honest, funny. never a false moment from beginning to end.

YOU| Wow . . . i'm sorry i missed it.

YOUAND| . . . very cool movie. very, very, very cool movie.

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"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another." -- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING + MUTUAL APPRECIATION = BEAUTIFUL CONNECTION

YOU| This movie really has your
attention.

YOUAND| That's right.

YOU| What gives?

YOUAND| "Mutual Understanding."

YOU| You mean, "Mutual Appreciation?"

YOUAND| "Mutual Understanding."

YOU| What's the difference?

Youand| Which comes first?

YOU| Is this like, ". . . the chicken and the egg?"

YOUAND| Yes, or . . .

YOU| . . .

YOUAND| Would you like a hint?

YOU| I suppose.

YOUAND| With the exception of people like the Dali Lama, whose compassion seemingly extends to everyone, can we appreciate another person without first understanding them?

YOU| I don't know.

YOUAND| Can you understand someone, without appreciating them?

YOU| That's backwards. You mean like my girlfriend with me?

YOUAND| Does she understand you?

YOU| I don't think so.

YOUAND| Do you understand her?

YOU| Hell no!

YOUAND| Do you appreciate each other.

YOU| I think we do.

YOUAND| What if you could learn a way to understand each other much better?

YOU| I think we'd "appreciate" each other much more. If you know what I mean.

YOUAND| I do.

YOU| If I understood her better, we would probably have a lot more fun.

YOUAND| Exactly.

YOU| So then, even though we appreciate each other now, if we could understand each other better, the more . . ? What was that . . .

YOUAND| . . . beautiful the connection.

YOU| Right, "beautiful connections." So, you're interested in the movie "Mutual Appreciation" because it's about "Mutual Understanding?"

YOUAND| Yes, I want to see them make the beautiful connections. Look what it says here, "Bujalski's sparsely shot films with large ensemble casts that deliver incredibly naturalistic performances are peepholes into the behavioral intricacies of interpersonal relationships . . . it is the open and honest look at human interactions, often laid uncomfortably bare, that drive the storylines . . ." I want to watch how "mutual understanding" leads to "mutual appreciation." Do you mind if I go see the move now? Want to come along?

YOU| Sure! Let's go.

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"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another." -- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut

----- MUTUAL APPRECIATION -----

You: I found this at nytimes.

Youand: I just saw it.

You: You saw the movie?

Youand: No, the review.

You: What do you think?

Youand: I'm shocked, surprised, not surprised, not shocked - "An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come." Victor Hugo.

You: I feel you.

Youand: It's an affirmation of my intuition about Youand.

You: I can see it a little better now.

Youand: Thank God for artists who make the invisible visible.

You: I see what you mean.

Youand: Look what it says . . .

You: "'Mutual Appreciation' is a film that makes a strong, sincere case that we only get that good story with other people.'"

Youand: " . . . one person to another."

You: "Mutual Understanding."

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"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another." -- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut