Varsity 2 Thursday, April 12, 2018 - 12:20 PM
tomnoddy
Short Docs 1: About Work
Documentary Short
13 minutes
2018
Director(s): Charles Poekel
USA
Synopsis
Oregon Premiere
Tom Noddy couldn’t find his calling, so he created it. From Woodstock to The Tonight Show, he’s found happiness in the briefest of entities—the soap bubble. A charming, whimsical, witty film about an unconventional raconteur; the pride of the artist and the longing for recognition. With beautiful bubbles. From the director of Christmas, Again (AIFF2015).
Tom Noddy couldn’t find his calling, so he created it. From Woodstock to The Tonight Show, he’s found happiness in the briefest of entities—the soap bubble. A charming, whimsical, witty film about an unconventional raconteur; the pride of the artist and the longing for recognition. With beautiful bubbles. From the director of Christmas, Again (AIFF2015).
Director's Statement
What attracted me to Tom’s story was how he discovered his unique talent, how he remained true to himself in doing so, and how he continues to inspire childlike wonder night after night, year after year, decade after decade.
What attracted me to Tom’s story was how he discovered his unique talent, how he remained true to himself in doing so, and how he continues to inspire childlike wonder night after night, year after year, decade after decade.
The Last Honey Hunter
Short Docs 1: About Work
Documentary Short
35 minutes
2017
Director(s): Ben Knight
Nepal, USA
Synopsis
In the mist-shrouded mountains of Nepal’s Hongu River valley, the Kulung people carve their lives out of the land and practice an ancient form of animism structured around the god Rongkemi. Here you will find a wiry, unassuming man named Mauli Dhan Rai, who is believed to be chosen by the gods for the perilous rite of honey harvesting. Subtitles
Directors' Statement:
This project was a dream come true for me, honestly. In this age of freakishly short attention spans and reality TV-style editing, it was really important to me to tell this story in a way that was (hopefully) immersive for a willing audience and respectful to the Kulung culture. I felt a sense of responsibility to the people who gave us their trust to tell their story in a way that didn’t feel exploitive or overly dramatized.
This project was a dream come true for me, honestly. In this age of freakishly short attention spans and reality TV-style editing, it was really important to me to tell this story in a way that was (hopefully) immersive for a willing audience and respectful to the Kulung culture. I felt a sense of responsibility to the people who gave us their trust to tell their story in a way that didn’t feel exploitive or overly dramatized.
Commodity City
Short Docs 1: About Work
Documentary Short
10 minutes
2017
Director(s): Jessica Kingdon
China, USA
Synopsis
Oregon Premiere
Yiwu International Trade Market— aka Commodity City—is the largest wholesale consumer market in the world. Christmas decorations, fake flowers, and other cheap merchandise leaves China to end up in dollar stores everywhere. is documentary observes the daily lives of vendors who work in the Yiwu Markets, exploring moments of tension between commerce and individuality, between the goods for sale and the humans who sell them. Subtitles
Yiwu International Trade Market— aka Commodity City—is the largest wholesale consumer market in the world. Christmas decorations, fake flowers, and other cheap merchandise leaves China to end up in dollar stores everywhere. is documentary observes the daily lives of vendors who work in the Yiwu Markets, exploring moments of tension between commerce and individuality, between the goods for sale and the humans who sell them. Subtitles
Director's Statement
When I read about Yiwu Market, I was attracted to the scale, aesthetic, and contextual layers operating there: all of these things were both distant yet relevant to my life. As an American consumer I give little thought to my relationship to the people producing the goods I buy from abroad, and being of mixed Chinese ethnicity, my relationship to China poses an open question.
When I read about Yiwu Market, I was attracted to the scale, aesthetic, and contextual layers operating there: all of these things were both distant yet relevant to my life. As an American consumer I give little thought to my relationship to the people producing the goods I buy from abroad, and being of mixed Chinese ethnicity, my relationship to China poses an open question.
Washed Away
Short Docs 1: About Work
Documentary Short
18 minutes
2017
Director(s): Dana Nachman
USA
Synopsis
Oregon Premiere
There are many days when Brandon Anderton cannot get out of bed. But on the days he can, he creates mosaic masterpieces in the sand, only to see them washed away by coastal tides hours later. Brandon’s art is transformative—saving him from a dark place of unending chronic pain and lifting him out into a place of hope and inspiration. From the director of Batkid Begins (AIFF2015).
There are many days when Brandon Anderton cannot get out of bed. But on the days he can, he creates mosaic masterpieces in the sand, only to see them washed away by coastal tides hours later. Brandon’s art is transformative—saving him from a dark place of unending chronic pain and lifting him out into a place of hope and inspiration. From the director of Batkid Begins (AIFF2015).
Director's Statement
I saw an article on Brandon when I was on Twitter one night. The image of one of his sand mandalas immediately caught my eye and I was completely taken with his story. I found it very inspiring and visually compelling and felt like it would make a great film! I think anyone who comes in contact with Brandon can’t help but be inspired by him, no matter what their struggles are, big or small.
Ferryman at the Wall
Short Docs 1: About Work
Documentary Short
16 minutes
2017
Director(s): David Freid
Canada, Mexico, USA
Synopsis
Originally proposed as an international peace park with Mexico, Big Bend, Texas has a unique relationship with its southern neighbor. For the past 40 years, Mike Davidson has been ferrying tourists across the Rio Grande for a little taste of Mexican life—but now a great big divide threatens the park. A visitor’s guide to America’s great big border wall.
Director’s Statement
A lot of people have an opinion of the wall, but few have experienced life along the border. When you’re down there, you quickly realize that drawing a neat line between our two countries isn’t easy. Personally, I don’t believe that building a wall is an answer. But I didn’t want to make a partisan film that doesn’t attempt to explore something outside of my own preconceptions. We knew if we wanted to learn more, others would too.
A lot of people have an opinion of the wall, but few have experienced life along the border. When you’re down there, you quickly realize that drawing a neat line between our two countries isn’t easy. Personally, I don’t believe that building a wall is an answer. But I didn’t want to make a partisan film that doesn’t attempt to explore something outside of my own preconceptions. We knew if we wanted to learn more, others would too.