Capturing home culture on a cell phone<\/p>\n
Rachel Greaves, Contributor, Kerobokan<\/p>\n
When Bali resident Bob Calabritto saw an advertisement on
\nDiscovery Channel for the First-Time Mobile Filmmakers Awards
\ncontest, he had one of his usual creative dreams.<\/p>\n
The interesting combination of filmmaking and technology was a
\nsubject that had fascinated the native New Yorker for a long
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Working in Indonesia as a creative consultant and magazine
\neditor, Calabritto had already created a number of short films.
\nThe latest was a comedy, Snorkel, which featured a man who
\nintended to snorkel around Australia using only his flippers,
\nmask and a snorkel.<\/p>\n
When it was entered into Australia's leading film festival,
\nTropfest, Calabritto jumped at the opportunity to enter another
\ncompetition. "Being able to convey an artistic message through a
\nnew medium is like being a part of the development of
\ncivilization. Having the future in my hands and being a pioneer
\nof an art form is being a part of technology and art history," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Each contestant for the Discovery Channel contest had to
\nchoose an icon from the culture in which they lived as the
\nsubject of a one-minute mobile film.<\/p>\n
Calabritto's topic was "rice". He explains, "For me, this was
\nthe obvious choice; while others might select a particular person
\nor building, I found rice to be the ultimate omnipresent icon of
\nBali.<\/p>\n
"No matter where you are or what you're doing, rice is near
\nyou in one form or another. There are few other cultures in the
\nworld where a single object has such a resounding influence on
\nthe daily lives of the people. I also thought this would be a
\nfantastic opportunity to promote Bali."<\/p>\n
He submitted his idea with a series of images, depicting the
\nstory of rice and the vibrant ways that it is engrained within
\nBalinese culture.<\/p>\n
"From sweeping landscapes and colorful ceremonies, to food
\nstalls and temples", he wrote in his film proposal, "I will
\nengross the viewer in a journey through Bali, marked with the
\nmagic, beauty and mystique that rice has provided to the
\ninhabitants of this paradise island for centuries."<\/p>\n
Development of the format<\/p>\n
Mobile filmmaking began with the use of conventional video
\ntechnology to create short movies that could be viewed on small
\nmobile phone screens.<\/p>\n
The concept challenged the mobile phone industry to invent
\nimaging devices that would not only allow the viewing but also
\nthe shooting of high-quality films, combined with the ease of
\nediting, sharing, storing and even printing.<\/p>\n
Advancements in technology were so rapid that a pioneer
\ngeneration of mobile filmmakers now regularly takes the stage at
\ninternational film festivals.<\/p>\n
The recently launched Nokia N90 already records videos to VHS
\nresolution, and, at the current rate of development, analysts
\npredict that it will not be long before the technology exists to
\nshoot a film of cinema quality with a mobile phone.<\/p>\n
It was in April this year that Discovery Networks Asia
\nannounced a multimillion dollar regional advertising sales
\npartnership with Nokia. By tapping Discovery's expertise in
\ndocumentary filmmaking, married to Nokia's technology leadership
\nin imaging, the two companies are bringing mobile filmmaking to a
\nwhole new level, making it more accessible to its viewers and
\nempowering its consumers.<\/p>\n
On Oct. 4, Calabritto learned that he was one of 15 finalists
\nin the competition, chosen from more than 1,000 entrants from
\nSoutheast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and India. On Oct. 20, he
\nand the other finalists, including just one other entrant from
\nIndonesia -- Ferlin Mogot from Jakarta -- were flown to Singapore
\nand each was presented with the coveted prize of a Nokia N90
\nmultimedia phone.<\/p>\n
That was followed by a one-day film and cinematography
\nworkshop in which the participants were taught how to use their
\nnew imaging devices to create and edit films. They were then
\ninformed that they had two-and-a-half hours to go out into the
\nlocal community, pick an icon and shoot a one-minute movie.<\/p>\n
Calabritto chose the buildings of a neighboring industrial
\npark, noting, "The architecture of the area was fantastic.<\/p>\n
"There were so many architectural influences in the buildings
\nand each had its own distinct personality -- be it an industrial
\nmonster or a sleek and sexy modern box".<\/p>\n
Capturing the essence of home culture<\/p>\n
The progress of the contestants was followed by a Discovery
\nChannel film crew, in preparation for a reality show documentary
\nthat will be screened in the near future. At dinner that night,
\nthe next tier of finalists was announced -- judged on the
\nquality, originality and creativity of the films they had
\nproduced with their Nokia N90s that afternoon.<\/p>\n
To his delight, Calabritto had made it into the final six, and
\nwas invited to attend another half-day workshop in which he
\nlearned more about filming techniques and the aspects that
\ncaptivate the viewer.<\/p>\n
During the final session, the tutors, who included Discovery
\nChannel executive producer Vikram Channa, encouraged the notion
\nof spontaneity. The six finalists were then told that they had
\nthree weeks in which to create a one-minute movie, capturing the
\nunexpected elements of an icon within their home culture.<\/p>\n
Calabritto's new topic, cock fighting, was selected because it
\nwas a slightly controversial but nevertheless significant aspect
\nof Balinese life.<\/p>\n
He maintains, "Like rice, the rooster provides sustenance;
\nancillary to important ceremonies, cock fighting has gone a
\nlittle bit underground in Bali and part of my challenge is in
\nsourcing where and how it takes place."<\/p>\n
He has no intention of making a macabre or gory film: "My
\nfocus will be on the whole aura of discovery, the secret location
\nand the enclave of people that have gathered for the event,
\ncombined with the completeness of the occasion itself."<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the film poses its own intrinsic challenges in
\ntrying -- in the space of just one minute -- to convey the story
\nin a nonviolent, educational and entertaining way.<\/p>\n
Calabritto enthuses, "This wonderful experience has exposed me
\nto a whole new means of creating things. With the evolution of
\nthis new technology, everyone can have a virtual movie theater in
\ntheir pockets, together with the potential to capture spontaneous
\nmoments.<\/p>\n
"The world is becoming a go, go, go kind of place; now, at
\nleast, we can be more entertained before we get there."<\/p>\n
The winner of the First-Time Mobile Filmmakers Awards contest
\nwill be announced in December.<\/p>\n
(For more information click on: www.mobifilms.net)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/capturing-home-culture-on-a-cell-phone-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }