- Why did you just watch this film? In what way can it inform your current project? What can you learn from watching it?
- This film focuses in depth on New York City and a side of the city that is “hidden”. Throughout the film the narrator reveals a side of the city that is often overlooked, focusing in on small details and connections. In our projects we will also be trying to capture the essence of a certain part New York, looking farther than just surface details and focusing more
- What message and overall emotional tone did you take away from the film?
- The tone feels mysterious and open ended, like we never quite know what is going on.
- In what ways does this film interweave narrative, documentary and experimental forms of filmmaking while avoiding traditional approaches?
- The extended amount of time without dialogue is unusual in traditional films.
- The experimental layering and fading of audio and sounds is also another odd approach.
- How might Cohen’s creative process have informed the final outcome of the piece? (ie. use of archival footage, working alone vs. collaboratively)
- Cohen went on a long journey to discover this hidden side of the city and compile videos for this project, I think that it was important for the footage to reflect this path he has been on and if he worked collaboratively, his vision may have been lost with other people’s ideas. If multiple peoples visions and ideas jumbled together, the film would feel less powerful and emotional, and instead feel choppy and confusing.
- What storytelling devices were used for dramatic effect and how so? (ie. repetition, voice over, speed, camera movement, juxtaposition).
- The footage was completely in contrasting black and white and was often blurry, creating a dramatic, dreamy, and eerie feel.
- The overlay of voiceover and sound effects
- The speed at which the narrator is talking (long stretches of silence)
- Throughout the film, the narrator often related what he was talking about back to ideas found in the book
