[ studio ] jem cohen’s lost book found

QUESTIONS ON THE FILM: JEM COHEN’S LOST BOOK FOUND

• 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 has a lot of connections to the next project we are going to do, therefore, we had to watch this video documentary. This becomes a source of inspiration for the next project where we have to select a neighborhood/place in NYC and observe and record the activities of the occupants of the space to define zones of different spatial behaviors (characteristics, context, setting, situation). Moreover, the book is a source of inspiration as we must make a book too.

• What message and overall emotional tone did you take away from the film?
  • The overall tone of this documentary was reflective, observative, personal, and analytical. There are a couple of message that I took from this film, but it mainly made me reflect on the little things in my daily life. The way he describes NYC is from a completely different perspective, something i never taught of before.

• In what ways does this film interweave narrative, documentary and experimental forms of filmmaking while avoiding traditional approaches?
  • He uses a lot of techniques that we normally don’t see, like how shakes the video is not stabilized, it creates this effect that we are looking at things from his perspective. The things/subject he films is also very interesting, its not where we normally see.

• How might Cohen’s creative process have informed the final outcome of the piece? (ie. use of archival footage, working alone vs. collaboratively)
  • I think because this story is very personal, the fact that its his story, he films and narrate the film and has a vision of what he wants the outcome of the film will be like makes it very personal.
• What storytelling devices were used for dramatic effect and how so? (ie. repetition, voice over, speed, camera movement, juxtaposition)..
  • There are a couple of film techniques that is used in this film:
    • voice over: using his own voice for the narration
    • camera movement: Is not stabilized, it creates an effect where it feels like we are following, and seeing things through his eyes.
    • Eye level: most of his camera shots are eye level/zoomed in this also creates a personal effect with him