Hello and welcome to Boxing Day, or Kwanzaa, or Friday. Today I indulge in a bit of wordsmithery (well, that might not be a word). We have a short video for you from F FOR FRANCO – a short segment featuring Francisco talking with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg about the TV and film industry. It’s a conversation which, in light of the recent problems with the immense hack of Sony and the once-cancelled, now limited-release of “The Interview” now seem to be more relevant than ever (certainly one of the hot topics of the past week).
Firstly, of course, we’re glad that the threats made to any theater showing the film on Christmas came to nothing, as that is how it should be.
Secondly, as you know, our film has nothing to do with “The Interview” – it is about James Franco’s creative process behind his own art and film work. However, a short talk with Rogen and Goldberg revealed their insights into the state of affairs today. In short – they feel the lines between reality and entertainment have been blurred, and that major film studios don’t want to take chances on original work, preferring to stay with tried-and-true formulas, as though no one would ever want to see anything break away from the mold.
There’s no need to go over how North Korea ought to have seen this film for what it is, how this blurring of lines (in using a real country and a real leader as its focus instead of creating a country like MadeItUpOnTheSpotia) was never meant as a blueprint for assassination. Art and film might reflect life, satirize or criticize it, but it will never be life. A photo of a plant will never replace having one in one’s home. Art can explore new areas, new ideas, and give rise to new questions and expand one’s imagination without worry about being “correct”; it never can be. There is always some artifice in the art.
Those possibilities for what art (including film here) can be and do ought to be encouraged, for its originality if nothing else. That’s what Conceptualist Films is about- making documentaries (or film essays, or pieces of art, even) that are original and experimental, interesting and thought-provoking, The film world is a business world, and while it’s understandable that a reliable, oft-used formula for creating a successful film is comfortable and safe, we believe that there’s an audience out there waiting for something new.
Click the photo and expand the screen to watch!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPncYbJUK48&w=700&rel=0]