Sandwiched

this is john moon, a friend who lives in chicago. he uses a motion picture camera to tell stories. this is about a moment of knowing that you don't always know what story you're telling. knowing that somehow takes the pressure off. -tom

 

Black: hows the night? Red: hey tom, how's it going? Bird paintings, eh? Black: yes Red: taking a vacation from the usual? Black: birds fly -like thoughts Black: well i suppose its the same thing Black: just with added wings Black: a hemline change i suppose Red: cool - when was the last time you made a painting? Black: oh i make a few everyday Black: i've started a series of drawings too Black: drawings of paintings Red: cool Red: are you branching out a bit? or have you always done this? Black: you know - here's an idea - can you make your type red? Black: then this will be a painting Red: sure Black: or a drawing Red: red Black: an importrait painting Black: nice Red: is this good red? Black: good a fine serious portrait of you Black: a fine rich red Red: excellent Black: yes that's a vibrant one Black: alright that's the intro part Black: now for the heart of the matter Black: this is the heart of the matter Black: but your matter Black: how's life? Red: life is... robotic Black: living in the machine age Black: talking reduced to blings Red: very to the point almost. yes. Black: how does a human such as yourself live in the machine age among robots? Red: well. i'm a robot with feeling i guess. Red: kind of like in A.I. or 2001 Black: i robot Red: exactly. maybe that's a good thing though, i don't know Black: we should let everybody know here that you are a maker of films Black: so theres a lot of the mechanical in that right there Red: i am yes. but lately, i haven't been able to say that with confidence Black: confidence is an interesting word Red: this "block" has gone on for much too long. Black: looked up it simply means - a sense of certainty about one's surroundings Black: you could be a block breaker Black: or a block chopper Red: and at one point, i had much certainty. then time passed. my certainty shrunk Black: a block chipper Black: are you certain of that? Red: i'm not sure Red: maybe it's not certainty. but determination - definitely Black: a portrait of confidence should always contain lots of determination Red: yes. but if determination is failing, how do i get the confidence back? Black: there's a certain feeling about confidence Black: i can be a loud feeling Black: a sound feeling Black: that's it Black: it can be a loud feeling Black: that right there is what we might call an outtake Black: an outtake is still film though right? Red: yes. so this would be an outtake for me? Red: this part of my life? Black: maybe outtakes just need to be stitched together with other outtakes and then they wouldn't be outtakes any longer Black: a collage of outtakes Black: a take out menu of outtakes Red: heh heh. now that would be good. that way i wouldn't have to feel as guilty about this outtake Red: stitched outtakes are ok in my book Black: makes making things easier Black: takes the pressure away Red: but in film - too many outtakes aren't too good either Black: you just find that things are already there Red: how do you handle outtakes for your paintings? Black: alright then digital outtakes Black: and an unlimited hard drive Red: as a good thing? a different thing? Black: a different thing - and a good thing Black: both Black: the point where you don't recognize something that is right in front of you is usually the place i like to be Red: hmm. then there might be a fine line of outtakes being something that's good, and unnecessary Black: but that may only last a moment Red: film editing involves outtakes being left on the cutting room floor, often scrapped and ignored by the editor... Black: i like to pick them up as drawings Red: but of course, gets revived years and years later as "bloopers" or "dvd extras" Black: i like to take those judged moments in life and unjudge them Black: just sort of set them free Red: perhaps outtakes in film are a tad different than outtakes in a painting. i don't know. there's a different drive there Black: might be - and the cost might be lower Red: yes Red: speaking of films... Black: it's the time of the big awards soon Red: this sunday i think? Black: black suits and shiny rocks Black: yes i think you're right Red: oh yes. the time of year where "artists" can pat themselves on their backs for a job well done Red: i don't know. i find a lot of that superficial Black: no need for awards? Red: but then again, who isn't? it's enjoyable to watch nonetheless Black: how do you reward yourself? Red: hmm. that's a great question Black: i heard it somewhere Red: honestly. if you create art, and it touches somebody, or stirs a feeling, or moves, or affects Red: shouldn't that be a reward in itself? Black: it is Black: its a very tangible reward that one Red: if your work of art makes you happy - who's to say it should be ranked? Black: every work of art is the only work of art at the moment it is being experienced Red: very nicely put Red: and very true Black: so this is the painting Black: and you're in it Red: excellent. and what a great moment it is Black: a moment can make you realize the potential of the moment Red: i can make us a trophy now, and we'll pat ourselves on the back for a job well done Red: every moment then would have potential. what a great thought Black: see someone could see this and say ... Black: i'm going to make a movie Black: another - i'm going to play violin Black: there's someone who just wants a new sandwich Red: would that be John Gotti? Black: a whipped up miracle movie Red: i heard somewhere that he said something in prison how all he wanted was a good sandwich Black: and how about you Red: i want a good and new sandwich. Black: this painting while open is also a prison of a kind Black: you break free of every moment Black: and enter a new one Red: hmm. paintings... i've always wondered something Black: a perpetual moment sandwich witches us Red: you're limited to a canvas size when you paint. how often do you think about that as you paint? Black: it good to have something you know will bounce the brush back Black: that's a confidence Black: the simple confidence of painting Black: you just know the canvas will catch the mark Red: so it's about the confidence then? i never thought of it that way Black: i think confidence is what happens when all thinking stops Black: when i think about it i've lost it Black: confidence is you and the sandwich alone in the prison cell Red: i think i need that. to stop all thinking Black: that's a good place to say cut Black: diagonal Red: great Red: director yells, "CUT!"