Colby Hanik
Haiku and Film
A Look Into Abstemious and Beyond
Twp years ago, I helped to start the student organization of FAM, The Film Association of Millikin. Over the past two years, we have made six short films and two full-length films. The past year, a few of my good friends made a short film called Abstemious. The film is centered around a drunken college party night and the aftermath. It focuses on the feeling of depression. I think it is a night that a lot of people have after parties. Alcohol enhances emotions, especially those of depression. It's a depressant. That would be why it is not a good idea to drink when you are not feeling good about yourself. I did not do much for this film. I was an extra in one scene and then I was the voice over for the end of the film.
Now, why am I focusing on this student film in relations to haiku? The reason is that this film deals with a lot of images. Most student films seem to be this way. Student films, for the most part, take on a distinct nature. They
are usually very into setting up shots that are well executed. The shots are mainly stationary and just have a good set-up. It reminds me of haiku in this way. Haiku focuses on a very distinct shot. It is a moment that is taken in and put into words. And this image can speak layers. Film and haiku both have the basic element of imagery. It is both of these art form's duty to paint a picture for the audience. As a film director, I know how important to set up each image. As in haiku, editing is highly involved. The editing of the piece makes it what it actually is. This year I have been working on a full-length film called Envying Alice. It has basically consumed my life. We had our first showing of the film last Saturday. The film went over very well, but I have to say that it will be better in August, when we are submitting it to the Sundance Film Festival.
To focus on editing a little more. I want to give an example from my own haiku work and then focus on a major motion picture.
snap shot
8 years prior
the first
snap shot
summer 94
my first
I think the focus of the haiku changed drastically. In the first one, it is takes a more omnipresent view. Also, it makes it able to transcend time. Ten years from now, if someone read it, it would be talking about 2006. In the second one, I personalized the haiku. It makes a it a little more real. Also, making it 94 gives it a distinct time. It reminds people of a time. It brings back the end of grunge and junior high to me. Editing the haiku shaped and it makes it say what I want to tell.
Now, there is a movie that came out last year that I was deeply affected by and I think a lot of people were as well. In fact, it caused months worth of discussion on our own discussion board. The movie I am talking about is Bowling for Columbine. This movie, if you have not seen it, deals with the Columbine shooting and then the rate of homicide and the fear that lies in America. I found the movie to be simply amazing and it was one of the best movies I have
ever seen. Now, after the film got all the press that it got, people started to try to find inaccuracies in the film. And the thing is, the film portray some things that aren't completely true. It does not out right say it, but it does insinuate. Also, the time on things jumps. Now, the reason for it is editing. In the post-production process, the film took the shape that I got to see. The editing made the film what it was. It made me feel the way I felt. It is the reason I left with that feeling in my stomach.
So, through editing and imagery, the likenesses in haiku and film are evident. We can shape both of these arts into what we deem to be right. We can sculpt them. As with all arts, there is a strive to evoke emotion. This is no other. This art drives on imagery and the emotional value. The film that you are either watching, going to watch, or have watched is called Abstemious, as I said earlier. The images in the film are what make the film. It takes on a first person perspective for the entire film. It focuses
on people and takes pictures of them. It is these images which inspired me. It is a representation of a night, what we actually see and what we actually remember. That is what I am going to write about.
five shots into the night
I see you
across the room
friendly eyes
provide little solace
on this night
he spins in the corner
away from life
in his world
sitting here
wondering what
you're wondering
plastic laugh
as you stay
the center of attention
a single glance
looking through
my soul
red seems like
a good color
for you
drunken stumble
leading me
away from you
as I walk
I play games
with a rock
five shots later
the stairs seem
like a good idea
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