This Thursday, January 29th, 7pm at the Modern Languages Building, Lecture Room 2
The SAC department will be hosting a screening of experimental short films from Ann Arbor Film Festivals past, followed by a panel discussion lead by Screen Arts and Cultures faculty Daniel Herbert, Terri Sarris, and Chris McNamara. SAC senior Joe Biglin will also participate in the panel discussion.
Ann Arbor Film Festival’s experimental shorts are almost impossible to track down and rewatch after they have been screened at the festival itself – this is a rare and wonderful opportunity to participate in an experimental cinematic experience unlike anything one could see at a typical theater.
Moreover, the opportunity to speak with a group of experienced teachers and artists who have themselves experimented with film form over the years may offer a deeper and more rewarding insight to those without prior experience watching or interpreting avant-garde cinema.
this picture shows some stills from AAFF experimental shorts past.
What is it that brings us back to the beloved campfire time and time again? You might say the cozy warmth of the licking flames, the smell of smoky childhood that nestles deep into the folds of your clothes, the S’MORES, that strange phase of limbo where everyone stares longingly at the fire searching for answers to the meaning of life. For me, I’m attracted to the way that fire brings campers closer together. It’s the gathering center. It sparks conversation and ignites storytelling – because really, what else can you do in the woods after dark?
The creators of Radio Campfire feel the same way. This new series of listening events remembers a time where you didn’t have to travel into the woods to hear stories with your closest friends. They are determined to bring back the classic picture of “the family huddled around the human-size radio to hear FDR announce the attack of Pearl Harbor.” With podcasts such as Serial, This American Life, and Welcome to Night Vale becoming ever more popular, the creators realized that this commonly solitary activity of ‘listening’ should go back to its roots as a communal event!
The inaugural event took place in the second floor event space in Literati Bookstore. A bit more formal than sitting on logs surrounding the radio, we packed ourselves into rows of fold-out chairs all facing the same direction. No s’mores, but the feel of bumping elbows with your neighbor actually brought a bit of comfort and intimacy to the night. The creators are very enthusiastic about the concept of “campfire” and even go so far as to call themselves “camp counselors.” They are all either radio producers and audio artists in Southeast Michigan. In order to recreate unique experiences of “the campfire,” they wanted their theme to reflect campfire activities and feelings.
This first event was entitled “The Name Game,” to imitate the first thing we always do when we create a group. “Go around the circle, say your name, and what color you’d be if you were a kind of ink pen.” Ah…the classic name and icebreaker. Thankfully, there were too many people at the actual event to go around, so the counselors stuck to the radio programs to speak for themselves.
By now, you’re probably wondering what it is that we actually listened to! They kept it short with only 10 programs, all which were submitted to them. The programs varied from first-person documentaries to experimental soundscapes to dramatic readings of lists. As long as it produced sound and followed the NAME theme, anything goes!
Highlights of this particular series:
-A list of anagrams of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name
-A dramatic reading of good cat names
-A thought-provoking story about a girl traveling in Mexico who falls in love with a marijuana-smoking, free spirited, and emotionally confusing girl named Cynthia
-A child’s perspective on the “Neighborhood Newsletter” she puts out each week
-A mystical explanation on how the Salish Sea in Canada got its name (complete with the relaxing whoosh of waves in the background!)
Drawing a full house, I’d say that the Radio Campfire was a success! I’m excited to say that they will be holding future events, alternating venues in Detroit and Ann Arbor. The events will always be free and open to the public. There’s something so creatively inspiring about closing your eyes and really listening to what people are saying, something that I think modern day people have real trouble with in the hum of school life and cityscapes. Radio Campfire indeed is a gathering ground for podcast makers, vocal artists, students, listeners, lovers of s’mores, sound junkies, and everyone who has ever been a storyteller.
If you would like to stay up-to-date on the Campfire’s upcoming events, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
The Imitation Game tells the story of British mathematician and cryptologist, Alan Turing. To dedicate oneself to solving the code of the Nazi’s encoding machine, Enigma, Turing and a secret group of cryptologists each possess a unique drive. Featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, this movie tells the lesser known story of how the war was won and the difficulties that this seeming success drew out of the people who brought it about.
Michigan Theater
Showtimes can be found here. Trailer.
Has anyone managed to think of Christmas without thinking of the Nutcracker? Because I know I certainly have not. I grew up hearing the music of Tchaikovsky, knowing the story of the little girl whose gift came to life, and romanticizing about the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The whole performance is something out of a dream, and it seems to bring out the child in everyone, longing for a christmas of miracles.
This performance of the Nutcracker by the Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre was phenomenal. I was unsure of the age range of the ensemble, or of the size of the cast, but was amazed when I realized how many people came together to put on this performance and the variety in the age range. There were children no older than 3 or 4 as well as adults in the company. This made the performance really beautiful in getting to see dancers who are just growing up in a community of performing arts as well as those who can appreciate it later in life. Also, knowing that the whole thing had to be perfectly orchestrated in order to smoothly transition between scenes (given the large amount of people involved and the fantastical props used), I have to say it was a remarkable feat to pull off this show. The stage production must be one of the defining features of the Nutcracker. The costumes glitter, the props are nothing less than extravagant, and the snow at the end of the first act bedazzled the audience. The lavish sets are truly what brought the audience into this dream world.
Of course, the set would be nothing without the cast. Clara and her Nutcracker had great precision in their movements as well as flow in the outline of their dances. They were both high school students, and for that I applaud them greatly. Many of the other performers, such as the Mouse Queen, also executed their roles pristinely. One of my favorite parts of watching a performance is forgetting I am sitting in the audience, and there were definitely times in this performance when I believed I was part of Clara’s dream. Now that I know this performance is put on every year by the same theatre, I am tempted to make it tradition to go back every year I am here. It was the perfect way to ring in the holiday season, get a bit of culture, and enjoy the great music of Tchaikovsky. No matter which form of the performing arts you prefer, there is definitely something for everyone in this production.
Johnnyswim, one of the most passionate ensembles I have ever seen, has once again managed to leave me speechless. Friday night at the Ark cannot get much better than having a sold out crowd, everyone excitedly anticipating the lovely couple Amanda and Abner to take the stage. Of course the Ark always offers itself to a more intimate atmosphere than the common concert venue, but there is something about the chemistry between these two performers that makes you think you have truly witnessed something personal and beautiful.
To start their concert, they walked straight out and jumped right into the Christmas classics, followed up shortly by some of their favorite hits. Although I was skeptical as to how one could work Christmas tunes in with a Johnnyswim concert, I was amazed at how smoothly it worked. They made each of their Christmas renditions their own and put no less than their usual amount of passion and soul into every song. I have to say their version of “What Are You Doing New Years Eve” will be making an easy appearance as my favorite holiday song this season. And of course the additional surprise of realizing they were releasing all these covers on their very own Christmas EP was frosting on the cake. I highly recommend it.
And what would a Johnnyswim concert be if they didn’t reaffirm every belief you had about the world being a beautiful place. Right before they went to intermission, they performed their single “Hallelujah”, an empowering song they wrote while volunteering abroad. They managed to throw in a very genuine description of their experience with orphans on an island off the coast of Asia, asking the audience to spare whatever they can to make the world a better place.
Overall, this concert reaffirmed my belief in music to touch your heart in the most powerful way. Listening to their music, the audience cannot help but smile and move their bodies to the beautiful melodies as well as listen in awe to the lyrics written by this inspirational duo. There is not a single song in their repertoire that I would not have loved to hear live, but I feel blessed to have been there that night, just to experience their zeal first-hand for the second time in my life. I urge anyone who has the opportunity to see this band live. You will not be disappointed.
The $1.5 million which Gianandrea Noseda personally raised to take an orchestra of 88, chorus of 80 and 11 soloists on an international tour was well spent if Tuesday’s performance was any indication. The opera William Tell, performed as a concert with music stands placed at the front of the stage for the soloists and the choir remaining on risers throughout the performance, places intense demands on each member of the company but especially the tenor who portrays Arnoldo. John Osborn was clearly up to the task, stealing the show during his act two duet with Mathilde, sung by the equally impressive Angela Meade.
A high musical standard was maintained throughout the entire performance which lasted over 4 hours (even with cuts to the score and robust tempos) and consisted of two intermissions after the first and second acts of the opera. The four-section overture that begins the opera was especially impressive, particularly the subdued cello solo that grew to include the rest of the section setting the mood of resignation which the opening of act one requires.
Conductor Gianandrea Noseda on the podium at the Chicago performance of William Tell. (Armando L. Sanchez, Chicago Tribune)
Yet, the night truly belonged to Conductor Gianandrea Noseda. In August, Mr. Noseda publically threatened to resign after disagreements with Walter Vergnano, General Manager of Teatro Regio Torino. It was only just before this tour that Mr. Noseda announced that he would be staying, although further details must be worked out before his contract is renewed. This 4 city North American tour (Chicago, Toronto, New York and Ann Arbor) was designed to show the company’s growth and newfound international stature, and last night Mr. Noseda’s production did just that. On the podium, Mr. Noseda was a dramatic force of nature with his arms energetically carving through the air making the average conductor look lethargic at best. Although grandiose at times, Mr. Noseda’s ictus remained clear and extracted such a magnificent sound from his musicians at all times that little was left to be desired from this rare performance of Rossini’s William Tell.
