2020

media projections by Nora Vanesky

This short film layers figurative metaphors with literal representations to create a hyperreal critique of how the projection of media can affect our everyday lives.

The two characters warn against labels that restrict our personalities and influence us to present a false narrative of ourselves and distill our endless capabilities. Media presents a vague expectation of how people should look, act, and consume information, which distorts the true essence of our everyday life. We blindly follow unspoken rules to ensure our acceptance within the seemingly unified world but are each facing our own battles.

The messages projected by media affect each of us in a different way, but we can choose to listen or silence the negative voices. The true act of rebellion is to alter the roar of media into a faint whisper so as not to give power to the overwhelming voices. Instead, we focus on one another and choose to create real connections that are not just projections.

The Ballerina Method by Jenika Staben

Starting with warmups and stretches, this black and white short film sequences through one dancer’s core rituals in ballet before a performance. Ballerinas prepare their bodies for defined and expressive movements that are meticulously repeated for unity and poise.

Every detail from the placement of their hands to their pointe shoe’s ribbon wrapped tightly around their ankles is crucial to their routine. Endlessly repeating leaps and turns allows for a smooth performance, but once it is over, they must go back to the barre and restart the ballerina method.

This process of stretching, pointing, and leaping is repeated over and over to improve themselves, their skills, and their routine. All this effort and precision is put forth to achieve the everchanging perfection of ballet.

Nothing by Lauren Sarkissian