In "The Archive": What I believe is effective with this narrative is the opaque topic. Not anybody could be Paul Mawhinney, he is an irregular regarding his music gathering. This gives a remarkable offering point before viewing the narrative. This present that we the group of onlookers should know immediately what the narrative will be about without having the subject expound. The way the narrative is introduced is very intriguing as the main voices that the audience hear is his and her significant other's however truths are displayed on screen where necessary and not said by means of a storyteller. This gives it a more individual feel as it's both driving the story. The set-up shots utilize a portion of the sound from the interviews over the top. This keeps the audience interested in as they get the chance to see something other than what's expected on-screen however keeps the story moving in the restricted time. There are additionally the rehashed utilization of a record playing on a phonograph. This is utilized when another melody starts to play out of sight. This is a helpful strategy as the audience knows he will have a turn table in his shop and it fits the topic of the narrative.
Azad Patel: The film follows all the guidelines of traditional documentary film making. It is the best example of the documentary, if you are not looking for any creativity. It is very simple to understand and the lighting is bright too. It has three point lightings in the interviews and also has the good look room. Towards the end, it revels that he wants to sell his collection and nobody wants to give him the money he is asking. So, it is telling a story which has the beginning, the middle, and the climax, and it really impresses me. The arc of story telling is defiantly seen in the film.
Alex Hubbard: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne Music is this film. From the opening shot, with the isles and isles of records in the background, and Paul Mawhinney's opening remark of the oldest record in his collection, the viewer immediately gets a sense of the importance of music in this film. With only four songs chosen, they effect the mood of each story arch. The beginning, "Skip It" by The Shades gives the film a cheery and exciting opening with the introduction to the largest personal record archive in existence. "Echo Boogie" still keeps the viewer on the upbeat, giving a slightly deeper song as we learn about Paul's life before his collecting grew to such an intensity. Near the closing of the second arch, we learn that Paul's interaction with other people has grown scarce, no one understands his love for his collection and no one appreciates him or his archive. This third depressing story arch is exemplified at full-force by "Thinking of You" by the Silvertones. Without this change in music, Paul's words would not match the mood of the film, it would be inconsistent and confusing for the viewer. The somber music shifts the film from excitement about this impressive collection, to disappointment in the world's lack of interest. "Music" by John Miles creates the fourth story arch, the finale. Paul's life has lead to nothing. With this information, the viewer can assume that Paul's collection, his life, has lead to a dead end. He stands alone listening to a record. The lighting gives the viewer a sense that this is where Paul spends all of his time, under unflattering fluorescent lighting with no company. The space feels old and lived in, like the storage space has become Paul's permanent nest. What struck me is that Paul and his wife were never placed in the same frame. The choice to keep him isolated from anyone else emphasized his isolation and obsessiveness with his collection. He is always alone, even his wife is distant from him. He stays close by his music, wandering the hallways of his life's work. The only company that keeps him are the halls of his collection. This film made me feel sad more than anything else. What a waste, to spend your life in search of material goods only to realize by the end of your life that your lack of human connection has left you alone in a poorly lit storage space.
Kyle Heinze: The Archive by Sean Dunne This film is, for the most part, a very well done example of a nonfiction film. It embodies the standard documentary form, making use of multiple interview segments interlaced with numerous clips of b-roll. The director made excellent choices as far as positioning in the frame on both the interviews and b-roll shots. What was most profound to me was the brilliant lighting that set the tone for the piece. This balanced well with the audio used, which began as upbeat and celebratory. It then slowed down to a slow and sad beat which matched well with the depressed mood of the latter half of the piece. The repeated and fading sound effect of a record scratching capped off the piece. Overall I thought the film was well done and the narrative was well-organized.
Gabriel Carden: The Archive The film is a short documentary on the small business of a record store owner. The film uses the 'talking head' style to introduce the audience to Paul as well as his wife. Paul narrates much of the movie through voice overs as we see various images and continuous shots of his store, the records, and records being played. Incorporated into the dialogue are panning shots of the store as we take in how vast the collection is. To establish time, there is a moment where we seeing an old still of the record store - giving the documentary credibility. Interviews with Paul and his wife consist of medium shots that focus our attention on them and blur the background. This documentary is short and simplistic in it's approach to spreading the story of a man and his love for records.
Katy Hale: The Archive This film is a short documentary about a man and his everlasting love for music. The film shows a variety of medium shots during the interview, wide shots to show the collection of records and the store, and close up shots of the records being played. I enjoyed the close up shots of the B Roll because it showed the significance and importance of the records, and how much they are worth. The music in the background of each shot really helped tell the story of this film, and it really made me feel for Paul. I really liked the end scene, because it showed time passing, without it really passing. With this being said, I thought it was cool to see all the lights shut off one light at a time until it went completely dark. I thought it was a really nice way to end the film, while giving the audience a feel of what Paul is going through.
Miranda Fulmore: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne I thought this was a really cool topic to have a short film based around. To me, it's very cool to know that his collection exits because not only do I love music, but I love records. In this short, Dunne focuses on telling the "music man's" story and how his collection started and grew, but he also focuses on the ongoing theme that music on records is part of the past and a dying interests. In the music man's voice and story you can hear almost this pain that he feels that I know many older generations are feeling as well. To many, listening to vinyl was an everyday tradition. Dunne makes the music man's pain very real for us when he has the shot starting at (5:33). He uses a somber shot of the music man listening to a song as he stares out into the distance while facts appear in the lower left hand of the screen talking about the collections worth and how he hasn't had any offers. Naturally, I couldn't help but notice the lyrics of the song that the music man was listening to. They were: "Music was my first love, And it will be my last. Music of the future, Music of the past. Music of the past. Music of the past."
With the soothing voice of the artist, you can tell that this is the music man's love song to music itself. His pain becomes even more real at (6:22) when he gets emotional and almost looks like there could be tears welling up under his sunglasses, yet Dunne doesn't directly reveal them to the viewers. The music man later reveals that the song being played is his life song because he's given his life to music.
Dunne closes the short film with different shots of the giant walls of music in the music store turning their lights off and finishes the last shot with a darkly lit room with the "checkout" sign visible. Then they turn off the lights kind of like the music man had to turn off and put away a part of his life and passion. You can't help but feel for him.
Braedan Snow: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne This short film embodies traits of a traditional documentary piece, with talking heads and b-roll footage placed over an interview. The interviews in the video were well composed, and on location and relevant to what Paul and his wife were speaking out. Dunne followed the rule of thirds in his interviews, and placed his subjects on either side with appropriate look room. One thing I thought Dunne did very well was the opening shot; it was a interesting and creative way of introducing what the film was going to cover without being too traditional and boring- it really hooks the audience in, which is very critical now days because of people's shortened attention span. The b-roll was equally as impressive, because it could get pretty mundane to film albums on a shelf, but Danne created a variety of shots and even used camera movements to keep the shots visually striking. I also liked how Dunne brought in another subject to interview; Paul's wife. This gives the audience another perspective that we would not have gotten from just solely listening to Paul talk. Dunne also translated Paul's emotion into his shots, as his b-roll shots progressively got wider and more empty. Near the beginning of the video his shots were very tight and intimate, reflecting Paul's strong emotional attachment to his records, then as the video wrapped up and Paul explained that he had to give up doing what he loved, Dunnes shots got more distant, as he would move through the empty aisles with the haunted lighting. This progressive really shifts the mood of the video and connects the viewer to how defeated Paul is. Overall, I thought that for a traditional documentary style video, this piece had a variety of shots that made it visually stimulating and a narrative aspect that coupled nicely with the corresponding b-roll footage.
Ella Oprandy: The Archive by Sean Dunne There was a good amount of emotion in this short documentary but it didn’t feel inauthentic. Given the sheer size of his archive, Mr. Mawhinney obviously has a real passion for records but Dunne did a good job of conveying Mawhinney's passion for music by including his argument for the superiority of records to digital music. Additionally, the inclusion of Mawhinney's wife in this doc seamlessly provided an explanation for the store's existence/beginnings and added a softer, less angry emotional source. Unsurprisingly, the background music in this piece was really well-chosen and matched well with what was being said or shown during it. The song that begin around the 3-minute mark especially did a good job of maintaining the air of nostalgia that shrouded this documentary and fit well the bleakness of Mawhinney's, and apparently the youth of today's, situation when it comes to music. The closing scene where record store's lights were being turned off in time to the music was really powerful in punctuating the sadness and finality of sort of the death of the vinyl that the main guy's experience represents. On a lighter note, I think that vinyl has seen a minor kind of revival in the past few years into the present so I hope the Mr. Mawhinney has been able to witness that and hopefully benefit from it and sell his collection, in the 8 years since this aired. Overall, The Archive was very interesting and relevant despite the fact that it was made almost a decade ago.
Virginia Nobles: First thing that I noticed in "The Archive" was that the space in which Mr. Mawhinney keeps his records in kind of looks like the basement of Gorgas library. The quality of the video was pretty shotty and I kept finding myself pausing it to see if there was a quality setting button. However, I feel like it was computer or website error more than producer error. As for Mr. Mawhinney and his story, I found it to be pretty sad and it made me wish that I had even half as much passion for something. I had some questions in the beginning of the video but was pretty pleased as they were all eventually answered. Overall, I think Dunne did a good job making this video. The camera angles were nice looking and flowed well and the music he put to the video went nicely with it.
The Archive- Kat Flandermeyer This film accomplishes a very cinematic look within a real subject. The cinematography is fantastic for the themes of the documentary. The b-roll of Mawhinney working overlays him talking about his devotion to the collection. The record closeups- although a little overused- give his collection life. And the shot of the lights going out in his store is a great metaphor for the twilight of his life and career. Technically the film is well-lit and the sound is high quality. I love the incorporation of the records themselves into the background music. The subject is unique and presents a premise that interests the viewer. I'm not even a music buff, and I would love a chance to explore that collection. The use of text instead of voice-over adds to the cinematic nature. Mawhinney is a character, not just the focus. He is a part of the film's story, but the film itself exists on a level above him. I love this concept of shooting a documentary with intrinsic story elements instead of shooting a simple interview.
The short film “The Archive” is an amazing interview captured on film by Sean Dunne. Not only are the shots extremely well put together but the story we here is what makes the film exceptional. Getting to hear Paul’s story behind the records and his passion towards collecting them is incredible. You can really tell how much he loves them especially having over a million of them in his archive. Dunne does a great job with the B-roll, showing the records and seeing just how old these records are and how many he has.
Sean Dunne did a great with the compositions used in this short film. He captured the massive size of Paul's collection with the use of depth of field, high angles, and the proper use of directional lines of the shelves and surrounding environment. The choice of music and lighting in my opinion gives off a sort of bittersweet tone. On one hand Paul is well lit and accompanied with upbeat music while discussing his passion and how his collection came to be, and on the other hand even though the place is lit there is a dark isolated characteristic about the shop. To be such a massive shop it feels lonely because there is no other person/ customer no where in sight. It complements the idea that Paul and the text give about no one being interested in buying the collection. The scene with the lights cutting of one by one was a good representation of Paul's life and health issues with loss of sight. Something that was such a big bright part of his life is slowly diminishing to an ending that's not equating to the love and passion that was put in to it. It's good to know he lived his passion, but it's sad to feel that a life long dedication will not be appreciated and expire with him.
Sean Dunne used the music in this film to his advantage. If it weren't for the music, I don't think he would have been able to just show use the beauty of his collection, at least not just with his own words. I enjoyed the strong opinions he had about music today. Sean though that music today was dead because of the formats that it is played on today. He did a great job about explaining how Vinyl was better than MP3. It was also easy to sympathize with him, because I think it shows how his generation could be disappointed with how society is today. He might have had a hard time letting go to a sweet and happy moment of his life. I enjoyed the story too. Anyone that has that kind of passion for anything can make for good entertainment.
The colors of the film lend greatly to it's story. When most people think of documentaries of older time they think of them in black and white. But this film employs a very muted mix of greens and browns; this gives the feeling of age while not shifting to a full black and white or sepia color scheme. The colors seem to brighten during the close ups on the records being played, giving a feeling of life returning to the film. The subject choice was wonderful. Paul's archive is interesting, but it is made that much more interesting by his storytelling. The B roll footage was wonderfully shot. The choice of using the record close ups for song changes was amazing, and the long shots down the rows of records gave a good sense of scale to the archive.
I loved this story from the beginning. I play music and it is a true passion of mine. Seeing old records brought to life in this documentary was awesome. The camera shots were very nice, especially the close ups of the records and the record player. This documentary also did a great job showing Paul's emotion and enthusiasm of his records. The documentary also does a great job telling us the story of Record-Rama and the impact it has had on Paul. It made the documentary more interesting. The music was also beautifully used. Sean Dunne did a great job focusing on the raw sound a record gave people, like Paul, and the emotion the music perceived. Paul's record collection was outstanding, but Sean Dunne did an excellent job telling us a story instead of it just being about a record collection.
Ben Boynton: I think the setup/beginning was pretty weak. The "cold open" of the guy just holding up the record and telling us about it might have been a solid idea, but the execution was lacking. I think some sort of context or something before that might have benefited the project. The rest of the film was fine. I think the records as transitions was well-thought out and worked for me. The piece had a solid mix of b-roll footage and actual interview footage, and having the guy holding his records and moving around his archive gave the whole thing a sense of life that sitting down talking about the archive did not. I think there could have been more of him walking and talking or doing something and talking, but he had good hand movements and gestures that kept you from being bored, and you can clearly hear the passion in his voice. Layering it under several of the old records was genius. The part near the end where it's telling us that he hasn't sold his collection yet and he is just sitting there listening to his music is very powerful. It was a strong decision by Dunne to juxtapose the sadness of the text/captions with the pure emotion of the guy listening to his music. The lights turning off on the collection was super cliche but it worked with this one.
The Documentary was very unique. Watching this documentary, I noticed that background behind the main subject is very important. The background displayed the most important theme of the entire documentary, which is the valuable records. The camera placement throughout the film seemed very traditional, which is shown in many other documentary films. The lighting looked very natural. I couldn’t tell if the Three-point lighting was used, but the lighting captured the background and the subject in front of the camera perfectly. The volume throughout was good. He obviously was using a lavaliere mic, because it was shown on his shirt. This film displayed the passion he had for music records. I love the ending where the front desk was shown and then the lights were turned off. To me, it had a meaning, which like he stated in the film, the appreciation of records has diminished and it will eventually stop forever, which to me, the lighting meant no more.
Nicole Nelson: The Archive by Seane Dunne I found this documentary very interesting. My grandparents loved listening to records and every Christmas they would play Elvis Presley. The documentary itself was very well put together. Each Shot gave more emphasis on the importance of the man's collection and helped describe the size of his collection as well. I thought the audio level was maintained throughout the film and helped the audience connect emotionally with the main character. Considering the main characters hearing disability, this film really helps describes the passion and love this man has for music and his records. I thought the story flowed very well and each shot was carefully put together. The very last shot of the man listening to his record completed the story and brought everything full circle. Overall i really enjoyed this film and the hidden message behind it.
Dylan Milinkovich: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne The Archive is a short documentary that covers the topic of a small store filled with records. It covers everything from the soft music playing in the background to the medium close up shots of the husband and wife talking about the collection and start of the store. I like the smooth pans of the aisles and aisles of records showing the huge collection; it gives a sense of feeling almost overwhelmed by the size. Paul is well lit and has a pretty upbeat tone as he talks about the past life of the shop and his love for music. Towards the end, the tone seems to shift just a little bit as text explains that he is legally blind and there are no customers that appreciate the records anymore. It starts to play a slower more saddening tone. Overall, I though the film waas well put together and made great use of lighting, camera angles, and audio to develop the story even more.
Madison naves: The archive by Seane Dunne reminded me much of the projects we are currently focusing on in lab. This particular interview did not strike me as interesting at first but the way the director captured the pride and love Paul mawhinney had for his records made it entertaining and intriguing. The love was expressed so greatly that it almost inspires the audience or at least me to want to find this massive archive and find ethereal peace in it the way Paul does. As a fellow music lover I was able to connect with Paul's love of music and sound but this film did remind me of an episode of hoarders and it made me wonder why he hasn't sold the records piece by piece instead of asking for $3 million upfront for the whole collection. The one thing that bothered me in the film was the lighting it seemed so dim and almost bleak adding a sad tone to the film even though it should have been lighthearted and bright in my opinion. It almost seemed to me that with the lighting and the long portrait like view of Paul at the end, it was as if Dunne wanted us to have deep empathy for Paul especially when he added the ending notes that his collection was worth more than 15 times his actual asking price and have Paul's wife in the film to express how much he really lives for his music and how he has made music his life. my favorite scene in this film would be right after the opening of Paul holding up the record. Dunne gives us a close shot of a record spinning and seeing the record spinning reminded me of a ride possibly at a fair as if Paul's collection is an eternal fair for him that will never fail to make him happy.
Rolf Konrad: The Archive by Sean Dunne This is a pretty standard documentary style film. It mixes in talking head interviews as well as b-roll within the large record archive. What I enjoyed within it was the shots that are used to display the record collection. These shots help to give us the feeling that we are peering down one of the aisles towards an endless collection of records. The use of text on screen to guide the narration of the documentary was cool because it helped segue the story into a different topics about his collection. The music that plays in the background helps set the emotion of what Paul is discussing. The first track is exciting when discussing his large collection and how it came to be. The second track gives an emotion of sadness as he discusses the closing of the record store and how the world does not care about what he has done. The final track gives us a solemn feeling. Paul stands there while the music plays awaiting the day when someone will appreciate his life’s work. The closing shots display the record store empty and the lights turning off help to display the end of the documentary, and also unfortunately the reality that everyone is closing their eyes to this collection.
Devin Murphy: The Archive by Sean Dunne is a whimsical, 70's-esque short film that exhibits the man who own's the world's largest collection of records. The film successfully illustrates the pride, sacrifice and determination that Paul Mawhinney's collecting has required. The film maker used a cool toned color pallet and MW interview shots that I have usually associated with sad stories from shows like Intervention and my strange addiction, but the only sad aspect of this story is the deterioration of record collecting and the importance of preservation. The sad tone seemed to be highlighting the forgotten art that time has replaced with electronic archive systems that only have a fraction of the music Paul owns. Paul's dedication to music and his expansive collection is inspiring and important for future generations. Tangible history is being protected by this man and the creator of the short film captured that in a way that invokes respect for the character but a sympathy for his attatchment to a fleeting medium.
This film is the perfect cookie cutter example of a documentary. It is very simple and brightly lit. The shots are almost all still shots sitting on a tripod with very little movement. The shots did however portray this record collection to be just as massive as it is in writing. It gave a feeling of being forced to patiently wait. Paul is forced to wait for a buyer that may never come. With the use of on screen text, the music playing in the background as Paul stands motionless, and the final piece of the conclusion where all the lights slowly turn off section by section really ended with a feeling of longing by Paul.
I really enjoyed the short film The Archive. Aside from a few weird, unprofessional shots at the beginning, it was very well put together and had a very clear beginning, middle, and end. It was a great example of a nonfiction documentary, with multiple interview segments with nicely timed b-roll shots. He utilized various shot types very successfully, like medium shots in the interview and close up shots of the records, conveying the importance of these records to the storyteller. The music in the background of each shot really helped tell the story of this film, and it truly made its audience emphasize with Paul. The lighting was also very well done, enhancing all the correct moments and setting a mood for the film. I really enjoyed this film and thought it was well done.
Sam Sheriff: The Archive by Sean Dunne definitely makes you feel for its subject in Paul Mawhinney, but to me the overall composition isn't all that special. The one shot that stands out the most is the letter boxed one about a minute in. That framing is reminiscent of old consumer use film, and I think that it would have been nice for them to use that aesthetic more. I also like the shots with the lights shutting off, but I think that it would have worked better if that last shot from the first set of three had been the end of the film. It syncs up perfectly with the music and having the credits roll on the simple blackness would've had a greater impact and would've signified more finality. They could have even moved the final comments from Paul earlier in the sequence and had the checkout lights turning off as part of that initial set. Overall I think that the film conveys its message well, and its typical inserts work, but it would have been nice to see more experimentation somehow from the camera operator, and the more impactful ending like I discussed.
The Archive executes B Roll perfectly. The shots and color correction create for a beautiful composition of that fits perfectly with the story. The story was compelling and the emotion from the interview made me interested in the topic. The interviewees were the perfect choice to entice the audience into making the visit into his shop.
Peyton Wilkins: The Archive by Sean Dunne The Archive is a documentary that makes the audience empathize with the subject. Paul Mawhinney is a blind older man with a collection of records that mean the world to him, but they seem to mean nothing to the world. All he wants is for people to appreciate his collection as he does, but there is no hope. The music in The Archive expresses the mood of Paul as he becomes upset about the future of his records. The B-roll of this documentary shows his life work and how large his collection is. The interviews are set up with a good balance of looking room and lighting. I like the use of text to get the information across without introducing a new narrator. I would have liked to see a more hopeful ending instead of the lights all turning out at the end. It leaves the audience wondering what Paul's future holds and if anyone will by his records.
John Anderson: The Archive by Sean Dunne About 5 and a half minutes into this documentary, Paul Mawhinney puts a record on the turntable that sings "music was my first love, and it will be my last, music of the future, music of the past." Paul sits and listens to this record as the camera rolls for about a minute as he progressively becomes more emotional as the song goes on. This shot had an incredible impact, giving the viewers an uncensored look into what this record collection truly means to Paul. The juxtaposition between the lyrics of this particular record and the narrative of the story is profound. As the song reaches its climax, different shots of the lights shutting off represents the end of his run with his beloved archive. These particular sequences paired together did an excellent job of giving the viewer a sense of what music means to Paul.
Keri Drake: The Archive by Sean Dunne The Archive is a documentary on Paul Mawhinney and his collection of records. The interview was shot with great lighting and a great background of his shop which fits wonderfully with what he was talking about. I loved how they included in his wife as well with her being an important factor to him opening up a store. I love how in the interview the focus is primarily on him, but you can still tell and know that his records are in the background letting you know where it is taking place. The B-roll that was taken is wonderful, all the different looks of the shop and telling his love for the music. The closeups of the records playing is my favorite. with them being records you know it is older music so I definitely love how they have the music playing throughout the documentary, the song choice fits the vibe the producer was going for and make the film flows perfectly. The producer did a great job putting it together because you can tell this is something Mr. Mawhinney is passionate about it. The shot variety was great, definitely a great piece of work all together.
Sean Dunne's The Archive really knows how to end a movie. The final shot of the chiaroscuro checkout area is not only aesthically pleasing, but dense with meaning. Before we dive into the meaning, some conjectures as context: Paul Mahwinney, the documentary's subject, is a relic of a bygone age, just like the records in his archive and his classical brick-and-mortar shop. While the records' sounds are more beautiful and rare and valuable than any music available elsewhere, the world has moved on from Paul Mahwinney and what he stands for. In The Archive, the records are characters just as much as Paul is, and their shared states of misplacement, both belonging in the past and trapped in the present, are conveyed visually and stunningly through the final shot, which clings to the dimly lit checkout sign for a little too long, waiting, like Paul and his records, for the world of the film to move on from us, yet still sad to see it go.
This film is orchestrated like a documentary with interviews and different clips. The film is about Pauls life narrated by him for the most part which I thought was excellent for this story with the b roll and different images of his record store. There are many great moments in this film, for example, during the interviews with Paul and his wife really focused on the two of them with the background blurred out. The medium shots during the interviews really brought the story together for me as well. Overall great film. Very short, Great story, and informative.
Nick Stellon: The Archive by Sean Dunne The archive is like any other good film, it has something to say. But the way that director Sean Dunne goes about this is extremely effective. The purpose of this piece is to feel sympathetic for the state of the vinyl music industry. To do this however, Dunne realizes we need to be sympathetic to characters. He interviews the shop owner and lets us into his life through that interview. We hear the owner's story and become fond with him. In another sense, Dunne uses B-Roll to show us that the record archive has a character of its own. We see through shots that it has intense history and beauty, and it makes the audience want to be there. By establishing this sympathy toward characters in the first few minutes of the doc, Dunne now essentially controls how we feel about the result. When we see that no one is interested in buying the shop, we feel for the characters. This can only be established through a great interview, which done accomplishes with the owner, and beautiful B-Roll, which Dunne shows us through the shop.
This film really spoke to me. Maybe that was because I share the same kind of love for music as this man does. This short film was executed very well though, in my opinion. I loved how they used the man's record collection as the music for the short film instead of inputting in different tracks late. It really added impact and feeling to the story that the man was telling. I also loved how at the beginning of each new thought, or new plot line in the story that he was telling, they would show a close up of a different record and then continue to play that record in the background as he explained his life story. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this short documentary film and I felt that the camerawork and overall way that he film maker portrayed and told the story of the man being interviewed was excellent.
I really enjoyed the familiar structure of the Archive. It has a message to deliver, conveyed in the traditional documentary filmmaking style. It intertwines the B-Roll footage and the interview shots into a coherent short film. The film utilize the background music as a tool, further immersing the viewer into the music store. The film does a great job at giving a nod to the dying vinyl industry and making the viewer feel something about it.
Man oh man... this one really hit me in the feelings. I'll buy it, Paul! Just give me a couple years to become a millionaire. It's a fascinating topic, and I'm glad these filmmakers decided to shed light on it. I love music, and though I don't really have much of a vinyl collection I've always wanted to start one once I could, so I found this particular subject extremely engrossing. Of course, to talk about the actual mechanics of the film itself, the use of usic was vitally important and excellently done, cutting back to the spinning records as if to say, "See? You're still listening to real vinyl! We swear!" The choice to interview the couple in the midst of the gargantuan collection was obvious, but effective. And the moody ending, as the lights of the store went out as whatever song that was gave way to sputtering silence, was very moving. Dang, now I want to do some research on "The Archive." I gotta hear all those rare records!
Jordan Williams: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne was definitely an archive. Seeing the romance that Paul had with music and almost how you can consider music as his "mistress" except without him hiding his love. For him to say that "83 percent" of the music he owns people can't buy nor find it, tells how he really has a gold mine of the music. To see the passion and pride displayed in his collection brings a sentimental side to where this is his most prized possession ever. As the audience realizes that Paul is actually a millionaire, you start to wonder if this was his plan all along. Maybe as he began to collect music he knew that music overtime would become priceless. That is why this piece is special. He realized that music was a love and overtime he would benefit from it. Showing some of his collection with artists like Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, and the Rolling Stones shows his versatility in music was wide. Sean Dunne really picked a gold mine literally and figuratively . I loved it!
Gretchen Franz: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne. What I thought was most interesting about this piece was the integration of his actual records into the film. Each change of topic or mood was shown by a shot of a record spinning on a record player, playing the music that fits the mood. I enjoyed how they elaborated on how "the archive" came to be and why he started collecting records in the first place. You develop a relationship with Paul, his wife and his records and simply want to see them succeed. In term of sound, you could see as the shots changed, and distance from the subject changed, the sound of their voice remained constant. It can be assumed that this is due to the mic placement on the subject. This film also included many wide shots to establish the immensity of the record store and show how impressive it really was.
In "The Archive": What I believe is effective with this narrative is the opaque topic. Not anybody could be Paul Mawhinney, he is an irregular regarding his music gathering. This gives a remarkable offering point before viewing the narrative. This present that we the group of onlookers should know immediately what the narrative will be about without having the subject expound. The way the narrative is introduced is very intriguing as the main voices that the audience hear is his and her significant other's however truths are displayed on screen where necessary and not said by means of a storyteller. This gives it a more individual feel as it's both driving the story. The set-up shots utilize a portion of the sound from the interviews over the top. This keeps the audience interested in as they get the chance to see something other than what's expected on-screen however keeps the story moving in the restricted time. There are additionally the rehashed utilization of a record playing on a phonograph. This is utilized when another melody starts to play out of sight. This is a helpful strategy as the audience knows he will have a turn table in his shop and it fits the topic of the narrative.
ReplyDeleteAzad Patel: The film follows all the guidelines of traditional documentary film making. It is the best example of the documentary, if you are not looking for any creativity. It is very simple to understand and the lighting is bright too. It has three point lightings in the interviews and also has the good look room. Towards the end, it revels that he wants to sell his collection and nobody wants to give him the money he is asking. So, it is telling a story which has the beginning, the middle, and the climax, and it really impresses me. The arc of story telling is defiantly seen in the film.
ReplyDeleteAlex Hubbard: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteMusic is this film. From the opening shot, with the isles and isles of records in the background, and Paul Mawhinney's opening remark of the oldest record in his collection, the viewer immediately gets a sense of the importance of music in this film. With only four songs chosen, they effect the mood of each story arch. The beginning, "Skip It" by The Shades gives the film a cheery and exciting opening with the introduction to the largest personal record archive in existence. "Echo Boogie" still keeps the viewer on the upbeat, giving a slightly deeper song as we learn about Paul's life before his collecting grew to such an intensity. Near the closing of the second arch, we learn that Paul's interaction with other people has grown scarce, no one understands his love for his collection and no one appreciates him or his archive. This third depressing story arch is exemplified at full-force by "Thinking of You" by the Silvertones. Without this change in music, Paul's words would not match the mood of the film, it would be inconsistent and confusing for the viewer. The somber music shifts the film from excitement about this impressive collection, to disappointment in the world's lack of interest. "Music" by John Miles creates the fourth story arch, the finale. Paul's life has lead to nothing. With this information, the viewer can assume that Paul's collection, his life, has lead to a dead end. He stands alone listening to a record.
The lighting gives the viewer a sense that this is where Paul spends all of his time, under unflattering fluorescent lighting with no company. The space feels old and lived in, like the storage space has become Paul's permanent nest. What struck me is that Paul and his wife were never placed in the same frame. The choice to keep him isolated from anyone else emphasized his isolation and obsessiveness with his collection. He is always alone, even his wife is distant from him. He stays close by his music, wandering the hallways of his life's work. The only company that keeps him are the halls of his collection.
This film made me feel sad more than anything else. What a waste, to spend your life in search of material goods only to realize by the end of your life that your lack of human connection has left you alone in a poorly lit storage space.
Kyle Heinze: The Archive by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThis film is, for the most part, a very well done example of a nonfiction film. It embodies the standard documentary form, making use of multiple interview segments interlaced with numerous clips of b-roll. The director made excellent choices as far as positioning in the frame on both the interviews and b-roll shots. What was most profound to me was the brilliant lighting that set the tone for the piece. This balanced well with the audio used, which began as upbeat and celebratory. It then slowed down to a slow and sad beat which matched well with the depressed mood of the latter half of the piece. The repeated and fading sound effect of a record scratching capped off the piece. Overall I thought the film was well done and the narrative was well-organized.
Gabriel Carden: The Archive
ReplyDeleteThe film is a short documentary on the small business of a record store owner. The film uses the 'talking head' style to introduce the audience to Paul as well as his wife. Paul narrates much of the movie through voice overs as we see various images and continuous shots of his store, the records, and records being played. Incorporated into the dialogue are panning shots of the store as we take in how vast the collection is. To establish time, there is a moment where we seeing an old still of the record store - giving the documentary credibility. Interviews with Paul and his wife consist of medium shots that focus our attention on them and blur the background. This documentary is short and simplistic in it's approach to spreading the story of a man and his love for records.
Katy Hale: The Archive
ReplyDeleteThis film is a short documentary about a man and his everlasting love for music. The film shows a variety of medium shots during the interview, wide shots to show the collection of records and the store, and close up shots of the records being played. I enjoyed the close up shots of the B Roll because it showed the significance and importance of the records, and how much they are worth. The music in the background of each shot really helped tell the story of this film, and it really made me feel for Paul. I really liked the end scene, because it showed time passing, without it really passing. With this being said, I thought it was cool to see all the lights shut off one light at a time until it went completely dark. I thought it was a really nice way to end the film, while giving the audience a feel of what Paul is going through.
Miranda Fulmore: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a really cool topic to have a short film based around. To me, it's very cool to know that his collection exits because not only do I love music, but I love records. In this short, Dunne focuses on telling the "music man's" story and how his collection started and grew, but he also focuses on the ongoing theme that music on records is part of the past and a dying interests. In the music man's voice and story you can hear almost this pain that he feels that I know many older generations are feeling as well. To many, listening to vinyl was an everyday tradition. Dunne makes the music man's pain very real for us when he has the shot starting at (5:33). He uses a somber shot of the music man listening to a song as he stares out into the distance while facts appear in the lower left hand of the screen talking about the collections worth and how he hasn't had any offers. Naturally, I couldn't help but notice the lyrics of the song that the music man was listening to. They were:
"Music was my first love,
And it will be my last.
Music of the future,
Music of the past.
Music of the past.
Music of the past."
With the soothing voice of the artist, you can tell that this is the music man's love song to music itself. His pain becomes even more real at (6:22) when he gets emotional and almost looks like there could be tears welling up under his sunglasses, yet Dunne doesn't directly reveal them to the viewers. The music man later reveals that the song being played is his life song because he's given his life to music.
Dunne closes the short film with different shots of the giant walls of music in the music store turning their lights off and finishes the last shot with a darkly lit room with the "checkout" sign visible. Then they turn off the lights kind of like the music man had to turn off and put away a part of his life and passion. You can't help but feel for him.
Braedan Snow: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThis short film embodies traits of a traditional documentary piece, with talking heads and b-roll footage placed over an interview. The interviews in the video were well composed, and on location and relevant to what Paul and his wife were speaking out. Dunne followed the rule of thirds in his interviews, and placed his subjects on either side with appropriate look room. One thing I thought Dunne did very well was the opening shot; it was a interesting and creative way of introducing what the film was going to cover without being too traditional and boring- it really hooks the audience in, which is very critical now days because of people's shortened attention span. The b-roll was equally as impressive, because it could get pretty mundane to film albums on a shelf, but Danne created a variety of shots and even used camera movements to keep the shots visually striking. I also liked how Dunne brought in another subject to interview; Paul's wife. This gives the audience another perspective that we would not have gotten from just solely listening to Paul talk. Dunne also translated Paul's emotion into his shots, as his b-roll shots progressively got wider and more empty. Near the beginning of the video his shots were very tight and intimate, reflecting Paul's strong emotional attachment to his records, then as the video wrapped up and Paul explained that he had to give up doing what he loved, Dunnes shots got more distant, as he would move through the empty aisles with the haunted lighting. This progressive really shifts the mood of the video and connects the viewer to how defeated Paul is. Overall, I thought that for a traditional documentary style video, this piece had a variety of shots that made it visually stimulating and a narrative aspect that coupled nicely with the corresponding b-roll footage.
Ella Oprandy: The Archive by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThere was a good amount of emotion in this short documentary but it didn’t feel inauthentic. Given the sheer size of his archive, Mr. Mawhinney obviously has a real passion for records but Dunne did a good job of conveying Mawhinney's passion for music by including his argument for the superiority of records to digital music. Additionally, the inclusion of Mawhinney's wife in this doc seamlessly provided an explanation for the store's existence/beginnings and added a softer, less angry emotional source. Unsurprisingly, the background music in this piece was really well-chosen and matched well with what was being said or shown during it. The song that begin around the 3-minute mark especially did a good job of maintaining the air of nostalgia that shrouded this documentary and fit well the bleakness of Mawhinney's, and apparently the youth of today's, situation when it comes to music. The closing scene where record store's lights were being turned off in time to the music was really powerful in punctuating the sadness and finality of sort of the death of the vinyl that the main guy's experience represents. On a lighter note, I think that vinyl has seen a minor kind of revival in the past few years into the present so I hope the Mr. Mawhinney has been able to witness that and hopefully benefit from it and sell his collection, in the 8 years since this aired. Overall, The Archive was very interesting and relevant despite the fact that it was made almost a decade ago.
Virginia Nobles: First thing that I noticed in "The Archive" was that the space in which Mr. Mawhinney keeps his records in kind of looks like the basement of Gorgas library. The quality of the video was pretty shotty and I kept finding myself pausing it to see if there was a quality setting button. However, I feel like it was computer or website error more than producer error. As for Mr. Mawhinney and his story, I found it to be pretty sad and it made me wish that I had even half as much passion for something. I had some questions in the beginning of the video but was pretty pleased as they were all eventually answered. Overall, I think Dunne did a good job making this video. The camera angles were nice looking and flowed well and the music he put to the video went nicely with it.
ReplyDeleteThe Archive- Kat Flandermeyer
ReplyDeleteThis film accomplishes a very cinematic look within a real subject. The cinematography is fantastic for the themes of the documentary. The b-roll of Mawhinney working overlays him talking about his devotion to the collection. The record closeups- although a little overused- give his collection life. And the shot of the lights going out in his store is a great metaphor for the twilight of his life and career.
Technically the film is well-lit and the sound is high quality. I love the incorporation of the records themselves into the background music. The subject is unique and presents a premise that interests the viewer. I'm not even a music buff, and I would love a chance to explore that collection.
The use of text instead of voice-over adds to the cinematic nature. Mawhinney is a character, not just the focus. He is a part of the film's story, but the film itself exists on a level above him. I love this concept of shooting a documentary with intrinsic story elements instead of shooting a simple interview.
Kelsey Peterson: “The Archive” by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThe short film “The Archive” is an amazing interview captured on film by Sean Dunne. Not only are the shots extremely well put together but the story we here is what makes the film exceptional. Getting to hear Paul’s story behind the records and his passion towards collecting them is incredible. You can really tell how much he loves them especially having over a million of them in his archive. Dunne does a great job with the B-roll, showing the records and seeing just how old these records are and how many he has.
Anthony Reed: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteSean Dunne did a great with the compositions used in this short film. He captured the massive size of Paul's collection with the use of depth of field, high angles, and the proper use of directional lines of the shelves and surrounding environment. The choice of music and lighting in my opinion gives off a sort of bittersweet tone. On one hand Paul is well lit and accompanied with upbeat music while discussing his passion and how his collection came to be, and on the other hand even though the place is lit there is a dark isolated characteristic about the shop. To be such a massive shop it feels lonely because there is no other person/ customer no where in sight. It complements the idea that Paul and the text give about no one being interested in buying the collection. The scene with the lights cutting of one by one was a good representation of Paul's life and
health issues with loss of sight. Something that was such a big bright part of his life is slowly diminishing to an ending that's not equating to the love and passion that was put in to it. It's good to know he lived his passion, but it's sad to feel that a life long dedication will not be appreciated and expire with him.
Sam Flowers : "The Archive" by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteSean Dunne used the music in this film to his advantage. If it weren't for the music, I don't think he would have been able to just show use the beauty of his collection, at least not just with his own words. I enjoyed the strong opinions he had about music today. Sean though that music today was dead because of the formats that it is played on today. He did a great job about explaining how Vinyl was better than MP3. It was also easy to sympathize with him, because I think it shows how his generation could be disappointed with how society is today. He might have had a hard time letting go to a sweet and happy moment of his life. I enjoyed the story too. Anyone that has that kind of passion for anything can make for good entertainment.
Alex Harris: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThe colors of the film lend greatly to it's story. When most people think of documentaries of older time they think of them in black and white. But this film employs a very muted mix of greens and browns; this gives the feeling of age while not shifting to a full black and white or sepia color scheme. The colors seem to brighten during the close ups on the records being played, giving a feeling of life returning to the film. The subject choice was wonderful. Paul's archive is interesting, but it is made that much more interesting by his storytelling. The B roll footage was wonderfully shot. The choice of using the record close ups for song changes was amazing, and the long shots down the rows of records gave a good sense of scale to the archive.
Cody Quinn: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteI loved this story from the beginning. I play music and it is a true passion of mine. Seeing old records brought to life in this documentary was awesome. The camera shots were very nice, especially the close ups of the records and the record player. This documentary also did a great job showing Paul's emotion and enthusiasm of his records. The documentary also does a great job telling us the story of Record-Rama and the impact it has had on Paul. It made the documentary more interesting. The music was also beautifully used. Sean Dunne did a great job focusing on the raw sound a record gave people, like Paul, and the emotion the music perceived. Paul's record collection was outstanding, but Sean Dunne did an excellent job telling us a story instead of it just being about a record collection.
Ben Boynton: I think the setup/beginning was pretty weak. The "cold open" of the guy just holding up the record and telling us about it might have been a solid idea, but the execution was lacking. I think some sort of context or something before that might have benefited the project. The rest of the film was fine. I think the records as transitions was well-thought out and worked for me. The piece had a solid mix of b-roll footage and actual interview footage, and having the guy holding his records and moving around his archive gave the whole thing a sense of life that sitting down talking about the archive did not. I think there could have been more of him walking and talking or doing something and talking, but he had good hand movements and gestures that kept you from being bored, and you can clearly hear the passion in his voice. Layering it under several of the old records was genius. The part near the end where it's telling us that he hasn't sold his collection yet and he is just sitting there listening to his music is very powerful. It was a strong decision by Dunne to juxtapose the sadness of the text/captions with the pure emotion of the guy listening to his music. The lights turning off on the collection was super cliche but it worked with this one.
ReplyDeleteKristin Whitely-“The Achieve” by Seane Dunne
ReplyDeleteThe Documentary was very unique. Watching this documentary, I noticed that background behind the main subject is very important. The background displayed the most important theme of the entire documentary, which is the valuable records. The camera placement throughout the film seemed very traditional, which is shown in many other documentary films. The lighting looked very natural. I couldn’t tell if the Three-point lighting was used, but the lighting captured the background and the subject in front of the camera perfectly. The volume throughout was good. He obviously was using a lavaliere mic, because it was shown on his shirt. This film displayed the passion he had for music records. I love the ending where the front desk was shown and then the lights were turned off. To me, it had a meaning, which like he stated in the film, the appreciation of records has diminished and it will eventually stop forever, which to me, the lighting meant no more.
Nicole Nelson: The Archive by Seane Dunne
ReplyDeleteI found this documentary very interesting. My grandparents loved listening to records and every Christmas they would play Elvis Presley. The documentary itself was very well put together. Each Shot gave more emphasis on the importance of the man's collection and helped describe the size of his collection as well. I thought the audio level was maintained throughout the film and helped the audience connect emotionally with the main character. Considering the main characters hearing disability, this film really helps describes the passion and love this man has for music and his records. I thought the story flowed very well and each shot was carefully put together. The very last shot of the man listening to his record completed the story and brought everything full circle. Overall i really enjoyed this film and the hidden message behind it.
Dylan Milinkovich: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThe Archive is a short documentary that covers the topic of a small store filled with records. It covers everything from the soft music playing in the background to the medium close up shots of the husband and wife talking about the collection and start of the store. I like the smooth pans of the aisles and aisles of records showing the huge collection; it gives a sense of feeling almost overwhelmed by the size. Paul is well lit and has a pretty upbeat tone as he talks about the past life of the shop and his love for music. Towards the end, the tone seems to shift just a little bit as text explains that he is legally blind and there are no customers that appreciate the records anymore. It starts to play a slower more saddening tone. Overall, I though the film waas well put together and made great use of lighting, camera angles, and audio to develop the story even more.
Madison naves: The archive by Seane Dunne reminded me much of the projects we are currently focusing on in lab. This particular interview did not strike me as interesting at first but the way the director captured the pride and love Paul mawhinney had for his records made it entertaining and intriguing. The love was expressed so greatly that it almost inspires the audience or at least me to want to find this massive archive and find ethereal peace in it the way Paul does. As a fellow music lover I was able to connect with Paul's love of music and sound but this film did remind me of an episode of hoarders and it made me wonder why he hasn't sold the records piece by piece instead of asking for $3 million upfront for the whole collection. The one thing that bothered me in the film was the lighting it seemed so dim and almost bleak adding a sad tone to the film even though it should have been lighthearted and bright in my opinion. It almost seemed to me that with the lighting and the long portrait like view of Paul at the end, it was as if Dunne wanted us to have deep empathy for Paul especially when he added the ending notes that his collection was worth more than 15 times his actual asking price and have Paul's wife in the film to express how much he really lives for his music and how he has made music his life. my favorite scene in this film would be right after the opening of Paul holding up the record. Dunne gives us a close shot of a record spinning and seeing the record spinning reminded me of a ride possibly at a fair as if Paul's collection is an eternal fair for him that will never fail to make him happy.
ReplyDeleteRolf Konrad: The Archive by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThis is a pretty standard documentary style film. It mixes in talking head interviews as well as b-roll within the large record archive. What I enjoyed within it was the shots that are used to display the record collection. These shots help to give us the feeling that we are peering down one of the aisles towards an endless collection of records. The use of text on screen to guide the narration of the documentary was cool because it helped segue the story into a different topics about his collection. The music that plays in the background helps set the emotion of what Paul is discussing. The first track is exciting when discussing his large collection and how it came to be. The second track gives an emotion of sadness as he discusses the closing of the record store and how the world does not care about what he has done. The final track gives us a solemn feeling. Paul stands there while the music plays awaiting the day when someone will appreciate his life’s work. The closing shots display the record store empty and the lights turning off help to display the end of the documentary, and also unfortunately the reality that everyone is closing their eyes to this collection.
Devin Murphy: The Archive by Sean Dunne is a whimsical, 70's-esque short film that exhibits the man who own's the world's largest collection of records. The film successfully illustrates the pride, sacrifice and determination that Paul Mawhinney's collecting has required. The film maker used a cool toned color pallet and MW interview shots that I have usually associated with sad stories from shows like Intervention and my strange addiction, but the only sad aspect of this story is the deterioration of record collecting and the importance of preservation. The sad tone seemed to be highlighting the forgotten art that time has replaced with electronic archive systems that only have a fraction of the music Paul owns. Paul's dedication to music and his expansive collection is inspiring and important for future generations. Tangible history is being protected by this man and the creator of the short film captured that in a way that invokes respect for the character but a sympathy for his attatchment to a fleeting medium.
ReplyDeleteThis film is the perfect cookie cutter example of a documentary. It is very simple and brightly lit. The shots are almost all still shots sitting on a tripod with very little movement. The shots did however portray this record collection to be just as massive as it is in writing. It gave a feeling of being forced to patiently wait. Paul is forced to wait for a buyer that may never come. With the use of on screen text, the music playing in the background as Paul stands motionless, and the final piece of the conclusion where all the lights slowly turn off section by section really ended with a feeling of longing by Paul.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the short film The Archive. Aside from a few weird, unprofessional shots at the beginning, it was very well put together and had a very clear beginning, middle, and end. It was a great example of a nonfiction documentary, with multiple interview segments with nicely timed b-roll shots. He utilized various shot types very successfully, like medium shots in the interview and close up shots of the records, conveying the importance of these records to the storyteller. The music in the background of each shot really helped tell the story of this film, and it truly made its audience emphasize with Paul. The lighting was also very well done, enhancing all the correct moments and setting a mood for the film. I really enjoyed this film and thought it was well done.
ReplyDeleteSam Sheriff: The Archive by Sean Dunne definitely makes you feel for its subject in Paul Mawhinney, but to me the overall composition isn't all that special. The one shot that stands out the most is the letter boxed one about a minute in. That framing is reminiscent of old consumer use film, and I think that it would have been nice for them to use that aesthetic more. I also like the shots with the lights shutting off, but I think that it would have worked better if that last shot from the first set of three had been the end of the film. It syncs up perfectly with the music and having the credits roll on the simple blackness would've had a greater impact and would've signified more finality. They could have even moved the final comments from Paul earlier in the sequence and had the checkout lights turning off as part of that initial set. Overall I think that the film conveys its message well, and its typical inserts work, but it would have been nice to see more experimentation somehow from the camera operator, and the more impactful ending like I discussed.
ReplyDeleteThe Archive executes B Roll perfectly. The shots and color correction create for a beautiful composition of that fits perfectly with the story. The story was compelling and the emotion from the interview made me interested in the topic. The interviewees were the perfect choice to entice the audience into making the visit into his shop.
ReplyDeletePeyton Wilkins: The Archive by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThe Archive is a documentary that makes the audience empathize with the subject. Paul Mawhinney is a blind older man with a collection of records that mean the world to him, but they seem to mean nothing to the world. All he wants is for people to appreciate his collection as he does, but there is no hope. The music in The Archive expresses the mood of Paul as he becomes upset about the future of his records. The B-roll of this documentary shows his life work and how large his collection is. The interviews are set up with a good balance of looking room and lighting. I like the use of text to get the information across without introducing a new narrator. I would have liked to see a more hopeful ending instead of the lights all turning out at the end. It leaves the audience wondering what Paul's future holds and if anyone will by his records.
John Anderson: The Archive by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteAbout 5 and a half minutes into this documentary, Paul Mawhinney puts a record on the turntable that sings "music was my first love, and it will be my last, music of the future, music of the past." Paul sits and listens to this record as the camera rolls for about a minute as he progressively becomes more emotional as the song goes on. This shot had an incredible impact, giving the viewers an uncensored look into what this record collection truly means to Paul. The juxtaposition between the lyrics of this particular record and the narrative of the story is profound. As the song reaches its climax, different shots of the lights shutting off represents the end of his run with his beloved archive. These particular sequences paired together did an excellent job of giving the viewer a sense of what music means to Paul.
Keri Drake: The Archive by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThe Archive is a documentary on Paul Mawhinney and his collection of records. The interview was shot with great lighting and a great background of his shop which fits wonderfully with what he was talking about. I loved how they included in his wife as well with her being an important factor to him opening up a store. I love how in the interview the focus is primarily on him, but you can still tell and know that his records are in the background letting you know where it is taking place. The B-roll that was taken is wonderful, all the different looks of the shop and telling his love for the music. The closeups of the records playing is my favorite. with them being records you know it is older music so I definitely love how they have the music playing throughout the documentary, the song choice fits the vibe the producer was going for and make the film flows perfectly. The producer did a great job putting it together because you can tell this is something Mr. Mawhinney is passionate about it. The shot variety was great, definitely a great piece of work all together.
Sean Dunne's The Archive really knows how to end a movie. The final shot of the chiaroscuro checkout area is not only aesthically pleasing, but dense with meaning. Before we dive into the meaning, some conjectures as context: Paul Mahwinney, the documentary's subject, is a relic of a bygone age, just like the records in his archive and his classical brick-and-mortar shop. While the records' sounds are more beautiful and rare and valuable than any music available elsewhere, the world has moved on from Paul Mahwinney and what he stands for. In The Archive, the records are characters just as much as Paul is, and their shared states of misplacement, both belonging in the past and trapped in the present, are conveyed visually and stunningly through the final shot, which clings to the dimly lit checkout sign for a little too long, waiting, like Paul and his records, for the world of the film to move on from us, yet still sad to see it go.
ReplyDeleteMason Camp: The Archive by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThis film is orchestrated like a documentary with interviews and different clips. The film is about Pauls life narrated by him for the most part which I thought was excellent for this story with the b roll and different images of his record store. There are many great moments in this film, for example, during the interviews with Paul and his wife really focused on the two of them with the background blurred out. The medium shots during the interviews really brought the story together for me as well. Overall great film. Very short, Great story, and informative.
Nick Stellon: The Archive by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThe archive is like any other good film, it has something to say. But the way that director Sean Dunne goes about this is extremely effective. The purpose of this piece is to feel sympathetic for the state of the vinyl music industry. To do this however, Dunne realizes we need to be sympathetic to characters. He interviews the shop owner and lets us into his life through that interview. We hear the owner's story and become fond with him. In another sense, Dunne uses B-Roll to show us that the record archive has a character of its own. We see through shots that it has intense history and beauty, and it makes the audience want to be there. By establishing this sympathy toward characters in the first few minutes of the doc, Dunne now essentially controls how we feel about the result. When we see that no one is interested in buying the shop, we feel for the characters. This can only be established through a great interview, which done accomplishes with the owner, and beautiful B-Roll, which Dunne shows us through the shop.
Justin LaSor: The Archive by Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteThis film really spoke to me. Maybe that was because I share the same kind of love for music as this man does. This short film was executed very well though, in my opinion. I loved how they used the man's record collection as the music for the short film instead of inputting in different tracks late. It really added impact and feeling to the story that the man was telling. I also loved how at the beginning of each new thought, or new plot line in the story that he was telling, they would show a close up of a different record and then continue to play that record in the background as he explained his life story. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this short documentary film and I felt that the camerawork and overall way that he film maker portrayed and told the story of the man being interviewed was excellent.
Chris O'Connor: The Archive By Sean Dunne
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the familiar structure of the Archive. It has a message to deliver, conveyed in the traditional documentary filmmaking style. It intertwines the B-Roll footage and the interview shots into a coherent short film. The film utilize the background music as a tool, further immersing the viewer into the music store. The film does a great job at giving a nod to the dying vinyl industry and making the viewer feel something about it.
Man oh man... this one really hit me in the feelings. I'll buy it, Paul! Just give me a couple years to become a millionaire.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fascinating topic, and I'm glad these filmmakers decided to shed light on it. I love music, and though I don't really have much of a vinyl collection I've always wanted to start one once I could, so I found this particular subject extremely engrossing.
Of course, to talk about the actual mechanics of the film itself, the use of usic was vitally important and excellently done, cutting back to the spinning records as if to say, "See? You're still listening to real vinyl! We swear!" The choice to interview the couple in the midst of the gargantuan collection was obvious, but effective. And the moody ending, as the lights of the store went out as whatever song that was gave way to sputtering silence, was very moving. Dang, now I want to do some research on "The Archive." I gotta hear all those rare records!
Jordan Williams: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne was definitely an archive. Seeing the romance that Paul had with music and almost how you can consider music as his "mistress" except without him hiding his love. For him to say that "83 percent" of the music he owns people can't buy nor find it, tells how he really has a gold mine of the music. To see the passion and pride displayed in his collection brings a sentimental side to where this is his most prized possession ever. As the audience realizes that Paul is actually a millionaire, you start to wonder if this was his plan all along. Maybe as he began to collect music he knew that music overtime would become priceless. That is why this piece is special. He realized that music was a love and overtime he would benefit from it. Showing some of his collection with artists like Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, and the Rolling Stones shows his versatility in music was wide. Sean Dunne really picked a gold mine literally and figuratively . I loved it!
ReplyDeleteGretchen Franz: "The Archive" by Sean Dunne. What I thought was most interesting about this piece was the integration of his actual records into the film. Each change of topic or mood was shown by a shot of a record spinning on a record player, playing the music that fits the mood. I enjoyed how they elaborated on how "the archive" came to be and why he started collecting records in the first place. You develop a relationship with Paul, his wife and his records and simply want to see them succeed. In term of sound, you could see as the shots changed, and distance from the subject changed, the sound of their voice remained constant. It can be assumed that this is due to the mic placement on the subject. This film also included many wide shots to establish the immensity of the record store and show how impressive it really was.
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