This film is very moving and orphaned of any claim or incongruity. From the earliest starting point of the film you catch what I consider a passionate part of the film because of music and the scene. The interview of the narrative was exceptionally credible. Amid the narrative, it gives close-ups and wide shot to demonstrate the environment, expressions, and worries to get the group of onlookers to feel some kind of way about the character. Every mask that he worked on appears to perhaps express how he feels about craftsmanship and how he feels right then and there. I was charmed by the movie producer's cuts and basic shots in the film without making the presentation looked rushed.
Azad Patel: Come On Down and Pick Me UP is different from The Archives in many ways. First of all, it is not a traditional documentary. It has a different creative touch of the director in the story he tells, and second of all it is sadder than The Archives. This film starts on a gloomier note, when he says that he was going to die. The music of the film comes on and goes off in instances, and that kind of adds the excitement factor in rather sad story of the artist. The artist in the film kind of never breaks the fourth wall factor in the film, which actually he is allowed to do in documentaries, is something noteworthy. I, personally, would prefer to watch documentaries like this than the traditional style.
Karenya Garrett: Come On Down and Pick Me Up starts off with a very nostalgic feeling to it. The choice of music, despite being crude and blunt, fits into the documentary, like it unifies it instead of just being placed in there. Through the shots of all of the artwork in the room, it gives the sense of how to look at life. Each piece of artwork, to me, represents this feeling of escape, an escape from the real reality and be focused on your own reality. In the interview, there's not so much of the feeling of despair and agony within Fred, but rather acceptance and calmness and I think he gets that especially with the painting and his artwork. The shots and cuts are done well, and with the time limit, it doesn't feel as though you miss anything, that you can understand the story without wondering what happens next.
This short documentary on the life of Fred and his artwork plays out in tribute fashion. Fred lets us into his world of vibrantly painted masks and mannequins. The film is shot nearly entirely inside his small RV yet doesn't feel crapped. Wide shots show us the entire space and just how vast his collection has become. The sound quality was exceptional; background noise almost undetectable as we focus solely on what Fred is saying. The film, while not compelling, does lend itself to a sympathetic tone for Fred and his condition and how he hasn't let his predicament affect his spirt.
Gretchen Franz: Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao The color in the picture is most impressive because the room is dark enough for the masks and mannequins to glow, but this never inhibits the lighting of the subject’s face. The music adds an interesting juxtaposition to the piece because even during the somber moments, when Fred is talking about when he first found out that he’s dying, it has a more playful, indifferent sound- almost showing how apathetic he is towards his death, which is further shown in Fred’s dialogue. I enjoy how the film discussed several different topics, including his imminent passing, how me makes his art, his relationships with his art and how got into his painting in the first place. The wide shots also do well in setting the scene and showing off all of his art and work.
Braedan Snow: Come on Down and Pick Me Up This short film was extremely visually stimulating from the opening shot. The first shot is abrupt and exciting in its nature and it immediately sets the tone that the video will be exotic and interesting. The film does still follow the traditional form of a documentary, with a talking head and b-roll placed over an interview. The b-roll adds a lot of depth to what Fred was talking about, and was really the sole of the video. Most of the video was expressed visually through his various intriguing art work. The narrative aspect of the film is also very intimate and emotional, and as the video progresses, the focus shifts more to his illness. The tone of the film was playful up until the end, where Fred really expressed how serious his disease is. It is this moment when the viewer understands how important painting is to him, and adds to the purpose of the film. Overall the film was not only visually impactful, but had an emotional aspect that tied everything together.
Anthony Reed: Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao This film does a great job with the workflow and pacing throughout the entire project. The flipping back and forth of Fred talking and the b-roll shots were done in a way to keep the viewer visually interested. No scene felt like it was dragging on too long. What I enjoyed most was the contrast of this film, the blackness of all of the dark areas and the luminescence of all of the colors of Fred's art. The lighting and composition of Fred serves a couple of purposes in my opinion. First the close up, low warm light draws you in to make the viewer have a sense of getting to know Fred on a personal level. It also gives the sense of Fred's plight which is his poor health and inevitability of death looming in his near future. I enjoyed that even though Fred lost his battle with his health issues, the film did him justice by not focusing on making people pity him but instead focus on the optimistic beautiful things that Fred himself wanted to focus on. The choice of music used help keep the spirit of this film up by choosing to using lighter playful songs instead of dark music. Overall all of the elements of this film was very well planned and allows Fred"s memory and art to live on and be appreciated for all who are fortunate enough to watch this film, Great Job Professor Corrao!
Kyle Heinze: Come on Down and Pick Me Up I found this piece to be very unique an moving. The lighting and images of the masks were very visually appealing, and immediately caught my attention. The obscurity of this man and his situation made the narrative even more intriguing. The music helped set the tone of the piece, paralleling the mysterious and fascinating life this man lived. The film is a great example of documentary film making, which includes an interview that drives the story, along with its accompanying b-roll. Overall, I found all of the artistic choices to be fitting and powerful, leaving the viewer both inspired and sorrowful.
Come on Down and Pick Me Up” by Jon Bougher and Nick Corrao is an amazing short documentary. This film was very moving in many ways. I love the choices of music throughout the entire film. There were numerous camera angles displayed, such as close-up, medium close-up, etc. I'm not sure if the three point lighting was used during the interview scenes, but to me, it works without it. The lighting displayed gave a more personal atmosphere. This documentary showcased the passion that he had for his artwork, but it gave and even more insight of his personal life, which to me was tremendously touching.
Come down and pick me up by Jon Bougher was very different from the rest of the films we have ever watched. This film honestly took me by surprise mainly because the film features a character that can not be ignored because of his craft. The film captures the bright and exciting color of the mask not sparing any increasingly shot of the masks by using more B roll than actual interview. The only downside was the mask did become a distraction when they did try to show actual interview because they do grab your attention and hold it until there is another shot of them. The colors of the film popped so much so, that it was almost a little over bearing since the masks are in almost every shot of the film. It was sad that the man being interviewed passed away shortly after this film was released since the film did a really god job of capturing the humbleness of the man and his gentle passion in his artwork.
Alex Hubbard: Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Jon Bougher and Nick Corrao The first scene in this film is completely magical and unexplained. The unique music and extreme vibrancy with the black-light-style lighting gives the opening scene an otherworldly opening. The use of mainly XCU shots in the opening scene gives the viewer a specifically selected view of the space. The viewer, in this opening scene, does not know where these colorful masks are hanging or where the man painting them resides. Due to the use of XCU shots, the opening scene is a magical mystery, immediately entrapping the viewer. The first shift goes to the normal outside world. The WS of the average street pales in comparison to the magical space in the opening scene. The dull colors, lack of music, and overcast sky provide a sharp contrast to the opening world the viewer previously experienced. This world is meant to be seen as dull and unexciting, and succeeds in doing so with the lack of interesting shots, colors, and music. When the film goes back into the magical space of color and masks, the otherworldly-ness is less extreme. The viewer now understands, with the use of wider shots, that the collection of masks reside in a van parked outside the artist’s house. The wider shots and slightly less vibrant colors, compared to the opening scene, gives the film a more realistic feel, going in-between the two extremes of the opening scene and the short scene outside the artist’s home. The XCU shots throughout the film lets the viewer see the intricate details of the artist’s work, exploring how this man’s artistically detail oriented life can compare to a film with detail oriented shots. The font choice for the end credits stayed with the artistic feel of the film by using a font that look similar to a brush stroke. The film seemed to be designed around the artist’s perspective of his own life. Outside is dreary, where he thinks about the upcoming end of his own life. While inside the van is his sanctuary that keeps him in an otherworldly state of peace. A vibrant paradise.
Kelsey Peterson: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao This documentary was very interesting. The art work that was being created made for interesting shots. The music went along perfectly with the documentary. When watching I got a very easy and chill vibe from Fred and his work. The close ups of the glow in the dark of the masks are remarkable. The lighting was shot extremely well, having to be dark to see the glow in the dark paintings of the artwork and you were still able to see Fred well without it looking too dim. The close ups of Fred painting really shows his passion for the artwork and how it makes him happier, taking him away from his reality and his sickness.
Jimmy Pierce: What struck me the most about this film, besides its fascinating and eccentric subject, was the languid, unhurried pace at which it unfolds. The camera really gives us time to linger and take in the scenery and artwork without feeling the need to do anything overly "weird" or "trippy" to match the subject. Instead, it allows the subject to speak for itself, tastefully and effectively. I especially loved how casually the camera followed the subject's interview; following his explanations at an intuitive pace that matched the viewer's comprehension. The film could have been creepy and off-putting, as the eerie intro somewhat foreshadowed. Instead, we are given enough time to settle into this man's world, and his warm, matter-of-fact commentary puts us at ease, making the final reveal of his ultimate fate really moving and tragic. We honestly feel like we've gotten to know this guy, mainly because the film was more concerned with sharing his story than being overly artsy or self-indulgent.
Cody Quinn: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao This documentary was unlike anything I have ever seen. The creepiness from the music and the masks set up an ominous feeling for the whole documentary. It fits perfect as we find out Fred is dying and his artwork is his life. The camera angles were very well-done, especially the close-ups. Also, the artwork was captured beautifully even though it was a dark room. The colors of the paint really struck out to me and always captured my eyes. This was an incredible documentary.
Ella Oprandy: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao The lighting in this film was well done. A cramped, irregularly-lit location like Fred's RV-turned-art-studio would be challenging to make presentable on camera but Corrao pulled it off, especially when Fred's favorite or most well-known pieces were showcased. The pace of this film was rather slow but not in a bad way. It gave the viewer time to accept the gravity of Fred's situation, and with that, the importance of his art, which at first glance could easily be mistaken as the arbitrary artistic ventures of a habitual stoner. Fred's mellowness combined with the slow, even pace of this film is in stark contrast to the chaos of color and pattern that surround the man daily and bombard the viewer throughout the film. It makes me think that this artistic chaos might represent the emotional and physical turmoil Fred experienced daily as he came to grips with his illness. I would have liked to have gotten a little more in-depth explanation as to how the fiberglass resin and the gall stone affected Fred to the point of terminal illness; I wasn't super clear on that part. Overall, this film subtly gave due credit to the power and importance of the arts which I really appreciated.
Kat Flandermeyer- Come On Down and Pick Me Up I loved the visuals of this film. Shooting most of it under the fluorescence of his trailer-studio adds to the dream-like state Fred lived in. You're up close and personal with the art he literally gave his life for. It's a personal experience with his whole world. The audio is a little weird, with some iffy reverb. The songs are interesting, but they add to the otherworldly quality of the film. They have an off-beat sound that works with it. I'm slightly lost as to where the film's title comes from. The coverage of Fred's personal experience is great, but I would have liked to hear a bit more about his life outside his art. At the same time, it works. Fred is his art, he's blatantly ignoring everything else, so as a viewer it makes sense that we would too. We are in his space; so we play by his rules. A little more shot variety would have been nice. We only see outside his trailer briefly. I feel like our eyes need a temporary break from all the fluorescence. Overall, I like it. It plays as a quiet but sweet eulogy to a man who gave everything for his art.
Dylan Milinkovich- Come On Down and Pick Me Up This documentary style film is about a man named Fred Kress who loves to paint and is driven by this passion to the point where it is killing him. The film is opened up with nice shots of the town of Maryland with the occasional car bustling by and the sound of birds in the distant background. A wide shot is shown of a Mr. Kress retreating back to the inside of his home and cuts to him in his art studio. I loved the XCU shot of his eyes as he is concentrating on his artwork. The studio itself is cramped with every inch of Fred's artwork. The pace of the film is rather slow, but it works well with Fred's slow talking and his slow delicate strokes of painting on the canvas of alien masks. Overall, I really enjoyed the film as it taught me to be driven and inspired by your own work and strive to keep going even if it quite literally kills you.
Virginia Nobles: Absolutely amazing composition. The shots were well thought out and the music fit perfectly with the strangeness of the video. It was well lit even though the setting was dark. Mr. Kress' designs were absolutely amazing however hi story was pretty sad. So far I've noticed all these videos we're asked to watch have had a sad aspect to them. However, the fact he turned his the horribleness from his disease into something beautiful through his art, is absolutely. inspirational.
Devin Murphy: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao
This short film struck a cord with me more so than the past few. The film showcases the lifestyle of a terminally ill man who has spent years surrounding himself with his hand painted creations. The vibrant black-lit room makes the visuals pop and is unaltered by three point lighting, or lighting in any way. This gives the piece an eerie feel despite the whimsical, quirky surroundings. Every directorial choice from lighting to music creates a fantasy like atmosphere that contrasts greatly with the seriousness of Fred's condition. The different camera angles used to show his art mixed with Fred's voiceover description of each piece seems endearing at first, but when you dig deeper it's sad. Fred personifies his artwork and with every cut of the b-roll his observations make him sound crazier and crazier. The audience is left with a feeling of impending emptiness, that soon all that will be left of Fred is his art. The directors did a great job of making the audience feel a mixture of sadness and comfort in the end. Sadness for Fred's illness and death, but comfort in his acceptance of it and that his passing was exactly where and how he wanted. This piece was successful in making me feel that contrast through lighting, music and striking camera angles on Fred and his art. This was a very moving piece and I enjoyed every moment.
Rolf Konrad: Come on Down and Pick Me Up The film tells the story of Fred Kress who loves to paint, but is also dying. We see a glimpse into his world and the thing he enjoys to do. His art is something he won’t ever get sick of and we see a lot of great shots of it. The bright glowing colors surrounding Fred in his room help to create some cool looking shots. We really get a close look into Fred’s work with close ups on the paint and paint brush. The shot of Fred taking his meds was also interesting because he allows us to see that he really is sick. Fred loves his home filled with his art, and the last scene really gives us a good look on how he wants to go out. Overall, I am glad I got to hear Fred’s story and see his art that he enjoyed so much.
Nick Stellon: Come On Down and Pick Me Up This short documentary is not the story of an event, but rather documents the human condition. It focusses on passion, and what gives a person meaning. Theres a great part of the interview where the subject says that while he paints, he forgets that he is sick. This just goes to show how well the documentary captures an individual's passion. From a technical perspective, this project is unique. You can see shots from outside the home, where the setting is a typical neighborhood, and you can see greatly contrasting shots inside. The fluorescent paints make the setting for the interview extremely intriguing. Shooting in the location of the paints also allows the character to easily show off his works simply by pointing. If the film had decided to shoot the interview in another location, this couldn't be possible. The alien paintings seem to dominate the screen, but the interview draws you back to the human aspect of the subject. You start to feel immensely for his situation, yet somehow inspired by his happiness. While he is painting, he is happy, and that is what we're left with. Overall the subject uses great technical skills to tell a very human story, no matter how many aliens are involved.
Ben Boynton: This was an interesting documentary to say the least. The colors and all the wacky art gave the piece a dynamic visual aspect. I think the juxtaposition of the sad, dark, and gloomy reality of Fred's condition with his upbeat attitude and the colorful and vibrant art created a very interesting story. The documentary's music was also used well. It gave it a sort of whimsical vibe, which normally you wouldn't want when talking about someone's liver giving out but in this case it matched the subject and his disposition perfectly. The shots were well composed and varied
Alex Harris: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Jon Bougher and Nick Corrao With documentaries there always comes the question of material. How much good interview footage can I get? Is there enough interesting visual material to get enough relevant b-roll? This subject lent itself to having more than adequate amounts of both in my opinion. With Mr. Kress having both his art as well as his illness as talking points for interview material, and the ample supply of unique and interesting artwork adorning the walls. Even with all the shots that we saw there are likely even more pieces of artwork that we didn't get to see. The camera work was very close with most shots feeling as though you were sitting on the floor in the room with Mr. Kress as he painted. It helped to give a sense of the scale of the room as well as impart a feeling of almost child-like wonder as you sit listening to this story be told.
Keri Drake: Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao In Come on Down and Pick Me Up, I really love the graphics he started out with to begin the film. The pre-planning behind this was great because you can tell he actually put so much thought in the shots he wanted. The music he used in the background fits great with the theme he is going for in the different scenes. The close ups in the painting he did was a good aspect to the video because it shows in detail what exactly he is doing. The b-roll in this piece is just phenomenal, really shows how passionate he is in his work and what he do.
Sam Flowers : Come Down and Pick Me Up I personally enjoyed this documentary more than The Archive. The cinematography, I thought was more impressive. I also thought that the mans story in this film was more emotional and interesting compared to the man from The Archive. I thought that it was interesting how Fred actually had a collection from is own talent and work, where Sean had a collection, but it was from other people's work. Altogether though, I thought this was a great film that felt like much more than just an interview. This was Fred's story and his beautiful artwork was his legacy. It was very easy to sympathize with him because of the collection of art that he created.
Sam Sheriff: In this look at a man and his art in Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Jon Bougher and Nick Corrao, we see dedication and true passion. I really appreciated the slow opening; the crows cawing and the long outside shots drew me into the film. I also enjoyed the music choice, because it really seemed to fit the subject matter. Both were funny and raw and both had a sadness to them. One thing that I would have liked is a shot showing all 3 mannequin busts at once, because Fred talked of them spatially, but it was difficult to figure out where they were in the little room. I also got a bit confused by the resin that he was talking about. Was that the cause of his condition, because he mentioned that around the same time as his diagnosis, he had started using the resin, which to me seems like there were other factors at play long before. Ultimately I think that this is a good piece that looks into one man's love for his work. Even though his art may not be conventional, it definitely has its own beauty and artistic merit.
The art direction of this short doc is the main attention grabber for the audience. It is beautiful and mysterious in it's own way. The neon pain glows perfectly in the dark even if the room isn't well lit. The art perfectly personified the interviewee and the shots helped depict him.
The opening b-roll shots in Come on Down and Pick Me Up give this documentary a much different feel from your average sports player highlight documentary. This film was interesting enough with its subject and his hobby, but the shots and b-roll of the artwork itself and the choice in music really pushed this away from being average. This was creatively done and very interesting. The paint and lighting really made the colors pop. As the mood changes in the film, the viewer is so emotionally invested that we feel what the character feels with him. Overall great film.
Peyton Wilkins: Come on Down and Pick Me Up This documentary is very touching. I feel inspired by this terminally ill man who against all odds continues his life passion. The music in this film matches Fred's bizarre artwork perfectly. The lighting is not too dark and you can clearly see the stunning masks and his face during the interview. There's an equal amount of b-roll and shots of Fred talking. I love how the documentary opens with Fred and his masks, then the audience is taken outside only to be pulled back into the main setting after establishing the location.
Come On Down and Pick Me Up is by far the most visually stunning documentary I have ever seen. The artwork featured is black-lit which gives the film an ethereal and other-worldly feel. The short is pervaded by references to death, from the macabre opening song to the Day of The Dead masks in Kress' collection, and most poignantly, Kress' illness. The dichotomy of a vibrant lifestyle of fulfilling creativity being the very thing that kills an artist is a thought-provoking and affecting idea. The fact that it is told with such a playful tone by such a charismatic character only adds to the film's richness.
I thought the vibrancy of the shots throughout his art room was a moving contrast to the sad subject matter of Fred's illness. The first shot after the title screen of the grey, bare treetops set a gloomy mood that was present throughout the short film, but not as strong as Fred's effect on the viewer. His mental perseverance and positivity matched the exotic colors of his artwork. The B-roll in this piece does a good job of following Fred's narration and giving the viewers a sense of space around his small work space.
This short documentary is very moving and different than any other short or documentary I’ve ever seen. The music for this film was well thought out and flowed perfectly with the story being told. The mask really caught my attention the colors and lighting that was used. This film displayed an interesting story of a mysterious man with cool b-roll and interview to tell the story to viewers. The music was flowed perfectly with the story and the transitioning of from the beginning of the film which was up beat until the end when he talks about his life threatening diseases. Overall really enjoyed this short documentary.
Come on down and pick me up is visually interesting as well as emotionally moving. The opening scene of the black light illuminating the neon masks made the visual appeal of this film more interesting. It makes it feel almost alien and mystical with the colors of the masks while grounding the story in reality with his illness. The juxtaposition of Fred's terminal illness with him continuing to follow his passion is an emotional element that made this film really touching and enjoyable.
This documentary was very interesting and nothing like I had ever seen before. The beginning starts with his diagnosis and creates the emotions for the audience. I thought the lighting was very cool and how he used the lighting to show the colors and importance of his artwork. The way the b-roll and interview are combined together really piece together the film and explains the man's life very well. I thought the music and audio aspect of the film relates well with the storyline and helps create that sense of emotion for the audience. Overall, this film was enjoyable to watch but the story was very emotional and sends a strong message.
This video content was definitely different than what I'm used to. However, both the author and artists attention to detail was very nice to see. All of the music was extremely appropriate. Each song matched the feelings and mood of the video. In addition, I was amazed by the different colors that were shown. He trailer seemed pretty dark but the colors from each individual mask was so well seen and lit up the room. In addition, I thought it was interesting that it was his talent and joy that was killing him. One of the examples of attention to detail by the author of this film is when Fred is talking about the individual pieces and the author uses a new scene to cut to a picture of each individual piece. Finally, the fact that Fred was wearing a "we come in peace tshirt" was a very nice touch and sentiment to the story as a whole.
In this documentary, I would have to say that the thing that stood out to me the most was how the b roll and interview were actually all one process. There was not any cuts from the interview to the process of the interviewee. I also liked the lighting that was used for this interview. Instead of blasting the person they were interviewing with lighting and filling in all the shadows on the man's face, the film makers used the lighting that was already there in the man's painting room, which brought out all the colors of the man's masks and other paintings, as well as, it helped set the tone to the somber story of the artist. Overall, this was a unique type of interview which made it stand out and stick with me compared to other interviews.
Katy Hale: Come on Down and Pick Me Up I really enjoyed this documentary. I loved all the close up shots of the masks, and the imagery that was shown while painting the masks. I enjoyed how everything was in order because it reminded me of our documentary project. It showed something/someone explaining a process of something they love or do. The lighting was beautiful as well. The masks gave off such a strong and powerful message. He was extremely interesting and so were the visuals. I also loved the music that went along with the film. The audio matched the narrative very well. There was all so much detail in this film that needed to be recognized and shown, and it was shown very well. This film was very organized and put together very well and I really enjoyed it.
This film is very moving and orphaned of any claim or incongruity. From the earliest starting point of the film you catch what I consider a passionate part of the film because of music and the scene. The interview of the narrative was exceptionally credible. Amid the narrative, it gives close-ups and wide shot to demonstrate the environment, expressions, and worries to get the group of onlookers to feel some kind of way about the character. Every mask that he worked on appears to perhaps express how he feels about craftsmanship and how he feels right then and there. I was charmed by the movie producer's cuts and basic shots in the film without making the presentation looked rushed.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAzad Patel: Come On Down and Pick Me UP is different from The Archives in many ways. First of all, it is not a traditional documentary. It has a different creative touch of the director in the story he tells, and second of all it is sadder than The Archives. This film starts on a gloomier note, when he says that he was going to die. The music of the film comes on and goes off in instances, and that kind of adds the excitement factor in rather sad story of the artist. The artist in the film kind of never breaks the fourth wall factor in the film, which actually he is allowed to do in documentaries, is something noteworthy. I, personally, would prefer to watch documentaries like this than the traditional style.
ReplyDeleteKarenya Garrett: Come On Down and Pick Me Up starts off with a very nostalgic feeling to it. The choice of music, despite being crude and blunt, fits into the documentary, like it unifies it instead of just being placed in there. Through the shots of all of the artwork in the room, it gives the sense of how to look at life. Each piece of artwork, to me, represents this feeling of escape, an escape from the real reality and be focused on your own reality. In the interview, there's not so much of the feeling of despair and agony within Fred, but rather acceptance and calmness and I think he gets that especially with the painting and his artwork. The shots and cuts are done well, and with the time limit, it doesn't feel as though you miss anything, that you can understand the story without wondering what happens next.
ReplyDeleteGabriel Carden - Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteThis short documentary on the life of Fred and his artwork plays out in tribute fashion. Fred lets us into his world of vibrantly painted masks and mannequins. The film is shot nearly entirely inside his small RV yet doesn't feel crapped. Wide shots show us the entire space and just how vast his collection has become. The sound quality was exceptional; background noise almost undetectable as we focus solely on what Fred is saying. The film, while not compelling, does lend itself to a sympathetic tone for Fred and his condition and how he hasn't let his predicament affect his spirt.
Gretchen Franz: Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao
ReplyDeleteThe color in the picture is most impressive because the room is dark enough for the masks and mannequins to glow, but this never inhibits the lighting of the subject’s face. The music adds an interesting juxtaposition to the piece because even during the somber moments, when Fred is talking about when he first found out that he’s dying, it has a more playful, indifferent sound- almost showing how apathetic he is towards his death, which is further shown in Fred’s dialogue. I enjoy how the film discussed several different topics, including his imminent passing, how me makes his art, his relationships with his art and how got into his painting in the first place. The wide shots also do well in setting the scene and showing off all of his art and work.
Braedan Snow: Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteThis short film was extremely visually stimulating from the opening shot. The first shot is abrupt and exciting in its nature and it immediately sets the tone that the video will be exotic and interesting. The film does still follow the traditional form of a documentary, with a talking head and b-roll placed over an interview. The b-roll adds a lot of depth to what Fred was talking about, and was really the sole of the video. Most of the video was expressed visually through his various intriguing art work. The narrative aspect of the film is also very intimate and emotional, and as the video progresses, the focus shifts more to his illness. The tone of the film was playful up until the end, where Fred really expressed how serious his disease is. It is this moment when the viewer understands how important painting is to him, and adds to the purpose of the film. Overall the film was not only visually impactful, but had an emotional aspect that tied everything together.
Anthony Reed: Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao
ReplyDeleteThis film does a great job with the workflow and pacing throughout the entire project. The flipping back and forth of Fred talking and the b-roll shots were done in a way to keep the viewer visually interested. No scene felt like it was dragging on too long. What I enjoyed most was the contrast of this film, the blackness of all of the dark areas and the luminescence of all of the colors of Fred's art. The lighting and composition of Fred serves a couple of purposes in my opinion. First the close up, low warm light draws you in to make the viewer have a sense of getting to know Fred on a personal level. It also gives the sense of Fred's plight which is his poor health and inevitability of death looming in his near future. I enjoyed that even though Fred lost his battle with his health issues, the film did him justice by not focusing on making people pity him but instead focus on the optimistic beautiful things that Fred himself wanted to focus on. The choice of music used help keep the spirit of this film up by choosing to using lighter playful songs instead of dark music. Overall all of the elements of this film was very well planned and allows Fred"s memory and art to live on and be appreciated for all who are fortunate enough to watch this film,
Great Job Professor Corrao!
Kyle Heinze: Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteI found this piece to be very unique an moving. The lighting and images of the masks were very visually appealing, and immediately caught my attention. The obscurity of this man and his situation made the narrative even more intriguing. The music helped set the tone of the piece, paralleling the mysterious and fascinating life this man lived. The film is a great example of documentary film making, which includes an interview that drives the story, along with its accompanying b-roll. Overall, I found all of the artistic choices to be fitting and powerful, leaving the viewer both inspired and sorrowful.
Kristin Whitely - Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteCome on Down and Pick Me Up” by Jon Bougher and Nick Corrao is an amazing short documentary. This film was very moving in many ways. I love the choices of music throughout the entire film. There were numerous camera angles displayed, such as close-up, medium close-up, etc. I'm not sure if the three point lighting was used during the interview scenes, but to me, it works without it. The lighting displayed gave a more personal atmosphere. This documentary showcased the passion that he had for his artwork, but it gave and even more insight of his personal life, which to me was tremendously touching.
Come down and pick me up by Jon Bougher was very different from the rest of the films we have ever watched. This film honestly took me by surprise mainly because the film features a character that can not be ignored because of his craft. The film captures the bright and exciting color of the mask not sparing any increasingly shot of the masks by using more B roll than actual interview. The only downside was the mask did become a distraction when they did try to show actual interview because they do grab your attention and hold it until there is another shot of them. The colors of the film popped so much so, that it was almost a little over bearing since the masks are in almost every shot of the film. It was sad that the man being interviewed passed away shortly after this film was released since the film did a really god job of capturing the humbleness of the man and his gentle passion in his artwork.
ReplyDeleteAlex Hubbard: Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Jon Bougher and Nick Corrao
ReplyDeleteThe first scene in this film is completely magical and unexplained. The unique music and extreme vibrancy with the black-light-style lighting gives the opening scene an otherworldly opening.
The use of mainly XCU shots in the opening scene gives the viewer a specifically selected view of the space. The viewer, in this opening scene, does not know where these colorful masks are hanging or where the man painting them resides. Due to the use of XCU shots, the opening scene is a magical mystery, immediately entrapping the viewer.
The first shift goes to the normal outside world. The WS of the average street pales in comparison to the magical space in the opening scene. The dull colors, lack of music, and overcast sky provide a sharp contrast to the opening world the viewer previously experienced. This world is meant to be seen as dull and unexciting, and succeeds in doing so with the lack of interesting shots, colors, and music.
When the film goes back into the magical space of color and masks, the otherworldly-ness is less extreme. The viewer now understands, with the use of wider shots, that the collection of masks reside in a van parked outside the artist’s house. The wider shots and slightly less vibrant colors, compared to the opening scene, gives the film a more realistic feel, going in-between the two extremes of the opening scene and the short scene outside the artist’s home.
The XCU shots throughout the film lets the viewer see the intricate details of the artist’s work, exploring how this man’s artistically detail oriented life can compare to a film with detail oriented shots.
The font choice for the end credits stayed with the artistic feel of the film by using a font that look similar to a brush stroke.
The film seemed to be designed around the artist’s perspective of his own life. Outside is dreary, where he thinks about the upcoming end of his own life. While inside the van is his sanctuary that keeps him in an otherworldly state of peace. A vibrant paradise.
Kelsey Peterson: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao
ReplyDeleteThis documentary was very interesting. The art work that was being created made for interesting shots. The music went along perfectly with the documentary. When watching I got a very easy and chill vibe from Fred and his work. The close ups of the glow in the dark of the masks are remarkable. The lighting was shot extremely well, having to be dark to see the glow in the dark paintings of the artwork and you were still able to see Fred well without it looking too dim. The close ups of Fred painting really shows his passion for the artwork and how it makes him happier, taking him away from his reality and his sickness.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Pierce: What struck me the most about this film, besides its fascinating and eccentric subject, was the languid, unhurried pace at which it unfolds. The camera really gives us time to linger and take in the scenery and artwork without feeling the need to do anything overly "weird" or "trippy" to match the subject. Instead, it allows the subject to speak for itself, tastefully and effectively.
ReplyDeleteI especially loved how casually the camera followed the subject's interview; following his explanations at an intuitive pace that matched the viewer's comprehension. The film could have been creepy and off-putting, as the eerie intro somewhat foreshadowed. Instead, we are given enough time to settle into this man's world, and his warm, matter-of-fact commentary puts us at ease, making the final reveal of his ultimate fate really moving and tragic. We honestly feel like we've gotten to know this guy, mainly because the film was more concerned with sharing his story than being overly artsy or self-indulgent.
Cody Quinn: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao
ReplyDeleteThis documentary was unlike anything I have ever seen. The creepiness from the music and the masks set up an ominous feeling for the whole documentary. It fits perfect as we find out Fred is dying and his artwork is his life. The camera angles were very well-done, especially the close-ups. Also, the artwork was captured beautifully even though it was a dark room. The colors of the paint really struck out to me and always captured my eyes. This was an incredible documentary.
Ella Oprandy: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao
ReplyDeleteThe lighting in this film was well done. A cramped, irregularly-lit location like Fred's RV-turned-art-studio would be challenging to make presentable on camera but Corrao pulled it off, especially when Fred's favorite or most well-known pieces were showcased.
The pace of this film was rather slow but not in a bad way. It gave the viewer time to accept the gravity of Fred's situation, and with that, the importance of his art, which at first glance could easily be mistaken as the arbitrary artistic ventures of a habitual stoner. Fred's mellowness combined with the slow, even pace of this film is in stark contrast to the chaos of color and pattern that surround the man daily and bombard the viewer throughout the film. It makes me think that this artistic chaos might represent the emotional and physical turmoil Fred experienced daily as he came to grips with his illness. I would have liked to have gotten a little more in-depth explanation as to how the fiberglass resin and the gall stone affected Fred to the point of terminal illness; I wasn't super clear on that part. Overall, this film subtly gave due credit to the power and importance of the arts which I really appreciated.
Kat Flandermeyer- Come On Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteI loved the visuals of this film. Shooting most of it under the fluorescence of his trailer-studio adds to the dream-like state Fred lived in. You're up close and personal with the art he literally gave his life for. It's a personal experience with his whole world.
The audio is a little weird, with some iffy reverb. The songs are interesting, but they add to the otherworldly quality of the film. They have an off-beat sound that works with it. I'm slightly lost as to where the film's title comes from.
The coverage of Fred's personal experience is great, but I would have liked to hear a bit more about his life outside his art. At the same time, it works. Fred is his art, he's blatantly ignoring everything else, so as a viewer it makes sense that we would too. We are in his space; so we play by his rules.
A little more shot variety would have been nice. We only see outside his trailer briefly. I feel like our eyes need a temporary break from all the fluorescence.
Overall, I like it. It plays as a quiet but sweet eulogy to a man who gave everything for his art.
Dylan Milinkovich- Come On Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteThis documentary style film is about a man named Fred Kress who loves to paint and is driven by this passion to the point where it is killing him. The film is opened up with nice shots of the town of Maryland with the occasional car bustling by and the sound of birds in the distant background. A wide shot is shown of a Mr. Kress retreating back to the inside of his home and cuts to him in his art studio. I loved the XCU shot of his eyes as he is concentrating on his artwork. The studio itself is cramped with every inch of Fred's artwork. The pace of the film is rather slow, but it works well with Fred's slow talking and his slow delicate strokes of painting on the canvas of alien masks. Overall, I really enjoyed the film as it taught me to be driven and inspired by your own work and strive to keep going even if it quite literally kills you.
Virginia Nobles: Absolutely amazing composition. The shots were well thought out and the music fit perfectly with the strangeness of the video. It was well lit even though the setting was dark. Mr. Kress' designs were absolutely amazing however hi story was pretty sad. So far I've noticed all these videos we're asked to watch have had a sad aspect to them. However, the fact he turned his the horribleness from his disease into something beautiful through his art, is absolutely. inspirational.
ReplyDeleteDevin Murphy: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao
ReplyDeleteThis short film struck a cord with me more so than the past few. The film showcases the lifestyle of a terminally ill man who has spent years surrounding himself with his hand painted creations. The vibrant black-lit room makes the visuals pop and is unaltered by three point lighting, or lighting in any way. This gives the piece an eerie feel despite the whimsical, quirky surroundings. Every directorial choice from lighting to music creates a fantasy like atmosphere that contrasts greatly with the seriousness of Fred's condition. The different camera angles used to show his art mixed with Fred's voiceover description of each piece seems endearing at first, but when you dig deeper it's sad. Fred personifies his artwork and with every cut of the b-roll his observations make him sound crazier and crazier. The audience is left with a feeling of impending emptiness, that soon all that will be left of Fred is his art. The directors did a great job of making the audience feel a mixture of sadness and comfort in the end. Sadness for Fred's illness and death, but comfort in his acceptance of it and that his passing was exactly where and how he wanted. This piece was successful in making me feel that contrast through lighting, music and striking camera angles on Fred and his art. This was a very moving piece and I enjoyed every moment.
Rolf Konrad: Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteThe film tells the story of Fred Kress who loves to paint, but is also dying. We see a glimpse into his world and the thing he enjoys to do. His art is something he won’t ever get sick of and we see a lot of great shots of it. The bright glowing colors surrounding Fred in his room help to create some cool looking shots. We really get a close look into Fred’s work with close ups on the paint and paint brush. The shot of Fred taking his meds was also interesting because he allows us to see that he really is sick. Fred loves his home filled with his art, and the last scene really gives us a good look on how he wants to go out. Overall, I am glad I got to hear Fred’s story and see his art that he enjoyed so much.
Nick Stellon: Come On Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteThis short documentary is not the story of an event, but rather documents the human condition. It focusses on passion, and what gives a person meaning. Theres a great part of the interview where the subject says that while he paints, he forgets that he is sick. This just goes to show how well the documentary captures an individual's passion. From a technical perspective, this project is unique. You can see shots from outside the home, where the setting is a typical neighborhood, and you can see greatly contrasting shots inside. The fluorescent paints make the setting for the interview extremely intriguing. Shooting in the location of the paints also allows the character to easily show off his works simply by pointing. If the film had decided to shoot the interview in another location, this couldn't be possible. The alien paintings seem to dominate the screen, but the interview draws you back to the human aspect of the subject. You start to feel immensely for his situation, yet somehow inspired by his happiness. While he is painting, he is happy, and that is what we're left with. Overall the subject uses great technical skills to tell a very human story, no matter how many aliens are involved.
Ben Boynton: This was an interesting documentary to say the least. The colors and all the wacky art gave the piece a dynamic visual aspect. I think the juxtaposition of the sad, dark, and gloomy reality of Fred's condition with his upbeat attitude and the colorful and vibrant art created a very interesting story. The documentary's music was also used well. It gave it a sort of whimsical vibe, which normally you wouldn't want when talking about someone's liver giving out but in this case it matched the subject and his disposition perfectly. The shots were well composed and varied
ReplyDeleteAlex Harris: Come On Down and Pick Me Up by Jon Bougher and Nick Corrao
ReplyDeleteWith documentaries there always comes the question of material. How much good interview footage can I get? Is there enough interesting visual material to get enough relevant b-roll? This subject lent itself to having more than adequate amounts of both in my opinion. With Mr. Kress having both his art as well as his illness as talking points for interview material, and the ample supply of unique and interesting artwork adorning the walls. Even with all the shots that we saw there are likely even more pieces of artwork that we didn't get to see. The camera work was very close with most shots feeling as though you were sitting on the floor in the room with Mr. Kress as he painted. It helped to give a sense of the scale of the room as well as impart a feeling of almost child-like wonder as you sit listening to this story be told.
Keri Drake: Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Nick Corrao
ReplyDeleteIn Come on Down and Pick Me Up, I really love the graphics he started out with to begin the film. The pre-planning behind this was great because you can tell he actually put so much thought in the shots he wanted. The music he used in the background fits great with the theme he is going for in the different scenes. The close ups in the painting he did was a good aspect to the video because it shows in detail what exactly he is doing. The b-roll in this piece is just phenomenal, really shows how passionate he is in his work and what he do.
Sam Flowers : Come Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteI personally enjoyed this documentary more than The Archive. The cinematography, I thought was more impressive. I also thought that the mans story in this film was more emotional and interesting compared to the man from The Archive. I thought that it was interesting how Fred actually had a collection from is own talent and work, where Sean had a collection, but it was from other people's work. Altogether though, I thought this was a great film that felt like much more than just an interview. This was Fred's story and his beautiful artwork was his legacy. It was very easy to sympathize with him because of the collection of art that he created.
Sam Sheriff: In this look at a man and his art in Come on Down and Pick Me Up by Jon Bougher and Nick Corrao, we see dedication and true passion. I really appreciated the slow opening; the crows cawing and the long outside shots drew me into the film. I also enjoyed the music choice, because it really seemed to fit the subject matter. Both were funny and raw and both had a sadness to them. One thing that I would have liked is a shot showing all 3 mannequin busts at once, because Fred talked of them spatially, but it was difficult to figure out where they were in the little room. I also got a bit confused by the resin that he was talking about. Was that the cause of his condition, because he mentioned that around the same time as his diagnosis, he had started using the resin, which to me seems like there were other factors at play long before. Ultimately I think that this is a good piece that looks into one man's love for his work. Even though his art may not be conventional, it definitely has its own beauty and artistic merit.
ReplyDeleteThe art direction of this short doc is the main attention grabber for the audience. It is beautiful and mysterious in it's own way. The neon pain glows perfectly in the dark even if the room isn't well lit. The art perfectly personified the interviewee and the shots helped depict him.
ReplyDeleteSamuel Gay:
ReplyDeleteThe opening b-roll shots in Come on Down and Pick Me Up give this documentary a much different feel from your average sports player highlight documentary. This film was interesting enough with its subject and his hobby, but the shots and b-roll of the artwork itself and the choice in music really pushed this away from being average. This was creatively done and very interesting. The paint and lighting really made the colors pop. As the mood changes in the film, the viewer is so emotionally invested that we feel what the character feels with him. Overall great film.
Peyton Wilkins: Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteThis documentary is very touching. I feel inspired by this terminally ill man who against all odds continues his life passion. The music in this film matches Fred's bizarre artwork perfectly. The lighting is not too dark and you can clearly see the stunning masks and his face during the interview. There's an equal amount of b-roll and shots of Fred talking. I love how the documentary opens with Fred and his masks, then the audience is taken outside only to be pulled back into the main setting after establishing the location.
Come On Down and Pick Me Up is by far the most visually stunning documentary I have ever seen. The artwork featured is black-lit which gives the film an ethereal and other-worldly feel. The short is pervaded by references to death, from the macabre opening song to the Day of The Dead masks in Kress' collection, and most poignantly, Kress' illness. The dichotomy of a vibrant lifestyle of fulfilling creativity being the very thing that kills an artist is a thought-provoking and affecting idea. The fact that it is told with such a playful tone by such a charismatic character only adds to the film's richness.
ReplyDeleteJohn Anderson - Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteI thought the vibrancy of the shots throughout his art room was a moving contrast to the sad subject matter of Fred's illness. The first shot after the title screen of the grey, bare treetops set a gloomy mood that was present throughout the short film, but not as strong as Fred's effect on the viewer. His mental perseverance and positivity matched the exotic colors of his artwork. The B-roll in this piece does a good job of following Fred's narration and giving the viewers a sense of space around his small work space.
Mason Camp- Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteThis short documentary is very moving and different than any other short or documentary I’ve ever seen. The music for this film was well thought out and flowed perfectly with the story being told. The mask really caught my attention the colors and lighting that was used. This film displayed an interesting story of a mysterious man with cool b-roll and interview to tell the story to viewers. The music was flowed perfectly with the story and the transitioning of from the beginning of the film which was up beat until the end when he talks about his life threatening diseases. Overall really enjoyed this short documentary.
Chris O'Connor: Come on Down and Pick me up
ReplyDeleteCome on down and pick me up is visually interesting as well as emotionally moving. The opening scene of the black light illuminating the neon masks made the visual appeal of this film more interesting. It makes it feel almost alien and mystical with the colors of the masks while grounding the story in reality with his illness. The juxtaposition of Fred's terminal illness with him continuing to follow his passion is an emotional element that made this film really touching and enjoyable.
Nicole Nelson: Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteThis documentary was very interesting and nothing like I had ever seen before. The beginning starts with his diagnosis and creates the emotions for the audience. I thought the lighting was very cool and how he used the lighting to show the colors and importance of his artwork. The way the b-roll and interview are combined together really piece together the film and explains the man's life very well. I thought the music and audio aspect of the film relates well with the storyline and helps create that sense of emotion for the audience. Overall, this film was enjoyable to watch but the story was very emotional and sends a strong message.
Miranda Fulmore: Come On Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteThis video content was definitely different than what I'm used to. However, both the author and artists attention to detail was very nice to see. All of the music was extremely appropriate. Each song matched the feelings and mood of the video. In addition, I was amazed by the different colors that were shown. He trailer seemed pretty dark but the colors from each individual mask was so well seen and lit up the room. In addition, I thought it was interesting that it was his talent and joy that was killing him. One of the examples of attention to detail by the author of this film is when Fred is talking about the individual pieces and the author uses a new scene to cut to a picture of each individual piece. Finally, the fact that Fred was wearing a "we come in peace tshirt" was a very nice touch and sentiment to the story as a whole.
Justin LaSor: Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteIn this documentary, I would have to say that the thing that stood out to me the most was how the b roll and interview were actually all one process. There was not any cuts from the interview to the process of the interviewee. I also liked the lighting that was used for this interview. Instead of blasting the person they were interviewing with lighting and filling in all the shadows on the man's face, the film makers used the lighting that was already there in the man's painting room, which brought out all the colors of the man's masks and other paintings, as well as, it helped set the tone to the somber story of the artist. Overall, this was a unique type of interview which made it stand out and stick with me compared to other interviews.
Katy Hale: Come on Down and Pick Me Up
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this documentary. I loved all the close up shots of the masks, and the imagery that was shown while painting the masks. I enjoyed how everything was in order because it reminded me of our documentary project. It showed something/someone explaining a process of something they love or do. The lighting was beautiful as well. The masks gave off such a strong and powerful message. He was extremely interesting and so were the visuals. I also loved the music that went along with the film. The audio matched the narrative very well. There was all so much detail in this film that needed to be recognized and shown, and it was shown very well. This film was very organized and put together very well and I really enjoyed it.