ARTLIFE/LIFEART: UNCERTAINTY, 2min., USA, Experimental
Directed by Lorenzo Wilkins
This short film is a personal experimental idea that expresses the reality of the unknown no matter what the circumstances one may encounter.

http://lnz33.com/videos

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I had this idea floating around in my head based on seemingly hard to answer questions on life. One conclusion I kept coming to was the sense of uncertainty about it all. On a universal scale, nothing is certain, nothing is promised. This was not coming from a feeling of pessimism, negativity, or fear. This was simply an understanding of the realities in life in general. I saw this piece as an expression of how vague it all seems even as one moves through life dealing with the plethora of social, economical, racial, political, environmental strife that bombards us on a daily basis from all sides and sources.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

I was under no time pressure since this short film was an experiment. It was done in a non-linear fashion. I'd get an idea, experiment with a few shots and study them to see if it was saying what I wanted to say. They sometimes worked and sometimes they didn't so I'd try something else. I wanted it to be really short and present the essence of an idea. I used editing to fine tune it and to give it an open-ended quality leaving room for a wide range of interpretations by viewers. The subject theme of uncertainty is not simply what you see on the screen. I feel it goes beyond the screen to reflect certain aspects of the human psyche and condition.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Thought provoking.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Getting it edited down to its essence.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was pleasantly surprised by the various interpretations by the viewers, which was my intention. I was hoping it would provoke thought somewhat like looking at a painting in a gallery — the overall art of it, the technique, the style, the message. And, hoping viewers would not become trapped by the literal visual aspect, but would go away realizing the true uncertainty of all things.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I simple wanted to explore filmmaking as another visual tool. My background in graphic design and photograph has always been the main ingredient of any art form I approached. I'm always fascinated by different genres of films. I like to focus and study the craft, especially the work of the DPs (directors of photography) and how some scenes are framed to the point where many look like classic still shots. The visual elements I try to capture are light, shadow, texture, space, and motion.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

There are a number of films I circle back to from time to time. For instance, several of Spike Lee's films — "She's Gotta Have It" for its rawness. And, "Mo' Better Blues" for its storyline. Orson Welles's — "Citizen Kane" for its cinematic power in black and white. Francis Ford Coppola's "Godfather I and II" for its character development as well as the cinematography. There are many others. Too many to name.

Another genre of filmmaking that I really love is the documentary. To me, the documentary approach to filming keeps the sense of reality at the forefront.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I don't really have any suggestions at this point. Actually, this is the first of my works that has been selected for an award so I am happy to have made the cut.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

So far, so good. Looking forward to researching and submitting to other festivals in the future.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I'm a lover of grilled fish. Eloquently prepared, savory, and tasty salmon, trout, red snapper. When I go out to various restaurants, the first thing I check is their line of seafood dishes. Always looking for the way any of these seafood dishes are prepared.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I have a Youtube channel that I am using as a platform to showcase ideas that come to me. At the moment, I don't really have the next idea nailed down yet but I'm certain that there is one floating around in my head waiting for me latch onto it.