Patrick Thoits

Subrural

In this piece we primarily aimed to create a comparison between the urban sprawl and wildlife. To address the issues of coexistence between humans and nature, the film juxtaposes images of metropolis and forestry settings. We endeavored to create an “identity free” visual progression as this global issue applies to all humans. This silent film is a radical adaptation to an essay confronting complicity in regards to environmental awareness. The video piece takes an observatory and poetic approach at delivering its message. Visually the piece parallels patterns and ongoing events in both city and forest to define a connection. Due to a concise production plan, the making of this film went smoothly, leaving any challenges as simple scheduling constraints and remembering the variable shudder.

Nonfiction Media

October 23^rd, 2012

Click here to view the embedded video.

Artist Statement

Our film, “Looks Good Enough to Eat”, is about the impact of food waste and food production on the human race’s efforts to be sustainable.  In developing this film Jeb and I borrowed ideas from one another’s independent works to create a truly collaborative project. Because of the similarity between our two works this was a very natural effort. Our intention was to shed light on the ways our food production and consumption harms the environment.  While it borrows aspects of absurdism our film is a fairly traditional and literal visual representation of the essay we wrote. Our mode of representation was highly expository but our deliberate appearances on screen were participatory. Stylistically, the film was dry and straightforward, although imaginative in parts of our participatory aspects.  The biggest issue for us in production was getting all of the footage we wanted. There were certain shots from our AV script that we simply weren’t able to get because of their impracticality. We wanted to get footage of a large scale industrial farm but our inability to get to one made that impossible. If such footage had been available it may have competed with, and outshined, our participatory role in the film. Regardless, for the resources at our disposal we made the best possible film we could and had a great time doing so.