Buzzell screens and discusses film about memory

By Kailey Spencer | Staff Writer

Matthew Buzzell of the Department of Art & Design showed his new short film, “An Investigation into an Italian Memory” on Aug. 27 at the Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre.

 The film screening was followed by a discussion of the filmmaking process, joined by Pamplin College associate dean Christine Crookall and TVC&P Lab coordinator Jasmine Garcia, and moderated by art history professor Benjamin Ogrodnik.

Buzzell, a professor of film, talked about how his work emerged from his time at an artist’s residency in Italy, and how he learned to slow down, observe, explore and even obsess over what was around him.

 “Under the banner of art, I felt a certain freedom to try things I hadn’t tried before,” Buzzell said.

His film was styled after a common Italian art motif, known as a triptych, which meant that there were three different versions of the same film all included into one piece. The film intentionally has a blur to it, to give it an ethereal, dream-like aspect.

“I was looking for a way to portray memory,” he said.

Ogrodnik laughed and remarked to both Buzzell and the audience that when he had first heard about the film, he had presumed Buzzell to be of Italian heritage, and that the film would perhaps follow the story of an Italian grandmother.

No, Buzzell wanted to depict not a specific memory, but capture the very essence of one.

Because of the triptych style of his film, he realized that he wanted the film to be displayed on three different screens in a gallery. He even experimented with VR headsets, to try to find the most ideal way for the audience to experience his artwork.

Buzzell recruited the help of his colleagues for his film. Dr. Crookall, to his left, said that playing her cello in the studio for the film’s soundtrack got her out of her comfort zone “in a delicious way”.

When Crookall had first screened the film, she lamented that they had not been able to use her music in the final cut; until, she realized—she told the audience—that it had made it in, and she had not recognized it at first because of how Jasmine and another colleague had helped to transform the sound in post-production.

Garcia, to Buzzell’s right, expressed that she enjoyed editing Buzzell’s film. Often in the editing process, many things are cut, she explained. However, because of the film’s triptych style, she was able to keep a lot more than she usually does.

One scene that kept coming up in the post-screening discussion and Q&A was the “sunflower scene”, which was long, and drawn out, in a way that drew audience members in and allowed them to reflect.

Buzzell noted that he had spent an hour on just a single shot of that scene, really taking his time in the process.

Emily Green, who acted in the film, was in attendance. Buzzell reflected that his favorite scene, which involved her emerging from a doorway, was because of how the light glinted off her wedding ring in the sun.

 “Emily is my muse,” Buzzell said.

Toward the end of the discussion, he addressed a question concerning an upcoming film tour. Buzzell expressed that while he would love to go on tour, he had submitted and been rejected many times from various festivals. However, he will be screening the film in Italy, which he looks forward to.

 Drawing the discussion to a close, Buzzell addressed the audience, saying: “I am humbled that you took time today to be here.”

 The audience clapped and then began to exit into the lobby of the theatre as instrumental music played overhead.

They gathered around a table, decorated with freshly cut sunflowers, where sparkling water, orange slices, and a small bottle of bitters served as refreshments.

As attendees enjoyed the reception, they were encouraged to take the sunflowers home with them. They offered the flowers to each other to smell, remarking on their sweet scent. Buzzell and others joined the reception, engaging in excited conversation with students and colleagues.

Note: At the top of page, professor Matthew Buzzell center speaks with the Division of Communications and Marketing’s Tim Johnson (R) after presenting his film about memory. (photo by Kailey Spencer/the Bell Ringer)

Contact Kailey Spencer at kaispencer@augusta.edu.