Reviews of American Indian 1 32

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  An intresting idea, perhaps a little too much stock footage but it has potential
  A review of American Indian 1
  by george23 on 01/11/2005
  I think I can understand what you are trying to achieve here with this short. The idea of creating a visual timeline was fasanating and something which really drew me into the story and its origins.The shots were okay a good mix although I found it hard to distinguish what the difference was between your shots and stock footage. And this was my only problem. Stock footage is... I think I can understand what you are trying to achieve here with this short. The idea of creating a visual timeline was fasanating and something which really drew me into the story and its origins.The shots were okay a good mix although I found it hard to distinguish what the difference was between your shots and stock footage. And this was my only problem. Stock footage is good but at times I personally feel it can dillute a film too much by being to dominant and I felt that this happened here. However the story was good along with some wonderful music which aloud the story to develop emotionally. Plus I liked your little metphors you threw in like the cyborg character chucking the Indian off the flag. But a good experimental short, that with a little less stock fottage and perhaps more historical shots like characters in various clothing from the 20s upwards then you could have a neat little short here, plus I noticed one on the end does this mean a follow up?? read
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  A keen eye on the past but a blind eye towards the future
  A review of American Indian 1
  by moosebird on 10/18/2003
  American Indian 1 serves as a reminder of the injustice and the thievery that the United States was erected upon. The movie quickly develops the story of the Native American genocide swiftly and successfuly shifts from pastoral imagery to absurdist symbolism. This short film clearly uses the symbolic structure of Native American mythology as its guide. While this effort... American Indian 1 serves as a reminder of the injustice and the thievery that the United States was erected upon. The movie quickly develops the story of the Native American genocide swiftly and successfuly shifts from pastoral imagery to absurdist symbolism. This short film clearly uses the symbolic structure of Native American mythology as its guide. While this effort succeds in capturing our understanding without pandering, the overall film suffers because it is entirely too familiar. These attacks on the past occur over and over with no real result because the story is always the same. Today, in America, the plight of the Native American belongs to our collective mythology. We tell their sad story without restraint, but what have we have learned stays hidden. read
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  Every art school would love it
  A review of American Indian 1
  by pink2511 on 09/20/2003
  I think you succeeded in showing the feelings and emotions of most American natives very good, so the story is okay, but you made the movie kinda weird. Probably every art school would love it, because it's more an independent film, but maybe that's the right choice for that topic. But nevertheless I'm not really sure if I like that film or not. Techniqualliy it's very well... I think you succeeded in showing the feelings and emotions of most American natives very good, so the story is okay, but you made the movie kinda weird. Probably every art school would love it, because it's more an independent film, but maybe that's the right choice for that topic. But nevertheless I'm not really sure if I like that film or not. Techniqualliy it's very well done, good camera work and nice editing, but maybe the story could have been a bit stronger. read
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  Woooo-hooo!
  A review of American Indian 1
  by chrismerenda on 07/16/2003
  This was certainly a well made film. It was very thought out and you can tell it was made with a lot of passion. It is hard to believe at times that we actually live on the same grounds where people were torn from their homes and land. America did not start off in a civilized manner at all and I feel that this movie depicts that view very strongly. The mans hatred towards... This was certainly a well made film. It was very thought out and you can tell it was made with a lot of passion. It is hard to believe at times that we actually live on the same grounds where people were torn from their homes and land. America did not start off in a civilized manner at all and I feel that this movie depicts that view very strongly. The mans hatred towards the American flag is justified and extremely appropriate. I liked how the man was surrounded by wilderness and trees and mountains and a lot of beauty and then all of a sudden he was surrounded by yellow police tape. It was powerful, deeply moving and very symbolic of how are country is not all that it was dreamt up to be. Nicely done KC. Good luck. read
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  Yellow tape around my soul
  A review of American Indian 1
  by surftown on 06/22/2003
  Tired of the stereotypes of the American Indian TC created this short film to display in images and sounds the differences between our two cultures and the damage and loss the European culture inflicted on America's indigenous people. This short film was able to capture the contrast between the concept of freedom and privatization and boundaries nicely. Sounds that we take... Tired of the stereotypes of the American Indian TC created this short film to display in images and sounds the differences between our two cultures and the damage and loss the European culture inflicted on America's indigenous people. This short film was able to capture the contrast between the concept of freedom and privatization and boundaries nicely. Sounds that we take or granted played against sounds of what could be bring our loss to an even higher level. Images of the stark construction site compared to the beauty of uncompromised nature reminds the viewer that stereotypes are a form of prejudice and the yellow tape not only traps our mind and body but also are soul. read
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  Foriegn replacements - Native offerings
  A review of American Indian 1
  by Elizabeth Anne on 03/21/2003
  I could not get this to download when it first appeared on the site, on the last day of the festival, I'm gals I tried again. As Native American descent, I appreciate thisfilm and it's message. The artistic route taken to express the emotion was quite interesting. It is not my personal choice of best representation to educate on the facts, however it was a great choice to express... I could not get this to download when it first appeared on the site, on the last day of the festival, I'm gals I tried again. As Native American descent, I appreciate thisfilm and it's message. The artistic route taken to express the emotion was quite interesting. It is not my personal choice of best representation to educate on the facts, however it was a great choice to express the pain and emotion! Great footage and editing, I would definitely consider this project with better budget. I highly recommend Thomson and Foote's offering to us, as it is a sacrificial offering at that. The affects may seem revolutionary and technically advnced for society in what we now live. But at what cost and to whom have we gained it? I often feel ashame dof the pleasures of my life when I associate to them to where my people have come from. Still, I will not forget, and I do applaud how this filmmaker chooses not to forget. Tahnk you for your offering. read
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  review made by bobbyrobinson
  A review of American Indian 1
  by bobbyrobinson on 03/20/2003
  Greate project you have there. As an American Indian myself I can tell you that this subject its always in my heart. I like the story very much, the concept its excelent and, seriously talking I would really like to be involved in it, as far as the music its concerned. I am a composer/musician, so let me know if I can help!
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  Great technique, Woe to the concept
  A review of American Indian 1
  by gwils on 02/26/2003
  The technique of this piece was very solid. Great shot selection. Lighting and editing is tight. The executor definitely has a knack for the narrative story format.Where i respond to this piece on a personal level is a contempt for the victimization of the indigenous american experience. Made popular by suppressed societal guilt and misinterpretation by Hollywood since...

  The technique of this piece was very solid. Great shot selection. Lighting and editing is tight. The executor definitely has a knack for the narrative story format.

  Where i respond to this piece on a personal level is a contempt for the victimization of the indigenous american experience. Made popular by suppressed societal guilt and misinterpretation by Hollywood since the beginning of talkies.

  It is a comfortable, established position to view native peoples as the victim. Every history book in every locker of every school has it, so it has gain the popular acceptance. However, the result has been to keep the extension of humanity to this experience.

  Being a Native person, I demand that humanity. If there is any progress to be made in the global dialogue then we must transcend the roles of victim and victimizer, so that the each can realize that one is really the projection of the other.

  Of course, the ancestors of the western expansion will be touched on their jumpy, guilty roots and respond with pity. That doesn't help much, because it still perpetuates the dehumanizing of "the other", which in this case is the myth of the pristine, eco-friendly native. read

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  soft spot
  A review of American Indian 1
  by Ron Galligan on 02/12/2003
  You hit a soft spot with me. We did steal your land and perpetrated genocide on you similiar to what the Nazis did in Europe. We have destroyed your beautiful culture and replaced it with McDonalds and drive-ins. However, all that doesn't absolve you from the basic filmmaking obligation to come up with a compelling story, to capture my interest, and to move me emotionally... You hit a soft spot with me. We did steal your land and perpetrated genocide on you similiar to what the Nazis did in Europe. We have destroyed your beautiful culture and replaced it with McDonalds and drive-ins. However, all that doesn't absolve you from the basic filmmaking obligation to come up with a compelling story, to capture my interest, and to move me emotionally. I would suggest to you that you keep this worthy subject but that you improve your art and craft as a filmmaker so that you can really fight for your people and for your truth. God bless. read
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  Dances with Who Now?
  A review of American Indian 1
  by Tim Morrow on 02/11/2003
  When I was back in Art school the professor's would constantly hound us to pick appropriate imagery, and then to use it it an equally appropriate context. The swastika...a little overused, a Mayan Death Mask being worshipped in a makeshit temple outside a suburban strip mall...getting closer. This Film, dealing with imagery and metaphor commands this sort of analysis, and... When I was back in Art school the professor's would constantly hound us to pick appropriate imagery, and then to use it it an equally appropriate context. The swastika...a little overused, a Mayan Death Mask being worshipped in a makeshit temple outside a suburban strip mall...getting closer. This Film, dealing with imagery and metaphor commands this sort of analysis, and as such falls a little short. The "Native American" being bound by the yellow tape of modern society...Good Enough. The coming to terms with the "inner-self" as represented by the feather...I think also good. The image montage that is to serve as the bridge to get us there...Not as Good. This one has been on my review list for a while, and I wanted to be as thoughtful as possible in my review, so. If I mis-interpreted your images I apologize, but, even if I did...you can learn from that. Overall, I liked the premise, and would hope you could rework it a bit. By-the -by...Do you have the rights to the music? Just curious. A single tear did not run down my cheek,,,but I also did not dance with wolves. Keep At It! read