Know What You Mean 5:30 16mm 2005
A woman struggles to understand her date.
I collected mixed metaphors and malapropisms for about a year, with a vague idea of making an essay film at some point. When I sat down to write it, the movie turned into a narrative piece that combined two different approaches I had taken before, but in separate films: real-time action, and visual representations of a character's thought process.
This film also marks my first collaboration with cinematographer, filmmaker, and Penn State professor Richie Sherman. Compare this film visually with Once, which I shot myself. Focus problems--gone! Lighting--much improved! Camera movement--no longer AWOL! Collaboration with Richie and other visual artist-type filmmmakers (I consider myself more writerly-type, with visual aspirations) has given my work a serious boost.
