LUCID REALISM

ONE BALLOON is not just a film, it is the first proof of concept of a narrative strategy called Lucid Realism. Lucid Realism addresses a need in current mainstream cinema - lack of individuality and voice. Today, with the advent of digital technologies, there is a perception that films are getting easier to make. This misconception has lead to a proliferation of aesthetically challenged films, which rely too heavily on pre-established, cost-effective, time-effective, "safe and cheap" formulas of entertainment. The bottom line has gotten in the way of creativity. As a result, film in America is facing extinction to the digital age. Traditional forms of animation face a similar fate up against CGI. One of the goals of Lucid Realism is to preserve films, which combine live action and traditional stop-motion animation.

The Lucid Realism Manifesto is a set of guiding principals, which, seeks to restore individual voice to film. Lucid Realism is the next wave in independent cinema, which seeks to prove that unconventional subject matters and narratives can be both entertaining and commercially successful. Lucid Realism has been called the "formative" answer to Dogma95's "realist" manifesto.

LUCID REALISM MANIFESTO 2004 - VOW of INDIVIDUALITY

1. Location must be created or acquired. Set-construction/dressing is mandatory. Exterior shots cannot make reference to themselves as a specific place (eg. Yankee Stadium, central park.)

2. Sound is MOS - non-sync, no dialogue. Music must be original composition, and played live.

3. Camera movement must not draw attention to itself. (No unstable hand held). Nothing must be shot 24fps (real time)

4. Film must not be processed normally - experimentation with processing methods is mandatory. Lighting can do anything except yield a realistic look.

5. Digital/Computer generated work is forbidden. Filters and any other physical/analogue device to alter the look of film are mandatory. Computer may be used as a tool, but must not make reference to itself.

6. Action is justified by the lucid dream, and film must combine live action and stop motion-animation. Continuity can be disregarded.

7. Time: Film must not replicate reality. Film takes place in a parallel universe, place and time. Film must not exceed 90 min (average length of a dream - broken into 4-5 movements, 18-20 minutes each)

8. No pre-existing formula must be followed, including this one. Each subsequent Lucid Realist film must disregard one rule and add one rule, but not exceed 10 limitations.

9. The film format must be shot and finished on 35mm.

10. Writer, Director and Dreamer must be the same Individual, and be credited.

Lucid Realism Vow of Individuality
Created by Aruna Naimji & Aram Hekinian
03/21/04


	<< BACK ONE BALLOON is not just a film, it is the first proof of concept of a narrative strategy called Lucid Realism. Lucid Realism addresses a need in current mainstream cinema - lack of individuality and voice. Today, with the advent of digital technologies, there is a perception that films are getting easier to make. This misconception has lead to a proliferation of aesthetically challenged films, which rely too heavily on pre-established, cost-effective, time-effective, "safe and cheap" formulas of entertainment. The bottom line has gotten in the way of creativity. As a result, film in America is facing extinction to the digital age. Traditional forms of animation face a similar fate up against CGI. One of the goals of Lucid Realism is to preserve films, which combine live action and traditional stop-motion animation. The Lucid Realism Manifesto is a set of guiding principals, which, seeks to restore individual voice to film. Lucid Realism is the next wave in independent cinema, which seeks to prove that unconventional subject matters and narratives can be both entertaining and commercially successful. Lucid Realism has been called the "formative" answer to Dogma95's "realist" manifesto. LUCID REALISM MANIFESTO 2004 - VOW of INDIVIDUALITY 1. Location must be created or acquired. Set-construction/dressing is mandatory. Exterior shots cannot make reference to themselves as a specific place (eg. Yankee Stadium, central park.) 2. Sound is MOS - non-sync, no dialogue. Music must be original composition, and played live. 3. Camera movement must not draw attention to itself. (No unstable hand held). Nothing must be shot 24fps (real time) 4. Film must not be processed normally - experimentation with processing methods is mandatory. Lighting can do anything except yield a realistic look. 5. Digital/Computer generated work is forbidden. Filters and any other physical/analogue device to alter the look of film are mandatory. Computer may be used as a tool, but must not make reference to itself. 6. Action is justified by the lucid dream, and film must combine live action and stop motion-animation. Continuity can be disregarded. 7. Time: Film must not replicate reality. Film takes place in a parallel universe, place and time. Film must not exceed 90 min (average length of a dream - broken into 4-5 movements, 18-20 minutes each) 8. No pre-existing formula must be followed, including this one. Each subsequent Lucid Realist film must disregard one rule and add one rule, but not exceed 10 limitations. 9. The film format must be shot and finished on 35mm. 10. Writer, Director and Dreamer must be the same Individual, and be credited. Lucid Realism Vow of Individuality Created by Aruna Naimji & Aram Hekinian 03/21/04