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<font face="Palatino">Wednesday, April 25 </font><font
face="Palatino">CS WEDNESDAY NOON TALK in the ASH Auditorium</font><br>
<font face="Palatino"><br>
Evan Viera, Director, and Hampshire Alum<br>
Chris Bishop, Co-Writer, and Hampshire Alum<br>
<br>
ORCHID ANIMATION presents the short animated film <br>
<b><i>CALDERA</i></b> <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://vimeo.com/37526983">http://vimeo.com/37526983</a><br>
<br>
Film summary: An adolescent girl struggles to balance the dual
edges of her psychosis. In the refuge of a mystic oceanic cove,
the vibrancy of her mind is embraced and she is able to form bonds
with the lifeforms and light of the environment. This enhancement
she enjoys, however, is opposed by a demonic manifestation: a dark
figure with powers that mirror her own. The being appears wherever
her own brilliant glow is allowed to take root, tearing the world
around it into jagged debris and bleeding red light. To contain
these violent extremes, the girl must dampen herself with
medication. A dosage of three white pills drains the color from
the world and her own dazzling green eyes, allowing her a muted
existence in the insipid gray metropolis where she resides. So
diminished is her powerful mind that all she perceives is a vacant
monotony devoid of natural elements. With her only choices being
the purgatory of a shambling half-life or the unknowable
consequences of her unrestrained mania, this unique girl rejects
her medication to choose a path beyond that of this marginalizing
society.<br>
<br>
Biographical statement: Evan Viera is an award winning and
emerging filmmaker/composer. His work has shown internationally
and has been selected by some of the most competitive festivals.
“CALDERA” is Viera’s first film out of college and had it’s world
premiere at South by Southwest in March of 2012.<br>
<br>
Caldera Production History<br>
Caldera was written in the summer of 2008 by Hampshire College
Alumni Evan Viera and Chris Bishop, drawing on their personal
relationships with victims of mental illness. The two struggled to
balance their teaching positions at Hampshire College and UMASS
while working on pre-production out of a spare room in Evan’s
apartment. Once the writing and storyboarding was complete, it
became clear that they lacked the resources necessary to actually
bring their vision to the screen. Meanwhile, Chris Perry, the
pair’s former animation instructor at Hampshire College, was in
the process of launching the Computer Graphics Incubator Program;
a collaborative project that would give students the opportunity
to intern with visiting artists in need of the facilities the
college could provide. Caldera proved to be a perfect fit, the two
man team gained the technology and personnel it needed while the
college gained a source of real-world experience for its students.
In 2010, Evan and Chris launched a highly successful Kickstarter
fundraiser which allowed them to expand the team further,
incorporating various professionals from around the United States.
The resulting interface of the academic world with the independent
animation industry has yielded a diverse network of expertise and
input; allowing the completion of an ambitious animated short
while providing a model for future student/artist collaboration.
</font><font face="Palatino"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://vimeo.com/37526983">http://vimeo.com/37526983</a> </font><br>
<font face="Palatino"><br>
Director's Statement<br>
I made Caldera to attempt to ask questions about the nature of
psychosis. How can individuals with disorders integrate themselves
into a society in which they cannot function? If an individual
must self-medicate before his or her behavior can be considered
acceptable, what role has society inadvertently claimed over them?
The creative capacity formed in the crucible of a unique psyche
may be difficult to see from outside; what potential is lost by
dulling the incredible minds that house them? This film is
inspired by individuals struggling with psychotic disorders, and
with it I hope to honor and acknowledge the brilliant minds forged
in the haunted depths of psychosis.</font><br>
<br>
In The ASH Auditorium A light lunch will be available at
noon<br>
<br>
-- <br>
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<title>CBD to-do list updated and attached</title>
Paula Harmon, Administrative Assistant <br>
<div class="moz-signature"><small> School of Cognitive Science <br>
Hampshire College<br>
893 West Street Amherst, MA 01002 <br>
phone: 413.559.5502 <br>
fax: 413.559.5438 <br>
<a href="http://cs.hampshire.edu">http://cs.hampshire.edu</a></small>
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