| Description |
360 is a short documentary film I made that follows Micha Osuchowski, a young woman obsessed with the culture of the late 1990s and early 2000s, also referred to as the Y2K era. The film weaves together two aspects of Osuchowski's life, her occupation selling Y2K clothing online and skateboarding, a sport she has been enamored with since her childhood. By utilizing the portrait style and emulating Y2K aesthetics, 360 reflects the essence of Osuchowski and functions as a loose exploration of identity and nostalgia. Documentaries often represent big ideas through the lens of a singular subject. In activist films, the subject acts as a stand-in for the beliefs of the filmmaker. This approach reduces the subject to an ideology, complicating the ethics of the nonfiction filmmaking process. The initial idea for 360 was to represent the unsustainability of the fashion industry. However, it later morphed into a portrait film. Through focusing on a person over an ideology, 360 becomes a laid-back look into young women's spaces that simultaneously addresses social issues without letting any of the issues define the subject. The content of 360 matches the form of the film. The narrative plotlines are tied thematically through their connection to the Y2K era. What links them structurally is the rhythmic pacing and transitionary stop motion sequences. The stop motion also acts as a visual embodiment of the Y2K aesthetic. Moreover, half of the footage uses a Y2K camcorder giving it a vintage quality. The remaining digital footage is made cohesive by a color grade that emulates a Y2K look. Thus, the structure and aesthetics represent the nostalgia and cyclicity that comprise the themes of the film. This document traces the creation of 360 and serves as a companion to the film for its submission as a Senior Honors Thesis at the University of Utah. |
