Since taking up DV, my view and stance towards
“work” has been radically changed, as if I had taken up
a new occupation, perhaps something more akin to painting or music,
in which the parameters of thinking about “what is work”
had been completely shifted.
Owing to economics, and as well to the overbearing
institutionalized structures of the film world, I had very early abandoned
my initial filmmaker practice of walking around with a camera and just
shooting, with no particular aim in mind, and had adopted the script-driven,
narrative (usually) mode which is common to the field. In part this
is understandable owing to the fiscal aspect of filmmaking. However
in digital video, once the low-cost equipment is had, this pressure
reduces to virtually nil. One can (and in my view should) go around
shooting for the pure experience of learning. Likewise one can play
around on the computer with the imagery, seeking ways to use material.
And the cost is time, energy, and the onus of learning. I enjoy learning,
and in turn sharing what I learn. 6 Easy Pieces is a direct
reflection of this shift in my manner of thinking and working creatively.
I think it shows.
"6 Easy Pieces is some of the recent works by Jon Jost on
digital video. This is a film of 6 short sketches that investigate
the boundaries of the medium. Such as the frontier with painting.
Jost looks with his digital painter's eyes at the Bernini columns
at the St.Peter in Rome, at swimming Roman girls who dream of California,
at two children in school uniforms in Lisbon who catch the light so
beautifully, at the arrival of a mediocre achitect in Venice during
some incredible mist, at the Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, and
at some other things he comes across on his way. Things that can evoke
thoughts and feelings."
-Bergen IFF, Norway, festival catalogue
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