Men of Convention - 2012 cut - Short Symbolic Impressionist Political Film by Zayd Depaor

This is a directors cut of 'Men of Convention' dedicated to the global uprisings against oppression 2011 - 2012 and beyond. It has been launched on Youtube for the first time on the significant date of 11/11/11.

This original film was cut for the Virgin Media Shorts 2011 and entered into several film festivals. It screened at the Walthamstow International Film Festival (E17) 2011 and the Portobello Film Festival 2011.

This film is an expression of activity and associations that have been left open to the viewer. You may see that an unseen hand orchestrates a series of covert meetings in remote places or you may just see that unknown men are communicating. Is this a parallel community enacting their plans of deep purpose and unshakable intent or is it normal association and interaction that we would witness if watching unknown people? Like the title 'Men of Convention' the scenes are ambiguous but apparently serious and synchronized.

The cameras used were Canon FS200, Panasonic SDR-S50, Kodak Zi8 (with WVGA setting not HD)

The film was edited entirely through the Linux operating system with open source software, Kdenlive being the chief video editor used. All actors are first time actors and they were filmed in one day at little notice, none of them knew what type of film was being constructed.

For further info on the work of Zayd Depaor see:-

http://zayd-depaor-films.blogspot.com/
http://depaor-art.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/zayd.depaor
http://twitter.com/Zayd_Depaor
http://www.youtube.com/user/ZaydDepaor
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zayd_depaor/
http://www.myspace.com/zayd_depaor
http://www.art-3000.com/artist/zayd_depaor/
http://www.artbreak.com/zayd_depaor

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• 2012
• conspiracy
• Short Film
• controversial
• banned film
• Arab Spring
• Men of Convention
• Independent Film
• ambiguity
• telecommunications
• unseen hand
• covert activity
• parallel society
• subversive movements
• symbolic impressionism
• Zayd Depaor
• Kdenlive
• OpenShot
• Ubuntu
• Linux
• Organized Crime
• communication
• fundamentalism
• Islam
• radicalism
• mafia
• terrorism
• political activism
• intifada
• resistance
• oppression
• Kodak Zi8
• Panasonic SDR-S50
• CANON FS200

[KitCatFilms]

Very beautiful. I hope you continue to make more :)

[ZaydDepaor]

@KitCatFilms Thanks KitCat, I am pleased you liked it. God Willing I will try to make more :)

[elhas80]

I see you have captured all sides...

-The Pals near a fence (symbolizing the Gaza wall) discussing a plan.

-The double agents/informants.

-The settlers talking of there own plans.

And in the backdrop, the men pulling the strings of their puppets from both sides.

Sad but reality!

Well done!!!

[ZaydDepaor]

@elhas80 thanks for watching, that was an interesting geo-political symbolic impressionist analysis of the film

[ZaydDepaor]

@SuperXxxgreendayxxx Thank you. may God give you good

[ZaydDepaor]

@micasredoje Those seeking to free themselves from oppression by means of political activity will clearly need organization, planning, purpose, communication and co-ordination. Under an oppressive regime this will be partly done covertly by necessity. An artistic portrayal or impression of such activity can be a means of motivation. Political movements as well as criminal organizations have sort inspiration from film many times before.

[ZaydDepaor]

@micasredoje Maybe the NTC lacked control in the killing of Gaddafi, some of their representatives said they wanted Gaddafi taken alive. NATO were more directly involved in the killing of Gaddafi as seeing as they made an airstrike on his convoy according to reports. People in various countries in the Muslim world have lived under oppressive regimes supported by internal & external (foreign) apparatus. Change of leaders & labels will not remove these problems.

[ZaydDepaor]

@micasredoje The film is without dialogue and narration so that the viewer can make his own mind up about what is going on. It could be just friends meeting here and there or it could be something of a paramilitary, political, religious, criminal or activist nature or something else. The film contains deliberate ambiguities and subtle signs. I think it gives an impression of purpose, organization & covert orchestration. 'convention' has various meanings, any of which could apply.

[micasredoje]

@ZaydDepaor What is the Convention ? Is it an Islamic Convention against the Président from Syria Bachar Al Assad ? I guess it's like the NTC who have killed in Libya the president Gaddafi, who was a prisoner and NTC did not know what the Geneva Convention is !) Could you better explain to us this Convention,because we (outside your movie) are not in the secrets of the Gods!

Because if you make a film, made​understandable to the majority and not for a few of your friends...Thanks in advance !

[ZaydDepaor]

@FilmAnalytics Thank you for watching, yes there are quite a few things in the composition of shots & cinematography crammed in to the 2 & half mins which I expect many are not noticing as the scene changes are so quick & the whole thing is so short. I made it deliberately ambiguous. Yes, the zooms can be symbolic of surveillance along with the varied angles and grainy footage. I wanted to portray an impression of organization, orchestration, parallel society & concealment, yet clouded.