By Jessica N. Bowles-Martinez
Julie 9 is a film a project where seven directors make different
parts of a movie depicting a normal weekend between two people. The
site is used as both a recruiting technique to get directors into
the project as well as a way to organize the project.
In the script there is a very vague description of the different
parts of the film along with rules for the directors. Each director
will have a different set of actors played by either friends of the
director or trained actors. To give the impression that they are all
the same people there is a set of identical props and costumes that
every director is given. They are also forbidden to show the body
shape or face of the actors. There are a few scenes were exceptions
are made because the characters have dialogue to perform or at specific
instances (like when the female protagonist stares at herself in the
mirror). They also wanted to create a sense of unity between the scenes
by matching actions. For example, if one character is handed a cigarette
they want the next part to include the same character, played by a
different actor, to be taking a cigarette.
The script that is online has a couple pictures and QuickTime videos
on it, which I assume means that the project is completed. I was confused,
though, because it seems like the site is talking about how it wants
to get people to work on the movie, rather than talking about the
finished product. The videos did not work on my computer so I was
not sure if perhaps they are actually video instructions for the scene,
rather than the finished scene itself.
I was unclear of how the web site was supposed to be the center of
communication for the project. There was no forum, or way to talk
about the project of ideas. The site is just a written description
and some rules. If I were a filmmaker I would question the project
planners real commitment to the project. Even if I wanted to join
the project I would not even know if the project was completed or
something I could even work on. There is no deadlines or progress
reports of any kind on the site and I could easily imagine the author
made the site the forgot it existed.
Despite the sets of rules and the script I am having trouble telling
what the point of the project is. It might just be an experiment in
seeing different styles of film and curiosity regarding the paths
the filmmakers themselves take. My other guess is that this site is
the result of someone trying to copy the "Dogma 95" style
homemade film fad and this page is a tool to find other aspiring film
makers they could sucker into working on it.
The site has an interesting idea, but it feels unformed. If there
was some set deadlines and more organization then it could potentially
be interesting. Unfortunately, right now it looks like it will not
get finished. Unless, of course, the QuickTime videos are the finished
product, despite not being labeled as such, and the project is already
finished. This wouldn't make very much sense, though, as the site
still has instructions for directors and seems to be there for recruiting
film makers rather than showcasing a film