Open CallOpen Call: Rough Cuts
Swim (Rough Cut) (4:06)
Jon Goldman + Chip Moore | Cambridge, MA
For many people the idea of an “out of the way” beach means an idyllic surrounding separated from the realities of the world; A place to swim, enjoy the sun, be with family and relax. Ambrose Jearld is an African American fisheries biologist from Robeson County, North Carolina. He remembers swimming at a seashore where “out of the way” meant both that and something quite different.
Near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina lies Atlantic Beach, a small African-American resort town. To this day it exists apart from the adjacent strand, historically and still practically a segregated beach. SWIM is a short animated film based on Jearld’s memories of a Southern African American family going to the beach. The film explores the subject using hand-drawn and computer-based animation with archival footage both aural and visual.
Called a "digital renaissance man" by the Boston Globe, Jon Goldman is a media artist who works as a writer/producer/editor. While his concentration is currently focused on digital video his work is informed by his training as a painter, a sculptor and a director for the stage. Goldman has produced for Al Jazeera English a recent segment on the efforts of a Louisiana chemist to fight for environmental justice in the post Katrina gulf Coast. He is currently finishing a documentary on the humor of David Lasagna, called LAYERS OF LASAGNA, a trailer of which can be seen on his website: http://thoughtballoonmedia.com In addition to Al Jazeera English, he has produced for Discovery Channel and many industrial films. Swim is his first collaboration with fellow animator, Chip Moore.
Mr. Goldman received his Masters in Science in Visual Studies from MIT (1985) at the Center for Advanced Visual Studies and his B.A. in Theater at Connecticut College, attended Middlesex University in London, the National Theatre Institute, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He has won many awards including an InterArts grant from the NEA and Rockefeller Foundation for his computer-controlled inflatable sculpture.
Goldman currently runs his studio, THOUGHT BALLOON MEDIA, which serves as a laboratory for the development and exhibition of new work. His past innovative work in gigantic inflatable sculptures have been exhibited in and on museums and galleries throughout the U.S., Japan, Korea and Hong Kong. His work is in many collections including the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt National Museum of Design’s permanent collection.
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Glad to read your post about the audio
This is wonderful, though the audio did take me out of it . . . but since you're re-recording, it's very exciting. This is a fantastic and truly unique piece.
Animation and Story
Nice work with the animation and the photos. They compliment the interview nicely. I like the sea horses story. I might leave out the bathroom story (as you say, everything between leaving and getting to the beach is happenstance) although the gas station and church along the way is a nice touch. I might play up everything that you would bring... and the family gatherings. Great start!
Swim!
I agree with the sound issue. I found myself squinting trying to listen, funny how that works.
Other then that, linger on some of those photos a little longer. You blink and you've missed it! We really want to look into the past! They are a great compliment to the drawings.
There are no mistakes in art, only variations.
Keep it Tender~Alecia
SWIM
Kudos to this short piece of African American history. Animations really make it more interesting to watch. Very creative for such a light-hearted, spirited story. I would love to see quaint interviews with some of the individuals pictured. Slow picture transitions down, remember the 6 sec rule...Great touch, though. Audio undertones and effects help carry the story...really make the extra effort of cleaning up narrator's voice, try pro tools, his voice is the driving factor and audience shouldn't have to strain to follow...
addressing scratch track issues
Thanks for the constructive feedback. We are scheduled to re-record Dr. Jearld this coming Sunday which will dramatically affect the soundtrack and we are busily animating elements of the photos still ( it is VERY time consuming, and given the turnaround stuck to a very tight schedule.
Jon Goldman
Thought Balloon Media
12 Sidney Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
978 505 5796
Swim
What a great way to recall what black folks did for recreation back then. I have family ties to South Carolina and remember dearly the moments we got to go with an aunt and "the church" to Edisto Beach, which now has little to no public access. I think his narrative could be re-recorded or re-narrated by another voice to make it stronger. I love the use of the still photos...would it be possible to animate those more?
Love the concept and the moment in history that you are capsuling.