Today marks the first time in recent memory that a UB undergraduate student will have had his own movie screened without the aid of any faculty.
Michael Arisohn, a sophomore media study major with a strong interest in the film industry, will show his feature film, "Summer of a Veil," tonight at 8 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre.
Arisohn began shooting the movie at the beginning of last summer and as of Saturday morning was still not finished.
"I'm actually still in the process of rendering things ... experimenting with frame rates and stuff like that, which is not good, because at some point I've just got to give in and decide that it's done," he said.
Arisohn admits to being a perfectionist, and when it comes to artists, perfectionism is exactly what one hopes to see. It may be bad for their schedules, but it's great for the sake of the viewer's satisfaction.
"Summer of a Veil" has a typical college-student-production plotline: it starts with the end of a romantic relationship. After the first few frames, it's obvious where Arisohn's strengths lie. His work with editing and cinematography is not only impressive, but intriguing. There are points when it is obvious he's taken cues from mainstream films, such as the manner in which the opening credits are presented, and the sounds that accompany startling moments.
At the same time, the young director comes up with several unconventional and effective techniques. While scenery selection is sometimes limited and bit too suburban, the colors he chooses to feature are vivid and powerful. Occasionally using one of the many filters featured in Final Cut Pro, an editing program many students are introduced to in introductory video classes, Arisohn finds ways to make several scenes stick in one's memory. The use of echo effects make voices recorded right next to the camera sound distant and fading, and blurring effects cause confusion, making certain images less accessible.
But while some will drift through the creation of a project with little regard for artistry and metaphorical symbolism, Arisohn has paid careful attention to these aspects. The title itself has a double meaning.
"I usually try to create an interesting title if I can. There's the idea of 'a veil' and 'avail.' The shrouded covering of our real faces and helping someone achieve something," he said.
As a member of Mixed Nuts, a co-ed a capella group recently seen performing in UB's Star Search, tonight will not be Arisohn's first time performing in the Student Union Theatre. This will, however, be the first time that he has had a work of his own displayed on such a potentially large scale.
"I've been stressing out about the response. I'm not the kind of person who holds big parties or organizes events. I'm anxious to see how much interest [my movie] has gotten from people ... Either way, I will show it and I will be proud of it. If there is one person [in the audience], I will screen it for one person and talk to them afterward," said Arisohn.
Those who wish to find out more about the film can visit http://soav.tripod.com, where still frames straight from the movie and a director's synopsis are available.
Michael Arisohn's "Summer of a Veil" will premiere tonight in the Student Union Theatre at 8 p.m., and be shown again on Tuesday at the same time. Admission is free, but a $1 donation is appreciated.
