As I write, I am watching “Volver” by Almodovar. His use (insistence) of such big bold colors is incredible. I have a theory that an American director couldn’t and wouldn’t dare try to get away with this. Ok – maybe in the 80s but that wasn’t done with an interest in style. More of an interest in Fiorucci or Flock of Seagull music videos. However- speaking of color I finally saw “Black Narcissus” and the colors and cinematography of that film is intoxicating. Absolutely. I also rented my first Seijun Suzuki film, “Tokyo Drifter” which also has amazing color. Not my favorite movie but a definite must-see for any gangster/film noir movie lovers out there.
Cybel Martin: Plans a Trip to Oz
So I am named after this movie Sundays and Cybele. And in a story that would take up too many pages, I found someone online who lives in Australia and who owns a 16mm print of the film. We started emailing and by coincidence (there are no coincidences) I know his ex-wife.. He was screening his print in Melbourne and I decided that I wanted to go for the screening and meet some other attending Cybeles who were also invited. In my quest to raise money to go to Australia I ended up drumming up work. My trip to Australia will happen but it will have to wait a bit.
Cybel Martin: The Name That Keeps on Giving
One of the jobs was I was commissioned to do a painting for a film. The director goes to NYU (film school) and had emailed me to see if I knew any painters who could create the self-portraits of the main character. I guess he didn’t know I was also a painter so I showed him my website. Long story short...the director decided to use some of my old paintings on the set but was trying to think of how to cover my signature. And then he remembered: the main character’s name is – yup – Cybele.
Cybel Martin: Going Commercial
The other job was shooting B-roll footage for a Hewlett Packard commercial. Although it was a small job I was SO excited to get it. I haven’t shot anything all year and it was really bothering me. Plus the client was super easy to work with and I was paid well. I got the job through a friend of a friend of a producer. I love how that works. I was actually at the taping of the Montel Williams show when I got the call. A friend of ours is a producer for the tv show and we went because, well why not. Sylvia Brown was the guest and it was really hilarious and slightly uncomfortable to be on the other side of the camera.