Where Do We Go From Here? Occupy Wall St. on Vimeo

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7. Irma Vep

by Ed David

2 months ago

6. Where Do We Go From Here? Occupy Wall St.

by Ed David

4 months ago

5. The Police and the Protestors

by Ed David

4 months ago

4. Sexy-Log. A S-Log Film - Test Sony F3.

by Ed David

6 months ago

3. Musee Des Beaux Arts - a Sony F3 test shoot

by Ed David

11 months ago

2. Dorian

by Ed David

3 years ago

1. Lessons from a Tailor. Directed by Galen Summer

by Ed David

3 years ago

"Where Do We Go From Here?"

On the one month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, I went to Liberty Plaza to find out where the movement will go next.

Director ED DAVID
Producer DANA SALVATORE
Cinematography ED DAVID & ANDREW MCMULLEN
Editors LILY HENDERSON & ED DAVID
Assistant Producer JILLIAN MASON

Music:
"I Drive" by Cliff Martinez

ED - kittyguerrilla.com
ANDREW - andrewmcmullen.com
LILY - thinplacepictures.com

Credits

Ed David
Director, Co-Cinematographer, Co-Editor
ThinPlace Pictures
Co-editor
Dana Salvatore
Producer
Jillian Mason
Assistant Producer

632 Likes

mark tierney
2 days ago
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Tags

jo pillar 4 months ago

this is so very good

mx
Brennan Stasiewicz 4 months ago

nice job ed!
CoupDeJess 4 months ago

Since I can't be there to see any of this unfold first hand, I really appreciate your videos! (I'm an American living in Paris)
Viviane Vives 3 months ago

Go to the occupy Paris actions, then, what's the difference?
I'm away and intend to participate locally, it doesn't really matter where you are, the time is now
Jason Drakeford 4 months ago

This is amazing, epic. Wish this was a feature film, I would go see it in the theatre.
Tim Warneka 3 months ago

I thought the same thing as Jason! What a great short. Thanks so much for posting this.
Christopher M. Ryan 4 months ago

Got chills.
Shing02 4 months ago

dope!
jason Carey 4 months ago

Nice job all of you.
Nicholas Whitaker 4 months ago

so good you guys! so proud!!!
K M 4 months ago

Very good. The people have spoken!
Alex Mallis 4 months ago

awesome!
J-P Balas 4 months ago

good work!
Float Pictures 4 months ago

Very poignant, truly touching,a wonderful explanation of this much needed movement. Great soundtrack too. I ♥ Drive.
Casey Schmidt 4 months ago

Wish I was out their! Keep em coming guys. Dolly work was excellent. Especially love when the camera slides towards the subject, very impact-full. I get a little taste of what it must be like to be on Wall Street right now. Thank you.
Justin Bolduc Turpin 4 months ago

Really Nice Job :)
ryan caldwell 4 months ago

1:35... enter the secret police.
Kyle Kappmeier 4 months ago

Very nicely done
Mighty Productive 4 months ago

Very inspiring.
Michael Kulikowski 4 months ago

wow this was extremely well done
Brandon Bloch 4 months ago

Another stunner. Really inspiring message... and, yes, some pretty faces as well ;-)
Felipe Gallego 4 months ago

well done bro !
Weldon Byrns 4 months ago

I like!

What camera did you shoot this with?
Ed David 4 months ago

thanks! sony f3 with s log to ki pro mini using Zeiss ZF lenses on a Dana Dolly
Weldon Byrns 4 months ago

That makes sense. The film looks so sharp, professional...really nice job Ed.
Ray Roman 3 months ago

I wish I could afford that camera! I am the 99% (sorry, had to say it)
Ed David 3 months ago

Ray I really love your comment because it's an important point - why did I make this video with an expensive camera and the slider when of course I could have shot it with a more inexpensive camera?

This I feel ties into bigger political themes like, should the 99% percent allow celebrities like Deepak and Russell Simmons to join the movement when they make millions?

Of course, I say all this - and after all your post may have just been a funny comment. But, maybe you did underneath mean this seriously and I respect your ability to be honest with me about it .

I would really try to invite other "industry" people to make more films about the Occupy Movement. It is not anti-corporation, it's anti-corruption. I wish more people with fancy-schmancy cameras and other useful skills will follow suit. Hopefully you will see more slider and f3 and Arri Alexa and 35mm films made about the movement and the new Canon Camera that is coming November 3rd - I hope!! Oh also the Red Scarlett - very exciting stuff.
Johnny Pappas 4 months ago

Wonderful piece, thank you for it.
Lester Thomas 4 months ago

As much as I respect what these protestors are doing I feel like the "films" being produced about it just aren't that good. This one feels cold and contrived. The camera work is self indulgent and tries to upstage the subjects. The music is predictable and lazy. Overall, it lacks heart and therefor if there is a message here it gets lost on me. Style over substance works in certain situations, just not this one.
Ed David 4 months ago

Lester I appreciate your comments on the matter.

The attempt with the filming style was to create a sense of slowness and calm and peace - something overall missing from most media about OWS.

The music choice used was overall a fairly simple drone - an interesting piece that helps I feel contribuate to the peaceful, relaxing state of the piece.

It's good that you are reacting to it. As long as people are reacting that's a good thing. And it's a good thing that even the filming of the piece is a point of debate because I think another important part of the movement is people at home, the audiences, need to start to think critically about the media, how information is delivered to them - what is news? What is a documentary? What is the line between opinion, emotion, and fact?
Pedro Gil 4 months ago

I must agree with Ed.
kinomatic 4 months ago

Nice response, Ed, to some honest criticism. Esp ending with questions. The best media interviewees at OWS have thrown questions back at the journalists seeking statements or declarations from this group.
Ed David 4 months ago

thanks! it's important I feel to have a dialogue on any video anyone makes about something political. It can expand thought and discussion beyond just the simple video. I enjoy honest criticism and harsh criticism as well. It makes me better as an artist.
Tim Warneka 3 months ago

I would -- respectfully -- disagree with Lester. Right from the start, I very much appreciated the slower pace of this video. So many of the occupy videos feel somewhat frantic to me. I was emotionally touched by what several of the speakers said. I found substance in their words.
Lukas Korver 3 months ago

Lester. Your comments are lazy and offer nothing to the creative discussion. I urge you to go out and create, don't waste your time and effort dragging others down...We need to lift up our fellow artists not tear them down.
Ed David 3 months ago

Lukas - I actually enjoyed Lester's comment. Its good to get tough, honest feedback. It makes one stronger as an artist and I applaud Lester for his courage to do so especially on Vimeo where his name is attached to what he says. Lester has some honest criticism - thinking the piece was too "produced" - taking the spotlight from what is said - and really many could argue that way. Of course I used the slider to create a feeling of calmness that went with that lovely little tune "I Drive" - to create a hypnotic, dreamlike europhia - a feeling I get going to OWS - that there is hope - I don't know what it is - but its there and it feels so good.

I wish more people would be critical of everyone's work, and the artist who posts said work, takes everything with a grain a salt and feels good enough about themselves to not worry too much about it - but to listen - to respond, and to be affected by it for the better so that his or hers next piece is even better.
Lukas Korver 3 months ago

Ed, I applaud your maturity in handling the criticism, not an easy thing to do. I think being critical of others work is a very important part of the creative process, and I'm not arguing against his issues with the piece, just the way he went about it rubbed me the wrong way. I would assume 99% (no pun intended) would not take his critique as well as you have, yet part of being on artist and putting your work out there is learning to accept criticism.

I just think of the young, talented, aspiring artist who is posting his/her work for the first time hoping for some feedback, only get their heart stomped on by a lazy and reckless response. There's a right way to respond critically to someones work.. "Here is what I like, here is what I don't like and why, and (most importantly) here's what I would suggest could make it better."

I bet he is probably a very thoughtful and kind person, face to face. It would be more helpful if he used his genius to tell how he would have gone about it differently instead of taking on the internet tough guy approach. I was also not surprised to see that he has not posted a single video on Vimeo.
Agapé UK 4 months ago

Thank you! This is beautiful and despite being so concise really captures the spirit of the movement.
Chris Dusseldorp 4 months ago

Nice work...

Check out OccupySydney.org.au

AND an eviction video -
youtube.com/watch?v=swmaFtkG8UU
ListenIn Pictures 4 months ago

beautiful
Genco Films 4 months ago

Nicely done. Well crafted.
George Watts 4 months ago

Nice work. Very well done Ed.
Ho Hum 4 months ago

Is this 100% natural light? I know the F3 is great in low light and the s-log boosts your stop range, it's just that it's so well exposed for documentary footage. Did you even use bounce cards?
Ed David 4 months ago

it is - unfortuately :) I usually like to use a bounce or HMI light or 1x1 litepanel - but it was simply too crowded. also using a slider was already "pushing" the amount of space we had available.
Ho Hum 4 months ago

Well, I mean the contrast isn't always consistent so I could deduce from that that you may have been unhappy with the lighting from time to time. In terms of self-contained shots, though, you could have fooled me. That last portrait shot looks composed as anything, yet it's all natural. That's really impressive.
Ed David 4 months ago

thanks yea - documentary style - sometimes visual mistakes happen - like I hit the iris by accident - and well - you go from there. but thankfully its forgiving. as long as its not too technically distracting I hope that the audience can get "lost" in the world and not think about the filmmaking process.

In this case, most viewers are quite conscious of the "filmmaking" effect of the piece - which may lessen its impact. but honestly though I shot it this way to create calm and peace - not to try to make it "look like a commercial" as some say. And now there is quite a lot of criticism about this. Oh well - I tried :) Hopefully the look will help the film get to more places that make the movement more accessible to people who don't currently see themselves as part of the movement. That's my goal.
bradbell.tv 3 months ago

That will teach you to use a slider in a street documentary ;-)

Nice doc. Very reflective and thoughtful camera and people and music. Very emotional. I found the man in the suit very inspiring.

I also love the contrast between the various representations of the protest. Your film makes it difficult to accept the need to shoot protesters with rubber bullets, mace, tear gas, and stun grenades, ala #occupyoakland.
pleasedontstare.com 4 months ago

Amazing man. Thanks posted it here. wp.me/pxkYY-fTb
Pedro Gil 4 months ago

Excellent !! you guys did amazing...

Solidarity Forever!
Ben Zolno 4 months ago

hey Ed, great work. are you out there often?
Ed David 4 months ago

I've been there around six times now. Two with a video camera, two with a still camera, and two just without a camera. Each experience has been unique - and I have to say - it makes it easier for me to have the camera - it gives me more focus there. But just getting lost in the crowd can be beauitful. I was there Friday night starting around 11pm and I believe there was the General Assembly going on - watching the process - they were organizing smaller groups - was beautiful - watching direct democracy in action.
Anthony Nguyen 4 months ago

Beautiful work, mate!
Rick Beerhorst 4 months ago

Brings tears to my eyes. You can feel the world just wants to change. Like those lingering shots when the characters are not speaking---makes them even more human some how....
R Smittenaar 3 months ago

Wow, amazingly done, brings hope and love to my heart :-)
Sahak Sahakian 3 months ago

LovelY
Belinda Rachman, Esq 3 months ago

Cried!
Danimal 3 months ago

This just pushed me across the line. I am taking time off work and going to New York. This video gets homepage honors on my blog occupy-wallstreet.com/ : )
Tim Warneka 3 months ago

Good luck, Danimal! Bring your camera ... :-D
nybemotion 3 months ago

bravo. really well done. thank you.
Gabriel Rhenals 3 months ago

Stunning little piece, in both content and form. Good job!
megan barron 3 months ago

Thank you. Off to share this with others now.
Monkey Records 3 months ago

It's great - thank you.
Felipe Dall'Anese 3 months ago

we can do anything we want to!
99PercentFilm 3 months ago

Nice work you guys. Are you w/ BFC? (One of your names seems familiar in that context.) I'm not logged in, but this is Audrey from 99percentfilm - get in touch if you want to work with us, a few of us have also done slower/zen pieces as well, we have a wide variety, but there's a place for you with us if you want it. And don't give people who complain about your style the time of day. Doers do, don'ters don't. I just made that up. Sorry. xx
Ed David 3 months ago

sure I'd love to - whats your email? you can contact me at ed(at)kittyguerrilla.com
Conor Keenan 3 months ago

It's so nice to see a piece on OWS with some real polish. Like it or not it's these kinds of images that really help a movement like this seem legitimate in they eyes of those for whom it might all just seem so far away and hap-hazard.
Thanks for creating such an important piece, and let me know if you'd ever like to collaborate on anything. (I hope to be back in the NY area this winter.) cmkfilm.com
Ed David 3 months ago

thanks!
definitely - i love to collaborate.
Dwaine 3 months ago

Ed my i use 2 of your videos in an online TV broadcast this one and Police and the protesters
Ed David 3 months ago

Sure! Remember to give a credit to the footage if you can.

Thanks!
Dwaine 3 months ago

Yes of course your credits will remain in for all to see and a very nice job done by the way ... thank you and Blessings
Ingelbert 3 months ago

This truly is a piece of Art. It works in so many ways and the sound is so clear and I can't say enough about the cinematography. What better way to show the passion of these people? I loved every second of the content as well and am inspired and encouraged by it. I want to see more!!!!
John Ta 3 months ago

really sharp lens. Nice work.
Sascha Reynolds 3 months ago

This is so beautiful. I have tears in my eyes! The best of greetings from Germany, we started the camp 1.5 weeks ago at the ECB in Frankfurt. We are struggling to get the camp up and running, but we are making progress, people are waking up here as well!
Ed David 3 months ago

that is great to hear. it can't be easy to do. my heart goes out to you and others at the ECB
Sascha Reynolds 3 months ago

I will try and get this video projected on the side of the ECB. You cannot believe how much strength videos like this give. Or maybe you can.

We are with you all in the US, in our mind and hearts.

I'll keep in touch.
nihal 3 months ago

beautiful :) am passing this on, love it
Shahrzad Arshadi 3 months ago

This is wonderfu! I love it!
Chris & Oliver 3 months ago

aside from the content, which is amazing, the color is also really, really great. love it.
Ed David 3 months ago

thanks you - sony s log and then 3 way color corrector in Final Cut Pro. I also sharpened the footage and added that 1.85 aspect ratio to it.
andre rivas 3 months ago

Tremendous job, absolutely beautiful
Cam Kaegi 3 months ago

very well done, this is exactly what we need. keep it coming man, your making a difference.
Valerie Parker 3 months ago

Beautiful piece!!!!
Samuel Vega 3 months ago

What was the mic/audio set up? Sound was amaizing!
Ed David 3 months ago

thanks - it was the schoepes cmc4 hypercardoid mic going from a boom overhead (I was actually the boom operator for most of it) going XLR mic+48 phantom into the camera. I put the mic pretty close over their head. Tough audio environment :)
Samuel Vega 3 months ago

Dude you did an awesome job. I personally think the audio was what took this video over the edge... I could imagine how tough it was was out there! Great job though to everyone on the project!
Ed David 3 months ago

thanks. To me audio is the most important part of a film - if you love a film, you love the soundtrack and you think about the soundtrack and if you have crisp audio - it makes what the people subtly more interesting. For instance I still remember fondly the drones of the soundtrack to "Memento" and that movie I probably saw like 4 times in the theatres.

Of course as a cinematographer, me and the sound mixer sometimes have a few compromises to make :)
little films 3 months ago

Just lovely work Ed. Haven't been in touch for a while but at some point we'd still love to have you on board one of our projects.
Peter Leeman 3 months ago

Great work!
Check out my video: vimeo.com/31770485

Monique lost her job, then her home, and then decided to stand up and fight back against big banks and unfair foreclosure processes. Occupy Minneapolis will help protect and occupy her home.
Huda Azzis 3 months ago

Hi Ed! WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Occupy Wall St. has been featured at shortfilmsinbed.tumblr.com
Jeremy Freedberg 3 months ago

This is gorgeous. The atmosphere you are able to build is remarkable. Well done. The thing I am curious about is the color correction!

I am a film student here in Chicago, trying to do a piece on occupy Chicago, what kind of questions did you ask people?
Ed David 3 months ago

hi Jeremy - well I started just asking "where do we go from here?" then I would ask "can you historically put this movment in perspective" "how do you emotionally feel going here?" I cared about the emotions of the protest.
Aaron Freeder 3 months ago

Excellent. The subtle camera movement really adds some emotive life to what, in most documentary style interviews would be static and lifeless. The whole film flows very organically and I really felt like I was in the moment, the F3 is a beast. The audio you captured is also perfect.

I wish the end sequence was longer, it would have been sick if you captured even more portraits of people in the moment at the protest.
Ed David 3 months ago

Hi Aaron - thanks! Yes we should have had a bunch of portraits I agree - but running time is always a concern. It's not easy to hold people's attention on the internet. The rough cut I did before Lily jumped in was 8 minutes long. She cut out all the fat.
Burk Finley 3 months ago

Hey Ed -- I came across the piece when looking for S-log samples, which pushed me to your sexy S-log video. People often give little credit to how important sound is to picture -- sometimes no sound is more powerful, but in this case I really think the drone you and the team selected was fantastic, and added so much.

Love the F3 image, even here as seen on Vimeo. It carries a blue/green hue, slightly desaturated at times. Is that a product of your taste in color correction? Also with the 35mm sensor, where did you set your aperture for the bulk of the shots with the guy in the suit? Quite a bit looks in focus.

The short makes sense, and I really like the push in portraits at the end -- very powerful and personal images to finish on. Keep up the good work mate, and good job fielding the criticism.
Ed David 3 months ago

Thanks burk. Cc was a choice in post. It was hard to make a look i was satisfied with. We had no bounce... No litepanel 1x1. It was so crowded. I wanted it to have a look like the iconic shepatd fairy portrait if obama that said hope. All about using the visual to portray a diffferent feel than the usual brownish imagery out pf the park. Thanks again
Ed David 3 months ago

Focus was off a few times cause we didn't have monitor going off the lcd which is hard. I always try to shoot at a f/4. I like the sharpness of the zeiss lenses at this aperature
Michael Leyzeron 3 months ago

Besides the technicality with the equipment and slight losses of focus, this is an amazing video Mr. David, this is one of the most motivating and amazing videos I have ever seen. It almost brought me to tears, and although it feels slightly contrived, the raw reality bleeds through the pixels on my screen.

Thanks man, keep on documenting and telling the story of "pure democracy".
Ed David 3 months ago

Thanks Michael - this is an honest critique and very well put!!! That was the goal with the last interview with the Texan - I wanted the "contrived slick structure" to kind of just fade away, break down, and you are left with this raw beauty of a person - truly speaking. It was my attempt to throw the "political art film" on its head.
Clay Lomneth 2 months ago

Fantastic project. Keep shooting.
PlayGroundArts 2 months ago

Who is the women with the blue eyes at the end. can you please tell me!