Movies are a road map of history; they tell us where we’ve been, how we got there, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way all captured in film. Some teach us what it means to be a hero, while others explore the human condition in an attempt to explain just what it all means. But what is film? That’s what I asked RAW Hartford’s first film artist Adam Berlingeri in hopes to understand just what it was about this art form that inspires him.
“I fell in love with using unique storytelling methods and visual/editing styles to portray a message.” This is prevalent in one of my personal favorites of Adam’s is entitled, “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” Adapted from a short story of the same name, where Adam not only in fact directed the feature, but also played one of the pivotal characters. If you haven’t read it, it tells the story of how one person is able to psychologically take total control of another without any physical interaction, “He’s a snake charmer, using his words to lure her out, without violence and only a promise.”
A “Jack of all Trades”, Adam is not only the director on the films he makes, but is also well versed in the processes of videographer, the writer, and as mentioned up top, has even acted in a few of his films. “I’m always trying something new. “I don’t work in a way of “here’s what I know how to do” and stick with that, but here’s how I want this to look, if it’s not in my skill set or not, I figure it out as I go along, if I need to learn a new skill for a project I do it.”
“Movies that make you ask questions, I’m not the one to say if my I’ve had success in doing that with my film, but whether or not that’s what I strive for, to tell stories in unique ways and make the viewer’s ask questions.” Personally I feel that Adam is well on his way to working towards this goal, an example of this is evident in the 2010 film “Only Room for One” shot in black and white. This supernatural drama is about a young man who has lost everything who, during a series of events, must make the choice between being consumed by his own pain or setting evil free. It makes the viewer wonder is there an invisible thread guiding us and what does it mean “to lose” as well as the true meaning of “sacrifice”.
Currently Adam’s work can be found at http://www.happenstance-productions.com/Happenstance_Productions/Welcome.html where you can find his production company “Happenstance Productions” there you can view sections of a few of the short features he has completed as well as find out more about this first RAW Hartford filmmaker, it’s as easy as clicking the picture above!
Be sure to check out all the other RAW artists every First Thursday at the Russian Lady. Next month, come and be amazed at out next showcase “Marvel” on Thursday April 4th. Doors open at 8 and remain so till midnight, for tickets, our artists and more information about RAW can be found at http://www.rawartists.org/hartford
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