inner necessity, 10min., USA, Experimental
Directed by Ethan Wagner
"The artist is not only justified in using any form necessary for their purposes, but it is [their] very duty to do so."

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

"inner necessity" is the first in a four-part film series I created, inspired by some of the great abstract painters. This piece draws from the work of Wassily Kandinsky, often regarded as the inventor of abstract art. In his book Concerning the Spiritual in Art, he argued that art should not only depict what we can see, but it should also express what he called our inner necessity. He envisioned a future where audio and visual art would eventually merge into a single art form.

Given the current discourse around AI-generated art, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to explore how new technology can shift our understanding of and relationship to art. Much like the invention of the camera during Kandinsky's era, AI now offers new possibilities for creative expression, both in collaboration with it and in response to it.

Inspired by action painters like Jackson Pollock, I recorded the audio in a single, improvised take. I then generated visuals influenced by Kandinsky's paintings and his philosophy, combining the two guided by my own inner necessity to create.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The audio recording for the film took exactly as long as its length, so 9 minutes and 57 seconds. It took me about a month and a half to generate and compile all the animations.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

neo-abstract expressionism

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The time it took to generate the animations was the longest part of the process, but that was limited by how much I was willing to pay to speed up the process. I could have gone faster.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

One of Kandinsky's hopes was that the form and color of a picture would allow the observer's mind to wander and find their own meaning. People seemed to have this experience with the film, so that makes me happy!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I grew up making music, so that has always been a part of my life. Once AI video generation became available, it gave me a way to bring the images in my mind's eye to life. My ability to express myself visually has continued to grow ever since.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I love physics so it would probably be Oppenheimer.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

This is the first time I have submitted to a festival so I have no complaints.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It was my first time and it was pretty easy.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Sushi!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I am working on the rest of the abstract film series, as well as making a multi-sensory immersive experience using all five senses with my wife.