Wednesday, February 11, 1998
UCLA grad gives audiences food for thought
FILM: Smith’s impassioned social perspectives garner accolades,
engage viewers
By Sandy Yang
Daily Bruin Contributor
For 10 years, documentarian, photographer and UCLA grad William
Tyler Smith has filmed unlikely subject matter. But as he delves
into his life growing up with his retarded sister to a day in the
life of a homeless man, his first concern is always connecting with
the audience.
"I hope that anytime someone watches anything I’ve done, while
they’re watching it, they feel something, and when they leave, they
learn from it," Smith says.
Smith’s visual art, including short films, short and
feature-length documentaries, music videos and photographs, has
gained exposure and won accolades.
"The format (of a story) isn’t really what’s important," Smith
says. "I don’t necessarily think, ‘I’m going to do a documentary or
a film.’ I get an idea and I think, ‘What format would be most
appropriate for the subject matter?’"
Smith’s latest effort, "The Third Mind," is a portrayal of the
musical and poetic collaboration of former Doors keyboardist Ray
Manzarek and Beatnik poet Michael McClure. The piece explores the
Beatnik era using live performances juxtaposed with interviews from
the two subjects and other prominent Beatnik artists, including
Allen Ginsberg.
Shown on the Sundance Channel last November, "The Third Mind"
also screened at the 1996 Venice Film Festival and the Los Angeles
County Museum of Art, where it was well received. Los Angeles Times
film critic Kevin Thomas called the piece "an incisive and engaging
exploration."
It all started when Smith’s work at UCLA caught Manzarek’s
attention, which led him to recruit the young talent to direct his
story. Smith says it was the social and political issues that drew
him to the project.
"I’m not interested in projects I don’t feel passionate about,"
Smith says.
Last Friday, this passion drove (or rather flew) Smith to
England to embark on his next project, a documentary about
Summerhill School, a unique institution where children make the
rules. The school was founded on the idea that children will learn
quickly when they figure out what they want to learn. After reading
a book by Summerhill’s founder, Smith called the school, introduced
himself and proposed the idea of a documentary.
"I thought it was the most incredible book," Smith says. "I
really agreed with its philosophy and how they approach education
and socialization. It really attracted me."
Smith’s great interest in social issues has also pervaded his
other art forms. Recently, Smith was a photographer for the Jewish
Federation, capturing haunting, present-day images of the
Holocaust’s aftermath.
"Most of my family was actually killed in (Auschwitz), and that
had a personal connection," Smith says. "That was interesting …
just being there, where I’m from."
Smith journeyed to Poland, Russia and Israel for the project,
photographing victims’ belongings, concentration camps and
present-day soldiers.
"To me, (photography) is just a different medium, a different
way of communicating," Smith explains. "I’m just as passionate
about photography as making documentaries or making narratives or
even making theater. It’s all connected."
Having already accomplished several award-winning documentaries
and short films, the next step for an ambitious filmmaker would be
a big break in Hollywood. But Smith is reluctant about the possible
transition.
"I see colleagues who do a project they don’t care about just to
get in (to the industry), and then they get to do whatever they
want," Smith says. "They wind up getting stuck doing something they
hate for the rest of their lives."
Smith doesn’t care about money or fame if he can’t have control
over his films, something the industry is notorious for taking
away.
"For me, I need control and I need to work alone. I can’t have
people telling me what to do," Smith admits. "I generally know what
it is I want to do, and I have very clear ideas in my head."
Smith believes it is increasingly harder for truly independent
filmmakers to showcase their work, as more and more independent
films are being distributed by major studios. But Smith remains
optimistic.
"I want to direct," Smith says. "I’m not making money at it yet,
but I’m very very stubborn about it. I’m going to keep going and
see what happens."
Smith’s next endeavor may actually be a feature film he has
worked on concurrently with his projects for two years. It is yet
another totally different story in what Smith enigmatically
describes as "a couple searching for the true meaning of love."
Smith hopes to retain the portrayal of humanity and the insight
in the character’s minds that is present throughout his
documentaries.
"Good narrative is a re-creation of reality," Smith explains.
"So I’m trying to create reality. I’m not trying to create a
different world."
photo courtesy of Steven Tyler Smith
Rising filmmaker and UCLA alum William Tyler Smith.