Frame by Frame is a 2015 documentary film that follows four Afghan photojournalists – Farzana Wahidy, Massoud Hossaini, Wakil Kohsar and Najibullah Musafar – who face struggles as they report during the “photo revolution” that is occurring in the post-Taliban free press. It is directed by Mo Scarpelli and Alexandria Bombach.[2] It had its world premiere at the South by Southwest 2015 Festival in Austin, Texas, and was nominated for a 2015 Cinema Eye Honors Award in the category “Spotlight Award.”
| Frame by Frame | |
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 Film poster | |
| Directed by | |
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| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Alexandria Bombach |
| Music by | Patrick Jonsson |
Release date |
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Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
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Background
editIn late 2012, Scarpelli and Bombach traveled to Afghanistan to film a documentary short about photographers.[3] This turned into the feature-length film Frame by Frame, a personal look at the lives of four Afghan photographers working where photography was formerly banned by the Taliban government. Scarpelli and Bombach raised more than $70,000 using Kickstarter to bring Frame by Frame to life.[4]
Production
editThe film was shot in a cinema vérité style, which presented a unique challenge to the filmmakers because they did not speak the native language; oftentimes, they wouldn't know exactly what they had filmed until they got to the editing room and worked with a translator.[5] Both filmmakers have said that being foreign women and having an all-female crew gave them unique access and allowed them into places that foreign men would have had a much harder time entering.[6] Because of Scarpelli's background in journalism, she characterizes the film as long-form journalism. “The point of it is to inform and spark dialogue about local journalism under fire.”[7]
Scarpelli has said she was influenced by character-driven films with strong narratives, including films like Cutie and the Boxer (2013), Virunga (2014), Stories We Tell (2012), and After Tiller (2013).[8][9]
Reception
editFrame by Frame was shown at over 50 film festivals[5] including Hot Docs Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival.[10] Scarpelli and Bombach received enthusiastic praise from film critics. The Hollywood Reporter called Frame by Frame “a work of profound immediacy, in sync with the photographers’ commitment and hope"[11] and BBC Culture proclaimed “the film features photographers passionate about telling stories of the true identity of Afghanistan – whether they are newsworthy or not.”[12]
References
edit- ^ "FRAME BY FRAME | SXSW 2015 Event Schedule".
- ^ Robert Abele (6 November 2015). "'Frame by Frame' follows four Afghan photojournalists focused on the future". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "Frame by Frame: Team". Frame by Frame | a documentary about Afghanistan's photojournalists. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "Frame by Frame". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ a b Ginsburg, Elaine Sheldon and Sarah (19 November 2015). ""… If you're not trusting yourself, you can't be creative": Mo Scarpelli and Alexandria Bombach on She Does podcast". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ Berger, Laura. "LFF 2015 women directors: Meet Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli - 'Frame by Frame'". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ Holdman, Emily (2013-08-23). "Documenting the story of photojournalism in Afghanistan: A remarkable interview with Mo Scarpelli, co-director of Frame By Frame". Medium. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ Logan, Elizabeth (15 March 2015). "Meet the 2015 SXSW Filmmakers #10: Mo Scarpelli and Alexandria Bombach felt immense responsibility in making 'Frame By Frame'". Indiewire. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ Kamen, Tory. "SXSW Women Directors: Meet Alexandria Bombach and Mo Scarpelli - 'Frame by Frame'". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "Frame by Frame: Upcoming screenings". Frame by Frame | a documentary about Afghanistan's photojournalists. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "'Frame by Frame': SXSW Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "Frame by Frame: Unseen Afghanistan". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2016-05-03.