Alli's Articles
INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS, CULTURE PIECES, MUSICAL RAMBLINGS.
Hello, Twilight! It's been quite a bit and for that, I deeply apologize. I've been all over the place this semester; writing for the New Paltz Oracle which I joined this semester after a year of debating if I should, trying to juggle all of my classes and apartment searching like the adult I am, and getting interviewed to be in a documentary.
Wait...what was that last one? In January, I received an Instagram DM from Hudson Valley-based filmmaker Noelle Janasiewicz asking me if I would like to be featured in her upcoming project about the wonderful world of New Paltz DIY, "Doors at Seven," for my efforts on the blog. After the initial shock faded away of someone being actually interested in what I do, let alone wanting to feature me in a whole visual production, I accepted. Then, in February, I met Noelle and the rest of the crew (production assistant Katie Dudek, assistant director and camera operator Kacie Kiersted and videographer Dylan Degasperis) to film my interview. I was sent a list of the questions beforehand so I tried to script some of them, but I was slightly intimidated by the bright lights and multiple cameras. (I was starting into solely one at the beginning, and then was told that I was allowed to look elsewhere. If you see me staring into your soul at any point once the doc comes out, I'm sorry.) I talked about what Twilight Collective is, my experiences interviewing artists and what the DIY community has done for me. I also answered some fun fact questions about my favorite venue and show memories, but that's all I'll spoil for you. As we wrapped up, I got into their car so they could kindly drive me back to campus so I didn't have to walk back in the 20 degree weather. During the ride, the tables turned and I interviewed the interviewers about the process behind "Doors at Seven" and what production has been like. Alli: Noelle, what inspired you to make this documentary? Noelle: I had the idea back in May when the pandemic was first starting up. I remember I had posted a thing on my finsta, and I was like 'Should I just make a documentary about the DIY music scene or should I scrap it?' because I I didn't know a lot of people in the community and I was fairly new to the scene once it had ended. I was just afraid people weren't gonna want to do it, because I was this unheard of filmmaker in the area. My best friend plays in No Momentum and I just remember being at the shows and I was like, 'This is just something so important and I feel like so many more people should like know that these spaces exist,' because it's very word of mouth. You could easily be missing out on it. Alli: What types of people are you interviewing for this documentary? Noelle: We have covered musicians to tattoo artists, regular artists who do visual art, ceramics, jewelry makers and stuff like that. The people who run the open mics, people who ran the shows, because I knew that this was something way bigger than just musicians. I knew it benefited so many other people so I wanted to include as many artists and creatives in like every like platform that were that the shows as possible. Alli: Do you think people in the arts like me are important for the music scene, specifically the New Paltz scene? Noelle: Oh, for sure. I think like having the written format as well, like reporting the shows and interviewing people really helps not only the people that are being written about, but even people like yourself who write these pieces. What I've gathered from this community with everything I've done is that everyone just wants to uplift one another and it's never about someone getting ahead of someone else. It's basically like this community that wants to rise above everything together as one, so I think it's very important to have those. Alli: In regards for creating and releasing this documentary, why now? I know you had the idea a couple months ago, but we're in a pandemic, so do you think that it's important to get this documentary out now more than ever, regarding the state of the world? Noelle: I really wanted to push it out because we want to submit this to the Woodstock Film Festival. It's a prestigious film festival in the area, and I figured having people see this community was just so important to me because I really want these spaces and these creators to be showcased. I figured now is the most important time because the shows aren't taking place right now and you can tell everyone just misses it so much. It was a big factor of everyone's daily lives, mine included. Hundreds of people would show up to these shows every weekend. It gave you that sense of community and I think now, more than ever, because of COVID, we just need to feel that again and remember that what we have here is so special so it can come back even stronger when it's safe to do so. Alli: Final question! What is the best show you have ever been to? Noelle: I was at the Crossroads one year show and I ran into Casey and now a year later we're tight as ever. And then, I think I would have to say, looking back on all the shows I've been to my favorite one would have to have been either the last show Crossroads had ever done or the Valentine's Day show that No Momentum had played at because I had met my best friend down there for the first time that show. It was so good, we had such a good time and I just remember I was like, 'This is a place where I belong and this is a community that I feel I fit in.' Follow the "Doors At Seven" Instagram page for more updates about the documentary!
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