CSU alums bring “Underground” to campus
In her documentary, “Underground Ultrasound,” director Andrea
Allen shoves viewers off a slippery cliff of smeared music into a
pool of blasting guitars, quiet prophecies and light-speed
personalities.
The film takes you behind the scenes during a five-day weekend
where over 1,000 bands played in Austin, Texas. Beer bottles and
belly dancers abound and the antics of the festival shine through
in a mingling of humans, music and alcohol. All this breeds
happiness and provokes the wild antics of fans and musicians alike.
“Underground Ultrasound” is not “Insomniac with Dave Atell,” it’s a
inquisitive look into a fascinating blob of humanity that roils and
rocks for five days a year in the capital city of Texas.
“Underground Ultrasound,” showcases bands that have performed at
the world famous South by Southwest music festival.
“It’s a big celebration and everyone is going wild. Once you go
you’re hooked,” Allen said.
The film crew specializes in taking unique interviews, up close
and personal comes to mind, but being separated from their subjects
by chicken wire or a pink fur mask is not uncommon.
“Underground Ultrasound” was a collaboration of three minds all
former CSU students including Allen, Kelly Roan and Zorab Ovsepyan.
Allen decided to bring the work back to CSU, where she was a
student of Pete Seel, professor of documentary production at
CSU.
“Its great to have people come back and show their work,” Seel
said. “Andrea’s a role model (for students),” Seel said. Roan
quickly added, “She’s a trailblazer.”
After leaving CSU, the three went their separate ways. Kelly
Roan worked in Denver at a non-profit documentary center and Zorab
Ovsepyan worked in Los Angeles as a film production artist.
However, they all came together and hit the road for Austin and an
adventure in music video.
“We push each other…it’s very easy to settle for less, we push
each other to excel,” Ovsepyan said.
A 15-minute artistic film entitled “Culture Clash” preceded
“Underground Ultrasound.” “Culture Clash” was a work by Ovsepyan
about the diversity of culture on the planet, and the realization
that everyone is all of one race and people.
“(Culture Clash) is something outside of the average video,”
Ovsepyan said.
A picture of laughing children segues into rallies of religious
fanatics and high-speed car rides down empty city streets.
“It’s about the idea that all humans are one. To show how
diverse yet alike cultures are,” Ovsepyan said. “There is no reason
to separate the United States and the Middle East. All cultures
meet and sometimes there is no harmony, and sometimes there is
harmony.”
“Underground Ultrasound” received a packed house at Surfside 7
Cinema on Oct. 9. It was also part of Free Cinema, a series of
films and work done by current or former students, being played on
campus free of charge.
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