Footage

It used to be that moving images were captured on celluloid film. Whether it was news or entertainment, the running time of raw capture was measured in feet. Celluloid film was first made commercially available in 1889 by Eastman Kodak but has been made obsolete with the advent of digital photographic technologies. Now anyone with a cell phone can capture still and moving images instantly with little or no skill other than knowing which app. or editing software to use. Composition is still required but otherwise anyone can shoot like a pro.

The use of cell or smart phone cameras has become a ready weapon in the fight for social justice or political change. It’s not uncommon for warriors to to attack with their weapons on record, as if to say, ‘Go ahead, I have power, I dare you to respond’. This leaves the warrior to fight with only one hand, or their feet if they are so talented. Typically these warriors use their feet to run, run away when confronted with victims that refuse to be victims. They are cowards. I digress.

I recently saw a series of handheld footage pieces submitted by various DIY reporters during the riots and anarchy currently plaguing the world. These pieces reminded me of the riots, protests and slaughters that were filmed in the middle east during various wars and upheavals. These events were never peaceful and usually involved gunfire. Any time the groups saw a camera pointed at them there was an audible increase in volume, violence and gunfire. The flames of the burning flags and effigies increased in intensity. The presence and proximity of cameras served as the crack cocaine to excite the mob.

I saw footage of a mob attacking a man who was already beaten to a pulp and was bleeding heavily from the head and face. There was a woman kneeling over the man trying to protect him as punches and kicks kept landing on the man’s unconscious body. At one point, a hand could be seen lifting the man’s shirt and another hand stabbing the man several times in the back. This happened twice. The shot panned out to show several men dancing around the soon to be corpse grabbing their crotches and shouting ‘YEAH, SHANK THAT MOTHERFUCKER!’ ‘THAS WUM TALKINBOUT!’ ‘AWW MANN. DUDE! ”There were cars and buildings on fire in the background. It reminded me of footage from movies or documentaries about tribal or cult warfare where the participants of celebrations dance around their captives and victims, preparing to render them for a cookout. They are usually under the influence of some herb, hootch or drug that gives them courage.

I also saw footage of a motorcycle policeman getting dowsed with what was possibly gasoline and set on fire. The mob, with the exception one who tried to be helpful by returning the still lit policeman’s helmet, kept shouting and capturing footage. No word on what happened to the policeman. It was surprising that the police did not open fire. That would have made for some truly ironic, dramatic footage.