ODYSSEY

Odyssey is a visual poem. It was shot in the Anza-Borrego Desert during a grueling, ten day shoot with the reflected temperature off the desert floor at 140'. The work portrays the odyssey of a woman/goddess/mankind, born from the sand, evolving from birth to innocence and then to growth, knowledge, pride and sin and, finally, through death to a transcendental reunion with her creator (the One).

The aim of the film is to heighten the viewer's spiritual awareness. This is a non-traditional film that attempts to reach and stimulate the viewer's inner being; to touch by non-literate means through the use of images, music, design and theme.

Odyssey was shot in the summer of 1982 while the crew members were attending the University of Southern California Cinema School working on their MFA degrees. The cinematographer, Jay Roach, later directed the two Austin Power films as well as Mystery, Alaska and Meet the Parents. The editor, Robert Rodat, later wrote the screenplays Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot and many others. The production manager, Linda Chen, became a leading on-set still photographer in Hollywood.

Awards

  • Gold Hugo award, 22nd Chicago International Film Festival, 1986
  • CINE Golden Eagle, Council on International Non-Theatrical Events, 1986
  • Silver Medal, BRNO International Film Festival, Czechoslovakia, 1986 
  • Silver Medal and Golden Scissors - Best Edited Film, Velden International Film Festival, Austria, 1987
  • VMPD Silver Medal; Best Experimental Film; Best Cinematography; Golden Microphone - Most Effective Use of Sound; Golden Scissors - Best Edited Film; PSM-VMPD American International Film Festival, 1986 
  • Television premiere on "Frontal Exposure,"  KQED-TV, in San Francisco, 1986
  • Best Experimental Film, Kenyon Film Festival, 1987 
  • Honorable Mention, 34th Columbus International Film Festival, 1986 
  • Certificate of Merit, Malta's Golden Knight International Film Festival, November, 1986 
  • Honorable Mention, Philadelphia International Film Festival, 1987 
  • Certificate of Merit, Kinetic Image Film Group's 11th International Film Festival, November, 1986 
  • Official selection, XVI International Film Festival "Nature, Man and His Environment", Rome, 1986
  • Certificate of Merit, Suffolk County Film and Video Festival, New York, 1990