Lectures and Talks

Learn the rules, then re-write your own alphabet

Crossing Boundaries Lecture Series

Lecture Date(s)

November 27, 2018 at 6pm
November 28, 2018 at 12:45pm

Speaker(s)

Oscar Boyson

Moderator(s)

Maysaa Al-Mumin, Assistant Professor, Art Foundation

Language

English

Location

The Atrium at VCUarts Qatar
Projection Theatre at Northwestern University in Qatar

Acknowledgment

Northwestern University in Qatar

2018, Artists, Crossing Boundaries, Film, Lecture

Visit the Arabic version here

Oscar Boyson’s lecture, titled, Learn the rules, then re-write your own alphabet, will take the audience on a tour of notable triumphs of art and ingenuity over commerce and industry in recent history, and in his personal career as a producer and director.

Boyson’s recent directorial work includes Rammellzee: It’s Not Who But What (2018), a documentary about legendary New York artist Rammellzee, who Sotheby’s described as a “Shape-shifting multimedia artist…and a hip-hop pioneer who left behind an astonishingly varied and influential body of work.” Boyson has also worked as a producer on films such as Good Time (2017), Heaven Knows What (2014), Mistress America (2015) and Frances Ha (2012) and directed dozens of music videos, commercials, short films and online videos.

Making stuff to impress your peers and participating in a community that way, that’s where culture starts to add real value.

Takeaways

“I love being a student, I love reading, watching, seeing things just constantly. I have confidence that there are more of those transcendent experiences out there. As far as getting involved in your own community though, I wouldn’t be judgmental – like if somebody is doing something, that’s something, and if you help, it’s going to get better. If you lend your perspective to somebody else’s project, it’s going to get smarter.”

“I just want to talk about community in the idea that, yeah, we can say Picasso is famous now; we can go and see Francis Picabia’s work at any major museum, but I generally believe they were just people who were peers and wanted to impress each other by making work.
And they worked on each other’s stuff the way these guys are. These are major artists, people have written multiple dissertations about, just hanging out having fun with the camera.
And I find that – that making stuff to impress your peers and participating in a community that way, that’s where culture starts to add real value."

“The reward for good work is more work. I’m fond of saying that as well. A pat on the back is nice, but really, you know, getting the chance to do more work that is the work you want to do; that is the best reward. Oscar, I want you to do your version of a Nike commercial, I don’t want you to do the version that anybody can do. That’s the reward for good work.”

Biography

@skipmccoy
oscarboyson.com
elara.world

Oscar Boyson is a New York City-based filmmaker and producer. His producing credits include Josh & Benny Safdie’s Good Time (2017) and Heaven Knows What (2014), Noah Baumbach’s Mistress America (2015) and Frances Ha (2012).

Boyson’s directorial credits include Rammellzee: It’s Not Who But What (2018), The Six Sides of Katharine Hepburn (2018) and the globe-trotting, collaborative documentary The Future of Cities (2017). He has also directed dozens of music videos, commercials, short films and online videos.

Oscar recently co-founded the New York City-based independent film studio Elara Pictures with the Safdies, Ronald Bronstein, and Sebastian Bear-McClard. Good Time was the second film to emerge from their collaboration and to be released under their production banner.

Forthcoming Elara Pictures productions include Uncut Gems, Two Against Nature -, the television series Chillin Island, and a reimagining of the 1980’s classic 48 Hrs.