Finally, after almost two months, OPIA is finished. Created as a collaborative effort between Kyah Cook and I, OPIA features a completely original soundtrack and script.
OPIA
N. The ambiguous intensity of looking someone in the eye, which can feel simultaneously invasive and vulnerable—their pupils glittering, bottomless and opaque—you’re able to tell that there’s someone standing there, but unable to tell if you’re looking in or looking out.
Here is the story of an almost.
Shot in one day, OPIA is a personal project created from scratch by Davis Bonner and Kyah Cook.
Short film, long regarded as the best way for filmmakers to get their foot in the door, has since become victim to the seas of red tape that can hinder even the most determined of directors. Had we known the challenges facing us going into the production of Opia, (our upcoming short film) I doubt there would have been as much enthusiasm. Set in Denver Colorado, Opia tells the story of two separate, yet completely connected individuals who, in a brief moment, share a feeling of Opia before going their separate ways. On the surface, this sounded like an easy enough production to shoot, gather your actors and crew, then get as many takes at each location as you can. As it turns out, unless you are overflowing with cash and have the backing of a major company, shooting a short film on location is extremely difficult. The most infamous ball of red tape we came across was Union Station. Unbeknown to us, the policy surrounding media capture inside the station is extremely strict. Those trying to use even a tripod are quickly asked to leave as "No equipment is allowed." While I am no stranger to jumping through hoops, the process to request even ten minutes of shooting time as students resulted in a cold no. Left with no choice, we brought what little paperwork we had and a scrap of hope that we could shoot the critical scene at the station. Had it not been for the generosity of a security guard on duty, we may never have gotten the shot. In hindsight, pursuing the thought process behind, "easier to ask for forgiveness that permission" simply means being bold and pushing the boundaries of what others think you can accomplish.
The Invictus Initiative, arguably the best international humanitarian organization out there right now for its 'relationships first' approach and varied team composition. Having the privilege of traveling with this organization gave me the inside look as to what makes their model far more effective when compared to much larger operations. What I immediately noticed was the more controlled atmosphere Invictus seemed to impart wherever we went. Where most humanitarian organizations prefer to rush in, knock out whatever plans they created before hand and leave, Invictus takes the longer approach. Our first goal was always to sit down and talk with the group of people we had identified as needing our assistance and see if that really was the case. More often than not the information we had going into a location needed to be updated and what we thought was best at the time no longer happened to be true. By far the most difficult aspect to this approach was how it forced you to stop exclusively thinking about crafting a solution. For most when presented with a problem, we immediately try to jump to a solution of our own design. Here, jumping to solutions frequently gets in the way of learning more about their needs, and just because an idea is a solution in our eyes does not make it so for them. However, after spending the length of our trip observing the effectiveness of getting to know those who you are trying to help first, it became apparent that there is no other way to go about it.
My name is Davis Bonner, and I am a photojournalism student at Colorado State University. I began my work here, hanging out of pickup trucks flying through the countryside of Nicaragua. Working as the sole photojournalist with the international humanitarian organization, The Invictus Initiative, my job was to document our groups work and the lives of the people who resided there. It was from that trip I gained new perspectives and began my career. Looking into my past, one might wonder how I extracted photojournalism out of the many years of computer engineering, theater, improv, automotive and working as a network engineer. Personally this answer is simple, through my varied backgrounds I have learned how to bridge gaps, its why I do what I do and it's what I try to capture.
Rain or shine, hundreds of ads cover the walls surrounding public areas and subway stations in and around Kyiv. With the increasing pressu...
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My name is Davis Bonner and I currently work and study as a photojournalist with the hopes of making it my career. If you have any question or are interested in my work, please contact me at: davisbonner05@gmail.com
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