Phillip Retuta's Blog

The Life and Times of a Filipino-American

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Happy Birthday, Nico.

I’ve lived in New York for over a decade, and that entire time my dog Nico has been with me. She would have been 14 today.

Here’s my tribute to her and the city I love. After she had her tumor removed and was declared cancer-free, I knew we were still together on borrowed time. Throughout the course of her remaining year, I wanted to take Nico to some of her favorite spots: Williamsburg, Prospect Park, and all the old places she used to know for the 10 years we’ve been in New York. I also wanted to take her to places she’s never been before: Coney Island, Washington Square Park, etc. I’d bring my camera with me, and so this video was made.

The polaroid scenes were obviously taken post her passing; I truly wished we had more time to visit these places.

The significance of the white bandana is important: I gave it to her when she was first adopted in Urbana-Champaign, and she wore a white bandana when I let her go in arms, in the confines of my apartment in Brooklyn. A white bandana was Nico’s signature look (well, aside from the husky aspects or the heterochromatic eyes). I carried a spare each time we went out to shoot, just to swap whatever fashionable bandana I initially put on her with a white one. Consistency, folks!

This video also serves as my eventual love letter to New York. When I leave, I want to remember this city with the dog I loved so much. Being with Nico definitely helped shape who I am today.

Happy Birthday, Nico. Always and forever.

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Refik Anadol’s “Machine Hallucination” at Artechouse.

I went to Artechouse at Chelsea Market with Alex the other day, where Turkish digital artist Refik Anandol had a projection/data visualization exhibition called “Machine Hallucination.”

Nearly the entire boiler room underneath Chelsea Market was illuminated by several 16K laser projectors, displaying a dataviz algorithm-driven video made up of 100 million social media photos of New York City — essentially, “Machine Hallucination” is an abstract movie made of shapes and colors derived from what users post about New York. I loved the concept, and it could have easily been one of my class’ thesis projects (if they had a ton of money, that is).

Although the visuals of the video and the idea were very cool, the overall experience was a little underwhelming: one entire side (the entrance down to the boiler room) had no projections whatsoever, and the pillars and sharp corners of the room didn’t make the projections as seamless as they could be. It didn’t feel as immersive as I had hoped it would be. In my opinion, if they somehow curved each of the room’s corners (including the floor), the overall projection — and thus experience — would have been more exciting. Edges are just so restricting.

The fact that I had to pay a $25 entrance fee also kind of hindered the fun.

Nonetheless, Artechouse was indeed worthy of being visited and photographed (the Instagramabilty of this place factors very high). The exhibition and Artechouse itself was hardly publicized, so it wasn’t too crowded. Would I recommend going to any of Artechouse’s future exhibitions? Sure, but make sure you’re comfortable paying that much.

Here are some of my photos:

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LifeCut: Costa Rica.

While prepping for a future video post, I forgot to share my trip to Costa Rica. To sum up my trip, it was great (despite initially being turned away at the airport for an expired passport and trying to get an emergency one the following morning).

Yup, I’d definitely go back there.

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Storyboard: The Ringworm 2.

PREMISE: Paige’s friend watched this really creepy videotape, and throughout the week he experienced countless bizarre events all relating to dogs.

I shot the intro shots and voiceovers, so I’m not posting those storyboards here. Still, I’ll need a male actor for the following:

SCENE #1: Man walks up to the camera (as if approaching a television), holding the cursed tape in his hand.

SCENE #2: Closeup shot of man’s hand inserting the cursed tape into a VCR (movement is sloppy and amateurish, the VCR itself is made of cardboard and looks very DIY).

SCENE #3: 15-second clip of original Ringworm video, overlaid onto a TV (After Effects).

SCENE #4: Flashback montage, with Paige’s voiceover. Change Location — Scene with man doing something in the kitchen, like cooking or washing dishes. A rawhide bone hits him in the head (this could be green-screened).

SCENE #5: Man crouches down to pick up whatever hit him on the head.

SCENE #6: Tight, close shot. Man picks up the rawhide.

SCENE #7: Change Location — Outdoor scene. Medium or wide shot. Man is walking on the street.

SCENE #8: Closeup side shot of his shoe stepping onto a piece of poop (fake).

SCENE #9: SFX of “Squish.” Man has initial look of disgust as he inspects his shoe, but as he looks up his facial expression is of horror (due to Scene #10).

SCENE #10: Camera pans out, revealing that the entire sidewalk is dotted with dog poop.

SCENE #11: Change Location — Bathroom. Man walks towards medicine cabinet on wall.

SCENE #12: Same angle as scene #11. Man opens cabinet and dog food kibbles immediate spill out (practical effects).

SCENE #13: Different angle. Closeup shot of hand. Man picks up kibble in front of medicine cabinet.

SCENE #14: Different angle (make sure camera isn’t seen in mirror). Man closes mirrored medicine cabinet, revealing he is wearing a spiked dog collar around his neck. He looks shocked, holds the collar with both hands, and wonders how it got there.

SCENE #15:Change Location — Living Room. Man is reading a book in front of the TV. Suddenly, he hears the TV turn on. He is surprised.

SCENE #16: Nico comes out of the television! All visual FX!

SCENE #17: Zoom into man’s face. His expression is of fear and horror, as if Nico rushes him!

SCENE #18: Flashforward back to office. Paige is holding a cursed tape, wearing the spiked collar.

 

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Storyboard: “Sonic Bark.”

PREMISE: Although she’s confined to a cone, Nico Doggerton quickly learns she can amplify her bark into a destructive — but beneficial — force!

SCENE #1: Closeup shot. Nico on the floor, looking bummed in her cone. She gets up.

SCENE #2: Wide shot. Nico walks up to a person.

SCENE #3: Tighter shot. Nico sits down in front of person. Person crouches down to Nico’s eye-level to talk to her.

SCENE #4: From Nico’s perspective. Person asks Nico, “I wonder if that cone makes your bark louder?”

SCENE #5: Closeup shot of Nico, smiling with a dumb expression on her face.

SCENE #6: Wide shot, VFX heavy. Nico barks and a blast of sound waves pushes the person back and out of frame. Possible green screen of human stunt.

SCENE #7: Quick take; Nico’s sight catches a glimpse of treats (use treats to turn her head quickly). Pay attention to eyes.

SCENE #8: Zoom onto shelf containing a bag of treats.

SCENE #9: Closeup shot of Nico. AFX of a lightbulb to indicate she has an idea.

SCENE #10: Closeup front shot of Nico. Use VFX to have sound waves emanate from the cone. Get Nico to actually bark.

SCENE #11: Bag of treats explodes/falls off shelf. Use VFX for sound waves. Maybe toss ten or so treats. Maybe green screen.

SCENE #12: Nico eats treats off floor.