(upbeat music) (dramatic music) - Welcome to TV Film.

I'm Amani Alavala.

TV Film showcases the talent of upstate New York media makers across all genres.

Experimental films, challenge audiences in a way that traditional narrative and documentary films do not.

35 Pieces is a visualization of the thoughts during a walk in the mountains.

The filmmakers are Steven Segal and Alice Linder.

- So 35 pieces is 35 separate squares.

Each about two feet on a side.

Each one is a collage, actually a three-dimensional collage, and they are all then photo-shopped into a master photograph, which is then used to make the movie.

And the theme is, is roughly musings on a hike that I took in Montana a number of years ago at a place called Alice Creek.

- You never actually see them fully assembled.

It's only assembled in the stitched together photograph.

So this is a way of, of storing them on something this big and seeing the whole thing, at least on a, on a, on a large screen.

(classical music) - Today, I saw an Eagle, a moose, and a white tail deer.

It was a buck.

I was also attacked by a bear, but more about that later.

A long walk in a wild place stimulates the mind.

(classical music) I can see he is turning these around, trying to make sense of them.

I can see his thoughts are jumbled making a picture is just a big problem.

Maybe the world doesn't need any more paintings.

So he isn't making paintings, not that he ever did.

But who would have imagined this in 76 or 86, 2006?

Words.

One thing has become clear.

Alice will be reading them.

(classical music) - No, not her.

Me.

Remember me?

Let's see how I do this time.

God knows I need a change of direction.

(classical music) Have you read War and Peace?

You say you have, but lying doesn't become you.

Sorry.

It's a really long book and there's no good movie.

So just read it.

The cliff notes?

Okay, historical figures aren't as important as we need to believe.

Everything is part of something larger and some things are bad and some things are good.

Mostly the world is big and the things we do are small, but they do add up.

(classical music) This shyster we're dealing with now.

He isn't determining history.

History is determining him.

Napoleon was pretty much the same.

I love Darwin and give him all the credit, if for no other reason than my own need for heroes.

But if he hadn't figured it out, don't you think someone else would have?

In fact, someone else did, they even looked alike.

Evolution was in the air.

Evolution was in the water.

(classical music) There was an old Jewish cemetery in central Prague that grew vertically for generations because there was no more room to expand.

And the people had no alternative other than to bury the dead one on top of the other.

Gravestones were lifted up and replanted with each new layer.

And now they all stand crowded together on an overgrown grave plateau.

Each stone tells another story.

We know what was to come later, not far away.

I wonder if you buried a whole bunch of stories and pictures in the landscape, would that be similar somehow?

Is the history told in a newspaper as valued as the history in a grave or in ashes?

I want to show you something, old images have been popping up lately after years in purgatory.

I don't know what to do with them, but at least I can put them here for a while and take a look.

They're flat as though fossilized by time, but they haven't disappeared.

Every now and then I get to hold one, if it isn't too heavy.

(classical music) Like I've often told you before, were you paying attention?

Stone is very old compared to just about everything else.

And there is more of it than just about everything else Here, here's a piece you can look at.

(classical music) Stone makes landscapes and landscapes are held together by gravity.

It's pretty simple.

If you tried to pick up Bryce Canyon or a natural arch in Utah, it would break into a million pieces.

It's true that each of the pieces would have its own particular beauty, but they would never be put back together again.

Not so with me because I am an organism and much more complicated.

I can lean against a wall, sit or lie on my back.

And even though I might get dizzy, if I do it too fast, I don't fall apart.

I can lie here and talk to you, go vote or watch a ball game.

I can play the violin.

(classical music) Like a lot of people I can make things with my hands.

I'm compelled to.

And I make things, even though I know there is no room for them and eventually they will fall apart.

If I build a house, there will be less room for a spruce grouse.

I feel guilty.

I feel bad about all the shit we make.

The computers and phones and tablets that we're all so addicted to.

And through which we see the world.

Nowadays, we look at most images on some sort of screen like you are now.

Every one of them has a frame.

As though we have to take the world one rectangle at a time.

If you go for a walk in the mountains, it doesn't look like that.

I hiked up the creek today and I was mesmerized.

I'll come clean.

I was lying about the bear.

Call it fake news or alternative facts.

It was a cheap hook to keep you interested, but attacks do happen.

And when you walk afraid, the mind focuses.

When you walk afraid the mind focuses.

What do I know?

For one thing, the world is recorded in stone.

We are so young, in the end, all is in pieces behind glass encased in stone.

It is in pieces behind glass encased in stone.

Can anyone put it together again?

Will it be you?

Will it be me?

(classical music) - Next, filmmaker Jermaine Wells imagines what it would be like the turn back time in his film Time Crunch.

- I have a love for hip hop.

I was born and raised in the Bronx and our hero is based in hip hop.

He's a DJ.

And he's able to manipulate time and space with the sequences of beats.

I love superhero sort of themes.

And I do a lot of work with community, and I was like, well, what if I can bridge something into my love of music and arts, but with somebody that does things for the community?

You know, not every hero, and most heroes don't wear a funny costume, right.

I am a champion for you and that DJ BX in the story is a champion for everybody kind of working together, is a champion for second chances.

(hip hop music) (radio static) - The Bronx, BX baby.

- Man, it's DJ Wild Style in the building with DJ BX, back with another funky fresh record.

And man that's serious.

- Hey man.

You know, word, you know, I'm just out here flexing because them suckers from Queens trying to play us for suckers.

You know what I mean?

We're not suckers.

The Bronx is back and we are the originators.

- BX all day, baby.

- All day.

Yeah.

- But no, seriously, it's a great song.

- Yeah, yeah man.

- Def.

- Oh man, that's what's up.

Dope.

- Phat.

- Yeah.

- All of that.

- Yeah man.

Thank you, man.

Thank you.

Word.

Yo, we'd be playing it.

I want to, can I give a shout out to The Spot?

- Definitely.

- We're going to be at The Spot at 10:00 PM.

I'll see you all there.

The Bronx is back baby.

- But one thing I want to ask you, is there a beef between Queens and the Bronx?

Because I know this song is in the clubs.

So I know Queens is feeling a way about that record.

- Yeah, man.

It is what it is.

- I think like some fights have been started and people are fighting in the clubs.

- Look, man, it is what it is.

We got love for all, right.

We got love for all, but I'm saying the BX is back.

You know what I mean?

And if you coming tonight, no funny business.

Yeah, the battles on wax.

So if they want to hit me back, go record something fire.

I dare you to.

- So you heard him, the battle is on wax.

Definitely check out DJ BX tonight at The Spot, 10:00 PM.

And I'm going to play the record again.

BX is back.

- Yeah, yeah.

- This record is fire man.

- Oh, no diggity man.

- Boogie down and standing proud.

- For real man.

The homeboys love it.

The honey's love it.

You know what I'm saying?

It's going to be packed tonight.

The BX is back baby.

- Hell yeah.

- All the homeboys or the homegirls, they know what it is.

Yeah.

- Yeah man.

Hey, listen, I got to make some phone calls.

You good homie?

- Yeah, I'm good.

- All right.

- Yeah, yeah.

(knocking on door) - Come in.

- Boss, there's a Sean B here to see you.

- Yeah, send him in please.

- Okay.

(laughter) - Hey, is she single?

Because damn, she's fine.

- I don't think she's your type.

She's a good girl.

- Oh, I think I'm in love.

(laughter) - Queensbridge finest.

- Hey.

What's up?

What brings you to my club?

- Look, you know you my man and all, but I got some orders from up top.

Order is, if you play that BX record, you're gonna get dealt with.

- You really came here to threaten me, dealt with.

- Oh, come on, this is business.

Now, you know the game.

I don't control nothing.

You play that record, then you're going to get dealt with.

- I hear you.

Look, they can do what they got to do, because nobody comes in here and tells me how to run my club.

- Look man just, just think about it.

Okay?

- How's everybody doing tonight?

Let me hear y'all make some noise.

(crowd cheering and applauding) Now, is everybody ready for the top DJ in the NYC?

Let me hear it y'all.

(crowd cheering and applauding) Straight outta the Bronx, New York, let me hear it for DJ BX y'all.

(crowd cheering and applauding) - All right y'all, BX, we in the building.

Queens been trying to play us, but now I have an anthem for us.

Y'all ready for it?

(crowd cheering and applauding) Let's get it, let's get it, let's get it.

♪ Yeah, the Bronx.

BX baby.

♪ ♪ Yeah, here we go.

♪ ♪ The Bronx is back, the Bronx is back ♪ ♪ Queensbridge is wack and that's a fact ♪ ♪ The Bronx is back, the Bronx is back ♪ ♪ Queensbridge is wack, we on the attack ♪ ♪ Rep the Brookie down, we are originators ♪ ♪ Try to steal our style but you ain't got the flavor ♪ ♪ Taking down the bridge, we not hesitators ♪ ♪ The Bronx here we go, and my flow is much greater ♪ (muffled hip hop music) (heart beating) - Somebody yelling.

- We've come so far in our sessions, and now it's time to confront your worst traumas.

That's why I've asked you to bring a few items from your past and we'll confront each one at a time.

- Well, you've really helped me so far.

You know, Rashida was the person I would go to and... - I know the pain of losing a partner and it will get better.

- Rashida might say I saved her.

But the truth is she helped me to stop drinking after the club stabbing.

I was a mess and Miguel, we were best friends and we had big plan, you know.

If I didn't write that damn song.

- Miguel wasn't killed because of a song.

It was envy and jealousy and brutality of grown men.

- True.

True.

I know, I know.

- And think of the gift of Rashida that occurred after the incident.

- I just felt helpless, you know?

After she got sick and, there was nothing I could do.

Just like when Miguel got killed.

- I think we've made a lot of progress today.

And if you need to get in touch with me before your next session, don't hesitate to call.

- Thanks.

(light piano music) (tires on roadway) - This music sucks.

Can you find something else?

- Who the fuck are you?

Get the fuck out of my car.

- Calm down.

- We're too in the hood.

Did I die?

Am I dreaming or something?

- You didn't die.

This is real.

Relax.

- Who are you?

- I tried to explain to who I am, but the human thinking capacity doesn't seem to understand the concept.

- That's not an answer.

I mean, am I on a show or something, where are the cameras?

- Listen to me.

This is not a show.

This is real.

If you could go back and do over one thing, if you could have a redo, what would it be?

- Is this for real?

All right.

I don't know, I, I really don't know.

- Oh, you know, we both know.

Just ask, and I'll grant it.

- All right, I, I would go back and stop Miguel from getting killed.

- And now we shall go back.

(light music) - Lisa.

- What?

- Lisa I need to talk to you.

- What's the matter?

I need to talk to you, come on please.

(footsteps) - What's the matter?

- Listen, I need you to dance with Sean B when I play the song sexy tonight, yeah.

- Who's Sean B?

- Sean B, oh yes.

All right, Sean B's going to come about 10 minutes.

Big black guy, he's gonna talk to Miguel, okay.

This is life or death, please, I need you to do this.

- I'm going to dance with him, okay.

That's it, nothing else.

- Oh yeah.

No, no, just dance, just dancing.

Please, please, I need... - I'll do it, I'll do it.

And you need to take a chill pill.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, I'll take the chill pill.

(door opening and closing) - That last one that showed up, she was ugly as hell.

Looked like Flavor Flav, all she needed was a, hey ladies.

- Hey.

- You're a tall glass of water, a little cup of Oolong tea.

Like y'all just stepped out Magic Colors of Benetar commercial or something.

You know where y'all at?

- Yeah.

- Y'all uptown, far up town.

This is a rap club.

- Yeah.

I love rap.

- Okay.

I guess so, come on in.

- Thank you.

- You look like you love white lines.

Hold tight.

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Hold tight homie.

- Come on.

I'm on the list.

- I am the list, man.

Hold tight.

- All right y'all, all right y'all.

But before we get into the BX is back, we're gonna get a little sexy.

This is New York City right?

We're gonna get sexy.

(crowd cheering and applauding) Here we go.

("Big Sexy") - Wait, what do I do now?

- You live your life.

- I live my life.

What are you going to do?

- I have been doing this for a very long time.

It's your time.

(hip hop music) - Oh my God.

Oh my God.

Oh shit.

(light music) This is crazy.

(light music) Oh shit.

Oh shit.

♪ Yeah.

The Bronx, BX baby ♪ ♪ Yeah, here we go ♪ ♪ The Bronx is back, the Bronx is back ♪ ♪ Queensbridge is wack and that's a fact ♪ ♪ The Bronx is back, the Bronx is back ♪ ♪ Queensbridge is wack, we on the attack ♪ ♪ Rep the Brookie down, we are originators ♪ ♪ Try to steal our style, but you ain't got the flavor ♪ ♪ Taking on the bridge, we not hesitators ♪ ♪ The Bronx, here we go, and my flow is much greater ♪ ♪ Taking back the crown, bring it to the boogie down ♪ ♪ QB telling lies, cause they really ain't fly ♪ - I don't know if y'all realize but you just witnessed a piece of my origin story.

Yep, this is how I became a superhero for the galaxy.

Manipulating time and space to rectify and correct wrongs for the greater good of the universe.

I'll tell you more next time.

I am a DJ.

I am hip hop, and I am the Time Cruncher.

(hip hop music) - Learn more about the films and filmmakers in this season of TV Film at wmht.org/tvfilm.

And be sure to connect with WMHT on social media.

I'm Amani Alavala.

(upbeat music) - TV Film is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York state legislature.