Welcome to the Secret Screening Room
This is a private page compiling films by The Octopus, David Matthew Johnson.
You are invited to watch any of the films available on this page. The movies include films currently on the Festival Circuit and even films that have yet to debut or be submitted. This page is hidden and only available through the link. For the films that are not currently publicly available, please refrain from sharing these links without permission from David Matthew Johnson. You can however reach out with questions or even thoughts on the films, The Octopus loves hearing from viewers. As an independent filmmaker, every bit of positivity and feedback is appreciated. Feel free to post stills or reviews on social media, just please tag The Octopus’s film page when/ if you do.
Thank you for reading. Please, enjoy the films. I will constantly be updated this page as I have many more films either in development or soon to be finished.
Your friend,
The Octopus - David Matthew Johnson
Ode to the Whale of Christ
A Modern Silent Film, by David Matthew Johnson.
30 minutes
A black and white film with a rhythmic abundance of text that scatters across the screen and a meditative pace that creates a visually compelling sensory experience. She carries He, a man eternally asleep. We witness She’s struggle carrying, feeding, bathing, and caring for He, until She can lift He no longer.
Reviews:
“A stylish short movie that dares to be black & white and silent. Yet, it is never silent.” – Luminous Void
“[David Matthew] Johnson succeeds in one of the most difficult creative operations: making aesthetics and content coincide. This homogeneous creative act is a film of rare fluidity of writing, original but discreet, intimate and lyrical, up to the disturbing finale. The breaking of modern conventions allows Johnson to free himself from the burden of structures and the film, in its frequent written parts, seems to urge the spectator himself to compose his vision. A rare and precious work.” - Prisma Rome Independent
“‘Ode to the Whale of Christ’ is an extraordinary film that has a deep influence on the viewer. David Matthew Johnson makes an inventive use of silence. By silence he totally captures the attention of the viewer, pointing out that very important, sacred acts take place here. Furthermore, he introduces a tension, which at times takes your breath away. The silence severely intensifies the viewer's emotional involvement in the drama.” - Dr. Konstantinos Akrivos PhD - Short Encounters
“‘Ode to the Whale of Christ, minus its explicit religious symbolism, is also an account of everyday human toil, the kind fated to simultaneous perseverance and utter absence of reward. The mercilessness which She subjects herself to is easily a representation of self-harm masked as service. Her care in the absence of his response is easily an account of historical emotional and physical labor in empty marriages.” - Indie Shorts Mag
Below are films currently on the festival circuit. Enjoy!
The Sublime Hubris
A Feature Film, by David Matthew Johnson.
70 minutes
A man aimlessly wanders around town and silently judges the people he sees. The thoughts and judgments slowly become more aggressive and hateful as he continues to watch the those around him.
This film covers the dangers of extremism and getting carried away with illogical hate. The people stirring the pot generally not carrying out the action but getting the poor and the working class to battle with each other.
Cicada, I love You - Cicada’s Too Late; The Wind & Other Things
A Short Film, by David Matthew Johnson.
11 minutes
Cicada is loved and reached towards with warmth and affection. He ignores repeatedly. By the time Cicada realizes his true feelings, it is too late.
This experimental short film was completed for the CineSalon in Cork, Ireland. The Octopus was the Artist in Focus and this screened along The Sublime Hubris and a Q&A.
Sisyphus & The Abraham
A meditation on the Absurd, by David Matthew Johnson.
30 minutes
An ethical rationalization in contrasting Sisyphus and The Binding of Isaac, from the point of view of an ethical man.
A meditation on the Absurd.
Director’s Statement (only read if interested in intention. Going in blind is equally fun):
The goal was to take different approaches towards addressing the absurdities of life. Contrasting or at least paralleling Sisyphus and the Binding of Isaac. In the film, we are presented with numbers breaking up the experience. These number show a different telling or explanation, almost as if there was a different editor to the segment trying to explain their thoughts on the absurd through cinema.
The first segment, “The Truth of Abraham” is quicker cuts and slightly brighter. It starts off by being literal as to what happened. Still showing the anxiety of having to kill your miracle son but the submission to higher power beyond what on paper would be moral.
The second part being “an ethical rationalization by an ethic man” is a series of shorts or trying to give stories as to how to address the absurd. Kierkegaard playfully did this with one of his pseudonyms in Fear and Trembling. The editor is almost inserting his way to rationalize how it could still make sense to him. Abraham couldn’t do it or he lied before doing it or he failed, etc. The moments having some form of consequence or unintentionally blow-back as he’s rambling. Those moments are sandwiched between Sisyphus moments of the analogy of pushing a boulder up a hill. Sisyphus in a suit like it’s his job. Camus said “One must imagine Sisyphus happy” so the editor is trying to find the right words or analogy when the first editor just said what happened. Imaginary boulders like our struggle etc. He ends up returning to that but puts Sisyphus in a stairwell to modernize as opposed to the hill. But by this point, the thoughts are faded, blown out, and at a different frame rate.
For the last part it is an editor similar to the first segment “The Truth of Sisyphus” which is a singular (or two with the cut away) long shot of boring work. As if that’s how we relate to the mundane Absurdity of everyday life. And we smile.
The Sixth Film of The Octopus; Filth
A short film, by David Matthew Johnson.
32 minutes
A trial of temptations.
An Evaluation of Life & Death
An experimental feature film, by David Matthew Johnson.
97 minutes
WARNING - This film is only for the hardcore fans of Slow Cinema. This will possibly be released at the end of the year. The Octopus is meditating on whether or not to release this as canon. The thoughts from close friends, other filmmakers, and cinematic confidants are very polarizing.
The beauty and boredom of the mundane day to day of life.
Unified Field of Being
A tribute to David Lynch, by David Matthew Johnson.
4 minutes
This was inspired by the death of David Lynch. A very personal short film.