Historical story Artist statement

While coming up with the script we had many discussions on how to cover, and portray the historical event and back-story of the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  While coming up with the story I thought of certain images that might prove interesting. After some thought I came up with the idea of following the manufacturing proces and and sale of the rifle to Lee Harvey Oswald by mail order. As I read Vivian, Fort Barnwell by Ethan Canin about the photograph of his mother, I couldn’t help to think of all the speculation and embellishment that has taken place because of the assassination of the President. This reading also made me think about the small details that can be overlooked, like in the photograph of the author’s mother (really his grandmother).  There is also an alluring effect that takes place when we are able to catch a particular moment in time by a single photograph. While researching the life of Lee Harvey Oswald, I came across a black and white picture of Oswald holding the rifle he used to assassinate the President after he received it in the mail. This image, just like in the reading has story to tell. If you begin to analyze, and read about this particular photograph you will have a better understanding about the picture. For example Lee Harvey Oswald was a communist, and in this photograph he is holding a communist newspaper with his rifle. You will also notice that there is a divot, or scratch in the stock of the rifle, which would later prove to be helpful, while trying to identify the weapon used in the assassination.

This attention to detail with imagery was really what we decided to write about. New Orleans after the deluge was another helpful guide while coming up with a way to tell the story of this event. Another inspiration was a particular film, The Tree of Life by Terrence Malick which uses imagery to tell a story. With the use of abstract images the audience can interpret the story in many ways.  The film is very lean in dialogue, and relies on the image to tell a story. The horrific event of the assassination of a JFK took place before I was born. This historical event is documented well, with many photographs that tell stories about the past. Because of the many conspiracy theories of the grassy knoll and many other theories the event can be cloudy to understand what really took place that day in November. Implementing this approach to our story really helped us focus on the story of a single detail, that would intervene and become a piece of the historical event that took place.