Parker Schmidt delivers Ascension

The Moirai Films Director, Parker Schmidt has released his short experimental documentary Ascension. An outdoor climbing tale featuring Emi Matushsima and her lifelong story of discovering her place in the world.

Ascension ties in the plight of individuals raised by various cultures who often wonder where they get to call “home.” Told by Matushsima, she delves into her past life living among a multitude of cultures, primarily across Japan, where she unravels the expectations of those born and raised there to behave and appear in a certain way.

Parker Schmidt – Ascension

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Director Parker Schmidt / (Director)

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Credits

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Director Parker Schmidt / (Director)
Color WGT
Music 2Wei Music
Composer Thomas Muis
Producer Rob Crenson
Editor Lucas Raimondo
Colorist Sander van Wijk
Colorist Giulia Woergartner

Sound Designer Blaize Fobbe
Audio Mixer Michael Baran

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Parker approaches the film by elevating the emotions that we’re consuming Matushsima through her exploration of finding her people, and it’s the ultimate upheaval where she discovers them among unlikely characters. Captured by Director of Photography Alex Fauver, who teamed up with Parker to shoot across seven complete days of filming. Alex brought an intentional and intimate visual language to a medium that typically calls for run-and-gun filming considering the far-to-reach-places and harsh conditions of outdoor filming typically calls for.

Ascension speaks to those who’ve never felt like they’ve found their place in the world, from where they live or who they surround themselves with. It’s a tale of the implications that outside pressures can take on one’s psyche and how, as long as you have the courage to take matters into your own hands, you’re more than capable of either going the distance to find your place in the world or make it yourself.