“Angel Olsen – Big Time” by Kimberly Stuckwisch
‘Big Time” is the story of light versus shadow told through a non-linear surrealist dream space that poses one central dilemma, "What lengths must one go through to let go of the past in order to step out of the darkness and accept one's true self?"
It's a story that targets deep-rooted complexities such as how our unconscious deals with repressed sexual identity, the hardships of letting go of our past selves in order to step into self-actualization, and the guilt we hold when dealing with loss. For one reason or another, we all have parts of ourselves that we struggle to forgive as well as a part of ourselves we are afraid of exploring or that we think society won’t like—so we push those parts down into our unconscious psyches, into the shadows. This is the story of drowning in those fears before releasing your light.
Just like in dreams, Angel finds herself in a reoccurring nightmare, encountering the same group of people over and over who try and trap her with their ideologies. Bury your truths they tell her. Find content in the despair... However, they all have one thing in mind, to hold her down and steal the very thing that makes her whole. In the end, it's only when she opens herself up is light able to give insight and understanding to the shadow...
In Big Time, we find Angel stuck in a motel room where through the use of sound clips from interviews, she gives us a glimpse into her innermost thoughts. The narrative came at a time when Angel was still dealing with the death of both of her parents as well as coming out as queer. We are unsure how long Angel has been in this room: a hell of sorts. We know she came here for a reason though, to set out on a journey to burn her memories. This idea of exiling one's self from their former life and career originated from the book "Book of Illusions" by Paul Auster. However, we soon find that this cathartic act only serves as a temporary bandaid. The real self-work arrives when Angel dives deeper into the unknown... quite literally when she drowns herself.
Throughout the film, we introduce Beau. This though is not a love story. It's in fact a much deeper construct. Beau serves as the white rabbit, a metaphor for Angel's shame, guilt, past, love, and loss who leads Angel further and further into the unconscious until her eventual self-acceptance and release.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
"At the time of my mothers passing I kept having these super visual dreams about time travel.
Later on I decided I’d name the record Big Time, not only because of the song but also as a kind of wink to time expansion and change. When I approached Kimberly Stuckwisch about making these videos, I thought it would be cool to include the storyline of one of the dreams I’d had, and really use it as a way to tell the story of the songs.
She added dialogue and events, some that are based in reality and others that haven’t happened, to create a story arc around my dream, to give it a thicker plot, using the music videos within and creating a larger film.
I’ve always had a vivid imagination and it was really special to make these subconscious moments real, but it was also a really emotional and raw process and felt almost at times like a spiritual clearing, that by putting myself in the story and moving pieces of it around, I also personally had to re-examine my losses and find a new way to process the events that actually took place in my life.
Though most of it is scripted, it is probably the most intimate work I have ever made and shared with the public.. and it serves as an homage to my mother. I only wish my mom was here to listen to the record, because something tells me that she would have really liked this one."
-Angel Olsen
CAST
Starring: Angel Olsen & Beau Thibodeaux
Joan: Florence Klein
Tony: Gregory Phillips
Bartender: Don Yanan
Announcer/Painter: Rey Marz
Barry: Nick Aragon
Sharon: Mary Grace McNally
Jeffrey: Hayden Frederick
Tabitha: Emmy Bethel
Alexander: Rodrigo Amarante
Kid 1: Maddie Blue
Kid 2: Tristen Bell
Dancers: Canyon Carballosa, Cacia LaCount, Gabe Flowers, Annie Grove, Tajzon James, Robbie Blue, Iz Verdea
Bar/Forest Patrons: Korey Dane, Amanda Danko
Piano Player/Forest Patron: Nona Invie
Credits
Amazon Music Presents
An Invisible Inc Production
In Association with Jagjaguwar
Directed By: Kimberly Stuckwisch
Written By: Kimberly Stuckwisch, Ellis Bahl, Angel Olsen
Produced By: Ian Blair, Brianna Goldberg
Executive Produced By: Christian Stavros
Cinematography By: Justin Hamilton
Production Design By: Abel Ryan
Choreography By: Monika Felice Smith
Co-Choreographer: Hayden Frederick
Edited By: Ellis Bahl, Matt Mitchener
Visual Effects By: Johnny Chew
Sound Mix By: Ben Tomastik
Microscopic Photography By: Andrew Droz Palermo
Color By: Kaitlyn Battistelli
1st Assistant Director: Alec Schiff
Art Director: Norrie Palmer
Steadicam Operator: Jose Espinoza
1st Assistant Camera: Tyler Osika
Gaffer/Key Grip: Remy Dixon
Gaffer: Joel Gill
Best Boy Electric: Edwin Wong
Best Boy Grip: Marlo Madlangbayan
Hair & Makeup Artist: Leticia Llesmin
Sound Mixer: Matt Burgette
Camera Drone Operator: Ian Blair
Light Drone Crew: JJ Trinidad, Clinton Lee Parnell, Andrew Virdee, Abby Blasberg
Assistant Editor: Johnny Chew
Post Production Services By: Good Boy Wally
Title Design By: Miles Johnson
Production Coordinator: Evan Donoho
Production Assistants: Chad Carr, Clayton Berg, Jesse Lopez
Stills Photographer: Benjamin Buxton
Press Stills: Angela Ricciardi
Studio Teacher: Gaby Rodriguez
CCO: Matthew Fischer, Arielle Eckerman
Special Thanks: Sheira Rees-Davies, Jannie McInnes, Melora Donoghue, Jessi Williams, Cassedy Banks, James Rothman, Jordan Johnson, Jen Lacy, Stephen Brower, Amazon Music
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