The Art of Resistance

The Art of Resistance" offers an intimate portrayal of Jesse Owens, a San Diego-based street artist striving to make a name for himself amidst a backdrop of personal turmoil and an ever-competitive art scene. Filmed in vérité style, the documentary takes viewers on a journey through Jesse's transient life between San Diego and Los Angeles, capturing his dedication to his craft and his struggles to maintain stability. The film showcases Jesse's story and serves as a compelling exploration of resilience, community engagement, and the complexities of artistic pursuit.

  • MARLON ROWLETT
    Director
  • MARLON ROWLETT
    Producer
  • Jesse Owens
    Key Cast
    "Jesse Owens"
  • MARLON ROWLETT
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Biographical, Social
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Ethereal Frames Film and Art Awards

    October 31, 2023
    Documentary Short
    Winner
  • Strawberry Film Festival
    Vista
    United States
    May 29, 2022
    Official Selection
Director Biography - MARLON ROWLETT

About Me
Cinematographer. Filmmaker. Storyteller.
I'm not just a filmmaker; I'm a storyteller at heart. With every frame and every cut, I aim to weave narratives that resonate, inform, and inspire. My passion for storytelling began long before I picked up a camera—it's an intrinsic part of who I am. Whether it's capturing the intricate details of a personal journey or experimenting with new styles/ideas, my films serve as a canvas where stories come to life.

My approach to filmmaking is holistic, owning every aspect of the production process to ensure that the end result is a coherent and impactful piece of art. My works, like the recently showcased "The Art of Resistance," delve deep into the subjects I explore, offering viewers more than just a visual experience, but an emotional and intellectual journey.

I'm committed to telling stories that matter, stories that ignite conversations and incite change. Welcome to PoeticPIXELS®; let's create something unforgettable together.

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Director Statement

In a world that often prioritizes pragmatism over passion, "The Art of Resistance" is a tribute to the indomitable spirit that fuels the heart of every artist. This film is not merely an exploration of Jesse Owens' artistic journey but a manifestation of the universal struggle between the soul's need for expression and society's demand for conformity.

Our choice of a vérité style is deliberate. It serves as a mirror to the raw, unfiltered reality that artists like Jesse live every day. The vérité lens allows us to capture the essence of resistance—the resistance to give up, the resistance to conform, and the resistance to silence one’s creative voice.

"The Art of Resistance" is more than just a film; it's a dialogical space. It opens up conversations about the difficult balance between community engagement and personal struggles, between financial security and artistic integrity. But more importantly, it challenges the audience to confront their own understanding of what it means to resist—to resist the urge to take the easy path, to resist the societal norms that often hinder creative freedom, and to resist the internal and external forces that threaten to quash our dreams.

As we journey through Jesse's life, oscillating between San Diego and Los Angeles, we explore the emotional landscape that such a life entails. The film becomes a canvas where hues of passion and shades of adversity blend to create a complex, intricate portrait. It serves as a testament to the resilience required to exist in this frame, to persist in a world that often misunderstands the value of art and artists.

"The Art of Resistance" is not just my statement as a director; it is our collective manifesto as humans who dare to dream, to create, and most importantly, to resist.

~MR