Evan Mather

A Plea for Modernism

Phillis Wheatley Elementary School was a significant landmark in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, serving as an important educational institution for African-American students for nearly half a century. The school was known for its innovative modern design that was unique to the region, reflecting the area’s cultural and historical roots. However, the school sustained significant damage during Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath in 2005. Despite the damage, the school’s unique design caught the attention of DOCOMOMO Louisiana, an organization dedicated to preserving modern architecture. They advocated for the restoration of the school through adaptive reuse, citing its historical significance and architectural importance. The organization produced this short film, “A Plea for Modernism,” narrated by actor Wendell Pierce, to raise awareness of the school’s cultural and historical value and promote its restoration.

A Necessary Ruin: The Story of Buckminster Fuller and the Union Tank Car Dome

Upon its completion in October 1958, the Union Tank Car Dome, located north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was the largest clear-span structure in the world. Based on the engineering principles of the visionary design scientist and philosopher Buckminster Fuller, this geodesic dome was, at 384 feet in diameter, the first large scale example of this building type. A Necessary Ruin chronicles the dome’s history via interviews with architects, engineers, preservationists, media, and artists; animated sequences demonstrating the operation of the facility; and hundreds of rare photographs and video segments taken during the dome’s construction, decline, and demolition.

Quentin Tarantino's Star Wars

We're all familiar with the story: a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, on a planet called Tattooine, a boy named Luke Skywalker is adopted by the only remaining Jedi knight and helps the Rebellion destroy the Death Star after learning the ways of the force. However, what if "Pulp Fiction" director Quentin Tarantino had directed George Lucas' script, using Kenner action figures and stop computer animation?

Godzilla Versus Disco Lando

From the maker of "Quentin Tarantino's Star Wars", this short film follows the adventures of Star Wars action figures as they deal with life, love, and an attack by Godzilla.