2026-27 Capstone

Video Anthropology

Collage of many of the films screened by Film Diary this year

The Film Diary 4 exhibition at The Wexner Center for the Arts was hosted by Cinéseries, a student-led organization focused on showcasing independent media, in collaboration with Saint Piñero and Sage Ó Tuama of Film Diary NYC. Film Diary NYC focuses on DIY organizing the programming of diary films and personal documentaries in independent cinemas and galleries in New York and facilitates satellite screenings around the world.

What is a Diary Film?

The evening began at 7 pm with a lecture from Saint Piñero and Sage Ó Tuama about their mission and the history of diary films and other similar genres as a video medium. They explained how the genre came about as the first consumer accessible cameras, like Super 8 film cameras, became widely available. Many people chose to create home movies as documenting their special or specific moments. Often just letting the camera roll without much additional thought. However, some began to create films in more artful ways to capture the essence of their lives or other people's lives as a form of self expression.

Nelson Sullivan and RuPaul?

During the lecture, they went on to describe who they called the Grandfather of diary films, Nelson Sullivan. Unfortunately he died young and was never able to compile his collection of videos into the diary film he dreamed of. However, many of his films were archived so through independent cinemas and galleries, like Film Diary, people today are able to view his collection.

During the presentation we watched a portion of one of his diary films taking place at RuPaul's apartment in the 80s. Through various 1-5 minute long clips you see RuPaul and his roommates Trade and Spicy talk about the show they just went to, their weekend plans, say hello to a friend who comes to the door, and RuPaul talking to Nelson Sullivan about his videos while eating chips in the doorway of his kitchen.

Film Diary 4 x Cineseries Program 8/27/26

Program lineup including film titles, names of creators, year of creation, country of origin, and duration

“Stick around after the screening for an informal discussion with some of the filmmakers.”

The screening felt like a blur after seeing so many films in a row touching on different subject matter in differing styles it was difficult to wrap my head around. So I attended the Q&A after to understand more.

Reflecting On The Screening

I experience showed me how rich in information this medium of film diary can be. Since these films are not necessarily meant to be seen by the masses the viewer gets an uncensored view of daily life of people. Getting the privilege to see into an apartment in its most normal state, seeing what people wore, seeing how people interacted, or the way the alleys looked while all of these things could be seen as mundane all of these things could bring insight to a designer.