SYNOPSIS

“My Thoughts Seen From Above” (working title) is the story of Paul de Jong as he attempts to make sense of his impulsive, trauma, and artistic brilliance. For this residency, I would like to focus on postproduction for my film. Filming is ongoing and editing is happening throughout the year. The final post production stage of the film is slated for the fall of 2026.

de Jong, best known as the co-founder and cellist of the beloved collage-pop duo, the Books, is at a crossroads between artistic fulfillment and personal accountability. Within the "Mall of Found", an enormous archive of VHS tapes numbering in the many thousands, the found-sound savant examines his childhood, failed relationships, new love, and self-inflicted wounds; all as he attempts to complete the digitization and dismantling of his analog empire....or as he travels the US to expand it.

The film questions how one is able to build and retreat from the reality they build. Is the building of that world a conscious choice? Does that world blind us from truth or reveal it? Can you ever truly leave that reality?

DIRECTORS STATEMENT

Proximity has played a huge role in the genesis of our work together. By happenstance, Paul’s studio and archive is located directly across the hall from mine in our hometown of North Adams, MA. Though I was aware of (and in awe of) Paul’s career prior to meeting him, I was absolutely convinced that there was a story to be told the moment that I walked into his archive. This fascination has been echoed by countless admirers and creatives who have also been stunned by the awe inspiring space that is the Mall of Found.

Though Paul has built a world with a unique aesthetic, I believe his journey is a universal one. We all live in contradictions. The values we espouse trigger us in ways that are hidden. The journey to self-understanding is guided within by inherently biased forces. That journey often ends right where it begins. I’m grateful for not only Paul’s willingness to be part of this film, but also his absolute commitment to art making which has had a profound impact on me.

SCORE

The film features music from de Jong’s repertoire as well as found sounds and images from his vast archive of analog media (VHS, cassette, photography, and rare mediums). de Jong’s style of art making incorporates archival material in his music making. His process decontextualizes the original meaning of the source material, forcing the listener to search for their own meaning through the lens of their individual lived experience. The result is confusing, delightful, disturbing, and hypnotic.

The film takes a similar approach to this style of presentation. Themes of self-analysis, hypocrisy, and absurdity are filtered through the lens of deJong’s archive. This process has required a huge amount of time to discover this material and convert it from its analog form. This residency will be used to craft the final edit of the film; bringing together these archival materials as well as cutting material filmed throughout 2026.

ABOUT JOE AIDONIDIS

Joe Aidonidis, founder of Great Sky Media, creates pro-social film; documenting the stories of artists, musicians, and under-represented communities across the US. His work has gained him awards in film festivals as well as a New England Emmy. 

Joe Aidonidis, Great Sky Media

joe@greatsky.media