Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In the dazzling incandescence of an unknown desert, three donkeys discover an abandoned astronomical observatory and the universe. 🐴🔭
In this Directors Notes interview, we sit down with director Alison McAlpine to discuss her Oscar-nominated short documentary, 'Perfectly a Strangeness'. This is not your typical documentary. It's a sensorial, cinematic exploration of what a story can be—a poetic, wordless journey filmed in the Atacama Desert. Alison takes us behind the scenes of her completely unique production, revealing how she and a tiny crew managed to shoot with high-end CinemaScope lenses, how they "directed" donkeys, and how the sound design creates a conversation between the animals and the universe.
👀 Watch Perfectly a Strangeness on the Criterion Channel criterionchannel.com/perfectly-a-strangeness
🔔 Watch more interviews with visionary filmmakers on our channel: youtube.com/c/directorsnotes
🎥 Want to see your film here? Submit your work to Directors Notes: directorsnotes.com/submit
📬 Get filmmaking insights delivered: Subscribe to our free Newsletter: directorsnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
📷 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/directorsnotes
🎧 Listen to our Podcast: pod.link/192507317
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CALL TO ACTION
** VIDEO CHAPTERS **
00:00 - Intro: The World as "perfectly a strangeness"
03:42 - Directing Donkeys in the Desert
08:38 - A Tiny Crew v Capturing the CinemaScope Donkeys' Point of View
14:44 - The Mythic Observatory
24:37 - The Sound of the Universe (It's Not What You Think)
31:14 - The Underdog's Journey from Cannes to the Oscars
37:15 - A Secret Hollywood Donkey Shoot
41:05 - Alison's Short Film Recommendations
45:02 - What's Next? A Secret Family Story
#perfectlyastrangeness #AlisonMcAlpine #BestDocumentaryShort #oscars #oscarnominee #foryourconsideration #dystopia #shortfilm
In the dazzling incandescence of an unknown desert, three donkeys discover an abandoned astronomical observatory and the universe. 🐴🔭
In this Directors Notes interview, we sit down with director Alison McAlpine to discuss her Oscar-nominated short documentary, 'Perfectly a Strangeness'. This is not your typical documentary. It's a sensorial, cinematic exploration of what a story can be—a poetic, wordless journey filmed in the Atacama Desert. Alison takes us behind the scenes of her completely unique production, revealing how she and a tiny crew managed to shoot with high-end CinemaScope lenses, how they "directed" donkeys, and how the sound design creates a conversation between the animals and the universe.
👀 Watch Perfectly a Strangeness on the Criterion Channel criterionchannel.com/perfectly-a-strangeness
🔔 Watch more interviews with visionary filmmakers on our channel: youtube.com/c/directorsnotes
🎥 Want to see your film here? Submit your work to Directors Notes: directorsnotes.com/submit
📬 Get filmmaking insights delivered: Subscribe to our free Newsletter: directorsnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
📷 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/directorsnotes
🎧 Listen to our Podcast: pod.link/192507317
👍 **Loved this deep dive?** Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and turn on notifications so you never miss a conversation with the world's best filmmakers.
💬 Join the Conversation
CALL TO ACTION
** VIDEO CHAPTERS **
00:00 - Intro: The World as "perfectly a strangeness"
03:42 - Directing Donkeys in the Desert
08:38 - A Tiny Crew v Capturing the CinemaScope Donkeys' Point of View
14:44 - The Mythic Observatory
24:37 - The Sound of the Universe (It's Not What You Think)
31:14 - The Underdog's Journey from Cannes to the Oscars
37:15 - A Secret Hollywood Donkey Shoot
41:05 - Alison's Short Film Recommendations
45:02 - What's Next? A Secret Family Story
#perfectlyastrangeness #AlisonMcAlpine #BestDocumentaryShort #oscars #oscarnominee #foryourconsideration #dystopia #shortfilm
