Credits

Filmmaker:
Arthur enjoyed “playing around with film and photography,” often shooting trick shots and animating objects and titles for his film. He built a darkroom in the cellar and would often experiment with double exposures and overlays. He also inadvertently became a historical filmmaker as he documented his time working in Atlantic City during the 30’s – 70’s and the many trips the family would take to New York City, Philadelphia, and other areas along the eastern seaboard. He built a frame to hold his Super 8 camera and would shoot miles of the highway as he drove.

Shotlist

Christmas 1982. (0:08) This time we start with everyone seated at the dinner table. (0:39) Now we are at the title cards. This one is of a winter scene by the sea. (0:46) Stop motion letters spell out “Merry Xmas 1982.” The letters vanish as the camera zooms in and out. (1:08) Close-ups of letters spelling out “Happy New Year.” (1:42) Shot of Jini’s baby cousin, born in 1982, underneath the Christmas tree. The baby has a Christmas bib. (2:02) Shadow opens up his gift on the back porch. It’s some sort of doggy treat. (3:21) Jini’s sister-in-law holds the baby, playing with a toy. (3:47) Outside the house, Jini (23 years old) arrives with her boyfriend Gregg at the same time that her sister Lois and her family pull up to the house. (4:00) Jini waves at the camera.

(4:03) The family is all in the living room opening gifts “amid 80’s hairstyles and clothing.” (4:22) Jini receives a canister set and some sort of perfume. She and her boyfriend sniff them. (5:25) More gift opening Lois on the couch. She holds something shiny and metal. (5:43) More gift opening with the family. (6:11) Family members talking. (6:21) Jini’s nephew opens up a Skedoodle (https://www.retroist.com/2015/03/27/hasbros-skedoodle/). (6:40) More gift opening in the living room. (7:04) Wendy and her husband open up a coffee mug.

(7:56) A Christmas in a different year (probably 1981). Footage is dark and underexposed. Camera zooms in on Jini. Virginia is wearing a Merry Christmas apron. Whole family is sitting in the living room. (8:45) Someone opens a magazine or comic book. (8:53) Jini happily opens up some sort of small gift. (9:12) Someone opens up a new purse and a new t-shirt. (9:39) Jini’s nephew opens up a game that looks similar to Simon but the name is difficult to make out. He goes to hug a family member to thank him. (9:54) Family is all seated in the dining room. (10:17) Family back in the living room as Lois opens a green dress. Others continue opening gifts.

(11:01) Camera focuses in on a title card as the year 1980 is superimposed over it. (11:26) We get a series of jump cuts of the tree as it is being decorated and placed in the living room along with the other decorations. (11:51) A shot of the Siamese cat that Jini had in her apartment that she must have brought over to the house for the day. It is playing with a toy. (12:03) Shot of the exterior decorations on the house. (12:22) Once again, Shadow rips open his present. (12:41) Virginia is in the living room holding a new shirt or dress. (12:52) Shot of the family sitting in the living room. (13:08) We see Jini with another boyfriend, Joe. Virginia is wearing her apron. (13:28) Family opens presents in the living room. One of Jini’s nephews looks to have received two pink fuzzy slippers and a board game. (13:46) Someone opens up a pair of pants. (13:56) While everyone is in the living room, Jini is taking photos with her own camera. (14:13) Gift opening on the sofa. (14:23) Jini opens a new necklace. (14:34) Two of the men show off new books that they've received. (14:46) More gift opening, another board game. (15:00) Some mirror shots of the family in the living room. Lois also opens some new clothes. (15:26) Lois’ husband opens two new shirts.

(15:40) Jini’s nephew, 16, goes outside to play with Shadow. He’s holding a toy above the dog. They wrestle for it. (16:10) Lois’ family waves goodbye as they pack into their car and drive away.

(16:32) A title card for Christmas 1979. This time, the family’s actual house (in a yellowish tint) is used as the backdrop. (17:29) Lois’ family arrives once again. (17:42) Jini runs over to her oldest niece and they wave happily at the camera. They are still close today. (17:57) Back in the dining room, the family gathers for dinner. Virginia grabs a bowl from the cabinet. (18:44) Some shots of some birds gathered in the backyard, taken from the window. (19:31) The neighbor’s dog comes and scares them all away.