In the comments prior to screening Mr. McEllhatten discussed reviewing some of these as works “in progress” during the selection process and giving the impression that some still may be less than “done” evolving. Added to this screening was a rough mix of film/video changes that needed start/stop/restart. a reminder of the experimental nature of the program and that a state of the art facility can succumb to the human touch.
This also makes 42 works in the last four screenings, so I hope the artists and curators appreciate that at this point the program elements start to blur and my notes may need some further review.
Passage Upon the Plume, Fern Silva, U.S., 2011, 6m 46s
Problems with projecting this moved it to the end of the screening session. Mr. Silva’s contribution was more of sketch of work that fell out of another project. I appreciated the idea of the fragment of film, taken as is.
Shayne’s Rectangle, Dani Leventhal, U.S., 2011, 5m 4s
This will be the third piece of Ms. Leventahl to screened as part of the 4 day program and the 5th work of hers I have seen over the two festivals 10 and 11. I am ready to spend time for a deeper dive in to more of her work.
Line Describing Your Mom, Michael Robinson, U.S., 2011, 5m 50s
I struggled with this one.
from Jhana and the Rats of James Olds: Stephanie Barber
Tatum’s Ghost, 3m 45s
A mash-up of YouTube comments and an episode of Unsolved Mysteries provides an unlikely combination of hi and low brow interactions – a document or indcitment of UGC culture?
The Death of the Gorilla, Peter Mays, U.S., 1966, 16m (new restoration by the Academy Film Archive)
The most complex visually of the films on this program. Blown away that this was done all in camera. An early counterpoint to TV culture as expressed in Ms. Barber’s Tatum’s Ghost.
By foot-candle light, Mary Helena Clark, U.S., 2011, 9m
I was glad to be able to find this online at Vimeo as I have lost my last page of notes for this program and my memory of this was thin.
A Lax Riddle Unit, Laida Lertxundi, Spain, 2011, 6m
From what was said at the beginning of the session Ms. Lertxundi was one on the films described as accepted for the festival while still in progress of being made. Continuation of previous work or personal formula? Female + old song.
Sounding Glass, Sylvia Schedelbauer, Germany, 2011, 7m
Apologies to Ms. Schedelbauer, I stepped out of the theater during this video.
Gossip, Bobby Abate, U.S., 2011, 8m 19s
The Evil Eyes, Bobby Abate, U.S., 2010, 18m
With two pieces on the schedule Mr. Abate dominated this program with 27 of 89 minutes. The production effort that went into these put Mr. Abate at interesting juncture of too professional for experimental or too experimental for mainstream. Gossip was one film that will linger with me for some time. I would like to see both Love rose and Gossip in one program. The Evil Eyes brought back memories of the referenced Dark Shadows. Hope to more episodes like this from Mr. Abate.
