Consecutive Post 5

If asked what is the best film I have seen so far this semester, I would answer without a doubt All My Life. This is by far one of the least experimental films that we have viewed. It consists of a single pan with an old song providing the soundtrack and its simplicity is probably why I like it so much. It leaves a lot of room for the viewer to add to it. By that I mean it is not filled with seemingly random shots and puzzling visuals, I feel like there is freedom for me to add a narrative story to it if I please, or I can disregard any deep thinking and just enjoy it as is. I did some digging on the web and found this page with some other videos by Baillie, check it out. He ain't half bad in my opinion.

http://www.ubu.com/film/baillie.html

Consecutive Post 4

Since this class is centering on experimental film, I thought that I would share one of my favorite songs and its accompanying music video, Cherub Rock by The Smashing Pumpkins. I think its safe to say that its an experimental video, especially when compared to 99.9% of music videos out there these days (it wasn't quite liked at the time it was released). On their Greatest Hits DVD, the director talks about how he made it, purposely switching and mixing the film exposure process in order to create the psychedelic visuals. Don't forget listen to the guitar solo...one of the best ever...Billy Corgan is my Guitar God.

Consecutive Post 3

This is another video that I made for another class this past year. To put it simply I was trying to create the craziness that we see but never really experience due to our brains computing power.

Click pic to play

Consecutive Post 2

I thought I would share some videos that I have created this year for classes. This first one is called Roller Coaster. I was trying to creating a visual representation of a roller coaster like experience, filled with suspense, nausea, and excitement. Read more on this video and some others here http://williamshay0611603.blogspot.com/

Click the pic to play

Consecutive Post 1

Due to recent events I am forced to try and fit my consecutive post all in a couple of days. To start with my first (and belated) post I want to discuss the film Data Diaries. This film is not really that interesting, rather it is nauseating, but the technical aspects fascinate me tremendously. I am not gonna debate what is and what isn't art, but the idea of taking all of your computers actions and then converting it into a visual representation is, to say the least, original. I have never seen anything like that before and I am sure there have been some variations of this type of art making before, but I think that this could be a unique way of creation (for me) in the future. It reminds me of found art, but instead of artifacts found in the real world it relies on the digital. I would also love to find out how he accomplished this and where he plans to take it in the future. The industrious digital revolution is in full swing and will never stop...at least not until the oblivion of the human race and.............I am not sure what to say next other than that there certainly is a wealth of data to be inspired by at this time.

The intimacy of tape?

Thinking about the films that were screened this week and the last, one major thing stood out (aside from the format) and that is the exhibitionism that was present in many of the videos. All the films that we viewed that were screened from a projector had a movie like quality, whether narrative/experimental or not, but the majority of the videotapes that we viewed weren't displaying colorful images but rather semi-confessional intimate moments (Acconci's desire to wrap himself around 'me' comes to mind right about now). There are a million reasons why they would be like this, different artists have different motives and desires for their work, but I think it is closely tied to the format that they are presented...the videotape. Videotape in itself almost suggests something personal. It doesn't require a projector or a giant screen to be presented on, with its compact design and ease of use almost anyone could lug it around and obtain results. The video-maker can have almost total control over who views it and who doesn't, an unidentifiable and unwanted audience is optional with tape versus a distributed reel. Naturally you'd assume with the invention of the video camera that the tapes would become more intimate, that the product and audience could connect on a greater level and you wouldn't be wrong in thinking that at all after viewing Birthday Suit, If Every Girl Had A Diary, Theme Song...but I am not quite convinced. The foundation of intimacy is truth and the moment one of those filmmakers knowingly placed a video camera in front of them they traded the truth for a performance (whether or not they even planned on sharing the tape with anyone else). Its almost an early incarnation of reality television; the stage is set, the props are in place, the cameras rolling, now all we need are some real people to play the roles. Now I am not saying that they aren't displaying/telling any truth, but that they didn't quite make the distance that they hoped to cross. They came off in my mind as slightly contrived, exhibitionist versus personal. Maybe they were never after 'that' and maybe 'that' can't be reached...in any artistic format. I am not sure how anyone could attain that in these film. Maybe hidden cameras? But then the viewer would feel more of a voyeur than a participant, watching these people in awkward situations...but then again I think that most people would agree that the most personal and intimate moments in life truly are the most awkward of moments. Ultimately though, I think that for any connection to be made it is dependent upon the viewer and not the maker.

Some answers to some questions

1. How can experimental film be narrative and vice versa?
Experimental film can be narrative, but it requires much more from the viewer than the average film would ever ask for. In order for an experimental film to have a narrative when one is lacking (on the surface), the viewer is forced to build one from the images and action. If someone is imaginative enough, the results can be interesting and lead to some newer views on what the film may be about. It can also have the opposite effect. Forcing the viewer to build something extra in their mind to go along with the film may only lead them to miss aspects in the film that they might otherwise catch if the the film was taken and interpreted at face value. It may also push them to a state of frustration. While film viewing is not a passive experience, most people experience it at a level where the interaction can appear to be passive, being presented the story, characters, images, narrative, structure, etc... all placed just right within the frame and then engaging them. How can narrative film be experimental? This is tough to answer because it depends on what you view as experimental? Is experimental only experimental when the entire product throws away traditional conventions? Does narrative film have the ability to stray to the point of experimentalism without the alienation of the viewer? In my mind when a traditional narrative film uses an experimental technique and incorporates it into the film it no longer is experimental, an experimental film can still use that idea and it will still be experimental. I may think this way due to the fact that in this day and age we have seen almost everything. With the combination of cultures, music, film, books, technology, and all the subsects within them...nothings shocking. That may be why I hold this view. I am not saying that a narrative film can't use experimental ideas to create something different, its just that I have already seen its use somewhere at sometime and it no longer strikes me as experimental.

2. Why are these (experimental) films important?
Ultimately they aren't. These films aren't raising questions that already haven't been asked, answered, and asked again and they haven't created feelings or experiences that something else already has or could. What they can do is remind us of those moments and questions and then replace them. Again this is completely subjective and only the individual viewer can answer them. Ask me tomorrow and I will have a different answer.