Current Film Project

So recently I've begun to explore the sort of, advanced cousin medium to mine own (photography) which is that of the moving image. 

I'm a very form oriented individual. My photographic "parents" as some people like to call them, are Albert Renger-Patzsch, Julius Shulman, and Andre Kertesz. The important one in terms of this blog post is Albert Renger-Patzsch. Renger-Patzsch was a German photographer associated with the New Objectivity active during the Weimar Republic. Now, the New Objectivity was something that, for those who know me, would assume I would hold protest against. However, in looking at the photographs presented by Renger-Patzsch, his focus on recording the beautiful forms that exist in the world, I've found a substantial amount of nearly universal subjectivity tying together all of his work. Yes, the images were recorded at a somewhat "arm's-length-distance" in an attempt to reduce the photographers bias. However, the choice to make the photograph is the biggest form of subjective bias I can think of.

Anyway, his importance in this blog post is that the increased sensitivity to everyday forms and objects, as well as Julius Shulman's increased sensitivity to imbuing a subjective, emotional, aesthetic quality to everything he pointed his lens at helped me in my first (after a long hiatus) film project.

As for the cinematic influences on this project...well, in keeping with the Germanic/ western European love of form I was greatly inspired by German Abstract Cinema of the 1920s and later on Soviet film director (1929) Dziga Vertov's masterpiece, Man with a Movie Camera. < Please, if you have the time, watch Vertov's film.  Specific artists would have to include, Vertov, Walter Ruttmann, Hans Richter, Viking Eggeling and Oskar Fischinger. While the latter four are arguably more abstract than Vertov and my film is much more in the spirit of Man with a Movie Camera, I developed my appreciation for the musicality of forms and their inherent subjective qualities because I was first introduced to German Absolut Film before experiencing anything of Vertov's. (Again, if you can spare the time, please read the short wikipedia article about Absolut Film)

Currently it's called City of Light and Lines but I might as well call it Man with a Blackberry Camera as that's what I chose to shoot with for convenience, ease of blending in and capturing the true environment, and it offered me a lo-fi, old film look that I feel works.


As the film progresses it becomes more and more abstract. Elements of sci-fi and suspense. Light is personified as a concept and a character.

Without further ado...here's my short silent film:

Any feedback, comments, questions, any...anything is greatly appreciated! Please utilize the comment box either on Youtube, blogger, or my email address provided in the right hand side bar.

Warmly,

-steve


P.S. Here is the stable URL link to the youtube page.
http://youtu.be/EWZ0HTJpdF0

Promotional Trailer!

About a month ago I was Director of Photography for a friend's short film. Now, we've finally sat down and I helped Joel edit together a trailer.
Hope you enjoy it!






The Way Station:
Located at: 683 Washington Ave
btw prospect and st marks Prospect Heights, Brooklyn 11238
A to Washington
or 2/3 to BK Museum
or Q to 7th Ave B45 to Washington Ave and Prospect Place (stops right in front of bar)

Never Ending: More Promotional Work

Recently I was asked to assist one of my friends on his short film. I accepted and was given the title of director of photography. The film is currently in its final stages. While I won't say anything about it I'll give you a look at an additional contribution of mine, the promotional poster.

I should mention that this is not the final draft of the poster as it is missing the location of the public screening. This will be taking place in a Brooklyn bar called The Way Station.
Located at:
683 Washington Ave
btw prospect and st marks
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn 11238
A to Washington or 2/3 to BK Museum or Q to 7th Ave
B45 to Washington Ave and Prospect Place (stops right in front of bar)

Mouse on the Keys

View larger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjpOhR_Q9xw

     Here is a band that I think everyone should experience. They're a Japanese Jazz / Rock band called Mouse on the Keys and here is their song Saigo No Bansan. I'm not entirely certain what the title means but knowing the word 'bansan' means diner and 'saigo' means last, end, completion it could mean something as deep as the last supper or as simple as completing dinner or not doing so (not sure what the no means). Personally I find it to be incredibly gripping music when focused upon. For those of you who enjoy audio over-stimulation such as myself then I feel you'll seriously enjoy picking apart all the dynamic aspects of the drumming and the intricate interplay between the piano and keyboard.
     Admittedly, for all you classically trained musicians who are steadfast in your puritan ways this music may open up your mind...or simply not be for you. Nevertheless it is something you should listen to at least once. It's a bit difficult to accept the wall of sound that is thrown at you initially in songs such as Toccatina but I found myself very quickly (about 35 seconds in) getting in flux with the jam.

Here is a horribly compressed YouTube upload of Mouse on the Keys song Toccatina:

There desire to express visual sensations through the experience of sound (as most successful music attempts to do -in my opinion) leads me to categorize them with bands like The Cinematic Orchestra.
    Here is Last.fm's write up of them which can probably be attributed to Wikipedia:

     "A blend of minimal phrased piano and dynamic drumming. The pursuit of a live experience composed of visual and audio expression.Formed in 2006, with elements of jazz, funk, post‐rock and electronic music, Mouse on the Keys fits into a genre of their own.

     The unique sound of the band’s drums, two pianos, and two keyboards combines the sense of urgency from rock, hard core and heavy metal with tastes of early/contemporary classical, jazz and various dance music.
     At their concerts, the band projects a variety of images chosen to match their sound ―views of Tokyo, geometric symbols, 3D objects, and abstractions. Residents of Tokyo, the members of Mouse on the Keys represent the haunting restlessness of their home city at their live appearances. They would transform even a venue in Germany or France into a kind of virtual Tokyo."

     There latest album An Anxious Object (2009) differs from their first album entitled Sezession (2007) but many of the core inspirations and motivations for the band I think can still be felt. I hope you all enjoy Mouse on the Keys. I may have to agree with Youtube user DeSterrennacht when he said this about Saigo No Bansam, "If this was MY last supper, I would be content with crucifixion."

Sincerely,

-S.

P.S.- Here is a link to a copy of the songs that have not been compressed as much: 
  Toccatina:  http://grooveshark.com/s/Toccatina/30NEtw?src=5

  Saigo No Bansan:  http://grooveshark.com/s/+/30NEdj?src=5