First Random/Orphan Show

We screened three films; "Tilt," "Love To Kill" and "God's Monkey".

The first two were civics lessons.

Tilt" was a National Film Board of Canada animation about the worlds resources and what we can (or can't) do about preserving them. Blithely liberal, it took no positions. A committee job co-produced by the World Bank in 1972.

"Love to Kill" was a Values Lesson couched in a youth vs. elders story of camp kids who want to set free the buffalo. Strangely re-edited from a longer film by Stanley Kramer. Featuring familiar but forgotten actors from the 1970's. Jeeps, Horses, guns, kids, older guys and horses.

"God's Monkey" is ostensibly an Art History film. It changes into a subjective, zealous and almost paranoid interpretation of the Hieronymus Bosch painting "Garden of Earthy Delights" Preposterous and wonderfully mad.

The Ophaned Film collection

Over 100 films were donated to The Institute by the Chapin-Berner collective this summer. The collection is now cataloged and housed at The Institute. We are starting a film screening series called "Random Title Search". We will be showing films chosen randomly by title only starting on Monday Sept. 12th at 6:30 p.m. in the Institute.

Another French Camera

 Rather than looking like a stealth device this camera reminds me of the car dashboard from the 1960's. It works and is lightweight. This one comes with a prized (and hard to find) 200 ft magazine in great condition. The body is in great shape. There is a pistol grip which positions the hand more under the camera for better balance. This is important with a full 200 ft load in the magazine. The motor only runs at 64 fps right now . I intend to fix this. There is also a rather cheap 25 mm lens too. Matched up with the other Beaulieu and lenses this gives me a pretty high end camera system.

Infinite Format Film Show at 17 Cox

Thanks to all of the folks who showed up the the inaugural film show at the 17 Cox Art Center. It was a long program of films which started at 6 pm. and continued until 10 pm.. We screened work by Super-8 workshop participants Emily Pardoe, Christopher Stepler, Zak Goldstein, Len Thomas Vickory, and Brandon Phelps. The Main show featured the work of Boston film makers Tara Nelson, Gordon Nelson, and Paul Turano also featured in the Main show was the work of recent Montserrat graduate Kathleen Brennan.We appreciate the viewers who showed up for both screenings and especially those who stayed for both. Screenings are particular events that have a theatrical quality to them. This one was pretty intense. It seemed as if the audience was watching very closely. The group stayed connected right up to the final film. Again, we appreciate this very much.

Eclair update

Elclair NPR batteries are done scratch tests show flawless film.  The remaining functions of the mags, lens and film transport will be revealed after todays test rolls.

Recent Acquisition; Eclair NPR 16mm camera

Not a silly blunderbuss but a classic piece of film history. All I know is that this camera came from the west coast. I imagine this camera at Altamont or Monterey. This is like the first camera I ever rented in the 1970's. Although it seemed a lot smaller then. Thanks to John Cairnes at Van Ness Creative for helping me check over it. It needs batteries but is complete in every way and ready to shoot the first test roll next week. Also thanks to John and Paul Van Ness at Van Ness Creative for a raw stock donation.

Six Plate Editing Table Arrives at the Institute

Thanks to the generosity of film makers Joe Gibbons and Louise Bourque The Institute has acquired a used Cinemonta six-plate editing table. This is an uncommon, Belgian model much like a Steenbeck. According to Joe Gibbons it saw a lot of use as a sort of optical printer for Louise Borques films.
See these links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2a2GIpTmaU&feature=related
http://www.independentexposure.com/filmmaker/576/Louise_Bourque.html
Although we won't be using the magnetic sound heads we will certainly be using it to edit and compile 16mm material.