VISUAL ESSAYS: ORIGINS OF FILM

by Al RAZUTIS
1973-1984 / 16mm / color-b&w / sound / 1S / 68' 00

These six visual essays on film/image history attempt to reconstruct the vision of cinematic creation occurring in the minds of cinema's "primitives" ; together they comprise a critical/structural investigation of silent cinema. "I thought it necessary to engage the original film texts by creating a process of `discovery' wherein the viewer could partake in the `myth of creation' without being encumbered by the full questions of ideological significance, historical placement, and authorship." (A.R.)

"Both the visual artist and the educator make their appearances throughout Origins of Film, but it looks to be the poet who has the final say. Informing the overall shape of the project is an argument that is presented at a number of levels. Each film is structured around a distinct set of optical printing and collage techniques [and] ... embodies a `look' which becomes the film's central strategy and metaphor." (Peter Chapman, Independent Eye)

To view PHOTOS and descriptions see:

http://www.alchemists.com/visual_alchemy/film_cat.html

In the collections of:
National Gallery of Canada (Permanent Collection - film)
Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, Spain (DVD)
University library of Lausanne, Switzerland (DVD)
University of Provence, France (DVD)

Selections on VIDEO on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/xalrazutis

1 PRINT IN DISTRIBUTION


distribution format 16mm
screen 1,37 - Standard (single screen)
speed 24 fps
sound optical sound
rental fee 181,00 €