KCC's FST 553 Experimental Film Blog

  Absolute Film If I understand the definition of Absolute Film correctly, it’s a film that doesn’t necessarily tell a story like a narrative film or explore a topic like a documentary film. Instead, it’s essentially an artistic medium for moving images. I had no idea that this genre had been around as long as it has, but it worth noting that even though the techniques have evolved ie. sound, computer graphics, etc., many of the original artistic approaches, such as painting directly on film, are still being used today. Furthermore, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that most “experimental/Avant-Garde/Pure Cinema/Integral" filmmakers started out as painters or musicians. In fact, it almost seems to be a prerequisite. They simply transferred their artistry into motion pictures.        Light Observation 1 I’m sitting on the couch in my living room. There are four light sources. The largest is the fluorescent kitchen light coming from my right side. The next is...

Sound Observation 1 I’m sitting at the dining room table writing this sound observation, and I am very aware of the clicking of my fingers on the keyboard. From the other room, I hear my daughter’s television, and after waiting a moment I recognize the theme song to Shameless . Every so often, there is the sound of movement, putting something on her desk or sitting in her chair. The heater drones on in the background, but the occasional thumps and thuds from my upstairs neighbor pepper the hum. He just stepped outside on his balcony because I hear the sliding glass door open and close quickly. The sound in the distance changes tone, and I immediately hear my daughter’s bare footsteps approaching on the tile floor. My cat meows when it sees her, and I hear my cat’s claws faintly brush the tile as it follows my daughter into the kitchen. I hear water trickling, so I look toward the kitchen expecting to see the faucet running, but she has plugged in my cat’s drinking fountain. The upstair...

 Artist Bio: I am a screenwriter and filmmaker with an interest in creating work that inspires people. While I gravitate more toward narrative films, I’m also drawn to documentaries that showcase the human condition. Films that encourage the audience to reflect on choices of the past and present can be very impactful for the future, regardless if it's at a global, national, community, or individual level. I’m also partial to a good underdog story, so I often find myself writing about characters who are marginalized by gender, age, race, or the myriad of things in life that can hinder a person’s progress, whether that hindrance imposed by society or by the self. Ultimately, I hope to create films that affect the audience in positive ways, making them laugh, cry, and most importantly, think. Tarantella Reflection: After a little research, I discovered that Mary Bute was initially trained as a painter. Upon graduation, she decided that painting posed too many limits on what she was t...