CLASS OF THE WEEK! Avant-Garde & Experimental Filmmaking
DSD by Wallace Heller (ASoF AVG student)
Our award-winning Avant-Garde & Experimental Filmmaking course is a comprehensive introduction to experimental and Avant Garde filmmaking and cinema. Not only will students learn the history, methods, and evolution of experimental cinema - students will learn to shoot, hand-process, transfer, and edit on Super 8 film cameras and Tri-X Kodak film stock. Our goal is to guide students through a DIY approach of hand-processing and shooting on film making it a more economical approach by implementing the bucket method, supplies, and film-hacks!
Chemical bucket process featuring Dara Anya (ASoF DVCP student)
From Hans Ritcher’s 1921 “Rythmus 21” dubbed arguably as the very first abstract film - to selected works from Maya Deren and David Lynch’s first short film, students will take an in-depth look into the grit and creative process of each filmmaker featured for in-class discussion and dissection led by experimental filmmaker, musician, and MMAC Programs Director, Faiza Kracheni. Faiza’s films have screened in Texas, California, New York and Toronto. She is consist on keeping this course accessible for beginning filmmakers who have little to no experience and creating a positive/empowering class enviroment for students to feel to truly let go of traditional filmmaking “rules” and experiment with the stock itself and their ideas.
16mm direct-animation in class, 2018
Each student will create their own individual experimental film in class and learn hands-on every aspect of what goes into making a film when using an actual film camera - which very much differs from digital filmmaking and narrative filmmaking methods. As a class bonus, students will also explore filmmaking without a camera with 16mm direct animation while discussing the works of Stan Brakage to create their own handpainted abstract film to incoroporate or in addition to their Super 8 film.
Laura Munoz (ASoF student) with Super 8 camera ft. Momia the dog