Cinema Obscura Creates Unique Media Experiences For The Community
Cinema Obscura 2019
CINEMA OBSCURA is an ever-evolving experimental audiovisual series produced by Motion Media Arts Center.
Our 2019 showcase featured three independent multimedia artists work produced in conjunction with Austin School of Film's Experimental Media Department during East Austin Studio Tour 2019. Cecilia Yakin, Heather Olson, and Marcus Rosen all created, produced, and curated new work as part of our Experimental Filmmaking II 8-week production-based course. 99% of materials used in this exhibition were recycled, thrifted, or repurposed.
The class was created by Austin School of Film’s Programs & Education Director Faiza Kracheni who is also the lead on analog film classes at the school. She developed the course after many years of curating experimental media and film showcases and with a deep passion for introducing students to ways to use film and media as pure artistic expression & a way to connect communities to media beyond traditional storytelling methods. As an experimental media artist herself, Kracheni is fostering Austin School of Film’s expanding (and growing) Experimental Media Department and its students. This class (as part of the emerging department’s expansion), is intended for students with an interest in learning non-traditional ways to produce and exhibit media and experimental media itself. It is limited to five students on any given session due to the complexity of subject matter and production. Kracheni wants to make sure the course caters to individual mentoring and attention to every last detail. Students will produce and curate an exhibition & a short form media each class. Ultimately, pushing themselves as creators and media makers to produce new meaningful work.
Cinema Obscura’s 710 square foot exhibition room during EAST 2019
Marcus Rosen created two installation pieces that were on display during the multimedia exhibit. One installation featured two analog TVs displaying video art created by compiling hours of found VHS footage and manipulating it using a program called Lumen — an analog-style video synthesizer software. Directly next to this display, Marcus featured a blank canvas with a projection mapping installation of hand painted 16mm film leader directly onto the canvas — repurposing the leader completely and creating a “moving painting”.
He had the actual 16mm film leader on display for guests to pick up & look at while they watched the juxtaposition of two wildly different analog formats on display. Both utilizing innovative digital software in the creation process — blending the media worlds into one.
Two attendees engage with Cecilia’s work on the iPads
Cecilia Yakin created & curated two videos exploring a different viewing experience for the community to engage with. Not your typical sit down screening: the first piece, a short experimental erotica film was created as part of Avant Garde & Experimental Filmmaking earlier in the year. Cecilia then commissioned an Atlanta-based artist to create an accompanying scoring. The film was shot on a Super 8 camera using Tri-x black & white reversal film. Yakin hand developed, processed, and digitized the footage at Austin School of Film as part of the class as well. The film was displayed on iPads with headphones on top of a stark white plinth adorning nailed set pieces into the structure itself.
Cecilia’s newest piece was completed in a week during the production phases of the course. She shot on an early 2000s DV camera to explore new themes and casting local area actors, artists, models, musicians and partnering with Texas-based vintage shop Oddball Vintage. The film is not yet completed but featured a two minute excerpt on loop projecting in large scale alongside the Super 8 installation. The film, that does not yet have a name, introduces the public to the characters we’ll be seeing more of soon: The Reader, The Dancers, The Luchador, and The Clown.
Heather Olson created an incredible video mapping installation featuring a 100% recyclable tree titled Terroir. Yes, a tree! Heather completely hand created the tree and the tree itself featured 136 handmade leaves. Each leaf featured a different video playing, meaning, 136 videos were mapped onto the leaves alone. The video mapping installation was on an (almost) 4 minute loop with an audio component where viewers could take a seat on a bench gazing up on the tree and be immersed into a unique audiovisual experience. We curated a special showing of Terroir featuring the room in complete darkness with floor pillows for seating & soundbath on the final day of the exhibition. The viewing was a total of 5 minutes and limited to 10 people per viewing during the last 30 minutes of East Austin Studio Tour 2019. However, the special viewing saw over 30 people in the small timeframe due to popularity.
Alongside Terroir, Heather exhibited test footage for a new experimental digital short exploring themes of death & afterlife. The work will be featured in a two part media series titled The Séance.
Cinema Obscura saw on average 30 people per hour, totaling 180 people each day the multimedia exhibition was open and an estimation of 720 unique visitors who interacted with the experimental media overall during Big Medium’s EAST 2019.
If you’re interested in our Experimental Media Department, here are a few ways you could get involved:
1) Take a class. It’s just that simple.
All experimental film classes are production-based courses and will be featured in special screening and exhibition series. Further, any of the workshops also are production-based - although the goal isn’t to “make a film or media installation” you’ll still shoot, experiment, develop, paint and more. You’ll walk away from any class here with skills and projects to show or experiment with post-class.
2) Apply for our Media Artist Residency Program.
Opening in April 2020 and in partnership with some tba entities, we’ve revamped our “Filmmaker’s Connection” program to be renamed “Artist Connection Program”. It’s more than just a paid residency (yes, paid!) and we’ll have more details on it released soon but for now, you should know that: it is only open to Texas residents and we are seeking emerging media artists.
3) Apply for an internship at Motion Media Arts Center
Later in December 2019, we will begin taking applications for some new production-based internship programs working directly with our Experimental Media Department. These interns will also work directly with our creative team, learn real skills, and help build upon our past successes.
4) Attend events and follow us on social media
If you’re not sure you want to get involved in a direct creating/producing capacity but want to dip your toe or further engage in the world of experimental media - show up to our events, connect with us, drop us a line on social media, or you can even email us directly! Most if not all MMAC events are free & open to the public unless specifically noted.
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, or you can reach us at hello@austinfilmschool.org for general inquiries.
5) Become a Community Partner
And for all you organizations or businesses who would like to connect with our community on a meaningful level, we are now developing our community partnerships for 2020! There is no “one size fits all” for our partnerships and we build them from scratch together with you to be mutually beneficial. We’re always interested in partnering with likeminded organizations within the arts & tech communities as well as businesses who’s ethos align with our own. Community first & foremost!