Spring 2002 - New School University - Course Number NFLM3519

Instructor:Joel Schlemowitz
e-mail:schlemoj@newschool.edu

Class meets:
Wednesdays 6:30 — 9:30 PM
66 Fifth Avenue Room 400

New School Film Production Office: (212) 229-5899

Limited to 15. This course explores the possibilities of cinema outside its traditional presentation as a film on a screen, experiencing projection as a film performance or as an installation work in a gallery setting. Coursework includes using multiple projectors, slides, and colored gels; handheld screens, rear projection, and alternate projection surfaces; installation techniques including film loops; and optical effects using lenses, prisms, mirrors, water, and mylar. Each student creates an installation work for presentation at a gallery space, and as a group we will create a multiple-projection film performance. The course surveys the work of Barbara Rubin, Anthony McCall, Stan Vanderbeek, Jon Rubin, Ela Troyano & Tessa Hughes-Freeland, Kathy Rose, and others. Field trips (outside of class hours) include the Millennium Film Workshop, Robert Beck Memorial Cinema, and Anthology Film Archives.

Course requirements, grading procedure (noted in parenthesis):
Participation in in-class shoots, projection and installation experiments and discussions (45% of grade); completion of final project: a film installation and participation in the final film performance (35% of grade); written assignment (10% of grade); attendance (10% of grade).

In-class work:
We will have three in-class shoots, and five sessions of projection and installation experiments. Access to cameras outside of class time will be limited. Projectors will be available outside of class time.

Final Projects:
1 Installation Piece (individual project)
1 Film Performance (group project)

Students will create a proposal for a final Installation Piece. Students may work alone, or, with the instructor’s approval, in collaboration with another student. We will use projectors supplied by the instructor and the film department, and film from our in-class shoots. Any additional materials needed for the creation of the installation pieces are to be provided by the student.

Time will be available for work on your final project during class hours towards the end of the semester, but also expect to set aside some time outside of class as well.

The installation pieces will be on view on session 13.

The entire class will collaborate on a multi-part, multiple-projection Film Performance as a group, to be presented on the final class after the reception for the installations.

Feel free to invite anyone you wish to attend the artists’ reception and the film performance.

Written Assignment:
All students are required to write a one-page artist’s statement, including a brief description of their work. These will be presented in a binder to supplement the installation pieces. Students are highly encouraged to hand in rough drafts of this assignment before the final deadline.

Extra Credit:
Helping other students on their projects counts towards extra credit. This is different than collaboration: this is help with construction of installation apparatus and/or help with shooting.

If you have ideas for installations or performances that are too complicated or costly to create as your final assignment you will have the option to create descriptions/sketches/diagrams as an extra credit assignment. Be aware that this should be something a little more evolved than a doodle on a napkin.

Reading:
Readings from the web, and links to artists’ web sites can be found at:

http://cepa.newschool.edu/~schlemoj/installation&performance

There is no one text for this class, but rather, a small number of assigned readings will be given from several books on reserve in the library, including: Archaeology of the Cinema, C.W. Ceram; Expanded Cinema, Gene Youngblood; Movie Journal, Jonas Mekas; Intermedia, Hans Breder and Stephen C. Foster, eds. A Critical Cinema 2, MacDonald (While some of these books are out-of-print, Expanded Cinema may easily be found in used bookstores. It is also available on-line — go to URL above and click Expanded Cinema.)

Guest Artist:
A guest filmmaker will visit to present work in class. Other artists may also come on a more informal basis.

Field Trip:
We will attend at least one screening related to this course, at Millennium Film Workshop, The Robert Beck Memorial Cinema, Anthology Film Archives, or Ocularis. If time permits we will have a trip to the Museum of the Moving Image.


 

COURSE OVERVIEW:

SESSION 1 - Introduction. Survey of film performance and film installation (from the 19^th Century magic lantern show and early cinema, to the Expanded Cinema of the 60s, to the present).


SESSION 2 - Survey of equipment. Practice loading projectors. Projection experiments (multiple projection on the screen) with found footage, handpainted material, and student’s outtakes from 16mm Film Production.

Bring to class: Any film footage you would like to experiment with from previous classes. Something that light can pass through, or can be used to reflect or mask light. If you are musically inclined bring an instrument or a tape for the film performance soundtrack.


SESSION 3 - In-class shoot 1: material for film performance.

Bring to class: Objects/props to film.


SESSION 4 - More projection experiments (multiple projection on the screen), with footage from in-class shoot 1.

Bring to class: Film footage. Something that light can pass through, or can be used to reflect or mask light. A musical instrument or a tape for the film performance soundtrack.


SESSION 5 - Film performance experiments (projection beyond the screen: walls, ceiling and floor; handheld projection; handheld screens; alternate projection surfaces; etc., etc.).

Bring to class: Film footage. Something that light can pass through, or can be used to reflect or mask light. A musical instrument or a tape for the film performance soundtrack.


SESSION 6 - In-class shoot 2: material for installation pieces.

Bring to class: Objects/props to film for installation pieces.


SESSION 7 - Installation experiments with footage from in-class shoot 2 (installation with film loops).

Bring to class: Film footage. Things to project onto.


SESSION 8 - Installation experiments. Review and discussion of video documentation of all in-class work so far.

Bring to class: Film footage. Things to project onto.


SESSION 9 - Guest Artist visits. Proposals for final projects presented.

Bring to class: Proposal for final project.


SESSION 10 - In-class shoot 3: material for final projects.

Bring to class: Objects/props to film for final projects.


SESSION 11 - In-class time to work on final projects.

Bring to class: Written Assignment.


SESSION 12 - Rehearsal of Film Performance.


SESSION 13 - 7:00 PM - Artists’ reception.

8:00 PM - Film Performance presented.