Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

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vertovfan
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:46 pm

Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#251 Post by vertovfan » Thu Sep 29, 2016 10:29 am

Len Lye and Robert Breer releases from the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Zealand:

http://www.govettbrewster.com/shop/book ... by-len-lye" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.govettbrewster.com/shop/film ... -z-box-set" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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jwo17
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#252 Post by jwo17 » Thu Sep 29, 2016 12:47 pm

rockysds wrote:Some more info of what films will be included: Screening of selections from Treasures 6: Next Wave Avant-Garde
Films to be shown:
- A Visit to Indiana (1970) by Curt McDowell, preserved by Pacific Film Archive
- Plumb Line (1978) by Carolee Schneemann, preserved by The Museum of Modern
- Radio Adios (1982) by Henry Hills, preserved by Anthology Film Archives
- 11 thru 12 (1977) by Andrea Callard,preserved by New York University
- Hi-Fi Cadets (1989) by Lewis Klahr, preserved by the Academy Film Archive (preservation premiere!)
- Report (1967) by Bruce Conner, preserved by Anthology Film Archives as part of the NFPF's Avant-Garde Masters Program funded by The Film Foundation.
Does anyone know if the release of this set/these films are still forthcoming?

JonoQ
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 1:11 am

Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#253 Post by JonoQ » Thu Sep 29, 2016 2:19 pm

jwo17 wrote:
rockysds wrote: Does anyone know if the release of this set/these films are still forthcoming?
Jeff Lambert of the NFPF just discussed this last week on The Cinephiliacs podcast. It's definitely still coming, although he didn't mention how far along it was or when it would be released.

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jwo17
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#254 Post by jwo17 » Thu Sep 29, 2016 2:36 pm

Glad to hear that! Thanks, Jono.

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Gregory
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:07 pm

Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#255 Post by Gregory » Thu Sep 29, 2016 3:03 pm

I'd almost given up on it. It was announced for 2014, and I recall reading then that the production work on the set was just about done and it would be released soon. I wonder if they encountered some major late-stage hitch.

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zedz
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm

Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#256 Post by zedz » Tue Oct 04, 2016 4:52 pm

vertovfan wrote:Len Lye and Robert Breer releases from the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Zealand:

http://www.govettbrewster.com/shop/book ... by-len-lye" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.govettbrewster.com/shop/film ... -z-box-set" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I just received these. The Breer set is a new Re:Voir edition, which oddly enough is not yet listed on their own site, and comes with a substantial, colour, 164 page book entirely in English. Maybe the delay with Re:Voir's own edition is related to publishing the French-language equivalent. I guess this will be the first Re:Voir edition I've seen where the book(let) is not bilingual, so future purchasers may need to watch out that they're ordering the correct language edition from wherever (the CNC is also credited as a collaborator, so this may be available from Canada too).

The Len Lye set is a very handsome production and promises plenty of new restorations, though I haven't had a chance to look at any of them yet. It seems to be an exclusively New Zealand edition, even to the extent of the obligatory ugly censorship label being printed on the front cover.

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swo17
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#257 Post by swo17 » Tue Oct 04, 2016 5:19 pm

Good enough for me. Order placed.

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rockysds
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#258 Post by rockysds » Tue Jan 03, 2017 8:49 am

Pere Portabella's Informes generales I y II i.e. the 1976 film also included in the box and its "sequel" from last year.

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swo17
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#259 Post by swo17 » Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:46 pm

zedz wrote:
vertovfan wrote:Len Lye and Robert Breer releases from the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Zealand:

http://www.govettbrewster.com/shop/book ... by-len-lye" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.govettbrewster.com/shop/film ... -z-box-set" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Len Lye set is a very handsome production and promises plenty of new restorations, though I haven't had a chance to look at any of them yet. It seems to be an exclusively New Zealand edition, even to the extent of the obligatory ugly censorship label being printed on the front cover.
All Souls Carnival seems like the major revelation here. A near epic at 12 minutes, it was until recently thought lost (and five minutes are apparently still missing). Imagine The Dante Quartet scored by, say, Igor Stravinsky.

CVMarchive
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 6:07 pm

Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#260 Post by CVMarchive » Sun Feb 26, 2017 6:19 pm

Center for Visual Music is pleased to announce the release of their new DVD: Visual Music 1947-1986 from the CVM Archive: Jordan Belson, Mary Ellen Bute, Charles Dockum, Barry Spinello. Contains thirteen rare films featuring pre-computer abstraction, using a variety of techniques including early oscilloscope experiments, color organs, hand-drawn sound, animation drawn directly on film, painted scrolls, and optical printing. Many restored films, new HD transfers. DVD, NTSC region free. TRT 78:30. February 2017 release.

The Belson films are Mandala, Meditation and Chakra. Full title list, film notes and order info (through paypal) are at centerforvisualmusic.org/visualmusicdvd/

Also available through CVM's regular store (as well as compilation DVDs for Oskar Fischinger, Jordan Belson and the new Len Lye New Zealand compilation), which does not use paypal: http://www.centerforvisualmusic.org/store" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Further inquiries, contact CVM directly.

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zedz
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#261 Post by zedz » Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:19 pm

zedz wrote:
vertovfan wrote:Len Lye and Robert Breer releases from the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Zealand:

http://www.govettbrewster.com/shop/book ... by-len-lye" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.govettbrewster.com/shop/film ... -z-box-set" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I just received these. The Breer set is a new Re:Voir edition, which oddly enough is not yet listed on their own site, and comes with a substantial, colour, 164 page book entirely in English. Maybe the delay with Re:Voir's own edition is related to publishing the French-language equivalent. I guess this will be the first Re:Voir edition I've seen where the book(let) is not bilingual, so future purchasers may need to watch out that they're ordering the correct language edition from wherever (the CNC is also credited as a collaborator, so this may be available from Canada too).

The Len Lye set is a very handsome production and promises plenty of new restorations, though I haven't had a chance to look at any of them yet. It seems to be an exclusively New Zealand edition, even to the extent of the obligatory ugly censorship label being printed on the front cover.
This thread bump reminds me that - weirdly - this Breer set still hasn't appeared from Re:Voir itself.

But they have put out a compilation of Suzan Pitt's trippy, erotic animation. Asparagus has to be seen to be believed.
Image
There's a trailer available to view on their blog: http://blog.re-voir.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A new Jonas Mekas epic, He Stands in the Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life, also seems to have slipped out last year.

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zedz
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#262 Post by zedz » Thu Jun 22, 2017 12:11 am

It's nice to see Oskar Fischinger get the Google theming treatment today.

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bearcuborg
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#263 Post by bearcuborg » Thu Jun 22, 2017 7:25 am

zedz wrote:It's nice to see Oskar Fischinger get the Google theming treatment today.
Thanks, it's a fun doodle to play with too.

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swo17
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#264 Post by swo17 » Thu Jun 22, 2017 11:01 am

I can't get it to play. And other doodles like this one play fine for me so I don't think it's a browser or plug-in issue.

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Red Screamer
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#265 Post by Red Screamer » Thu Nov 09, 2017 12:35 am

The pre-order for the second Oskar Fischinger DVD is up and looks terrific!

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senseabove
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:07 am

Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#266 Post by senseabove » Thu Nov 30, 2017 4:53 pm

Anybody seen this Blu from Re:Voir of Brakhage's Anticipation of the Night?
https://re-voir.com/shop/en/stan-brakha ... night.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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zedz
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#267 Post by zedz » Thu Nov 30, 2017 4:58 pm

senseabove wrote:Anybody seen this Blu from Re:Voir of Brakhage's Anticipation of the Night?
https://re-voir.com/shop/en/stan-brakha ... night.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Yes, it's very good. Bare bones transfer of a 16mm print, but - as usual with Re:Voir - there's a substantial booklet included.

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swo17
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#268 Post by swo17 » Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:19 am

Oh hey, my Oskar Fischinger Vol. 2 DVD showed up today!

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swo17
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#269 Post by swo17 » Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:36 am

swo17 wrote:Oh hey, my Oskar Fischinger Vol. 2 DVD showed up today!
It was very nice to see several of these films for the first time (particularly Swiss Trip and the 1920s-30s experiments, some of which I gather made their way into Raumlichtkunst) though I feel the need to warn everyone that there are "CVM" watermarks all over this thing. Generally just toward the end of the films but still...

CVM
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:12 am

Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#270 Post by CVM » Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:20 am

swo17 wrote:
swo17 wrote:Oh hey, my Oskar Fischinger Vol. 2 DVD showed up today!
It was very nice to see several of these films for the first time (particularly Swiss Trip and the 1920s-30s experiments, some of which I gather made their way into Raumlichtkunst) though I feel the need to warn everyone that there are "CVM" watermarks all over this thing. Generally just toward the end of the films but still...

Hmmm....it is unclear why you'd write that, that there are "watermarks all over this thing" as that's not accurate. The watermark is on the LAST SHOT of each film (with one short exception in the bonus features). Yes, a very small one in the corner of the LAST shot. Not "all over" the films which is what you seem to be implying. Using a watermark is a very common practice today.

The 1920s-30s experiments are not in Raumlichtkunst, they have nothing to do with it.

CVM
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:12 am

Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#271 Post by CVM » Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:36 am

Center for Visual Music is pleased to announce the release of Oskar Fischinger: Visual Music (2017), the new Fischinger DVD! The DVD includes Muratti greift ein, Komposition in Blau, Studie nr 8, Studie nr 5, An American March, Squares, Pierrette I, Swiss Trip and more...plus newly restored animation tests and experiments from the 1920s, 30s and 40s (most never released). Some of the 1930s material is Gasparcolor tests. Includes a booklet with a biography and full preservation credits. More info and order links: http://www.centerforvisualmusic.org/Fis ... newdvd.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The DVD can also be found in the BFI Southbank Filmshop (London), and through Meditations, Kyoto. Starting in March, through Walther Koenig, Koln.

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whaleallright
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:56 am

Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#272 Post by whaleallright » Sun Feb 04, 2018 4:53 pm

CVM wrote:Using a watermark is a very common practice today.
On YouTube and other streaming sites, perhaps; not on physical home-video media from the US and Europe. I thank CVM for releasing these films in splendid editions (I purchased them myself), and don't fault them for making this (perhaps necessary) decision, but I thought I should clarify that it's not a standard one.

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zedz
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#273 Post by zedz » Fri Apr 17, 2020 1:55 am

PAOLO GIOLI: THE COMPLETE FILMWORKS

Exhaustive three disc set from Raro allegedly compiling every film by venerable Italian experimental filmmaker Gioli over six decades.

There are plenty of longueurs over more than nine hours, but this is nevertheless an invaluable collection featuring many great films.

Gioli embraces an array of different image-making techniques, and his films are often structured taxonomically, presenting different variations on a film’s given technique in sequence. I must admit I generally don’t find this kind of structure very rewarding, and it tends to make for overlong films (or ones that feel overlong). The box set is structured taxonomically as well, into programmes of “cameraless films”, “stroboscopic films”, pinhole films” and so forth – though the films themselves often fall into more than one of those categories, and even the curators of the set have to throw up their hands and classify three films at the end as “none of the above”.

The early, cameraless films have a great sense of texture (the earliest film, Tracce di tracce (1969), is literally handmade, with Gioli’s finger- and palm-prints creating much of the imagery). They’re also relatively brief and to-the-point.

The “double positive-negative” films demonstrate an interesting technique, wherein Gioli superimposes positive and negative versions of the same images (through primitive masking and multiple exposure) and also creates Rorschach-like visuals by mirroring imagery. Sometimes the results are spectacular, but these films run long, cycling though multiple variations on the theme. The best of these films was the only one under ten minutes, Del tuffarsi e dell’annegarsi (1971), which had the additional thematic integrity of focussing on water, culminating in a terrific post-Riefenstahl diving sequence. The worst was the one applying this esoteric technique to a mime performance, but I have a longstanding mime allergy.

The “stroboscopic films” programme on disc two has a couple of great films. Secondo il mio occhio di vetro (1971) juxtaposes static head shots of the same subjects so rapidly that we go right past the illusion of movement to Cubism. Figure instabili nella vegetazione (1973) gives a strobing, Rorschachian vision of faces, figures, architecture and plants in motion, the forced symmetry giving the image stability even when it’s at its most wildly unstable.

The two “pinhole films” are, as one might expect, tentative and watery in visual terms, but I found the look quite enchanting. The earlier one, Film stenopeico (1973-1989), was organized taxonomically and I found it overextended; the later one, Natura obscura (2013), was much more chaotic but more to my liking.

The next category on the discs was labelled “found footage”, though there’s an awful lot of that in the rest of the set too. The best film here was Quando la pellicola e calda (1974), which is best described as Rorschach porn. The gag here is that the doubling of the image generally elides the man from the original source, rendering him irrelevant to the woman’s sexual pleasure (which she’s now getting from her doppelganger). When the male participant isn’t completely elided, he’s comically reduced to a double-ended dick in the centre of the frame.

Rounding out disc two are four “animated films”, though they might better be described as “reanimated films.” The emblematic one here (and the only of Gioli’s films I was previously familiar with, I believe) is Filmarilyn (1992), which resurrects a semblance of the living, breathing Marilyn Monroe from her contact sheets. Children (2008) tries to pull off the same trick with contact sheets of Caroline Kennedy and JFK, but burdens the film with obvious juxtapositions (e.g. images of the My Lai massacre) for specious political commentary.

I’m not entirely sure how the technique works that accounts for the “slit-scan films” that open disc three, but this grouping includes what’s possibly my favourite film in the set, Volto telato (2002). It’s another taxonomic film, arranged according to different variations on the technique, but at under three minutes there’s no time to catch your breath and anticipate where the film is going. Instead, you’re bowled over by a frantic avalanche of spectacularly distorted faces, forced into spurious animation by the brevity of the individual shots.

It might seem uncharitable to single out Gioli’s shortest film as my favourite, but it's okay: his longest is my other favourite. L’assassino nudo (1984) is a three-quarter of an hour reanimation of Muybridge’s motion experiments. The material is intrinsically fascinating, and Gioli for the most part lets it speak for itself, and although the film is quasi-taxonomic, he structures in little rhymes between the micro-movies that give it an overarching form, and caps that with a delightfully dark and whimsical conclusion (about which we’d been forewarned, but may well have forgotten).

The set concludes with the odd ones out. The first two in this category seem to me like they’d fit well enough in one of the other groupings, but the last and best, Rectoinverso (2013), really is sui generis in Gioli’s oeuvre. It’s a great idea for a film (and not exactly an original one – see Cocteau, for instance) and very well executed. In a busy city, a woman (and later a man) walk up a long flight of steps towards the camera, while everybody else is moving in reverse. It’s a simple enough trick, but staging it on steps enhances the illusion (as the illusory “forward motion” is impeccably plausible, even though the actors would have been walking backwards down the steps) and creates a powerful, disorienting image (which Gioli will then riff on).

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swo17
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#274 Post by swo17 » Thu Apr 30, 2020 12:16 am

Might me be worth mentioning that most of the first two discs of the Paolo Gioli set can be streamed for free on Amazon Prime. (As though taking a cue from zedz, they mercifully excise the mime film!) Also, um, this guy loves pornography. Made the mistake of inviting my 4-year-old daughter to join me for the one that starts with a few minutes of shots of butterflies. (Don't worry though, I've been traumatizing her with poor parenting decisions like this for years.)

I generally agree with zedz' picks above. I wouldn't necessarily recommend the whole thing unless someone's really into experimental film, but the highlights are definitely worth checking out (not that the Amazon stream is geared toward that)

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zedz
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Re: Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films on DVD

#275 Post by zedz » Thu Apr 30, 2020 12:51 am

I hope you didn't have to explain the "double-ended dick"!

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