Oddball Films and guest curator Lynn Cursaro present Picture This: Image-Making from the Scratch Pad to the Silver Screen, a freewheeling look at the ways we immortalize the stuff of life. Scratch pad doodles come to life in Trikfilm (1973). Norman McLaren's Boogie Doodle (1941) gives a squiggle the grace of an Astaire. The powdering of a shiny nose is more bizarrely beautiful as one of the Moving X-Rays (1950). Oscar winning Frank Film (1973) weaves magazine cut-outs into a mid-century portrait of American plenty. The raw material of memories, Kodak photo-paper, rolls out in dizzying quantity to be Behind Your Photos (1970s). Can colorful payphone tokens re-enact a convincing shoot 'em up? Mais oui, as Le Western (1971) proves. Art Talent Test (date unknown) can assess your aptitude with science! Busby Berkeley pushed movie iconography a step further when he conjured up a thousand Ruby Keelers for the show stopping I Only Have Eyes for You number from the 1934 musical Dames. And more eye-popping surprises, as well as the usual home-baked treats from the Kurator's Kitchen!
Date: Thursday, July 19th, 2012 at 8:00PM.
Admission: $10.00, RSVP to: 415-558-8117 or
programming@oddballfilm.com
Featuring:
Frank
Film (Color, 1973)
A
rich, multilayered portrait of the boom years by Frank and Caroline Mouris.
Thousands of magazine images intertwine with two soundtracks- one, a listing of
words beginning with "F" and the other relating the co-director's
biography- to tell the story of the post-war generation. What might have once
been seen as a witty critique of consumer aspirations, over time Frank Film has
become imbued with a sunny optimism for today's viewers. This short but vital
work garnered an Academy Award and a spot on the National Film Registry of the
Library of Congress in 1996. And, what's more: it's just plain gorgeous!
Dames
(B&W, 1934)
A charming excerpt from director Ray Enright's Dames. During the spectacular musical
number I Only Have Eyes for You, Ruby Keeler is the only girl in the world, but
there are hundreds of her in this dreamy landscape. And from those hundreds, one face emerges, and when Miss
Keeler pops out of a giant eye there can be little doubt that notorious dance
director Busby Berkeley was something of a Hollywood branch of the Surrealist
movement.
Trikfilm (Color, 1973)
Tune
in the top 40 radio and get doodling! A man, a cup of coffee or two, a scratch
pad and a red felt pen: these can be the raw ingredients for a shopping list, a
phone message or maybe even animation in its most basic form. Live action and
animation are cleverly fused as the animation process and the product are
presented side by side. Directed
by George Carey Griffin.
Behind
Your Photos (Color, 1970's)
This
Kodak industrial short may start off with a zesty layer of corporate cheese,
but by the time emulsion mixing starts, it's visually mesmerizing to watch the
detailed process. Although many basic papermaking techniques are used, Kodak
uses only the best pulp for its paper. Each batch is rigorously tested at every
step of the process with specialized instruments that will make your inner geek
positively giddy. Meet the Swell-o-meter!
Moving
X-Rays (B&W, 1950)
MRI,
schmeMRI! For more than a century, X-ray images have illuminated the workings
and anomalies of the human body and other objects of mystery, but they still
have the ability to fascinate. Director John Kieran's Kaleidoscope was a
15-minute documentary series that aired from 1949 to 1952. Kieran's folksy but
learned approach gives Moving X-Rays gives a comfy sense of wonderment at the
eerie beauty of these familiar images.
Boogie
Doodle (Color, 1941)
Animation
pioneer Norman McLaren's approached animation from many unique angles,
including by painting directly onto film.
In this prime and colorful example, assorted lines, blobs, hearts and
squiggles frolic and jitterbug across the screen in an exuberant riot of
abstraction to the beat of Albert Ammons.
Le
Western (Color, 1971)
This
coin slot's not big enough for the both of us! The tropes of the western genre
are so well worn that when re-enacted with geometric shapes grunting in a
vaguely French manner, it makes very little difference. The players here are jetons, the payphone
tokens once widely used in Europe, leaving us to wonder how long director
Jean-Charles Meunier had to wait for a phone.
Art
Talent Test (Color, Date Unknown)
Michael
Kent, "World-renowned Talent Scout" wants you to know that there are
valuable careers in the arts, but only if you have the talent. We've all seen the ads from Art
Instruction Schools in the back of magazines for decades. You may have even tried your hand at
recreating that cheeky little turtle in a cap. Now, see an early-promotional film
from the late 50's or early 60's and see if a career in the arts is for you.
And even more visual and edible goodies!
Plus,
For the Early Arrivals:
Crayon
(Color, 1964)
Crayon
is not afraid to go-go-go outside the lines . . . with a cool vibraphone score!
Schoolroom auteur Stelios Roccos brings his vibrant style to an inspiring study
of amazing crayon techniques from plain old coloring-in, to the melty fun of
encaustic and batik.
About
the Curator
Lynn
Cursaro is a local film blogger. Over the past two decades, she has worked in
research and administrative positions a variety of Bay Area film organizations