1.) What inspired you to make this piece?
“Wrapture” began with the ocean,
the abstract movement of the waves,
their power and randomness.
When I was ten years old I was caught in the undertow
and swam down instead of up.
My life passed before me in postcards.
But being only ten, there were so few cards, that I had time
to reconsider and find the way to the top!
Later I read a story
about
the rapture
of the deep -
the ecstasy one experiences when drowning.
All these endorphins kick in.
2.) Do you have any interesting/and or amusing
behind-the-scenes stories about the making of this particular
work?
We did a performance at the
Not Still Art Festival
and
I put
Vanessa Bley,
a wonderful singer/composer who happens to dance in this piece,
on top of a small bench and gave her a long wrap.
She could only bend and move her arms, but otherwise was fixed
to the spot.
This way the camera would create the movement and undulate like
waves.
3.) What is the relationship between your work as a
video/filmmaker and life in the New York metropolitan area?
New York is life and death about art..
You do your best work here.
Everyone keeps track.
Sink or swim, it is an ecstatic experience to be a part of the
scene.
4.) What films/videos and makers have inspired you or
influenced your work? And why?
I admire a number of video and computer artists, but I've been
influenced by
Aristotle's
"Poetics",
William S.
Burroughs'
"Cut
Up Theory",
John Cage's
understanding that everything is permissible….plus the work of
great musicians like
Gary
Peacock and
Paul
Bley, which shows us that creativity is the act of
improvisation.
5.) How would you define “independent” film and video today?
It is the best of times for making and the easiest of times for
disseminating.
6) If viewers are interested in obtaining copies
of your work for rental or purchase, whom should they contact
and at what address?
Program with multiple video art pieces:
Wrapture
28:00
For exhibition or licensing please contact:
improvart@gmail.com
7.) For your on-air introduction of your work, please tell us
IN THREE OR FOUR SIMPLE SENTENCES what your intentions were in
making this piece and/or what it is about. We will then
get back to you with suggestions, if necessary, and to arrange
a taping date in early May. If you cannot be here for
the taping, we would like you to ask someone else affiliated
with your film to do the on-air intro. Also please note
there is a possibility that we will stream this on-air
introduction on our website as well.
“Wrapture “ is about letting go, drifting, succumbing to a force
greater than ones self. I’d like the viewers to feel
that. I’d also like them to enjoy the beauty and
drama of the moving images for their own sake – the way they
enjoy music.
8) How would you like your title to read for your
on-air introduction and website? Director? Producer?
Writer? Filmmaker? Video Artist, etc.?
Director / Video Artist
