2017 Summer Lab - Experimental Filmmaking
Reel Works 2017 Summer Lab is a 4-week intensive experimental filmmaking class led by filmmaker-in-residence Vinay Chowdhry. The Summer Lab brought students on a journey through American avant-garde cinema.The course focused on art movements of the 20th century and how they gave birth to the genre of experimental film. Artists of focus included Stan Brakhage, Maya Deren, and Kenneth Anger.Maribel Garcia, our young filmmaker, shared, "Even though I had done other film projects aside from the program, I was able to learn so much more [in the summer lab]. I was able to learn a lot of techniques and how to analyze films. It was a great learning opportunity and I will be using all the techniques I learned with other projects."
Lab Instructor Vinay explained his class objective: “I wanted to focus the class on art movements that have origins in Europe and how they influenced filmmakers in the States. I think we still currently have a lasting influence from the pioneering Avante garde filmmakers and video artists of the post-World War II era.”Summer Lab students spent the first day of the week in classroom discussions, the second day dedicated to shooting, and the last day structuring and editing footage. Students shot at Prospect Park, Red Hook Labs, Time Square, and Coney Island.The main goal was to make a connection that the Art Movement has a stylistic and philosophical uniqueness. Students then incorporated the ideas and techniques by those filmmakers into their pieces. “We asked students early on to identify a theme that they wanted to explore," shared Vinay. "From there, I coached them through writing an artist statement that will support their work and interests.” Students viewed the following films:
- Chris Marker - La Jetée
- Stan Brakhage - Moth Light
- Fernand Léger - Ballet Mécanique
- Cindy Sherman - Doll Clothes
- Maya Deren - At Land
- Andy Warhol - Empire
