Cameraless Experimental Animated Film Intensive: 16mm and 35mm

In our ever-increasingly saturated media landscape of disembodied digital and virtual images, there is a resurgence of artists again seeking the richness of hands-on experience with the physical materiality of analog film, created in community workshops. Cameraless experimental animation is the perfect antidote to the ennui of online remote frustrations. Now entering our second decade at Evergreen, this course focuses on the production, history and theory of this media art practice, from pre-cinema optical phantasmagorie, to early 20th century intermedia, to modern practitioners of visual music via film and expanded cinema projection performance. Students will learn hands-on cameraless animation techniques, such as drawing and scratching on film leader, photograms, cyanotypes and other alternative photographic processes (and much more!), to create film footage in 16mm and 35mm which will be presented in spectacular public shows at term's end. Primary texts are: "Experimental Film and Photochemical Practices" by Kim Knowles (Palgrave/ Macmillan 2020), and  "Experimental Filmmaking: Break the Machine" by Kathryn Ramey (an Evergreen grad! Routledge Press 2015), complemented by a vibrant array of guest artist presentations, viewings and supplemental essays. No experience necessary with film or media - this is an ideal way to learn basic properties of this medium.

As an intensive hands-on film production and presentation course, we'll make full use of Evergreen's best media resources, including COM 408 Design Lab, film screening and edit rooms, and Photoland photographic darkroom. This class is an ideal companion to the "Experimental Photography" class offered in 1st session (optional). This class includes instruction in cameraless photographic experimental moving images to build upon still photographic techniques that will be explored in in "Experimental Photography."