Each of the the Degradation films highlight characteristics specific to motion picture film. DEGRADATION #3, filmed at Coney Island, NY, expected completion date : fall 2012 DEGRADATION #2: SCRATCH ( aka : Record Needle vs. Film Emulsion) James Schneider ( 16mm, 7,5 min., color, sound, 2008 ) In this film, two 19th century technologies collide: a record needle and celluloid film. Over a period of one hour, the emulsion of a film loop and its optical soundtrack are scratched nearly completely from its surface by a "modified" record needle. With filmmaker Paul Bishow, the record needle was transformed by reinforcing the needle arm with an additional metal extension. The film loop was scratched as it entered into the gate and digitally captured during the degradation process. The film was then transferred back to film. In it's final form, this process is followed in 7 different parts at approximately 10 minute intervals ("x loops, x minutes...). The soundtrack of Degradation #2 is a mix of the sound produced by the record needle and the original optical track. While the source material speaks of mining, digging and drilling, in its celluloid state, it now looks and sounds as though it is being tortured into expressing itself by the sound of the destruction of its own image. DEGRADATION #1: X-XRAY
| ||