How to Enjoy Experimental Film

Renowned filmmaker & artist Nicky Hamlyn, who has occasionally been linked to the label of "Structural Film" discusses the meanings and interpretations of this label in relation to his own work as well as to the works of other filmmakers.

Find some of Nicky's work here: https://vimeo.com/user56141429

3 DVDs of Nicky's work are also available from the BFI store.

A selection of filmmakers discussed in this episode:

Ernie Gehr

Michael Snow

Peter Gidal

Chris Welsby

William Raban

Maya Deren

Stan Brakhage

Ken Jacobs

Kurt Kren

Andy Warhol 

Paul Sharits

Hollis Frampton

Morgan Fisher

Simon Payne

John Smith

William English

A selection of writers Discussed: 

P. Adams Sitney, 

Peter Gidal, 

Hollis Frampton, 

Paul Sharits, 

Peter Wollen 

Nicky Recommends:

William Raban

Malcolm LeGrice

Amy Dixon

Guy Sherwin

Kurt Kren

Birgit & Wilhelm Hein

Hollis Frampton

Paul Sharits 

Michael Snow

Helga Fanderl

Steve Farrer

Jennifer Nightingale

Artist, filmmaker and anthropologist Diana Reichenbach makes films for conventional cinema settings as well as immersive films created in "Fulldome"- 360 degree projected films.

We discuss making experimental work for projection in a dome as well as filmmaking for virtual reality experiences as well as reproducing Fulldome films online and in non 3D spaces, combining analog and digital methods and the challenges of virtual experiences.

See some of Diana's work here: https://vimeo.com/dianareichenbach

and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVudNJWwm2k

Filmmakers discussed in this episode:

Jan Svankmajer

Jordan Belson

Writers/ Critics discussed in this episode:

Scott McCloud

Diana Recommends:

Jordan Belson

Oskar Fischinger

Norman McLaren

Diana also recommends reading Marshall McLuhan's work. 

In this episode, we explore the idea of "visual music" with artist Jean Detheux, who has a unique approach to marrying audio and visual material in his films. 

Differing from the likes of Oskar Fischinger and Norman McLaren, Detheux rejects the idea of animation in a traditional sense, making the whole cinema screen into his canvas on which living paintings emerge before your eyes. 

Regularly collaborating with musicians for live performances, he aims to create a dialogue between music and image and a whole world into which the audience can enter.

Check out over 300 films and "sketches" as well as documentation of live performances on his Vimeo page at https://vimeo.com/jeandetheux

A very welcome return from artist Steven Woloshen, this time discussing his own filmmaking work and methods as well as the importance of encouraging others to attempt direct filmmaking for themselves.

See Steven's work on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user6129068

Filmmakers discussed in this episode:

Stan Brakhage

Willard Maas

Bruce Conner

Norman McLaren

Standish Lawder

Hollis Frampton

Steven Woloshen recommends:

Bastien Dupriez

Gina Kamentsky

Julian Antonisz

José Antonio Sistiaga

Karl Lemieux

Lis Rhodes

PART 1 OF 2: Artist, writer and infectiously enthusiastic advocate of direct filmmaking Steven Woloshen discusses some of the history of this form of experimental filmmaking. You'll also hear why Steven wants everyone to have a go at working directly on film for themselves and express his passion for workshops to make his approach approachable and accessible to as many as possible. You won't want to miss part 2!

Filmmakers discussed in this episode:

Norman McLaren

Len Lye

Hans Richter

Steven Woloshen

Dziga Vertov

Steven Woloshen recommends:

Bastien Dupriez

Gina Kamentsky

Julian Antonisz

José Antonio Sistiaga

Karl Lemieux

Lis Rhodes

Fresh from his triumphant BBC series The Sound of TV, Writer, composer, presenter and pianist Neil Brand discusses some of the earliest of cinema and how experimental processes influenced almost all cinema pioneers.

For more information and to support his work, visit https://www.neilbrand.com

Filmmakers discussed in this episode

Lumière Brothers

Georges Méliès

Burt Acres

Dziga Vertov

Sergei Eisenstein

F.W. Murnau

Ladislas Starevich

Godfrey Reggio

Walter Ruttmann

D.W. Griffith

Hans Richter

Teinosuke Kinugasa

Robert Weine

Robert Siodmak

George Loane Tucker

René Clair

Abram Room

Fernand Léger

Dr. Vicky Smith discusses her work in film and her desire to communicate to the embodied viewer through multiple senses. 

Vicky's DVD can be purchased here: https://luxmovingimage.square.site/product/vicky-smith-grainy-realism/127?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true

Find more of her work on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user26846409

Filmmakers discussed in this episode:

Len Lye

Guy Sherwin

Man Ray

Normal McLaren

Critics/ Authors discussed:

P. Adams Sitney

Laura Marks

Vicky Recommends:

Annabel Nicolson

Artist & Curator Stefano Miraglia discusses his work in film production and exhibition as well as his thoughts on the co-operative Collectif Jeune Cinema.

Filmmakers discussed in this Episode:

Leandro Varella

Nick Collins

Stefano Recommends:

Elisa Celda

Tinne Zenner

Gautam Valluri

Eva Kolcze

Joseph Bernard

Lis Rhodes

Malcolm LeGrice

Anna Thew

Pip Chodorov: Filmmaker, musician and film teacher offers his insight to the use of the term experimental in relation to cinema. Thanks to the kind people at Re:Voir in Paris, who facilitated this interview. 

A Selection of the filmmakers discussed in this episode:

Jonas Mekas

Stan Brakhage

Maya Deren

Ken Jacobs

Peter Kubelka

Jay Rosenblatt

Alan Berliner

Paul Sharits

Robert Breer

Stan Vanderbeek

Len Lye

Maurice Lemaitre

Hans Richter

Jeff Scher

Critics/ Authors mentioned in this episode

Scott MacDonald

Visit re-voir.com

Coming soon to a podcast outlet near you!

Follow the show on Facebook for more updates @H2EEF!

Voices heard in this trailer: (in order of appearance) Diana Reichenbach, Jean Detheux, Neil Brand, Stefano Miraglia, Joost Rekveld, MM Serra, Nicky Hamlyn, Vicky Smith, Steven Woloshen, Pip Chodorov

Experimental film shows are not great in number, but H2EEF are proud not to be the only one out there, so do check out Into the Mothlight and Experimental Film Podcast as well to keep the discussion going!