caitlin horsmon » Blog

Flaherty Screening #1 – Lillian F. Schwartz & From Zero

Caitlin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:31:49 +0000

If you haven’t seen the work of pioneering computer artist Lillian F. Schwartz you’re missing out, her early forays into using the computer and programming as an artistic medium are some of the most relevant early experiments into computer rotoscoping and investigations into the relationship between artists, engineers and scientists. While most of the writing on her work focuses on her image development, the audio work is just as interesting – from Moog sound by Gershon Kingsley in Pixilization to music by F. Richard Moore the sound/image dynamic is essential to the success of her work. See some of her work here.

From Zero, a film about John Cage though based on a interesting structure predetermined by Cage and the filmmakers, the resulting film plays like a fractured Cage pithy quote-a-thon. He’s shot mostly in close-up and is shown only momentarily working as an artist. I don’t mind films that love their subjects, but maybe because either of the predetermined structure or the filmmaking this film falls short of the mark as a film, while reminding us of how charming and poetic Cage was, the moments that most struck me in the film came from Cage’s academic pursuits rather than his music which is rendered chaotic and fractured in the film. I was glad to be reminded of the conversation between the jailed Thoreau and Emerson – where Emerson asks Thoreau jailed for protest “what are you doing in there” to which Thoreau answers, “what are you doing out there” and his idea that we “want an anarchy that works.” Hope to see you all in two weeks for Laura Kissel and Tan Pin Pin films – it’s your only chance to see these films in Kansas City.

Belle De Jour

Caitlin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:57:13 +0000

Join me for a screening of Belle De Jour (free for UMKC students, faculty and staff) tomorrow night 6:30 at the Tivoli. One of Catherine Deneuve’s most interesting performances not to mention Bunuel’s usual stylistic playfulness. Hope to see you there.

UMKC Filmmakers in Paste Magazine

Caitlin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:46:05 +0000

Check out this article about three fantastic Kansas City filmmakers (two of whom are former students) and their recent successes in having their work featured in Paste Magazine. Congrats!
http://backtorockville.typepad.com/back_to_rockville/2010/03/music-mag-showcases-local-filmmakers

BUFF

Caitlin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:34:55 +0000

Boston Friends – check out “Themes & Variations” at this year’s Boston Underground Film Festival – Program times and description below.

MARCH 26 » 5:30p

MARCH 29 » 5:45p

SHORTS PROGRAM
78 min.

Each of these films takes a different approach to the problems and potential of perception. From pure abstraction to more direct and immediate engagement with the surrounding environment, this program explores and expands upon the varities of cinematic experience.

Some films force us to take a closer look at the properties of everyday objects and actions. Others call attention to the specificity of the cinematic medium, reprioritizing the surface of the image over its mere content.

While these films all explore their own ideas outside the boundaries of the above concerns, they all share this common love of the moving image. This program is an ode to the visceral and sensory pleasures of cinema, designed with the hope of opening you up to the possibilities contained within.

Plus, they look really fucking cool.

— Bryan McKay

Aguirre, The Wrath of God

Caitlin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:45:50 +0000

If you’re in Kansas City come see this great film at the Tivoli tomorrow night – I’ll be hosting the film with an intro and short discussion after the screening.

E:Tip

Caitlin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:34:36 +0000

My recent collaboration with Kansas City composer Mara Gibson E:Tip had its Kansas City premiere at ArtSounds on November 10th and played earlier in the week (November 8th) as a part of a solo show of my work at the University of Ohio in Athens, Ohio. Big thanks to cellists Madeline Shapiro and Marina Peterson who played this gorgeous piece of music and Louis Schwartz who put the Athens show together. I’ll put video up as soon as we have an audio recording and as Mara and I continue to develop this piece.

Video Games Live Suite

Caitlin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:16:37 +0000

I was asked a few months ago to create a video accompaniment for the Video Games Live Suite recently arranged for accordion orchestra by Joan Sommers. The first performance was yesterday afternoon and it was a great success. The World Accordion Orchestra will perform the piece (with my video accompaniment) this August. If you ever have the chance to hear an accordion ensemble – check it out – I’m a big fan.

Distribution!

Caitlin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:11:09 +0000

Themes has been picked up for distribution by the French distributor of avant-garde work, Le Collectif Jeune Cinema. I’m very grateful and excited about this development – so rent away!! http://www.cjcinema.org/

March Screenings

Caitlin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:18:00 +0000

In March Themes screened at Cinéma du Réel at the Pompidou Center in Paris. Many thanks to the amazing Nicole Brenez for her support and insightful programming.

Themes also screened at the Fargo Film Festival winning the Best Experimental Film award!

Soon to be finished: Pickled Movie: Where the film arts meet the home arts…

Upcoming screenings

Caitlin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:02:44 +0000

Upcoming screenings of Themes & Variations include The Citizen Jane Film Festival and a Halloween night screening at The Chicago Underground Film Festival – hope to see you there! Themes also screened recently at the Harvest of the Arts fest in Lawrence, at OCULI and the annual UFVA conference where it won Best Experimental film.