revisite

Will revisit possibilities for this project in 2011!

Future Eyes

The Future looks bright -- as bright as the Sun. A Silver Sun! This includes: some important development changes (expanding Silver Sun's programming to include related screening events, developing imaginative art-making workshops). Re-thinking funding strategies to embrace sponsorship from various film-related companies, institutions, and groups. Partnering with a film-related group to form a project-based partnership. This invariably means pushing out the launch date to 2010 -- so that we may fully realize this project in a comfortable manner. This has all come about rather naturally. And I find myself entering another period of Silent Film research, which is inspiring & re-energizing -- casting new light on the future of Silver Sun. This is a year for risks and all my projects, both in concept and execution, will feel that impact.

Above: poster for Metropolis, dir. by Fritz Lang

Picks

The selections have been made!

MINUTOPIA

new actualities for a new world

Premiering brand spankin' new silent documentaries

ALL ONE-MINUTE LONG for your amusement & educational import

Featured Artists

ANN ALDESBERGER & ALISON SAFFORD

TYLER BRETT & SERENA McCARROLL

DREW BURGESS

CHRIS CAMPBELL

CELESTE FICHTER

SCOTT HALL

AD HOWELLS & CALUM HEAD

MIKHAIL ILIATOV

SANDIE JAMIESON

CAROL LaFAYETTE

JUSTIN LINCOLN

REBEKAH MAY

SPRINGER PARKER

REBECCA SHEARER

LANCE WAKELING

FREE Screenings for ONE & ALL in OCTOBER 2009

MINUTOPIA is part of SILVER SUN: ILLUMINATING THE SPLENDOR OF THE SILENT SCREEN

Presented by COCA Center for Outdoor Contemporary Art

Minutopia

COCA Center for Outdoor Contemporary Art presents


Minutopia new actualities for a new world


project summary
Minutopia new actualities for a new world celebrates the magic and mystery of our viewable world through new artist-made documentaries that creatively explore in minutiae the familiar marvels of our contemporary age. Extending the rich legacy of cinema’s earliest documentary achievements, these new “actualities” offer vivid examples of the hidden poetry and lyricism found in our waking life. Crowds, street-scenes, animals, tasks, transportation, nature, art and architecture – plus curious oddities and events all unfold to offer unexpected insight or passing fancy to audiences of all ages. Minutopia visitors may enhance their viewing experience through a customized viewing port stationed within the glorious rustic setting of the historic Presidio of San Francisco. Viewings are ongoing and free – with additional educational presentations, materials, and special events included. Minutopia is central film programming for Silver Sun Illuminating the Splendor of the Silent Screen presented by COCA Center for Outdoor Contemporary Art www.cocanow.org


call for new actualities!


guidelines
1 minute maximum duration
documentary, journalistic, reportage, experimental/personal-poetic documentary ok
digi, video, or film ok
color, toned, tinted, or black & white ok
intertitles or subtitles optional
silents only
new works only, to be premiered through minutopia
open to artists from all countries

All new works selected for minutopia to be part of ongoing screenings and central film programming for Silver Sun Illuminating the Splendor of the Silent Screen. Selections are based on artistic quality, innovation, composition, and fluidity. Special attention will be paid to works that display strong connectivity to minutopia source material, chiefly: turn-of-the-century actualities. Names of artists will be included on all outgoing promotional and educational materials for Silver Sun. All new works will be sequenced and edited to one disc with credits and subtle ambient soundtrack provided by COCA. Selected artists will receive free promotional materials before project launch, plus a complete minutopia disc to produce your own optional minutopia screening events during the month of the September. Scheduling information/details for all minutopia screenings will be listed on the silversun blog http://silversunscreen.blogspot.com and promoted through various means

research
For inspiration and info regarding actualities, see
http://chnm.gmu.edu/exploring/20thcentury/narrativefilm/index.php
http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/film_history

submit
· minutopia format: DVD, region1 (up to 4 different submissions per artist accepted)
· title
· subject matter (4 sentence max)
· duration
· artist name
· artist location & bio (4 sentence max)
· artist website (if any)

mail your minutopia DVD & information to

Ellen Lake
609 56th Street
Oakland, CA 94609
USA

For return of any items, please include a SASE (self-address stamped envelope)

postmark deadline
May 31, 2008

notification date
July 15, 2008

contact
openskies1@gmail.com


Minutopia new actualities for a new world is an original project developed by Elliot Lessing & Ellen Lake for COCA Center for Outdoor Contemporary Art as part of Silver Sun Illuminating the Splendor of the Silent Screen featuring a new placemaking sculpture by Scotland-based artist Emma Butler-Cole Aiken

COCA Center for Outdoor Contemporary Art
everything is possible

www.cocanow.org

Terror Symphony

I recently viewed Nosferatu for the first time. What a remarkable gem (with gem-like colours gracing this toned silent horror), and I am so grateful for finally experiencing its creepy majesty. Very moody and well-told tale, easily living up to its reputation. Note: I wonder if the tavern scene where the townsfolk suddenly stop what they are doing, turn morose, and inform their newest customer that to venture in the woods (where werewolves dwell) would be fatal -- sets a precedent that, jumping forward, would find its homage in a similiar scene in An American Werwolf in London by John Landis? I love this film too since it first splattered the big screen. In any case, Nosferatu is ghastly and wonderful!

Laughing Gas

And here are my favorite boys -- who always astound me with their masterful timing, idiosyncratic mannerisms (Oliver Hardy's hands and fingers are characters unto themselves!), and, of course, their off-kilter genteel relationship to each other and the baffled world around them. Boy, do they have heart -- and genius to burn!

I look forward to seeing "Liberty" again (if I can ever find another copy), and some of the other silents they created, as many contain some wonderful views of old Hollywood and LA! Here's to Laurel and Hardy! (I wish their works was more available on DVD. Umph!)

Glow

My senses are becoming cinematic! Light is at this project's core -- setting everything afire. I look forward to the time when sunlight, glass, and cinema meet! History, the power of the present, and the future of new ideas beaming forth in one long warm glow -- a Silver Sun!

Mae Marsh seen here capturing the light fantastic