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

Lover Man

Fiery passion, romance, primal force, animal grace -- and even occult power come together in this one man. Behold, Valentino!

Good Soldier

2008, and a global war is raging. Some live on the virtual side of the war, like those of us on the West Coast. Some are not as fortunate. Like in past times of dramatic global upheaval, arts, culture, and sciences have been there to provide a welcome distraction to troubled times, healthful perspectives -- and when on point, canny insight into our complex nature and the condition of person-hood.

I am so proud to be part of arts culture. I consider it not only a delight, but an abolute responsibility to show creative civic leadership -- in whatever ways that I can.

Today and everyday, I applaud those working in all creative fields. Those who work tirelessly, whether in private or in the public eye, to put our species on a positive track, expanding our awareness of ourselves -- and of other worlds. The creative fields of arts and sciences are armed with the best minds and hearts, poising our lives for new worlds of exploration, extending hope and new forms of humanity.

I often tell people "It may look like I'm in the business of art ..but really I am in the business of Hope." Everyday is an opportunity to transform our lives into something better -- and inspire others to do the same. Onward and upward!

Whispers

Moving steadily on the project details for Silver Sun, as Emma works on some design solutions. Soon, we'll have a full project summary in place, a call for *new* silent film submissions for program inclusion, a budget proposal, and some design renderings from Emma.

My research continues forth, and much of it involves simply immersing myself in the subject matter -- visually, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually. Sometimes, I end up connecting some dots to my personal past. Such as the time I saw a re-release of "Wings" as a kid at a theater in Torrence, California, w. live organ music. Or seeing "M" for the first time as a teen starring the magnetic yet lurid Peter Lorre, or "Metropolis" (also by Fritz Lang), w. its inspired retro-futuristic sets.

I have not seen many silent films. So, like many of my projects, Silver Sun is an opportunity for me to grow and learn... as I hope it will be for everybody involved.