Two of Demian’s short films are included in this compilation DVD from IndieClub.
Here are detailed descriptions of Demian’s pieces followed by the list of contents on the DVD.
[Also see: Demian’s Film & Video Projects archive DVD]
LEGGO
Bonnie Jo Bainbridge
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A sweet sprite glides through the gray streets of a waterfront cityscape. Her legs do not move as she wafts through the various locations.
Leggo utilizes the technique of “pixilation” — a form of animation that uses people or objects rather than drawing on cells. The entire film was shot one frame at a time. The sprite, Bonnie Bainbridge, was required to move from one place to another — keeping the arc of her movement — all the while making sure that her feet moved only between the individual frame shots. That is to say, she would not be shot when her feet moved, only when she had come to a stop at her next position. This provided the illusion that she was gliding, rather than walking, over the concrete.
Leggo was shot in New York City on 16mm film in the winter of 1968. The original edit, finished that year, was accepted and shown at many festivals and screenings during the next three years.
The current version of Leggo was copied from the original film onto digital video. It was then re-edited, and a new sound track was created. It was completed in October 2001 and runs 3:20 min., which is three minutes shorter than the original.
Gertie Takes a Trip to the Moon and a Man Recycles
The Moon
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This animation is, in part, an homage to of some of my early cinema favorites. First, a dinosaur is hatched, then she disintegrates and a moon and stars are formed. Eventually, a flying space vehicle treks into the moon, and, inside, an embryo evolves into an old man. All takes place within one-and-a-half minutes.
Gertie Takes a Trip to the Moon and a Man Recycles was started in the fall of 1971. I had received a filmmaking grant from Smith college, with which I made a film that was a demonstration of T’ai Chi by, and interview of, Master T.T. Liang. Because I had come well under budget, I was also able to buy supplies for a frame-by-frame on paper animation.
At that time, I drew 400-odd drawings on paper, and attempted to capture them on color 8mm, and later on b/w 16mm. With both efforts, there were camera problems, and I never got a satisfactory print. The soundtrack at that time was a simultaneously-played audio tape I had made of a sitar droning and a group chanting led by Ram Das. The chant sounded like “Ja-ray Ra-day, Ja-ray Ra-day, Govinda Ra-day …”
For this latest incarnation, I digitally captured the drawings — frame-by-frame — and placed them on the video edit program’s timeline with a four-frame default for each image. The tune was created with a music generating program, which I subsequently edited to fit the tempo and different sections. I maintained only a snip of the sitar drone and added squeaks, motor sounds, tinkle noise, and one short spoken sentence.
Gertie was finally completed in January 2001, so I can truly say that this one-and-a-half minute animation was 30 years in the making.
All titles on the IndieClub DVD
16 filmmakers — 22 shorts
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Director
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Film Title
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William Koenig
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True Love
A romantic drama/comedy about two people getting ready for a dinner date, and preparing to make the plunge into the unfamiliar and sometimes frightening waters that is matrimony.
M.O.S.
A fresh take on some tried and true movie-making devices, telling the story of two lovers enjoying a quiet day at the beach, until …
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Scott Hartman
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Lost in Heaven
James and Henry go into the community to spread the word of God when they meet Michael, who truly believes he is lost in heaven.
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Brazil J. Grisaffi
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Death and a Salesman
Used car salesman Jack Howard couldn’t sell a car to save his life.
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JR Steendahl
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All Filler
The creamy center of comedy
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Brad Wilson
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Flight of the Chicken
“We need a bigger chicken.”
Waffleman
Flights of digital fancey.
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Craig Johnson
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Choca Cola
What happens if you’re standing next to someone who wins $1,000,000; and you don’t like them?
Cash Daddy
Short on cash? In a financial pinch? Call the Cash Daddy!
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Mike McClellan
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Beer Goggles
Alcohol is in the mind of the beholder.
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Demian
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Leggo
A sweet sprite glides through the gray streets of a waterfront cityscape.
Gertie Takes a Trip to the Moon and a Man Recycles
From dinosaur - to moon talk - to a human dance. Frame-by-frame on paper animation.
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Eric Colley
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Even Angels Cry
Coping with illness.
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Cary Silberman
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Palette Lost
Palette Lost, a mockumentary, focuses on a self-absorbed artist and a non-English speaking, semi-nude model.
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t e s
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The Carpenter
A modern day metaphor for the oppression-driven cult experience.
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Mark P. Willner
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My Miracle
A young girl finds that the miracle of human kindness is perhaps the greatest miracle of all. No matter from whom or where it comes. Ironically, however, it is taken away from her by those who think they know what is best!
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Rick Danford
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Bloody Mary
When a group of party goers decide to try and conjure up “Bloody Mary,” they find that some Urban Legends are real.
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Johnny Wu
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John Doe - Vigilante
Who is John Doe? One Night, John Doe discovered nefarious activities in an abandon warehouse.
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Steven Brooks
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The Walkers
A thriller about a young fundamentalist who goes door-to-door spreading her religious doctrine. When she makes the mistake of knocking on a door where a deranged man holds a family hostage, her beliefs are tested in a game that will determine the family’s fate.
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Ken Westermann
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Mercy
A brief, final encounter.
End Games
Reflections of a failed relationship.
Wired
The bomb is ticking, but which wire to cut?
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To purchase the IndieClub Short Films DVD:
Please make check or money order to Demian
for US$10 (we pay postage), and send to:
Sweet Corn, Box 9685, Seattle, WA 98109-0685.
Delivered to (Please print): __________________________________
Street: ____________________________City: __________________
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