Things have been slow lately. I’ve been busy writing proposals and papers. Hence, there isn’t anything new or groundbreaking I have to offer this week. But I have a little something at least.
I found this wonderful short film yesterday, which strongly reminded me on the aesthetics of slow film. To my surprise (though it might not be a surprise to everyone) this film was made by an amateur. Scott Barley is a first-year film student in Wales. True, the films by his favourite filmmaker Béla Tarr are influential. However, I believe that it’s more than just copying. Besides, his film has its very own aesthetics.
This film made me wonder how many amateur slow-film directors are out there. We (that includes me, of course) study the canon of well-known directors up and down, but actually it might be worth looking into, what I would call, a new and younger generation of directors.
If you know someone (who probably knows someone who knows someone) who makes something we could call slow film in his / her free time, please do email me:
theartsofslowcinema@gmail.com
I’d be very interested to see what the real scope of this slow film concept is.
Scott Barley
Thanks Nadin, for my promoting my work, as well as the demographic of “a new and young generation of filmmakers”, as you put it.
I think that sadly, for younger, unestablished filmmakers, there are not many opportunities to display their “slow” films, due to time constraints and the distant/short attention-span nature of sites such as YouTube and Vimeo. I am hoping to address this issue with my own work with a video installation, which will be much longer than my current work. I am planning to exhibit it around South Wales later this year.
Thanks again.
Scott.
Nadin
This is one of my arguments as part of my research: it’s best to show slow films in galleries. Do let me know when your video installation is up and running and I try to come south.
Scott Barley
Well creatively speaking, it makes sense, and my artistic background originated in Fine art, so it will be an excuse to get another exhibition – I’ve missed them. Thank you, I will do.