Cameraless Films: Painting, Scratching, and Collaging on Film



  • In Person
    Greta Snider

Tonight we present a selection of films—primarily abstract—made without a camera. Filmmakers Len Lye and Stan Brakhage pioneered using the filmstrip as a blank slate onto which they scratched, drew, painted, or collaged. Barry Spinello, Jennifer Reeves, Naomi Uman, Fred Worden, and many others continued exploring the possibilities of these processes. We remember Tony Conrad, who passed away in April, with his flicker film created from clear and black leader. Local filmmaker Greta Snider pays tribute to her father with her film made by contact printing objects onto the filmstrip, a process inspired by Man Ray.

Films in this Screening

Hell spit flexion
(Hell spit flexion)

Stan Brakhage, United States, 1983

FILM DETAILS 
Print Info
  • Color
  • 35mm
  • Silent
  • 1 mins
source
  • BAMPFA

Free Radicals

Len Lye, United States, 1958, revised 1979

FILM DETAILS 
Print Info
  • B&W
  • 16mm
  • 4 mins
source
  • BAMPFA

Mothlight
(Mothlight)

Stan Brakhage, United States, 1963

FILM DETAILS 
Print Info
  • Color
  • 16mm
  • 4 mins
source
  • BAMPFA

The Flicker
(The flicker)

Tony Conrad, United States, 1966

FILM DETAILS 
Language
  • English
Print Info
  • B&W
  • 16mm
  • 30 mins
source
  • BAMPFA

Sonata for Pen, Brush, and Ruler

Barry Spinello, United States, 1968

FILM DETAILS 
Print Info
  • Color
  • 16mm
  • 11 mins
source
  • Canyon Cinema

Flight

Greta Snider, United States, 1996

FILM DETAILS 
Print Info
  • B&W
  • 16mm
  • Silent
  • 5 mins
source
  • Canyon Cinema

The Girl's Nervy

Jennifer Reeves, United States, 1995

FILM DETAILS 
Print Info
  • Color
  • 16mm
  • 5 mins
source
  • Canyon Cinema

Automatic writing

Fred Worden, United States, 2000

FILM DETAILS 
Print Info
  • B&W
  • 16mm
  • Silent
  • 7 mins
source
  • The Film-Makers’ Cooperative

Hand Eye Coordination

Naomi Uman, United States, 2002

FILM DETAILS 
Print Info
  • Color
  • 16mm
  • 10 mins
source
  • Canyon Cinema