Film (rare)

The Typer’s Crucifix

Posted by AbCallander on February 16, 2014
Posted in: Film (rare), Full Clip, Narrative. Leave a comment

This full length composition is circa 1981-82 and I was age 12 or 13 when I made it. It was shot using my Kodak OurGang Super 8mm silent film cartridge camera using multiple cartridges, a variety of scenes and wardrobe changes (even multiple roles for single actors), and was hand edited (spliced) into this single reel seven minute long composition now digitized and shown. I am the “Typer.”

(This is a simple shoot-the-wall transfer to have some record of the production prior to its deterioration)

What’s In a Title?

Posted by AbCallander on February 13, 2014
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This clip is also c. late 1970s or 1980. I started, though never completed, my own version of a Star Wars knockoff. It was called “The Force of the Sword” and starred my sister Carol, my best friend Andy, and me. I’ll post other footage from this project later but this clip was essentially a proof-of-concept for the title sequence.

I wanted to try and create a kind of 3D title sequence in space. Using a piece of glass, title words and names cut out of construction paper, a red light bulb in front and holes poked in the backdrop allowing white light to shine through, I made a space scene. The camera did not have a zoom so I had to move in to the apparatus in order to create the sense of moving through space.

I may have a “making of” clip so if I find it, I’ll add it here.

Running

Posted by AbCallander on February 10, 2014
Posted in: Film (rare), Full Clip, Narrative, Video. Leave a comment

This short silent film is one of my first. It was shot on a Kodak Our Gang Super 8mm silent film camera using celluloid cartridges that lasted about 3 minutes. My friend Andy and I went down to the “dead end” at the end of our block and shot this action scene.

Most, if not all, of the scene editing (changing perspective, etc.) was done using the start and stop button on the camera.

When it was finished, I picked the Cantina scene music from the Star Wars vinyl album I owned. I re-recorded it onto cassette tape and when I showed this film (including once to my sixth grade class at McKinley Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia), I would start the projector and simultaneously start the cassette tape player and create the experience you see above for the viewer.

This film is circa about 1979-80. I was about 11 or 12 years old. I think this is a fitting first post here.