Film/musical composition ; 1999 ; Duration 4:51

Composer: Allan Schindler
Filmmakers: Stephanie Maxwell

    Preferred performance formats:
  1. DV CAM
  2. Mini DV
    Lower quality alternative performance formats:
  1. Beta SP
  2. DVD video
  3. S-VHS tape (lowest quality; for audition purposes only; not for performance)

In Somewhere, we have attempted to create a fluid, high energy, game-like work, intricate in its construction but often impulsive and sometimes unpredictable in its constantly shifting focus and gestures. "Close", "distant" and illusory spatial perceptions, and an interplay between symmetrical and assymetrical patterns underly the formal design and expression of both the imagery and the music.

The images were created by hand-painting directly on 35mm film, then digitizing these image to apply special visual effects. Many of the musical sounds were created by computer acoustical analysis and, during resynthesis, transformation of instrumental, vocal and environmental sounds. Algorithmic programs written by the composer generated many of the rhythmic, melodic and textural ideas, but others were composed the "old fashioned" way, at the composer's piano.

JPG stills

Quicktime audio/video clips

MP3 audio excerpt
This excerpt, the first 53 seconds of the piece, introduces the principal thematic ideas, colors and musical gestures that are developed and juxtaposed throughout the work.
Duration : 52 seconds; size 1.6 ; encoding 256 kBit stereo

Stephanie Maxwell teaches film, video and animation courses at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her experimental animated films have been exhibited in film festivals and on television internationally, and collected as works of art by European and American museums.

Somewhere was premiered on April 7 and 18 on programs of the 1999 ImageMovementSound festival in Rochester, New York. Subsequent performances/exhibitions have included:

    University of Texas, San Antonio, 2005; The Tank, New York, 2004 Ottawa International Animation Festival, "Meet the Masters" presentation, Ottawa, 2004; Music of Allan Schindler concert, Rochester, 2004; LUX Cinema, London, 2003; New York Animation Festival, New York, 2002; Stetson University, DeLand, Florida, 2002; Video on Video Series, Saratoga Springs, New York, 2002; Webster University Film Series, "Not Still Art Touring Exhibition 2002", St Louis, 2002; Not Still Art, International Screening, Micro Museum, New York City, 2001; Not Still Art Festival, International Tour Distinction, Boston, 2001; Cornell University, Center for Performing Arts, Ithaca, New York - 2001; Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Farnham, England, 2000 and 2003; School of Film and Animation - Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, 2000; Composer's Seminar Series, "Film and Music: Collaborative Experience", Eastman School of Music, Rochester, 1999; "Cinema and Society" film studies seminar and screening series, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, 1999; San Francisco Exploratorium, San Francisco, 1999; San Francisco Art Institute, 1999; Mills College, Oakland, CA - 1999; Le Fresnoy, Studio National des Arts Contemporain, Cedex, France, 2000; ; Mire, Nantes, France - 2000; MJC Terre Neuve, Dunkerque, France - 2000; L'Art Du Mouvement, Angers, France - 2000; Centre National d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, Paris, 2000;
For performance/exhibition information on this work please send e-mail to:
Composer aschindler@esm.rochester.edu or
Filmmaker sampph@yahoo.com

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