BIOGRAPHY:
Simon Tarr made his first movie at the age of eight. The strip of film was fashioned from sandwich bags taped together, with spaceships drawn on it. The projector was a shoebox with a lamp in it, the lens was a magnifying glass on the end of a toilet paper tube. The film premiered on the wall of his bedroom, where the film melted after a few seconds.
Since then, Simon Tarr's films have been screened on every continent (yes, even Antarctica) in hundreds of film festivals.
WORK:
Extremely Bright Lights and the Sound of Explosions from Simon Tarr on Vimeo.
FUD from Simon Tarr on Vimeo.
Sundog Verga Matrix from Simon Tarr on Vimeo.
Giri Chit trailer from Simon Tarr on Vimeo.
Simon Tarr's Lecture was short and sweet. He showed us a series of 3 short films followed by a longer film and then ended with the longer of them all. I really wish I knew more about film-making so that I could ask him a few more technical questions, but he spoke a lot his process at the end when questions were welcomed. His work reminded me a lot of Paul Pfeiffer's (another guest lecturer to visit VCU)- they both incorporated appropriated footage.
What was the most interesting quote of the lecture and why?
"This may or may not be hardcore porn." - as he showed us what was assumed to be scrambled unidentifiable hardcore porn footage set to the tune of a 1920's sounding jazz singer.
"I try to make a practice to shoot everyday...even when you're not feeling it...It's important not to wait for inspiration or a muse..."
Hearing him talk about making it a habit to shoot really hit home for me. I need to be more on top of shooting on a regular basis...Even when I'm not "feeling it."
"...You are my academic grandchildren. I've always wanted to say that!"
Using three words, define the core of the artist's practice and artwork.
Hunter-gatherer. VJ/Video Artist. Making it a practice to shoot daily- often using footage that would ordinarily be scrapped.
What is the most interesting thing you learned about the artist that you did not know before?
Prior to this lecture, the only thing I ever really new about VJs was seen on MTV in the days of Total Request Live. I was interested to hear what VJing meant to Tarr and how remixing these videos each time to make them unique made it a performative experience for him and the audience.
I also really liked the film "Interruptus." When I got home I looked up "interruptus" and this came up. Coitus interruptus. I am assuming that is related to the reference he made: "this film may or may not be hardcore porn."
Coitus interruptus, also known as withdrawal or the pull-out method, is a birth-control technique in which a man withdraws his penis from a woman prior to ejaculation during intercourse, with the semen being ejaculated away from the vagina.
It has been widely used for at least two millennia as a method of contraception, and is still in use today. This method was used by an estimated thirty-eight million couples worldwide in 1991.[1] Withdrawal does not protect against STDs or STIs. Medical professionals view withdrawal as an ineffective method of birth control for adolescents. [2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coitus_interruptus
Do you know the answer to your two original questions? If so, what are the answers? What is your experience with 3D filmmaking? How do you feel about the 3D phenomena?
He talked a little bit about "FUD" and how it was made by incorporating footage from 2 different security cameras. Sundog Verga Matrix was intended to be viewed with 3D glasses, but "it became old carrying around a huge box of disposable 3D glasses (that had to be tossed after use to avoid passing on pink eye!)" I can see that his experience with supplying 3D glasses was problematic, but does that mean that he won't release a 3D film through Netflix? I'm not sure.
What does being a VJ mean to you? (I know I'm really showing my age here, but my only prior knowledge of a "VJ" is from MTV's Total Request Live days...
Originally hired to represent a wide array of musical tastes and personal ethnicities, VJs eventually became famous in their own right. Initially, they were nothing more than on-air personalities, but as the popularity of MTV grew, they began to branch out past just introducing music clips. Soon, they were considered by many to be full fledged music journalists, interviewing major music celebrities and hosting their own television shows on the channel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MTV_VJs) (see above)
What image or artwork do you find the most compelling and powerful after hearing the artist describe it?
I really enjoyed hearing Tarr talk about his very first video "Extremely Bright Lights and the Sound of Explosions" which also happened to be my favorite film of the evening. I enjoyed its graphic quality, text and simplicity. It was the very FINAL film of the 21st Century, released at 11:59.59pm December 31st, 2000. This film specifically reminded me of Paul Pfeiffer's piece "The Long Count (The Rumble in the Jungle) (2001): a video of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fighting, from which the fighters have been digitally removed.
Do you have any new questions in regards to the artist?
Can you talk more about "glitch" video? What does the pornographic reference really have to do with "interruptus"?
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