A one-hour discussion with Bradley Rappa, an Assistant Professor in the Cinema, Photography and Media Arts program at Ithaca College
Thursday, January 26, 20172:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Bunche 11372
We will meet with Bradley Rappa, a film director and Assistant Professor in the Cinema, Photography and Media Arts program at Ithaca College, prior to a screening later that afternoon of his film, Losing Ground. This film, which will screen in YRL from 4:00 - 6:00 pm that day (more information here), documents the decline of nomadic life in Mongolia due to environmental and economic pressures. Professor Rappa's primary area of focus is environmental justice and sustainability, and his primary form of research and publishing is filmmaking.
Prior to our discussion, please see the below notes from Professor Rappa regarding his work and perspectives.
Fall - Synopsis
Fall, is a process-oriented, high definition experimental film that incorporates time-lapse digital photography, 16mm contact printing, HD video, and an elaborate sound design to allegorically portray the detrimental environmental costs of rampant and unsustainable technological development. This consumer-driven industrialization is quickly upsetting the balance of a once perfect and biologically diverse organic world. Inevitably though, technology will end up consuming itself. This is a highly conceptual 7 minute film that can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/155184126. [Please email Mia Bennett for the password.]
Fall - Director Statement
Fall is a unique film that started as a photographic exploration of texture and decay, but after experimenting with time-lapse techniques in Adobe After Effects, I discovered an interesting pattern of digital anomalies that were being introduced into the video sequences I was creating. I started to emphasize and highlight these technical glitches by creating multiple panels of repeating sequences that when reproduced enough began to resemble digital static. Once the digital edit was complete, I added additional layers of textural anomalies to the image by filming the entire project on 16mm film stock so I could flash, scratch and contact print the film in a darkroom. It is important to note that the final image sequence you see in Fall is one unedited and continuous roll of super 16mm film that was transferred back to a full frame, ultra-high definition digital file. The overlays and double exposure effects were created by direct manipulation to the film stock and not through digital compositing.
The film’s self-reflexive process addresses the technological world overtaking the organic world, mimicking how digital motion picture formats have been replacing celluloid formats as the dominant time-based medium. The gradual disintegration of the image removes all visual representation, and reinforces the concept of our physical world being recorded, reproduced, broken down, converted and eventually consumed by our digital technology - ultimately portraying the detrimental environmental costs of rampant and unsustainable technological development.
Light refreshments will be served.
Sponsor(s): Program on Central Asia