Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival - Curiously
There are moments when the normal existence of everyday life becomes a little bit beyond normal. The veil that hides our true existence from us seems to become transparent. A man and a woman never seen in the film, survey their rural settings in a way that comes about when that veil parts. What they see is Sebago Lake at Windham, Maine.
Interview with Director Walter Ungerer
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I have worked as an artist for 60 years. I create art, or at least I create what I believe to be art, art being my films. I would like to think and hope my films enrich the world. This I see as the responsibility of artists.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
As a human being you are interested and curious about the world you inhabit. I hope you are curious and interested in viewing my work. If your view of art, in this case film art, enriches you, then you will be interested in seeing my films, even if you can’t rationally explain what my work will do for you. I explain the process as eating spinach, a vegetable that is good for you, but you don’t know exactly how it is good for you.
If you know my work you know something about the nature of my films. They are mysterious and somewhat ominous. They are beautiful in color, design, and texture.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?All my work deals with the soul, the deepest feeling of human connectedness. Located within us all is the soul, an intangible energy that binds us together. That energy lets us communicate with each other in the most basic and positive way. I rely on my soul to energize my work. Therefore, my themes are spiritual, though not necessarily easily recognizable. They require a viewer with similar openness in viewing as my effort in openness in creating.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
I don’t use a script. My work begins spontaneously in an air of uncertainty. There is a wonder about where the work is going as it develops. It is a journey filled with trepidation.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Feedback comes from the art world has been wonderful. It has been very respectful of me as an artist.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
There have always been surprises and challenges. From people unknown to me, the reaction to my work has always been an uncertainty. Among the art community there has always been respect. There has also been much praise.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
I don’t use a script. My work begins spontaneously in an air of uncertainty. There is a wonder about where the work is going as it develops. It is a journey filled with trepidation.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Feedback comes from the art world has been wonderful. It has been very respectful of me as an artist.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
There have always been surprises and challenges. From people unknown to me, the reaction to my work has always been an uncertainty. Among the art community there has always been respect. There has also been much praise.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
With more visibility, there is more opportunity for my work to be viewed. With viewing I hope my work becomes an enriching experience as described earlier.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The media needs to put more importance to film art, not just commercially accepted work. Commercially accepted work spends money on advertising to convince audiences to see the world. Film art has limited funding or no funding for advertising. Museums publicise the art that brings people who will buy entrance tickets. That museum world doesn’t compare in size or funding to the commercial film industry. The importance of art doesn’t compare to the importance of entertainment in our culture.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Very simply I would like my work to have more impact, and wider reception. I would like this for all art, film or otherwise.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How much of the viewable world do we human beings actually see, and feel, and experience? Are there invisible forces out there, that can guide us in our development as individuals?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
There is one creative. That is me. Walter Ungerer is a longtime filmmaker and artist beginning with the underground film scene of NYC in the early 1960s. He began producing his own work in 1963. In 1969 he moved to Vermont, then established Dark Horse Films, a non-profit production company in 1976 in order to produce feature length experimental narrative films. In 2003 he moved to Maine where he continues to make films albeit shorter and computer assisted. With fifty years of filmmaking, video, computer, and media experience; Ungerer's works have been shown at museums, festivals and competitions throughout the world including Berlin Film Festival Black Box; Filmmuseum, Amsterdam; MoMA, NY; Tate. Great Britain; and Venice Biennale.
One can view my recent short films on Vimeo. A password is not needed. One needs only to go to my Vimeo site: https://vimeo.com/user1594787
Here are two links to descriptions about me and my work.
http://avantkinema.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/experimental-filmmaking-interview.html
http://euroifc.com/interview-with-walter-ungerer-director-of-ici/
Interview: January 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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CURIOUSLY
There are moments when the normal existence of everyday life becomes a little bit beyond normal. The veil that hides our true existence from us seems to become transparent. A man and a woman never seen in the film, survey their rural settings in a way that comes about when that veil parts. What they see is Sebago Lake at Windham, Maine.
Venues where film will be shown:
Frontier Cafe, Brunswick, Maine, 7pm, January 27
Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, Scottish Borders, United Kingdom, March 2-6, specific date and time to be announced
Emery Arts Center, Farmington, Maine, 7pm Schoodic Arts Center, Winter Harbor, Maine, 7pm, April 7
River City Cinema, Bangor, Maine, 7pm, May 5
Alamo Theatre, Bucksport, Maine, 7pm, May 5
Stonington Opera House, Stonington, Maine, 7pm, May 20 Olin Arts Center, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, 7pm, May 21;98-/99