Visiting Artist Jennifer Montgomery

We had an artist come today to screen some of her work that she has done relating to the use of 8mm film; focusing on Kodachrome. The first film we watched was an interesting film called “How to use equipment”, the film was basically film students who were using 8mm film to talk about some technological device that makes their life easier or gives them anxiety, or possibly what they don’t like about it. It reminded me of my time in California when I would do projects with my fellow filmmakers and we would just have great time goofing around with film.

Then we watched a film called Age 12: Love with a little L, it was a DV transfer of 8mm film. It dealt with the sexuality and frustrations of pre and present pubescence involving girls. Where they find themselves and how they connect with other girls around them. One of the purposes of the film was to discuss a form of transgressive behavior, a returning back to a pack mentality. This theory assumes we are descended of animals, not one I claim, however I will accept that people do associate themselves with people that they like, Birds of a feather flock together. Surprise, surprise, kids do not always gets along, not because they are returning to a primal instinct, but because they have no respect for humankind.

Lastly we saw a film called “Notes on the death of Kodachrome” It was a video installment prefaced and ended with 8mm films. The first of which was a graphic depiction of female anger towards the current feminist movement. Then it went to the video display of her getting old equipment back, and doing so to realize a dream that she had, in 8mm. She finally gets her equipment back and is able make her film. The whole performance was many things, however I really just focused on the journey to finish a film in time before it was too late. I have dreams about films and I know some of them are in film and some are in video and some are just in real life. However I understand the immediacy of needing to get equipment back in order to fulfill a film dream.