Cinema Super 8
A still from the opening credits of Cinema Super 8, circa 2013
I was digging through my archives recently and came across some old photos of a project I had years ago called CINEMA SUPER 8. It was a monthly TV program comprised entirely from super 8 film I had been shooting in various locations around the world, which I edited together into half-hour shows to be broadcast on public access TV channels in Arlington, Virginia and Washington DC in 2012 to 2013.
I made five programs total in the series, with two of them called DRONE TV because they featured more of my experimental film and video, and the nature of the images and music didn’t fit in with the ‘vintage travelogue’ aesthetic of CINEMA SUPER 8.
My super 8 analog film editor and rolls of film, with the splicer in front. Although most of my editing was done in the computer, I used this to splice films for screenings and review.
A few of the cameras I was shooting with circa 2013, from l to r: The Canon 1218 Superzoom, Canon 512, and the Russian Quartz wind camera.
I continue to shoot super 8 film now (ISN’T PARADISE), but not with the frequency I did from 2008-2015 when I was heavily into shooting super 8 film. I regularly produced film projects like ROMAN SIGNERS CAMERA and PLITVICE BOTANY, as well as music videos for various bands and musicians like ABUL MOGARD, MILANESE, LOTUS EATERS, JAMES PLOTKIN, BORED NOTHING, and others. For many of my Super 8 projects I produced DVDs and packaging to send out to galleries and friends, but beyond those DVDs I don’t think many of people have seen this side of my art.
The DVD production line for Drone TV and Cinema Super 8; hand-stamped DVDs drying.
I packaged the DVDs similar to LP packaging, in a sleeve with an insert listing production info and credits.
Recycled cardstock for the packaging abd different stickers affixed to the front for each episode of the series, circa 2013-14.
I never publicized or promoted these films beyond the broadcasts themselves, and it’s likely I got more views of these on Youtube or Vimeo than I ever got with the public access broadcasts. Because it’s a fairly large part of my artistic career that most people have not seen, finding these photos was great motivation for me to share the videos here, properly contextualizing and placing them in my artistic timeline.
CINEMA SUPER 8: ICELAND
(EPISODE 1 - 28 minutes)
The first episode was compiled from Super 8 footage shot in Iceland in 2012. The episode is 28 minutes long and into three parts. The music credits are at the end of Part 3.
CINEMA SUPER 8: ASIA
(EPISODE 2 - 28 minutes)
The second episode was compiled from Super 8 footage shot in Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand in 2010. The episode is 28 minutes long and into three parts. The music credits are at the end of Part 3.
CINEMA SUPER 8: UK/DC
(EPISODE 3 - 28 minutes)
The third episode was compiled from Super 8 footage shot in Glasgow, London, and Washington DC in 2008-2009. The episode is 28 minutes long and into three parts - however the entire episode is featured in the video below. The music credits are at the end of Part 3.
Lots more of my super 8 film work over on my Vimeo channel if you’re interested in seeing more.
And lastly, here’s a photo of promo stickers I used to give out at the height of Cinema Super 8 that had the adddress for the website (which is no longer active). Hope you enjoyed the films!