[Virtual] Cameraless Film Workshop: Digging Up Surprises with Devon Damonte and Avida Jackson

NOTE: This workshop is offered online and in person. This is the page for VIRTUAL. Find the page for in-person here.

What surprises happen when you scratch and draw on 16mm film then project it? What treasures do you uncover when you dig in the ground? How can you show your digging discoveries in the film you make?

This ArtVenture is presented in collaboration with Northwest Film Forum’s Children’s Film Festival and in partnership with Interbay Cinema Society, welcomes experimental filmmakers Devon Damonte and Avida Jackson in a fun, hands-on filmmaking experience with options to participate online or in person. With the theme of “digging up surprises,” participants will combine Japanese washi tape, Sharpie marker drawings on clear film, and scratching on black 16mm film leader (adult collaboration recommended) to create experimental animation movies. Washi tape is a richly patterned adhesive tape made from rice paper. It is also a handy material for creating abstract, cameraless animated movies on 16mm film leader, which interacts with the tape’s patterns and textures in magical ways when the film is projected. All materials will be provided; online participants will be mailed a kit (one per household), which will include two prepaid mailers to return the completed strips for processing. Online participants will test and experiment the first session, then send those in to see the results at the second session, refine techniques and make final footage to send. All film from the workshop participants, both in person and online, will be spliced into a collaborative group film to be professionally transferred to digital format. The finished group film will then be available for download, and an online world premiere.

Both in-person and remote participants (the latter mailed ahead) will be provided a toolkit with: clear 16mm film leader, washi tape, a few Sharpie markers, and a small magical stainless steel combination multi-scratching and serrated edge washi tearing tool. Participants may also try additional art supplies of your own; we’ll give some guidelines about what works best in an email the week before the event.