PEOPLE WHO ARE GOOD Part 1

A list of some video and film art filmmakers.


Bill Viola

I first came across his art in a book, which isn't very impressive when you're looking at stills of video art. I quickly learnt that he had a great sense of time and movement, and distilled things in a way that worked like music.
Not too fond of his later work which was a whole series of classicist portraits as moving image, but earlier work (especially with water) was really nice. Ignore the tacky band!

Bill Viola about his work for Nine Inch Nails Part 2 - YouTube


Tracey Moffatt


Moffatt's work is sometimes a commentary on cinema itself and even though I haven't seen everything she's made, the images I have seen hit me like a punch in the face. She seems to always be able to create an atmosphere that wakes you up and pushes you into a new space of thinking and experiencing film. Her films are strong and direct, dark and serious...but also filled with satire and sharp wit.


Matthew Barney


Matthew Barney is infuriating and amazing at the same time. His film work moves so slowly that you want to scream but its so ritualistic that you cant stop watching. He is a strange creative force and to me must read an occult sign in everything he sees, even a colour on a wall! Also funny because he got a metal drummer to play blast beats over a hive of bees...painfully good.

Best known for Cremaster Cycle: http://www.cremaster.net/


Anri Sala

Just good. That is all. No, seriously, he is probably known as one of Europe's best video artists at the moment. Sala approaches filmmaking with a realist attitude, but creates an end result that feels more than ordinary. Plus, the poor horse looks so awkward its almost cruel, and then you realise it is ok and suddenly its funny, and then more disturbing. His sense of humour and seriousness combined with a more than apt understanding of the language of images makes his films great.

http://www.lumeneclipse.com/gallery/04/sala/index.html


Grace Weir


Weir looks at relativity, time and quantum mechanics via film. Usually her theories go over my head (or at least now they do!) but she makes very beautiful and calm images.

http://www.graceweir.com/projects


Michael Snow


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYr_SvIKKuI

I think Michael Snow is really interested in what the eye sees, and how that transfers to thoughts, memory and experience. This is a rad example of that. I can't intellectualise any more.


Andrei Tarkovski

Polaroids are how I first came across Tarkovski. He has a great sense of light and takes polaroids not like a snapshot, but like a square of tasty colour and depth.
Then I saw a couple of his films and forgot the story a little way in because they looked so good!
I admit I dont know all of his work or how much butter he had on his toast in the morning, but I can say that his ability to capture light and colour inspired me. Crazy good shit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENrzp_hZNxM&feature=related


Maya Deren


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Gve37nWBo


Stan Brakhage

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2002/great-directors/brakhage/