UPDATES AND NEUIGKEITEN (IN PROSE FORM):
February 5, 2012
Upcoming excitement:
- IT DOESN'T MATTER is all shot and almost edited! I'll be at Experimental Sound Studio towards the end of the month to create the soundtrack.
-IMPERCEPTIHOLE will be part of the From Gust to Hail Film Tour. Look out for it in Providence, New Jersey, Brooklyn, Philly, Baltimore and Boston, running February 22nd-28th!
-I OWN A CAROUSEL and IMPERCEPTIHOLE will both be at $100 Film Festival in Calgary, Alberta March 8-10th. Robert Todd's new UNDERGROWTH will also be playing, and I'm happy to say that Julia Zinn and I contributed some astonishingly creepy and whispery theremin to the soundtrack.
- I'm slated to co-shoot Jerzy Rose's new feature CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY in late March/early April, along with the fabulous Robert Cauble. Word on the street has it, that I'll also have a small role in it. I can't wait.
November 22nd, 2011
I'm leaving for Estonia....in 2 hours. I'll be doing an artist residency and artist talk at Ptarmigen Project Space in Tallinn.
I'd also like to thank the Experimental Sound Studio for awarding me with a 2011-12 Artist Residency. In the Spring, I'll be working on the complex and mind-blowing sound for IT DOESN'T MATTER, my newest Television Segment starring the hilarous and talented Ted Tremper & Ben Johnson.
Upcoming 2011 screenings:
This Is My Show at the London Underground Film Festival (Dec 1)
Mere Mystery in "Chicago Loves Iowa City: Recent Work from Chicago", Public Space One, Iowa City (Dec 3)
November 13th, 2011
Sunday November 13th- I'll be performing at the Empty Bottle with Noise Crush and the Fortieth Day. This will be different from my first 16mm performance, so come check it out! More sound. All about sound. Light will be present, but the sound will be the gift. More info here.
November 8th, 2011
The Variable Area Television Network is here! Yes, I've started my own "TV" "Network". Nothing is ever direct with me (hence the italics AND quotation marks). I'm making and curating shows for Chicago Public Access (Airing Mondays at 11pm, Channel 21 CANTV, Nov 7 - Jan 23rd) and then collecting and supplementing those episodes on the VATN website. Interested in sharing with the site? Questions? Comments? Contact me. The network and its website will grow and change. It is a living, breathing project. Currently still settling into its new life with you... in your home.
Thanks to the following people for their collaborative spirits & support: Jon Satrom & Mark Beasley (Studio Thread), Eric Fleischauer, Chris Sullivan, Andrew Norman Wilson, Mike Lopez, Jerzy Rose, The Aliance of Pentaphilic Curators, Adam Strohm, Chic-A-go-go! and Jake, CANTV, the Illinois Arts Council and last but never even near least, Cool Clown Ground (Thymme & Fred).
October 4, 2011
Did I say I'd be starting the Variable Area Television Network in October? It'll be done in October, yes, but you'll see it onTV and online in November. Get ready.
In the meantime, look for screenings of my work at the following places:
NYFF: Views from the Avant-Garde, NY, Oct 7-10
ATA Film Video Fest, San Francisco, Oct 20
Festival du Nouveau Cinema, Montreal, Canada, Oct 12-23 2011
Antimatter Film Festival, Victoria, BC Canada, Oct 14-22
Chicago8 Fest: Super 8 Film Festival, Oct 21-23
Other Evolutions @ Dark Matter Experimental Cinema Series at Cornell Cinema, NY, Oct 18
TIE (The International Experimental Cinema Exposition), the Paramount, Boston, Oct 20
Mirror/Lens Festival, Cambridge UK, Oct 21-23
Cortopotere Short Film festival, Italy October 22-30
Another Experiment by Women Fest, Millenium Film Workshop, NYC, Nov 5
And I've got another projector audio performance coming up in November at the Empty Bottle. Light does Make Music.
August 23, 2011
I've got a handful of festival screenings and appearances coming up in September and October at NYFF's Views from the Avant Garde in NYC, Antimatter Film Fest in BC, Canada, the ATA Film/Video Fest in San Francisco and at VideoFest in Dallas, TX. See the Screenings & Exhibitions list for a little more detail.
I'm working on handful of projects at once, but I would also like to announce the humble beginnings of my upcoming Chicago Public Access series (on CAN TV). The series and website for the Variable Area Television Network will be premiering in October. Stay incredibly tuned for this exciting new venture.
July 12, 2011
Summer?
Chicago Underground Film Fest was amazing...but...is...alas...over.
July 14th & 15th, Robert Todd and I will be bringing two versions of our program "Co-Respondents" to Ann Arbor, MI.
Then, Sunday July 17th, I'll be doing a Zummertapez Video Mix Tape screening at Roots & Culture Gallery back in ol' Chicago. Yep, a mix tape, clips of my work from the really old to the really new mixed in with bits and pieces of influences and ideas. It promises to be funny, unexpected and maybe a little predictable at times (if you know me at all...). Come get to know me!
In mid-July, Imperceptihole will be at the Curtas Vila do Conde International Film Festival...my Portuguese Premiere!
April 5th, 2011
Upcoming spring screenings:
I've got 100 feet of imagery playing as part of The City In Which: A Chicago Cine-Poem on Friday April 8th & Saturday April 9th at the Nightingale Theatre in Chicago. A little spoiler, my reel involves garbage, sidewalk, snow, the lights of Devon, matting, filters and triple exposure.
Imperceptihole will be at the Athens Film Festival in Ohio on April 27th.
This Is My Show will be playing at AMERICAN DREAMS/NIGHTMARES in Catskill, NY on Saturday April 30th at the Catskill Community Center. That's where I shot that video! It's returning home!
March 30, 2011
Aside from me chugging along on a few new projects and collaborating with the likes of Jesse McLean, Jim Trainor and Geof Oppenheimer, I've got some big events lined up for this spring. Keep at least one eye and one ear open for the following:
March:
Made a trip to Boston for a screening at the MassArt Film Society. "Co-Respondents" includes work made by Lori Felker and Robert Todd....work that was made together and in conversation with each other. The films: This Is My Show, Mere Mystery, Imperceptihole and Rob's Golden Hour and Weapons Expert Demonstration. If you're interested in more information about the program, feel free to email me: lorifelker AT gmail.com.
May:
On May 15th I will be hosting a conceptual funeral at the Charnel House in Chicago. The topic? Public Access Television. Check out the details here.
The release of my 45, Light Makes Music (an education audio disc), on Southbridge Slow Electronics, cover printed by Spudnik Press. The record release will be accompanied by a live performance of 16mm filmmusic by yours truly. ...Sound. Tracks....The release show is currently scheduled for Friday May 20th.
Also, for you San Franciscoers- Imeperceptihole will be playing at this years Crossroads Festival at the San Francisco Cinematheque.
June:
My new video, the second installment of the experimental TV series, The Mirrored Curtain will run in The Box, the video installation room at the Wexner Center in Columbus Ohio for the month of June.
Also, the Chicago Underground Film Festival is June 2nd-9th! This years fest is going to be fantastic and will include another gallery exhibition at the Gene Siskel Film Center, curated by yours truly. More info on that soon. Check out www.cuff.org for more details in the meantime. If you go to the fest, which you should, you'll see me everywhere you turn.
It's now 2011
Year beginning summary... I've got a new film, a brand new video and 2 other films/videos in production... hoping they'll all make their way to your eyes this spring/summer.
I just finished a residency at the fabulous Wexner Center in Ohio to work on The Mirrored Curtain, so keep a lookout for clips of that on my site. Thanks to everyone there, especially my editor Mike Olenick.
At the end of January I'll be heading out to the Rotterdam International Film Festival for the premiere of Imperceptihole, a 16mm film made in cahoots with filmmaker Robert Todd.
November 29th, 2010
Columbia College's Experimental Film Club is hosting me & my movies for the evening. I'll be showing 5 films/videos, some old, some new.
October 24th, 2010
I'm doing a YouTube Assembly with Nicholas O'Brien on Sunday the 24th @7pm. It's a Homeroom event at The Nightingale here in Chicago. Our theme? DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER.
October 2010
I was interviewed for Chicago Art Magazine's DIY Filmmaking section.
October 14-16th 2010
Works-in-Progress Festival (WiP): I'll be presenting recent work and participating in critiques for unfinished projects at this conference at the University of Iowa. This festival sounds exciting and energizing. If you're near Iowa City, come join us!
October 13th 2010
Mere Mystery! This is program, named after my film (playing halfway through), is full of work that "demonstrates an effort to map...surroundings or discover that places must remain necessarily veiled". Curated by Jesse McLean, Eric Fleischauer and Devin King, this program is showing Wed, Oct 13th at the Green Lantern Gallery.
August 6th 2010
Super-8 Rides Again!: A screening of rolls of Super-8 shot recently by local filmmakers. We all shot some stuff, and none of us have seen it...how many totally black rolls will there be? How many broken cameras? How many awesome gems? Come check it out. Includes films by me, Usama Alshaibi, Jake Barningham, Jeremy Bessoff, Kyle Canterbury, Tom Comerford, Carolyn Faber, Scott Foley, James Fotopoulos, Jason Halprin, Karen Johannesen, Alex Lake, JB Mabe, Jesse McLean, Luis Sanchez Ramirez, Kate Raney, Tom Palazzolo, Bill Stamets, and Chi Jang Yin. Chicago Filmmakers 8-10pm.
July 24th 2010
My animation ZWISCHEN will be featured in the screening: The Great Disaster: The Outdoor Animation Festival put on by Squeaky Wheel/Buffalo Media Resources in NY State.
July 1st, 2010
I've got an upcoming release on Southbridge Slow Electronics. What will it be? How will it sound? What am I talking about? Hold on to your britches and check back with me later in the summer.
July 1st, 2010
CUFF officially ends tonight, thanks to all who came, to those who made it happen, and to the jury for handing This Is My Show an honorable mention.
As for the summer in general, I just finished shooting a film for director Melika Bass and the performance group Every House Has a Door. In July-August, I'll be shooting Jerzy Rose's first feature film. Somehow/where in between all of this, I've got collaborations with Robert Todd, Adam Strohm and Chris Royalty to complete, as well as a film made from the super 8 I shot in Uganda last year. Busy girl.
June 4th-July 18th 2010
It's up! Even Still: The Work of CUFF Alumni & Friends is up at the Gene Siskel Film Center's Gallery! It includes the work of Ross Nugent, Jon Satrom, Alexander Stewart, Deborah Stratman, James Fotopoulos, Lilli Carre, Lisa Barcy, Michael Robinson, Robert Todd, Ray Pride AND a CUFF poster wall! More information here: Even Still on the CUFF BLOG.
June 24th-July 1st 2010
The Chicago Underground Film Festival is on its way! It moved to the early summer this year, so don't miss it. The programming is top notch, and the Gene Siskel Film Center makes it all look spectacular. Look out for the CUFF-related show in the gallery featuring CUFF almuni & friends (starts June 3rd-ish), organized by yours truly. My video This is My Show will also be part of the "Television Personalities" shorts program. I'm excited. Get excited.
May 2 2010
Received an Honorable Mention for This Is My Show at the Milwaukee Underground Film Festival. Thanks MUFF! This is a wonderful fest run by wonderful people.
May 12-14 2010
Along with many beloved Chicago friends and actors, I'm in a film called The Recognitions by Geoffrey Hughes, which will be showing at the Gene Siskel Film Center as part of the School of the Art Institute's MFA/BFA screening. Let me know if I'm any good (or not).
April 30 - May 2, 2010
This Is My Show and my new film Mere Mystery will be screening at the Milwaukee Underground Film Festival.
April 4, 2010
Gave Attitude to a Clown will be screening at the Nightingale Theatre in Chicago as part of The Broad Shoulders Tour and Nightingale's 2nd Anniversary celebration.
March 29, 2010
Songs from the Shed (a film I shot with/for director Melika Bass) won the award for best cinematography at the Ann Arbor Film Festival.
March/April 2010
Gave Attitude to a Clown will be part of The Broad Shoulders Tour, a charming and enlightening package of moving image wonders put together by Christy LeMaster of Nightingale Theatre in Chicago. She'll be taking these wares around the midwest in late March, early April.
3/28 & 3/30/10
This is My Show will be at the Boston Underground Film Festival. Wish I could be there, but alas, I will be in Ann Arbor.
3/27/10
Songs from the Shed, a film by the fantastic filmmaker Melika Bass, will be at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. This was the second film I shot for Melika and I'm incredibly proud of it and her. Exclamation points.
2/12-14/10
This is My Show was in the Media Lounge at the College Arts Association conference in Chicago as part of a showcase of Midwestern artists called "Film from the Prairie and the Hinterlands". I didn't know this until the last minute, but hey, there you go.
1/10/10
I've got a website. Wilkommen.
September 2009
Spent a few weeks in Uganda as Director of Photography for a documentary shot mainly at St. John Bosco Kitende Primary School. You can read about one facet of my personal experience on ExTV's blog.
The website for the doc: www.frmichaelschildren.com
