he still owes me $6 for lost highway

Posted by: curt at February 12, 2008 5:30 PM

As much as I respect the man, I think these are the words of an old man prattling on about the old days vs. "new-fangled" technology. Strange as he, to some objection, has just embraced DV. He's made similar complaints about the different color settings of TV's in the home. But really, some films are best seen in THX extravaganzas, some in dirty old flop houses, and yes, others can be just as dandy when viewed quietly and personally on a phone. Certainly makes for better 12 hour flights!

Posted by: Robert Plastorm at February 12, 2008 5:55 PM

i disagree robert. there certainly are contemporary artists today making work with the intention of it showing on a portable device or on you-tube or wherever, but i don't think that is what he is talking about. in fact he probably thinks that stuff is pretty cool. what i believe he is saying, and which i completely agree with, is that there is so much information lost when a traditional cinematic film is compressed down to a 3 inch digital file that it almost becomes something else. it's kind of like looking at a postcard of a painting- sure you can get a good idea of what the painting looks like, but you haven't seen the painting. i'll never forget the first time that i actually saw a mark rothko painting- it was shocking.

you are right that this debate goes beyond just i-phones, and I think that often times it comes down to the work and the intentions of the artist. you certainly could not experience a Stan Brakhage film on an i-phone, that would be a joke. but something made by Paperrad might look absolutely great.

Posted by: matt at February 12, 2008 6:32 PM

Good point. Considering he thinks like a painter and shoots like a painter, your argument does make a lot of sense. And anyone who makes or edits films can attest to the pain felt when a gorgeous project is compressed and stripped of its original luster. I'm just saying, and maybe it's because I'm a tech head, that I have enjoyed watching SOME films on my iPhone. But you wouldn't catch me watching a film from a serious artist on my phone for the first viewing. It would be like first hearing Mozart on an intercom! And hell, I don't even like seeing Brakhage on video much less something smaller! Anyway, thanks for the post. Good stuff.

Posted by: Robert Plastorm at February 12, 2008 7:09 PM

Hey Matt, actually one of my clients at the gym is David Lynch's assistant producer and business associate...

Posted by: Jake Shannon at March 6, 2008 7:20 PM