The External World.
“Remember: this is merely a cartoon. None of this is real. This is a purely fictional occurrence, in no way based on reality. This is not happening in this universe or any other. Neither are these words. Neither are you. There is only a silent emptiness spreading infinitely in all directions.” -The External World by David Oreilly For about 17 minutes I was taken to another place that was a brilliant, hypnotic nothing filled with fantastic events and sick humor that forced me to leave my social reservations behind. What does it all mean? Does it mean anything? In this alternate and nostalgia-filled world, my morals...Read more
Kseniya Simonova: Sand Drawing
Watching the emotive sand animations of 24 year old Ukranian, Kseniya Simonova, I can only imagine that in the 1980's while I was busy figuring out how much of the sandbox I could fit into my Pampers, on the other side of the world, a little soviet girl was making her first discoveries with negative space and the world's most abundant art supply — dirt. Though sand drawing recieved it's 15 minutes of fame in the US through commercial advertising (Qwest anyone?), Simonova's animations, which communicate compelling tragedy, captivated her nation, and won her $130,000. In this video Simonova, competing on Ukraine's Got Talent, depicts ...Read more
In retrospect: the Genius of Terry Gilliam.
The British animator, director, writer, and actor Terry Gilliam (most popularly known for his unique style of animation on the series Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and for directing films such as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Brazil) had developed a style of stop-motion 2D animation unparalleled by any other animator. His style is completely surreal and spontaneous, as he takes combinations of cutouts from random photographs, drawings, and scraps of paper—turning them into entertaining and bizarre masterpieces. His style is easily recognizable, and deserves a great amount of credit for his painstaking frame-by-frame pioneering. Terry Gilliam manipula...Read more
Hate to Love YouTube
The other night I had an uncontrollable urge to show my friend a short film I knew he would love. I hopped on youtube, pulled the film up, and pressed play. The quality was so horrible that I groaned to him that we should turn it off while he reassured me he could tell what was happening and was getting the gist of it. I squirmed, while he watched, and in the end he loved what I had shared and was pumped on the filmmaker. As the film editor here on illiteratemagazine.com it is my job to love on film so much that you, my ever loyal readers, will begin to love on film as much as I do. Because we are not in a classroom and I do not have an infinite reserve of 16mm and 35mm ...Read more
My Spoon Is Too Big!
When I found out Don Hertzfeldt was showing his most recent film at Sundance, I got ready to pack up my (friend's) car, sleep on some couches, and get my interview on. Unfortunately my co-conspirator missed the memo, so instead I am sitting in bed, rewatching Hertzfeldt's side splitting films on youtube, and wishing I was there. Hertzdeldt is absolutely one of the greatest animators of our time. Okay, okay, he is just drawing stick figures, but those stick figures have excellent comedic timing, can be insightful, and get the attention of festival judges across the globe. He still shoots everything on film, almost unheard of for animators nowadays, especially when you are competing w...Read more
filed under: film
tags: isis don hertzfeldt sundance couch surfing disney the animation show mike judge beavis and butthead rejected
...I Hope You Dance
Just a little love for you to feast your being on. This video below contains some explicit cartoon scenes, flashing lights and is FOR OVER 18's ONLY. Directed by Eric Wareheim (Tim & Eric) in association with Warp Records and Warp Films. Music by Flying Lotus. Co Directed/ Animation by Devin Flynn. Co Directed/ Edited by Eric Fensler. More info at dancefloordale.com Although this isnt a comic per se, it is very comical and borderline genius. The world must know. Its hypnotizing in the same way as when you look at a car wreck and cant look away. Its artistic and thoroughly religious. Happy Thursday from the illiterati. ...Read more
Welcome to the ILLITERATE Film Blog
Hi. My name is Isis and I love the moving image. I studied experimental film, animation, video, and installation art at the University of Colorado. Unbeknownst to me I was stumbling onto the legacy of Stan Brakhage - the founder of the program- and film for me was never the same. Suddenly there was an entire world beyond the theater, and even beyond narrative structure, that I never knew existed. I feel like I came into myself as an artist (with still much more growth to come) as well as learned to appreciate all different flavors of the moving image. While on a typical Friday night you might catch me at the local megaplex, that is not what this blog is about (okay, maybe it will be sometime...Read more
filed under: film
tags: isis film Stan Brakhage experimental film animation dreams memory love deterioration French