Bolex in-camera effects workshop
taught by Alix Blevins and Natalia Fentisova at LaborBerlin, 12–20 May 2018.
The workshop focused on using camera mechanisms and settings—such as rewind, frame rate, variable shutter, and fade—to create optical effects including double exposures, time-lapse, and in-camera animation.
The program began with a full-day session introducing the camera’s features, along with discussions of approaches and techniques, screenings of examples, and the shooting and development of a test roll. Each participant then received a 25-meter roll of film to work with independently during the week.
The following weekend consisted of two full-day sessions, during which participants developed their films in groups, were introduced to basic editing techniques, and finally viewed and discussed the results.
The workshop was suitable for beginners.
Bolex workshop
developed and led by Natalia Fentisova and Maja Milic, in collaboration with the Analogica Film Festival, Bolzano.
The workshop was an introduction to experimental 16mm filmmaking, focused on the camera as a critical aspect of the working process. It addressed questions such as: what techniques can be used to approach shooting differently, and how can simple technical aspects of the medium, combined with aesthetic choices, open up filmic space for personal expression?
LaborBerlin members Natalia Fentisova and Maja Milic introduced participants not only to the fundamentals of the Bolex camera, the shooting process, and hand-developing, but also to a way of thinking that unlocked creative potential. The workshop emphasized that filmmaking is not only about operating a machine, but about learning from and interacting with it.
On the first day, participants explored the decisions involved in starting a film and the essential practical functions of the H16 Bolex Reflex camera. They learned how to use the camera’s capabilities to create effects such as multiple exposures, masking, slow and fast motion, animation, in-camera dissolves, and experiments with duration. They then shot improvisational footage on black-and-white reversal film. The process emphasized in-camera editing: participants either planned their shots carefully or embraced randomness and coincidence. The limitations of a single camera roll were approached as a creative advantage.
On the second day, the films were hand-processed, projected, and analyzed.
The workshop was suitable for beginners.
Image-Sound-Juxtaposition
a workshop on creating new soundtrack for found home movies on Super 8 film.
[ The term „Image-Sound-Juxtaposition“ describes the drifting of two connected parts in different directions. In film, image and sound run parallel, but they do not necessarily have to relate directly to each other, and not at all times… ]
As part of this year’s Home Movie Day LaborBerlin e.V. is hosting a workshop focusing on the artistic practice of image & sound editing and the aesthetics of found footage film. The workshop takes place in two full-day events at the Filmmuseum Potsdam in the first half of October. The goal of the workshop is to create a new soundtrack for found home movies and thus to give the images a new level of meaning. Through Image-Sound-Juxtaposition a „third“ image should occur in the mind of the spectator.
Participants can bring their own family movies on Super 8, if they have them, or work with found footage of unknown origin, provided by the workshop. We will only use Super 8 film material that already contains a magnetic soundtrack and we will work in groups directly with the Super 8 material, not with digitized scans.
1st WORKSHOP DAY (Sunday, 6.10.2019)
The workshop will start with a theoretical introduction into the topic. We will look at examples from cinematic art. In the practical part of the workshop we will view the home movies that participants brought or the one provided by the workshop, and develop ideas for creative soundtracks in groups. If necessary, home movies can also be cut manually, and the required tools will be provided. At the same time, the sound ideas will be collected, improvised, recorded, downloaded, tried out, discarded…
WEEK 41 – Between the two workshops sessions, all groups will have a week to meet privately and work on their soundtracks…
2nd WORKSHOP DAY (Saturday, 12.10.2019)
During the second meeting we will listen to the self-made soundtracks together, discuss and possibly revise them. In the end, each group will play their soundtrack from the laptop (or tape) and record it directly onto the magnetic soundtrack of the Super 8 film. For this we will use various Super 8 projectors with sound recording function (Elmo GS-1200 and Braun Visacustic 2000).