so i forgot to include a summary of the reading on stan brakhage. this was a very interesting piece. it took me a while to figure out the structure of the literature. at first it was an author discussing brakhage techniques but was pleasantly surprised when it revealed that it was a response letter to a fellow filmmaker, very cool. i was curious to read the whole book but that will have to wait until i am a retired millionaire. the hours in a day do not allow this for me. however what andre collected on this was very enlightening and informing on a technical level. Brakhage's approach in his address was unique, he said at different points that if he had already given enough info or what the other filmmaker was looking for to stop reading and go do it. he does it like 4 or 5 time in the piece and i found this very amusing and thought i should follow his advice and stop reading and go create film but i kept reading. it is really sad that he (stan) is gone from us, especially for me b/c i just discovered him. luckily for me he created quite a body of work.

last semester i did my final paper on maya deren and brakhage had much to say about her in an interview on a doc about her. in the documentary during his interview, he was literally in a restaurant table creating a film dedicated to her (which is included in the documentary) what brakhage did for experimental film is hard to encompass because it was so much, but the main thing i would like to say about him and what is expressed in the reading as well is he had a wealth of knowledge to pass on to the next generations of filmmakers, but at the same time he was always looking for new advancements in his own craft. he used the system of "let me help you, can you help me as well" this was exhibited in all of the lectures he gave as well. although it may be hard to prove, i don't think any other filmmaker gave more to their vocation than stan brakhage. that's my gathering, i'm sure you have your own. but check out the criterion collection in the library (it is off of reserve from last semester) of his. the man had remarkable patience to create the worlds of his for us to enjoy.....see you in the funny papers.....jm