Directing

Joseph Bernard

Born June 11, 1941 · Port Chester, New York

Died February 5, 2025 · aged 83

"Raised on the east coast of the U.S., I received degrees from the Hartford Art School and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. All my work is collage-based and all images, though silent, are heavily influenced by music and poetry. I've painted & photographed all my life, but from the late 70's to mid 80's I made over 100 super-8, silent films. These are highly subjective, non-narrative obs…

Known For

Beyond Quiet

Beyond Quiet · 2021

MovieDocumentary

Beyond Quiet is an autobiographical video essay on painting, photography and Super-8 film.

White Film

White Film · 1978

Spectrum and prism divide the screen; whites and light, etc. "Out of this purity comes all colors. I've always been attracted to refracted light and prismatic phenomena" says Bernard. For Richard Devereaux. Super 8, silent, non-narrative.

Sun Song

Sun Song · 1979

“A percussive conjuration of a banshee wail, imploring warmth from the winter’s sun, this was naively made in admired response to Mothlight.” (J.B.)

Ritual

This is one of those rare, total in-camera edits that provided options for many of my later, densely layered films. The timing and lap dissolves were a pitch-perfect gift! Super 8, silent, experimental.—Joseph Bernard

Night Mix

Night Mix · 1982

Non-narrative film, highly manipulated: tape-over-frames, ink-tinted, bleached and drawn into. As a montage, abstractly and rhythmically intense. Super-8, silent, color, b&w. Dedicated to Bill Gubbins.

Provincetown Pieces

Provincetown Pieces · 1979

Provincetown Pieces

This is a shortened version of a three-movement film made over a summer’s stay in Provincetown, MA (Cape Cod), first alone, then with family. A journal of sorts, it renders the place with obvious affection. The town remains today, to an amazing degree, as it appears in this film from decades ago.

Whale Watch (1)

Whale Watch (1) · 1981

Whale Watch (1)

MovieDocumentary

Whale Watch (1) gathers personal sightings while on a public outing, in the company of the great mammals off Cape Cod. – Joseph Bernard

Whale Watch (2)

Whale Watch (2) · 2022

Whale Watch (2)

Shot weeks apart, I made two films of personal sightings while on public outings, in the company of the great mammals off Cape Cod. Like icebergs, very little of their bulk, beyond shimmering back and a rearmost dorsal fin is visible as they glide the surface. These forty-ton humpbacks power dive with a grace and purpose that had me conjuring their descending views; diminishing jagged streaks of light into plummeting depths of darkness.

Filmography

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Beyond Quiet

Beyond Quiet · 2021

MovieDocumentary

Beyond Quiet is an autobiographical video essay on painting, photography and Super-8 film.

Director

White Film

White Film · 1978

Spectrum and prism divide the screen; whites and light, etc. "Out of this purity comes all colors. I've always been attracted to refracted light and prismatic phenomena" says Bernard. For Richard Devereaux. Super 8, silent, non-narrative.

Director

Sun Song

Sun Song · 1979

“A percussive conjuration of a banshee wail, imploring warmth from the winter’s sun, this was naively made in admired response to Mothlight.” (J.B.)

Director

Ritual

This is one of those rare, total in-camera edits that provided options for many of my later, densely layered films. The timing and lap dissolves were a pitch-perfect gift! Super 8, silent, experimental.—Joseph Bernard

Director

Night Mix

Night Mix · 1982

Non-narrative film, highly manipulated: tape-over-frames, ink-tinted, bleached and drawn into. As a montage, abstractly and rhythmically intense. Super-8, silent, color, b&w. Dedicated to Bill Gubbins.

Director

Provincetown Pieces

Provincetown Pieces · 1979

Provincetown Pieces

This is a shortened version of a three-movement film made over a summer’s stay in Provincetown, MA (Cape Cod), first alone, then with family. A journal of sorts, it renders the place with obvious affection. The town remains today, to an amazing degree, as it appears in this film from decades ago.

Director

Whale Watch (1)

Whale Watch (1) · 1981

Whale Watch (1)

MovieDocumentary

Whale Watch (1) gathers personal sightings while on a public outing, in the company of the great mammals off Cape Cod. – Joseph Bernard

Director

Whale Watch (2)

Whale Watch (2) · 2022

Whale Watch (2)

Shot weeks apart, I made two films of personal sightings while on public outings, in the company of the great mammals off Cape Cod. Like icebergs, very little of their bulk, beyond shimmering back and a rearmost dorsal fin is visible as they glide the surface. These forty-ton humpbacks power dive with a grace and purpose that had me conjuring their descending views; diminishing jagged streaks of light into plummeting depths of darkness.

Director