Blankets for Indians

Blankets for Indians

2012 · 57 min

Blankets for Indians blends a stereoscopic study of water spurting from New York’s City Hall fountain with an intimately detailed portrait of an Occupy Wall Street march. While in the process of shooting the fountain in 2012, Jacobs serendipitously turned his camera toward a large protest marching to Zuccotti Park in support of Occupy Wall Street. The unexpected connection gives the film new life, seamlessly moving between sensual observation and political commentary, reflection, and abstraction. Using freeze-frames, text, and 3D manipulation, Jacobs questions the contemporary conditions of socio-political struggle, its relation to aesthetics, and the labor necessary to produce both.

Directed by Ken Jacobs

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Star Spangled to Death

Star Spangled to Death · 2004

Star Spangled to Death

MovieDocumentary

An examination of the history of the U.S. through archival footage and contrasting views of society, incorporating audiovisual material ranging from political campaign films to animated cartoons to children’s phonograph records, featuring Al Jolson, Mickey Mouse, the young Jack Smith, and a half-dozen American presidents.

Quartet Number One

Quartet Number One · 1991

Quartet Number One

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Quartet Number One (1991) 8 min.

Orchard Street

Orchard Street · 1955

MovieDocumentaryHistory

This short film documents the daily life of the goings-on on Orchard Street, a commercial street in the Lower East Side New York City.

Jonas Mekas in Kodachrome Days

Jonas Mekas in Kodachrome Days · 2009

Jonas Mekas in Kodachrome Days

MovieDocumentary

Using his trademark flicker method, Ken Jacobs pays homage to the oldest type of color film, Kodachrome (whose production was discontinued in 2009) and to Jonas Mekas, who managed to breathe life into Kodachrome.

Momma's Man

Momma's Man · 2008

An adult decides to escape the pressures of life and return to his old bedroom at his parents' house.

20 Little Films

20 Little Films · 2012

20 Little Films

MovieDocumentary

Since 1995, the Viennale has invited renowned directors to create short, one-minute films as personal contributions to the festival. Ranging from home movies to political essays, musical sketches to abstract studies, these “little films” form a unique anthology of cinematic moments. 20 Little Films collects a selection of these works, premiering together for the Viennale’s 50th anniversary at the Locarno Film Festival.

For Life, Against the War

For Life, Against the War · 1967

For Life, Against the War

First shown on January 30, 1967, FOR LIFE AGAINST THE WAR was an open-call, collective statement from American independent filmmakers disparate in style and sensibility but united by their opposition to the Vietnam War. Part of the protest festival Week of the Angry Arts, the epic compilation film incorporated minute-long segments which were sent from many corners of the country, spliced together and projected. The original presentation of the works was more of an open forum with no curation or selection, and in 2000 Anthology Film Archives preserved a print featuring around 40 films from over 60 submissions.

Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise

Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise · 2005

Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise

MovieDocumentary

A story told by director Ken Jacobs but without conventional storyline. Using a modified magic lantern, an early type of image projector developed in the 17th century, he morphs, flickering images that look like photo-negatives.

Little Stabs at Happiness

Little Stabs at Happiness · 1963

Little Stabs at Happiness

MovieDocumentary

Little Stabs at Happiness is a collection of silent shorts Jacobs shot from the period of 1959-1963. Jaunty tunes (and a somber reflection) accompany the footage.

Flo Rounds a Corner

Flo Rounds a Corner · 1999

Flo Rounds a Corner

A short by Ken Jacobs. Taormina, Sicily; Mt. Etna erupting nearby.

Seeking the Monkey King

Seeking the Monkey King · 2011

Seeking the Monkey King

Suggestion: Please see 'Another Occupation' before 'Seeking the Monkey King'. Contains flicker like many of my works; avoid if you have epilepsy or other unusual brain conditions.

Scotch Tape

Scotch Tape · 1963

Shot in 1959, Scotch Tape is Jack Smith's first film -- a joyous, three-minute romp, in color, using Peter Duchin's rhumba "Carinhoso" for its soundtrack. Three young men merrily bop through the wreckage of razed buildings at the site of what would become Lincoln Center. Apparently, Scotch Tape was never edited and, instead, was cut in the camera by Smith, combining long shots and close-ups while filming mostly from overhead. The title comes from a small strip of scotch tape that was accidentally stuck on the camera and so is visible in the lower-right corner of the frame throughout the film.

60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero

60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero · 2011

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MovieDramaComedy

An anthology of one-minute films created by 51 international filmmakers on the theme of the death of cinema. Intended as an ode to 35mm, the film was screened one time only on a purpose-built 20x12 meter public cinema screen in the Port of Tallinn, Estonia, on 22 December 2011. A special projector was constructed for the event which allowed the actual filmstrip to be burnt at the same time as the film was shown.

Blonde Cobra

Blonde Cobra · 1963

Jack Smith poses in elaborate costumes, plays with everyday objects, and performs for the camera while his disjointed voiceover unfolds through songs, personal reflections, and provocative stories. Assembled by Ken Jacobs from unfinished footage shot by Bob Fleischner, this experimental film blends performance, fantasy, and dark humor into an unconventional portrait of its subject.

Laboratorium Anthology

Laboratorium Anthology · 1999

Laboratorium Anthology

MovieDocumentary

Scenes from the life and work at Anthology Film Archives. Much of the footage in this video was shot by Auguste Varkalis.

Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema”

Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema” · 1973

Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema”

MovieDocumentary

During the 1970s I shot, helped to make, or commissioned about ten document films, mainly about film-makers. This film is one of them. It was made with Dan Ochiva, who acted as cameraman on about half of the footage. I shot the rest, and then edited the film. It is a record of a conference held at the State University of New York at Buffalo on March 22-25, 1973. Among the participants filmed were Gerald O'Grady (who organized the conference), Will Hindle, Stan Brakhage, Jonas Mekas, Robert Creeley, Bruce Baillie, Scott Bartlett, Hollis Frampton, Ken Jacobs, Ed Pincus, Stan Vanderbeek, Ed Emshwiller, Sally Dixon, James Cox. This footage will eventually become part of my film PEOPLE, PLACES, THE 1970S. –R. H.

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