The Stone Breakers

This film came out of nowhere, and very early in its brief making became, for me, a crystallization of all the confusion and amazement I feel about the creative process. Poof, it’s there (and poof, it’s gone). (Mark Toscano)

After discovering a set of cryptic microcassettes in her new home, Cas is drawn into a meditative mystery of environmental sound and experimental music.

“A film about control. A refinement of energy for purposes of conserving resources, materials, impetus, potential, so they might all be narrowly channeled toward an unquestioned goal of maximum profit with minimum waste. Capitalism, in this example, as a process of understanding how to make use of someone as efficiently as possible to get the most out of them that is desired. Instructions for keeping people on task.” –Mark Toscano

It may be that exhibitionistic displays of emotion are purely for the benefit of the demonstrator, in an act of self-indulgent catharsis, but that doesn’t mean they can’t communicate some of that weird emotion to an unrelated party. (Mark Toscano)

A rite of passage, an emptying out of things, and a process of emotional alchemy.

When feelings are reduced to keywords, it’s a lot easier to find just the right soundtrack. And when an emotional response can be so readily activated via musical triggers, it’s a lot easier to make a moving film.