Single-channel video (4:17)
Original public domain source material: D.O.A. (1950)

This piece was selected to be part of the inaugural New School Arts Festival, Noir. The video was shown as part of the Illuminating Noir gallery exhibition which was curated by faculty members Simone Douglas, Ben Katchor, and Christiane Paul and ran from April 1 – 9, 2011.

Through the manipulation of public domain film and sound composition, this piece investigates the meaning and use of gesture as it relates to human interaction. The project is a collaboration between myself, Spencer Snyder (musician/ composer), and Mark Lev (illustrator) and explores how these disciplines can be applied to create a visual music piece.

Using a simple storyboard and the interactions between a man and woman from the film noir class D.O.A. (1950), we retold the progression of the film’s emotions, from a state of happy/content to instability and full-blown psychosis, ending with a sustained calm of sorrow and regret.