Anthology I

The collaborative Parallel Octave film ANTHOLOGY I premiered at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore on July 8, 2011. Scroll down to watch some of the films, complete with credits–or check them out on our YouTube channel.

---

Presenting a few of the ANTHOLOGY I films for your online viewing:

(1) Danny Schwartz’s film Horny Webbed Feet:

Horny Webbed Feet
Director: Danny Schwartz
Camera: Lizzie Himmel
Based on the poem “The Emperor of Ice-Cream,” by Wallace Stevens
Audio: Recorded October 31st, 2010, at 3135 Abell Ave. Directed by Dara Weinberg, musical direction by Joseph Martin. Chorus: Stephen Edwards (piano, flute), Richard Goldberg (vox), Joe Martin (drums), Daniel Schwartz (guitar), Dara Weinberg (vox).

(2) Ryan Edel’s film Slouching Towards Bethlehem:

Slouching Towards Bethlehem
Director: Ryan Edel
Based on the poem “The Second Coming,” by W.B. Yeats
Audio: Recorded February 20, 2010, at 3135 Abell Ave. Directed by Dara Weinberg, musical direction by Joseph Martin. Chorus: Parallel Octave Core Group: Richard Goldberg (vox), Hilary Leithauser (vox), Joe Martin (drums), Katie Marie Osborn (vox), Danny Schwartz (guitar), Dara Weinberg (vox), Gavin Whitt (vox).

(3) Alice Venessa Bever’s film From Sole to Crown:

From Sole to Crown
Director: Alice Venessa Bever
Based on the poem “Richard Cory,” by E.A. Robinson
Many thanks to Rebecca Fix
Filmed in Wyoming and Naples, Italy
and the Rome, Italy, Santa Ana and Denver Airports

Audio: Recorded August 28, 2010, in the Blue Room at the Baltimore Free School. Chorus: Leon & Donyae (percussion), Bill Barton (engineering) Joe Martin (guitar, percussion, loops), Dara Weinberg (vox), Gavin Whitt (vox).

(4) Jake Appet’s film A Fine Distraction:

A Fine Distraction
Director: Jake Appet
Based on the poem “Delight in Disorder,” by Robert Herrick
Audio: Recorded on Sunday, October 10, 2010, in the Blue Room at the Baltimore Free School. Directed by Dara Weinberg, musical direction by Joseph Martin. Chorus: Kristol Das (vox), Joe Martin (guitar), Dara Weinberg (vox), Gavin Whitt (vox).

(6) Marie Ilene’s film The Heart Asks

The Heart Asks
Director: Marie Ilene
Camera & Editor: Marie Ilene
Based on the poem “588,” by Emily Dickinson
Production Design Cliff Retalick
Audio: Recorded October 31st, 2010, at 3135 Abell Ave. Directed by Dara Weinberg, musical direction by Joseph Martin. Chorus: Joe Martin (synthesizer), Dara Weinberg (vox).

(6) Adam Gray’s film The Space Between Her Eyes and Mine:

The Space Between Her Eyes and Mine
Director: Adam Gray
Based on the poem “My Grandmother’s Love Letters,” by Hart Crane
Archival material courtesy of Internet Archive’s Prelinger Collection
Audio: Recorded in the Blue Room at the Baltimore Free School on October 2, 2010.
Directed by Dara Weinberg, musical direction by Joseph Martin. Chorus: Joe Martin (guitar, vox, mus. dir), Dara Weinberg (vox, dir), Gavin Whitt (vox)

---

ANTHOLOGY I also included films by Val Smith and Meg Rorison that are not currently available for online viewing.

---

ANTHOLOGY I. a parallel octave production. executive producer: Dara Weinberg. co-producers: Dara Weinberg and Katie Marie Osborn. associate producer: Joseph Martin. directors: Jake Appet, Alice Venessa Bever, Ryan Edel, Adam Gray, Marie Ilene, Meg Rorison, Danny Schwartz, Val Smith. music: Joseph Martin. editor: Ryan Edel. a film by: Dara Weinberg & Joseph Martin.

END CREDITS

---

Images follow from the screening on July 8th at the Creative Alliance. All pictures by photographer Lloyd Lowe.

ARCHIVAL MATERIAL: the ANTHOLOGY I screening and collaboration process

NEW! ANTHOLOGY I Press:
Baltimore Fishbowl
Music director Joe Martin interviewed at WYPR’s The Signal
Baltimore Urbanite

Friday, July 8, 7 pm, Creative Alliance @ The Patterson: Film Premiere: Parallel Octave Presents ANTHOLOGY I, A Short Films Collaboration!

Tickets on sale now: 410-276-1651, www.creativealliance.org

The ten-second teaser, “Penguin Strike”:

The longer trailer, “Penguin Strike II: The Second Coming”:

Both videos were created by ANTHOLOGY I editor Ryan Edel from his short film “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” based on “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats.

BLURB:

It’s a music video! It’s a Greek chorus! It’s ANTHOLOGY I. The Baltimore-based Parallel Octave chorus records poems with live improvised music. Eight filmmakers have shot videos for their tracks, from animation to live action to W.B. Yeats as performed by giant plastic lizards to Emily Dickinson read over a soundtrack of pitch-shifting synthesizers. This is the premiere of the half-hour long film collaboration, followed by a live performance by Parallel Octave, in which the audience will be cordially invited to make some noise. Bring your washboards, trombones, vuvuzelas, and your best T.S. Eliot impressions. Poetry was never like this, and neither was MTV. http://www.paralleloctave.com. 7pm. $10, $5 Creative Alliance mbrs.

EVENT PROGRAM

I: Opening short films:
by Jimmy Joe Roche, Meg Rorison & Julia M. Smith

II: Screening of ANTHOLOGY I,
a collaborative short film based on the poems of Stevens, Yeats, Herrick, Dickinson, Robinson, etc.,
including films, by these directors:
Jake Appet, Alice Bever, Ryan Edel, Adam Gray, Marie Ilene, Meg Rorison, Danny Schwartz, & Val Smith.

III: Audience Parallel Octave collaboration session
with Adam’s film of “My Grandmother’s Love Letters,” by Hart Crane.
(Kazoos will be provided at the event but other instruments and voices are greatly desired.)

IV: Live performances
by Cricket Arrison, Bethany Dinsick, and Forks of Ivy!

More info/tix: Facebook, Creative Alliance, or (410) 276-1651

Location: Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, www.creativealliance.org

---

Track list for ANTHOLOGY I CD follows. Most of these tracks can be listened to on our Recordings page.

ANTHOLOGY I STAFF
Executive Producer: Dara Weinberg
Producer: Katie Marie Osborn
Directors: Dara Weinberg & Joseph Martin
Editor: Ryan Edel

TICKET PROMOTION NEWSFLASH: Those who purchase by June 15 will receive a free Decadent Parallel Octave Party Favor Bag at the event, containing gourmet Baroque Popcorn Balls by a local chef, a limited-edition CD of the ANTHOLOGY I soundtrack, a kazoo, a Purim noisemaker, condoms, Pop Rocks, and more surprises.

---

TIMELINE

The timeline for this project is as follows:
February 15: Applications due.
March 1: Selection complete.
April 15: First drafts of films completed, submitted to Parallel Octave for discussion. Notes given to filmmakers.
May 1: Parallel Octave provides detailed feedback to filmmakers. Editing continues.
May 20: Final versions of films completed.
June 20: Completed film is edited together.
July 8th: Film is screened.

---

APPLICATION INFORMATION (archival: applications are now closed for 2011)

Filmmakers interested in Anthology I should send an email to paralleloctaveATgmail.com by February 15, 2011, with this information:
1) Name and contact information.
2) Resume.
3) Link to previous work online, if available. (We are open to working with first-time filmmakers.)
4) Which poem you propose to work on. Please list backup choices as well.
5) Your short, one-paragraph concept for the film of this poem.

---

ARCHIVAL: 2011: Special Thanks from End Credits of ANTHOLOGY I film, as screened on July 8, ’11

Special thanks to
The Baltimore Free School
Jessica Lewis
The Brown Foundation Digital Media Center at Johns Hopkins University
Joan Freedman
Deborah Buffalin
Nate Perry
Tabor Barranti
The Creative Alliance
KJ Mohr
Adam Cooke
Single Carrot Theatre
Stephen Nunns
Yury Urnov
Philip Arnoult
CITD
One Hour Eighteen Minutes
Towson University
Julia M. Smith
Jimmy Joe Roche
Cricket Arrison
The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University
Angela Fleury

This project would not have been possible without
Ryan Edel
Katie Marie Osborn
Hilary Leithauser

---

ANTHOLOGY I. a parallel octave production. executive producer: Dara Weinberg. co-producers: Dara Weinberg and Katie Marie Osborn. associate producer: Joseph Martin. directors: Jake Appet, Alice Venessa Bever, Ryan Edel, Adam Gray, Marie Ilene, Meg Rorison, Danny Schwartz, Val Smith. music: Joseph Martin. editor: Ryan Edel. a film by: Dara Weinberg & Joseph Martin.