T.A.P.E. Analog Filmmaking Proficiency Series

Join our Patreon at just $5/month to access great classes like this! 

See more workshops and screenings at whammyanalog.com

Over a handful of Tuesdays in September, T.A.P.E. workshops led a series of analog filmmaking proficiency workshops, free to members of our Patreon.

Celebrating a summer of amazing preservation efforts, including the launch of Home Video Day in August, we were ready to get back to filmmaking workshops. Past participants have asked us for more hands-on time with the cameras and developing tanks, with the goal of developing greater knowledge and fluidity with these tools. And as a rental library for our equipment, we want to prolong the life of our tools by handing them off to confident technicians.

 

Bolex H16 Rex 5 Proficiency Series

Tuesday, August 27 & Tuesday, September 3, 2024 

We are able to offer these classes for free through the generous donations of Jessica G.Z. and Darrell Brett. Jessica, T.A.P.E.'s founder, is passionate about sharing their knowledge gained with over a decade of analog filmmaking and projection experience. Darrell graduated from CalArts where his focus was the photochemical process, cinematography and projection. He is the head projectionist at Brain Dead Studios on Fairfax, where Jessica projects film and video as well.

The first two workshops covered essential skills and knowledge about the Bolex Rex-5 camera, currently available for rental at just $25/day for T.A.P.E. members. Participants learned essential skills such as: 

• Identify all the parts of the camera
• Read a light meter
• Set diopters to their eyesight
• Focus their image
• Load 16mm film
• Understanding shutter speed & shutter angle

They also got to play with some of features that make a Bolex Rex-5 magical such as: 

• Double exposure with the frame counter and wind key
• In-camera transitions

With their combined experience, our teachers offered advice on analog and digital workflows, including essential knowledge on accessing affordable developing and scanning lab services. These conversations empowered new filmmakers to be informed so they can talk to these technicians fluidity and with confidence, getting the results they want. 

Before renting the Bolex, we require passing scores for a proficiency test, ensuring that the filmmaker can confidently care for our equipment. Those who attended the workshop were prepped for this proficiency test!

Lomo Tank Proficiency Series

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

The following week, Jessica led a Lomo Tank Proficiency workshop to prepare filmmakers for the essential skills in home developing motion picture film. Home developing can often be intimidating, so these essential skill workshops break down some of the more technical aspects to loading film into these specialty tanks. 

Donated to T.A.P.E. by Mono Non Aware, the Lomo 8mm/16mm tank allows you to wind 2 rolls of small-gauge film into slotted grooves for even distribution of developing liquids.

It's magical to see how filmmakers get excited about home-developing projects, realizing the potential of saving money and experimenting visually.

Join our Patreon at just $5/month to access great classes like this! 

See more workshops and screenings at whammyanalog.com

T.A.P.E. Equipment Rental Rates for Patreon Members

To schedule an equipment rental, email info@tapeanalog.org

BOLEX H16 REX 5 -- $25/day $110/Week

Lomo Tank -- $20/day $75/Week

See more at tapeanalog.org

T.A.P.E. X Mono No Aware at Whammy!

In February of this year MONO NO AWARE visited from Brooklyn NYC to teach 10 moving image related film workshops! Founder Steve Cossman took a break from the nonprofit's regular year-round programming to join us and impart many different tactile and DIY filmmaking techniques for all participants. 

After a fun and free screening night where our participants were introduced to Mono's activities at their learning lab in Brooklyn, NY we embarked on a 10 day journey through many different film stocks, teachings around our gear, and community oriented styles of learning and guiding eachother through new information.

Our all volunteer staff learned so many different techniques and gained a very thorough understanding of the Bolex Rex cameras that our participants shot most of their workshop film on. 

Many different offerings were on the table for this week, including:

FULL COLOR FILM TO FILM WORKFLOW, shooting color negative film and working with a lab for processing work and answer prints.

16MM MACRO CINEMATOGRAPHY, shooting macro images on a Bolex camera without macro specific lenses.

35MM MOTION AS STILL FILM, bulk loading motion picture 35mm film into used still photography canisters for full-frame photography.

16MM COLOR PHOTOGRAMS, creating experimental images using objects and film images on color film.

TEST-IT-YOURSELF SUPER 8 CAMERA WORKSHOP, allowing participants to bring in their Super 8 cameras for a thorough function assessment.

DESKTOP PRINTER FILMMAKING ON 16MM CLEAR LEADER, learning special digital methods for creating frame based direct animation from video that then get printed directly onto film from table top laser printers.

COMPLETE DIY B&W FILM FLOW, learning how to operate the Bolex Rex camera, shooting b&w negative film, then how to edition one's work into prints in a DIY fashion.

16MM PHYTOGRAMS, using plant materials and non-toxic developer recipes for creating abstract moving images on film.

BRING YOUR OWN B&W NON-TOXIC PROCESSING PARTY AT 818 DARKROOM IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, a big accessible party that allowed you to bring your shot rolls of b&w films to then be processed in group-made non-toxic caffenol developers.

The week+ of workshops ended with a free to attend screening of all moving image work made during the workshops. This took place where most of our workshops happened - Whammy! Analog Media in the Echo Park/Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. 

Everyone was encouraged to invite a loved one and especially anyone curious to see what 10 days of community oriented filmmaking can look like.

We all learned a lot and much fun was had!

Thank you to MONO NO AWARE for an unforgettable visit !

 

If you're ever in NYC, think of MONO NO AWARE as a great resource, and check to see if you can make an event or workshop!! You won't regret it.

BACKLOG: Cameraless Workshop with Dro Watson and Jessica GZ

The last direct animation we hosted at Whammy! occurred in the month of May 2023 and was split up into 2 separate groups to accommodate all the interest we were receiving at this point and was facilitated by our founder Jessica GZ and board member Dro Watson. We emphasized a history of direct animation techniques and accessibility of tools and supplies, providing Sharpies, ink and teaching the film loop. 

Dro edited a gorgeous recap video:

BACKLOG: More Direct Animation with Echo Park Film Center

More direct animation workshops were hosted in 2022, this time with the Echo Park Film Center! It was a free summer event that took place outdoors on the Whammy! patio with art supplies, snacks and outdoor projection!

 

This was a FREE, fun and casual introduction to the moving image through direct animation on film.

In most of these workshops participants are discovering direct animation techniques for their first time. This workshop in particular had an emphasis on accessible techniques and tools such as Sharpie pens and found footage manipulation. 

Big thank you to EPFC for hanging on the patio and making films with us!

BACKLOG: Direct Animation with Erica Sheu

One of T.A.P.E. Collective's first events in 2022, an event that helped shape what we wanted to be, was this cameraless 16mm animation workshop facilitated by artist and local to Los Angeles filmmaker Erica Sheu, held at Whammy! Analog Media in the Echo Park/Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Erica has years of experience working primarily with moving image small gauge film in various ways that celebrate and center the defining characteristics and nature of the medium. This session was called Scratches, bubbles, fingerprints:

 

Erica Sheu

Everyone was provided with art supplies and tools to draw or ink directly onto the acetate clear leader film, or manipulate found footage by scratching and removal techniques, and were encouraged to play with the found sound tracks as well.

What comes out of direct cameraless animation is in the realm between fine and modern art. Participants were encouraged to expand their preconceived notion of what is deserving of our attention on screen, how far these techniques have woven their way into pop culture moving images we're familiar with and how fun and accessible filmmaking can be.

BIG THANKS to Erica Sheu for teaching us new techniques and encouraging the fun and exploratory elements of film!!
 

Find Erica Sheu's website here.