Only the most diehard Holders of the Lights come out for a wintertime film shoot. When St Paul filmmaker Dusan Harminc contacted me to say he'd be in Milwaukee and would like to try out his new video stabilizer rig on some night messages, I wasn't sure we could get enough Holders of the Lights out in the single digit temperatures. I should know better by now. We always, and somewhat magically, get just enough volunteers.
We talked for a while about messages, and decided that instead of one of our normal topical protests we'd dedicate a more general call to arms, a "Resolution = Revolution" just in time for the New Year.
The wind whipped off of Lake Michigan, biting into layers of clothes, stripping heat from bodies. It was the kind of night that drives the homeless into shelters, that keeps people with homes indoors, that sends restaurant clients running from car to foyer in a snow stomp dance to greet the yellow warmth of indoors. We stood outside with illuminated words, with heat packs in pockets and gloves, standing for the stop motion rig to be set up, to run its focus program, to then take the 10 minute time lapse. It is a harsh compression of time, especially in such bitter weather where about an hour of work nets a 20 second shot.
Our volunteers never cease to amaze me. No one complains. We sit in the van warming up between set ups. Each word, [ENGAGE] [RESIST] [DISRUPT] [UNITE] demands a new treatment. We were out for three and a half hours. I tell people it is like ice fishing - kind of hard to understand how compelling it is until you do it.
The next night found us in Madison, dancing with lighted letters on the thick ice of Lake Monona. Our dear friend, Chaous, brought the newly acquired Romulan Cruiser meets Merry Prankster bus, Iris, which was set up strategically to act as both wind break and to shield the fire pit from the prying eyes of policemen, since we hadn't gotten permits. It was also a great place to find respite from the wind in between shots, since Dusan wanted to shoot all the words again in order to have a dynamic range of motion and location. The location we selected was right near the lake for our ice shots, but also next to Madison's annual "Festival of Lights." Cars came by in steady stream, no doubt wondering how and why the words RESOLUTION / REVOLUTION were integrated into general holiday displays.
We did the postmodern polka on the ice with the steady cam circling around us, swooping up, down and in. Dusan gave his filmic directions as impromptu through-the-lens choreography. I am always amazed at how patient everyone is, and how we all merge art, expression, activism and creativity so seamlessly.
Dusan, back in his studio in Minnesota, needed a couple of days to work his post production magic. We never know what to expect, but always know it will be beautiful.
Here it is, a premiere for our Kos friends. It is 5 minutes in duration: long for us in this social media blipvert twitteristic fruitfly world of limited attention, but settle in and let it roll.
˚˚˚
˚˚˚
Resolution/ Revolution from Overpass Light Brigade on Vimeo.