Hexagrams
Film Identifier: F.2016-04-0019
Run Time
0h 4m 40s
0h 4m 40s
Format
16mm
16mm
Color
Color
Color
Sound
Optical
Optical
Date Produced
1966
1966
Abstract
Hexagrams is a film of surrealistic nature. In the film, all types of images flash quickly on screen. Images include fried eggs, Marlboro cigarette packages, and the American flag. The film continues flashing images in a quick, rhythmic pace and only slows down at three points in the film. The first slow sequence, is in a junkyard where an automobile is being set down by a tow truck. The second sequence is of two females in the nude, chatting, smoking, and eating saltines. The final slow sequence is of a man who appears to stick his tongue out, but as his "tongue" is pulled out further, it becomes apparent it's some sort of pink substance—not his tongue. In this film and in Festival of the Cyclists, Byron re-uses some of the same film scenes to create original content.
Byron created Hexagrams for his Surrealism art history course taught by legendary teacher Whitney Halstead. For this film, Byron used repetitions of scenes lasting six frames each and printed them using the A and B roll technique, to construct a rhythm. He was interested in how two single images could come together percussively and create a third image as they merge in the mind. The sound track for the film was achieved by playing the sprocket holes of the film while manipulating the tone and volume controls on the projector. Hexagrams was shown at the 6th Ann Arbor film Festival in 1968 and went on tour thereafter. Later on, when Byron applied to work at Goldsholl Design Associates, he chose to play Hexagrams and was hired.
Hexagrams is a film of surrealistic nature. In the film, all types of images flash quickly on screen. Images include fried eggs, Marlboro cigarette packages, and the American flag. The film continues flashing images in a quick, rhythmic pace and only slows down at three points in the film. The first slow sequence, is in a junkyard where an automobile is being set down by a tow truck. The second sequence is of two females in the nude, chatting, smoking, and eating saltines. The final slow sequence is of a man who appears to stick his tongue out, but as his "tongue" is pulled out further, it becomes apparent it's some sort of pink substance—not his tongue. In this film and in Festival of the Cyclists, Byron re-uses some of the same film scenes to create original content.
Byron created Hexagrams for his Surrealism art history course taught by legendary teacher Whitney Halstead. For this film, Byron used repetitions of scenes lasting six frames each and printed them using the A and B roll technique, to construct a rhythm. He was interested in how two single images could come together percussively and create a third image as they merge in the mind. The sound track for the film was achieved by playing the sprocket holes of the film while manipulating the tone and volume controls on the projector. Hexagrams was shown at the 6th Ann Arbor film Festival in 1968 and went on tour thereafter. Later on, when Byron applied to work at Goldsholl Design Associates, he chose to play Hexagrams and was hired.
Main Credits
Grush, Byron (is filmmaker)
Genre
Form
Related Place
Chicago (production location of)