There is a rich history in 16mm avant-garde cameraless filmmaking.  It has been a means to make good films while not having to spend thousands of dollars.  A camerless film is made in many ways.  You can apply things to the emulsion, scratch on the emulsion, do “ray-o-grams” to unexposed print stock.  The possibilities are endless.  I propose to teach a 16mm camerless film workshop.

I can teach this workshop in 5 four hour days.  The first day would consist of viewing a few 16mm cameraless films so students can have an idea of what one may look like.  I would then demonstrate how to do some of the techniques of cameraless filmmaking.  The second day would start with the making of the cameraless film.  The third day I would show the students how to do ray-o-grams.  In doing a ray-o-gram you lay transparent items over unexposed film stock like existing processed films stock.  You can put salt and pepper on the film, small nails and pins, etc.  You then flash light on it to expose the film.  You need a room with absolutely no light coming in, in order for it to work properly.  I could then show the students how to hand process our results.  This could be done in the same room.  The fourth day would consist of taking the hand processed material and laying it down with the already worked clear leader, black leader and “found “ footage films.  The students would then have the remaining day to complete the application of plastic melting, dremmel scratching, sticker pasting, marker drawing etc.  The final day would consist of editing the project and have a “premier” of the film they just made.

After the end of the program Michael will transfer the finished16mm films to DVD for participants to have a copy of their films.