Experimental film. Super8 & 1" video; running time: 11 min.
© 1988
Synopsis
Stella Maris is a study of the human form and an exploration of light, movement, rhythm, and sound. It is film as poem; visual music.
The triptych structure of Stella Maris echoes the Triple Goddess archetypes, the Virgin, Matron, and Crone, who personify the three main phases of existence: Birth, Life, and Death. The structural references to the Goddess in the piece are complemented by Mario-Erik Paoli's score, which interweaves sounds from nature with the music. The imagery of this piece was inspired by the unique quality of light under water, by the photography of Brett Weston and Phillipe Lavaille, and marble statues from Antiquity. The text was drawn from ancient Sumerian prayers, the poetry of Sappho, Osip Mandelstam, and James Joyce's Ulysses, as well as original writings.
Credits
Conceived and Directed by
Clea T. Waite
Sound and Music
Mario-Erik Paoli
Musicians
Mario-Erik Paoli, Ramiro de la Zerda, Bryon Hankins
Camera
Michael Teitel and Clea Waite
Editing
Clea Waite
Cast
Angela Babin, Jane Gillooly, Celia Lee, Nancy Manley, C. Lisa Monrose, Regan Perry, Yvette Torell, Jane St. Clair, Clea Waite, Cindy Woolworth
Texts
Wolkstein / Kramer (from the Sumerian), James Joyce "Ulysses", Osip Mandelstam, Sappho, Clea T. Waite
Narrators
Karine Hrechdakian and Erin Scott
Prizes
1993
Prix Insolite, Grand Format
Festival Mondial de l'Image Sous-Marine, Antibes, France
1989
Best of New Short Works
Mill Valley Film Festival
1988 1st prize
Experimental Category
9th Annual Video Arts Festival
Amherst, MA.
Screenings
2002
Schüttel mich, ach rüttel mich, Kunst an der Losse / Camping Akademie
Hessisch Lichtenau by Kassel, Germany
1998
Rencontres Internationales Art cinéma / vidéo / ordinateur
Paris, France
1994
IMPAKT Video Festival
Utrecht, The Netherlands
1993
Festival Mondial de l'Image Sous-Marine, Antibes, France
1990
No-TV
Broadcast on various NY stations
Visual Studies Workshop
Rochester, NY.
1989
Poetry Film and Video Festival
San Francisco, CA.
Mill Valley Film Festival
Mill Valley, CA.
1988
5th International Festival of Clips and Music Videos
Saint-Brieuc, France
9th Annual Video Arts Festival Amherst, MA.
Video Jamboree, MWF Club
New York City
Three Video Premieres
Boston Film Video Foundation Boston, USA
Permanent Collection, Ulli Rimcas Max Fish Bar and Gallery
New York City
This work was created with the support of The National Endowment for the Arts New England Regional Fellowship & MIT Film/Video, and B.K.
© Clea T. Waite 1988