This experimental film was shot as three continuous takes of twenty minutes each. Filmed on the Chicago Loop-(Chicago's inner rail system.) The train from which the shots were taken does not stop.
It passes through all of the stations without a break and allows the camera to be carried 15 metres up from street level through the remarkable architecture of down town Chicago.
These three shots were then constructed into a motion picture installation which has a dreamlike quality. Occassionally on the soundtrack we hear references drawn from particle physics to the dangers involved in the making of the Atomic bomb. We come to the realisation that all we see would have been totally obliterated had the 'Chain Reaction' spun out of controll in the critical laboratory experiments in Chicago, in 1943.
To Shorts
"The 'Puritan' Milton argues intensely with the 'Catholic' Molly whilst both search for their true utterance. Philosophically poignant and sexually provoking the film binds these two opposite characters in a unified defence against an unseen crowd. The piece has much in common with Beckett's late plays."
Cast: John Shrapnel, Suzannah Doyle. Commissioned and broadcast by ARTE,France
"This spectacular piece of experimental theatre, which mixes live drama with beautifully crafted motion picture projection, redefines 'Oedipus' in a new costume, a costume fitting for his entry into the third millenium. Oedipus will take us by surprise. The work incorporates critical and uniquely important observations, projected on film, from the philosopher Jacques Derrida with whom McMullen has collaborated previously. The dexterity with which McMullen handles simultaneous events and dramatic imperatives perhaps reflects his earlier collaboration with the Polish theatre director, Tadeus Kantor. The pacing of the whole piece leaves one awestruck."
First performed at The Cochrane Theatre, London.
Futures
A
major stagework with an International cast including Joanna Tersteege (The
Vanishing) and Dominique Pinon(Delicatessen) incorporates projected film material
as well as dramatic performance. The play centres around the confusions and
dreams of the contemporary character Max in a series of ghostly encounters
with major historical figures; from Cromwell to Pedro Primero (1st Emperor
of Brazil) to Mr Gromiko.
Commissioned and produced by The British Film
Institute and The National Film Theatre, London.
To ShortsR
Explores
the profound effect that his father's blindness had on Rembrandt and the
way this influenced his work. "R" deals with the shock of 'dissatributation',
a correspondance through Ben Israel between Rembrandt and Milton, and the
transcendental quality of light both in Rembrandt's technique and the subject
of many of his paintings. It also emphasises the powerful emotions transmitted
through his work.
Director Ken McMullen: Cast- Dominic Pinon, John Shrapnel,
Maria de Madieros.
Commissioned by BBC Television
To Shorts
Study
in Motion
A 60 minute reconstruction of Muyerbridge's studies of
human movement. In this case using digital possibilities of observation
in and under water.
There we are John
Commissioned by the British Council. Selected for 1994 Berlin International Film Festival panorama.(1993)