A brilliant new documentary about the work of one of America’s greatest living photographers and his 10-year quest to create a series of haunting, surreal, elaborate portraits of small-town American life, “Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters” screens with filmmaker Ben Shapiro and a reception following in the Creativity Film Series at Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave, Huntington. 631-423-7610 www.CinemaArtsCentre.org
The documentary will air Jan. 23.
$10 Members / $15 Public / Includes reception. Tickets can be purchased online, www.CinemaArtsCentre.org at the box office during theater hours or by calling Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006,
A mesmerizing portrait of the famed photographer whose stunningly composed images of recession-era suburbia evoke the surreal vibe of David Lynch, fused with the gritty detail of early David Fincher
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/event/gregory-crewdson-brief-encounters/
“Position. And…..hold.” With this phrase, photographer Gregory Crewdson stops time to capture images that swell with sadness, beauty and ambiguity. Crewdson’s elaborate artistic process and style is more akin to that of a film or theater director. The difference is the medium; unlike film, photographs illustrate one moment in time, and it is in creating these moments that Crewdson labors over “the preoccupation to make something perfect.” Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters chronicles Crewdson and his team over the course of four years spanning from 2006-2008 as they create “Beneath the Roses,” Crewdson’s most ambitious project yet. The photographs in “Beneath the Roses” narrate the desolate beauty of recession-era suburbia, evoking the surreal, uncanny vibe of David Lynch, fused with the gritty detail of early David Fincher. An avid long-distance swimmer, Crewdson’s visions are often inspired by the quiet solitude of the lake; the vacant murkiness of the water serves as a blank canvas on which images for his photographs emerge in his mind’s eye. Brief Encounters is most satisfying when we witness Crewdson’s own thrill and awe as the image in his mind is recreated in the tangible world. These moments in time — the perfect alignment of lighting, placement, expression and mood — is when the world makes sense to Crewdson. These moments also give the viewer a coveted glimpse into the gratification and pleasure of artistic expression. (USA, 2012, HD, Color , Running time: 79 min, Producer, Director and Cinematographer: Ben Shapiro)
Filmmaker Bio
Ben Shapiro is a documentary storyteller and cinematographer whose work spans television, film, radio, and new media. He began filming Gregory Crewdson in 2000 while on assignment for the PBS art series EGG. His work has appeared on HBO, National Geographic, Sundance Channel, CBS, NPR, and at museums and galleries including MoMA, and has received numerous awards including the Peabody, DuPont, AFI, and Emmy. Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters is his first feature-length film.
