Overcoming Silence - 9 June 2010
Cut and Run is a traveling experimental film tour curated by two women, Mallary Abel and Brenda Contreras, and is based out of San Francisco. This conceptual poem was written by extracting fragments and phrases from their entries written throughout the course of their first program and tour in 2009, and rearranging them for this specific writing project. When asked to submit a piece for Red Channels, it made sense to re-appropriate already existing opinions of Cut and Run in a different way, but in a way somehow that would illustrate why we curate a film tour, or what it might be like, and in this case, for the first time—from a very individual and subjective perspective.
First Flight
by Mallary Abel
It’s mysterious. It’s nowhere
nearly impossible.
The smallest and most intimate
fragile, awkward lopsided package.
Cut and Run. Movie-making,
film exhibition.
It’s simply about keeping experimental films on the map.
Methods. Set precedents for alternatives
imagine not watching the show anymore
or just not reaching anybody.
Outburst
The two giant sliding doors open to life on tour,
the process of bringing the showcase, Cut and Run from
the west side. Nested above the creek near the tracks
to the people of our San Francisco, Nevada City residents,
Second Saturday in the heat of Sacramento, Springfield Showin’ Love. After Echo Park, North to Santa Barbara, Portland Mercury, Seattle tomorrow
Alas
Touring in general can be a bit isolating. Continually presenting one’s work to an unfamiliar group of people can cultivate unsettling emotions
promoting, sweating, rehearsing,
recognize and celebrate. Chow down.
Grass Valley.
Resting
Nationally renowned, solid direction, work ethic, Ditch Projects. First Flight. Strangers pleased to see. Cross paths with, wander, every direction. Maps. Comfortable in this venue, like it has some of our roots. Together and our affinities
corresponding crowd, inbound train
the communal support needed to keep alternative projects like these alive.
Lineup.
Filmmakers present what this tour is, characters of the films that [we] don’t give up.
The meaning of the tour. [Host] an alternative type of screening, keep the map of experimental alive.