"Traces of the Wild: The Films of Robert Schaller"

The exhibition given by Robert Schaller was one of the most labor-intensive screenings I have ever had the opportunity to experience. “Traces of the Wild,” the title and theme of the evening, introduced me to an array of different images and techniques. However, the intense labor that blew me away could not be directly seen projected onto the screen. It was the masterful work of Robert Schaller himself, constantly adjusting the projectors during his films so the images would line up correctly.

Never before have I seen an artist or director manipulate his work during a screening. This means that no matter how similar the films may appear when you see them, every screening of his work is unique or lined up just a hair differently. I could see the exact same presentation at another theatre, but walk out with a different feeling because of Robert’s responsibility during the screening.

The presence of Robert behind the projectors during the screening made me thankful that nearly all of his films were silent. Instead of the traditional silent film atmosphere, the sounds of the projectors and Robert’s moving, working, and adjusting acted as the orchestration to his work. The steam of consciousness of the images on the screen paired with the mechanical noises coming from Robert Schaller created an appropriate environment.

My favorite film of the night, “My Life as a Bee,” was very similar to a film we watched in class. In fact, I would love to see “My Life as a Bee” shown with Stan Brakhage’s “Mothlight” as two films with a similar focus. In both works, the filmmaker’s primary goal is to simulate the flight and encounters of each insect in their lives. Even from the opening frames, each film displays the title written or painted in human handwriting. To me, that immediately established that both films were extremely “hands on” in production and post-production.

The beauty was undeniable in each of the films. Even though “Mothlight” is much darker visually and conceptually, it is still extraordinary to watch. “My Life as a Bee” is much brighter and more playful, but still evokes a similar feeling. The concept for both films exceeds any notion I may have had with experimental films. How the life of an insect can be so vividly portrayed through an incoherent combination of images is breathtaking.

Nature is obviously a large muse for Robert Schaller. In the majority of his films, his connections and appreciation for trees, animals, and weather is highly represented. That could be the biggest lesson I have learned through this class and screenings such as Robert Schaller’s. It’s the process filmmakers go through to incorporate their passions in a completely original and sometimes unconventional way.

Whether it is digitally organizing memories from Baghdad or relying on the work of multiple projectors, it is a large responsibility of a filmmaker to tell a story that is completely new to audiences. Every experience in life is unique and we all have the potential to interpret something completely different.